Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Transient Dream (ギルベルト・ブーゲンビリアと儚い夢, Giruberuto Buugenviria to Hakanai Yume?) is a short story given out to theatergoers for the screening of Violet Evergarden the Movie. It is also included in the story collection Violet Evergarden ~Last Letter~.
Summary[]
The story takes place after Gilbert and Violet's wedding and is split between events from Gilbert's past and the current time. Gilbert dreams about an episode in his childhood where his brother Dietfried was beaten for attempting to run away from their strict household. Dietfried tells Gilbert not to be their family's slave. Gilbert wakes up and is initially surprised to find Violet in his arms. This is the first day that they are living together and both aren't used to it yet. Since it's a rainy day, the two of them spend the day indoors.
Gilbert flashes back to the day he visited his room at the military academy before school began. His parents didn't accompany him, and his brother had already run off to the naval academy. He sees other young men enjoying their lives and thinks about how if he complained about his responsibilities, he would be cut off from his family. In the present day, Gilbert and Violet go to a park to have a picnic. They talk about the lack of security in riding hot air balloons, as well as the time that they had to eat one of their military horses for survival.
In the past, Gilbert went on a date with his fiancée at a cafe, but it was clear that neither of them were interested in each other. Gilbert would rather hang out with his first ever friend, Hodgins. His fiancée asked him to convince his parents to cancel the engagement. In the present day, Gilbert buys a bouquet of roses and gives them to Violet.
Gilbert recalls buying Violet her emerald brooch and his anguish over only teaching her how to kill and nothing about beauty. In the present day, the two are buying rings at a jewelry store. Despite the happy occasion, Gilbert feels that something is off. He then realizes that Violet's arms are not prostheses. The jewelry store vanishes, and Gilbert is convinced that their happy memories never existed. He feels a complicated mix of emotions over his relationship with Violet and his lack of guilt for what he did to her, and then finally wakes up in the real world.
Gilbert wakes up alone, but recalls his terrible dream. He is almost resigned to following the path set out for him by his family when Violet knocks on his door, back from shopping for breakfast. Gilbert kisses her and tells her that he had a terrible dream. Violet confesses that she also has dreams where she is trying to find him but fails. Gilbert realizes that they are alike, and that he fears nothing now that he has his greatest love.
Characters[]
- Gilbert Bougainvillea
- Dietfried Bougainvillea (flashback)
- Mr. Bougainvillea (mentioned)
- Violet Evergarden
- Gilbert's former fiancée (flashback)
- Claudia Hodgins (mentioned)
Illustration[]
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| Violet Evergarden Novels and Short Stories | |
|---|---|
| Novels | Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Gaiden • Ever After • Last Letter |
| Short Stories |
Ann Magnolia and Her Nineteenth Birthday • Leon Stephanotis and the First Star • Charlotte Abelfreyja Flugel and the Forest Kingdom • Isabella York and the Rain of Flowers • Amy Bartlett and the Spring Sunshine Filtered Through Leaves • The Tailor and the Auto Memories Doll • Oscar's Little Angel • Benedict Blue's Violet • Violet Evergarden If • Gilbert Bougainvillea and the Transient Dream • The Queen and the Auto Memories Doll • Fanbook Short Story • Dietfried Bougainvillea If • The Starry Night and the Lonely Two |