THANKKKK YOUUU I feel like so many people are reading this personal-feelings forward or just as a collection of tropes without engaging with the core themes of the story!
I also thought that this ending was perfect for what the story wound up being about and I’m glad that Regina gets to live her freedom with a (groveling) father and (tsundere) little brother who love and value her this time around. Anita (the self proclaimed biggest pushover in the kingdom) got her apology from 3 different generations of the royal family and got a boy that will love her until her end.
Even though I wish we got more insight on wtf possessed the first king to go genocidal like that and a ‘sorry’ doesn’t really make up for it (was he possessed or what), I do love the ‘core’ of this ending and I think it’s really suitable. Hopefully Regina gets to spend the rest of her days work free, spoiled, and looking at her husband’s overly pretty face.
ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU!!!
like the twist that he also apologized tho too late?? in his ROYAL SIGNATURE??? the heartbreak there I sobbed.
it would be nice to know what made him switch up but my assumption is probably just human greed. so quickly can humans forget and obsess over wealth and status. I would maybe even assume some corrupt officials that leaned on him.
to know that he later began to regret what he did so much he left an apology in every time he signed his name in only a language she would know even tho he had no way to knowing it would ever reach her is so bittersweet.
I'm also so glad she twisted it into a banishment for herself. she wanted to be free of that life, and she found an opportunity and took it.
I do hope her father does better at an apology as well bc I feel like he still has a lot to stone for but seeing his switch is absolutely a good sign.
the only other way this could end would be killing the mages and rebellion which is brutal and "right" but not the right this story needs. Anita deserves that apology.
or our mc dying as a way of forgiveness and she deserves a full life of peace and I would hate that ending.
I really do feel a lot of ppl who read these things are children and don't yet have the love for nuance and a non cookie cutter ending. (I mean God I've seen a story drop the first two chapters and someone is already in the comments spoiling the ending of the novel)
this started out so predictable and I'm so glad I had no idea it would end like this.
this is actually the perfect ending, so many focus on bad vs good and evil must die in the end. this is a beautiful way to end it. the punishments are perfect for the roles each played and shows that no matter how much time passes properly apologizing is absolutely important even if forgiveness is not there.
it's only "anticlimactic" bc we're so used to big battles and bloody endings.
bc even the villain was a victim in her own way. this is beautiful and I'm so happy it is wrapping up this way.