Plus-Si



+C: Sword and Cornett (also known as Plus-Si) is a Josei manga by Tama Yugyoji about a young man named Belca Noctircus, who is the third prince and the bastard son of a dancer and the king, and the conspiracy against him and the rest of the royal family.

It begins when his older brother, the Crown Prince Hector, returns to the capital of Azelprade and is, quite promptly, after brief spat with the Council of Elders. Somewhat against his own will, Belca investigates the incident along with his older brother, the second prince Orcelito, and winds up falling off a cliff thanks to a man named Kiliko Lagen. He's found and nursed back to health by a mysterious bard named Eco, and together the two of them search out the truth that Eco's very, very sure Belca is nearly beside, meeting friends and foes alike along the way.

This manga provides examples of:

 * A Protagonist Shall Lead Them: Belca, even if he doesn't quite seem the part at first.
 * Absolute Cleavage: Ricolise. It makes sense though, seeing as she's the owner of a brothel.
 * All of the Other Reindeer: Because he's a bastard child, he's often looked down upon and sneered at by the other nobles. Minus his older brothers. Plus his younger sister, who doesn't know any better because her maids say awful things about him. But she gets better at it.
 * Ambiguously Gay: Might as well be everyone, but top contenders are Linna So-Very-Loyal-To-Belca Orhaldi, and Eco. Just... Eco.
 * Big Brother Worship: Belca and Orcelito, towards their big brother Hector. To some extent, Belca towards Orcelito.
 * Big Eater: Belca. Major understatement.
 * Bishie Sparkle: Eco has them, as long as he's not being serious. Surprisingly, despite his character type, it isn't all that often.
 * Blood Magic: At least, that's what it looked like when Belca and Orcelito peeked in on a prostrated, bled body of an Amontel beneath the estate at Sana.
 * Distressed Dude: Belca has been kidnapped and taken hostage twice.
 * Fantastic Racism: Most, if not all, of Azelprade against the Amontel, who are supposedly the spawn of evil. Luckily, there are a few people who know better.
 * Five Man Band:
 * The Hero: Belca.
 * The Lancer: Eco. He also doubles as The Smart Guy, and sometimes as The Chick.
 * The Big Guy: Linna. And Seamrog.
 * Tagalong Kid: Musca. Although, she doesn't get kidnapped as often as one might think.
 * Guilt Complex: It shows somewhat in the beginning, but comes on big when.
 * Heroic Bastard: Belca.
 * Heroic BSOD: Belca for a short time,.
 * Hot Blooded: Belca, so much. Eco sometimes, though only if it's about the truth he's seeking.
 * Ho Yay: Even considering +C is a josei manga, the Ho Yay is still very prominent, particularly between Kiriko Lagen and Orcelito, as well as Linna and Belca.
 * Innocently Insensitive: Belca's very much this at he beginning, but as he learns more about the world, it lessens. Somewhat.
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: Belca, big time. He might seem like a meanie but in the end, he really does care for his friends. Even if they're annoying pests.
 * Kawaiiko: In a rare male version, Eco.
 * Mangst: Belca, unfortunately. He's not the kind of person who talks about it, even thoguh his massive Guilt Complex up yonder tends to null-and-void it. Even then, so far the only person he's said anything to is Eco.
 * Modest Royalty: Well, Belca. In his own way. He defers to his older brothers and usually thinks, if not outright says, that one of them would be a better choice. He never really thinks of himself as a prince - at least, until the later chapters.
 * Peek a Bangs:  Specifically in Op34's first page.
 * Pettanko: Eco, when crossdressing, though the mangaka themself has said that if Eco were really a girl, he'd be of this variety.
 * Royals Who Actually Do Something: All the royals introduced thus far. Hector wanted to make everyone equal. Orcelito's striving for something like that, albeit in a very roundabout way that makes sure he stays alive and coincides with the Lagen's wishes. Belca? Belca's out learning and, in turn, stepping up to the plate and finally realizing how disgusting it was for him to just be able to stand back and watch these things just go down.
 * Red Eyes Take Warning: In some cases - however, the Amontel/Hokulea are pretty friendly once you convince them you're not there to massacre their civilization.
 * Tear Jerker. Op23. Just. Op23.
 * Tsundere: Of the Type A variety, we have Belca.
 * Wholesome Crossdresser: Eco and Belca, when they hide out in Ricolise's brothel. Eco reputedly loves dressing as a girl - evidently, he used to go to Sana's red-light district and participate in drag contests when he was still travelling as as scholar - and while Belca makes for a pretty girl (as commented on by Eco himself and, well, the prince did have someone fall in love with him) he doesn't enjoy it.
 * Wholesome Crossdresser: Eco and Belca, when they hide out in Ricolise's brothel. Eco reputedly loves dressing as a girl - evidently, he used to go to Sana's red-light district and participate in drag contests when he was still travelling as as scholar - and while Belca makes for a pretty girl (as commented on by Eco himself and, well, the prince did have someone fall in love with him) he doesn't enjoy it.