Our girl is doing all the upper class noblewoman nonsense like learning how to ballroom dance. Why is she pushing herself so hard? It’s because Marie wants to grow (great!) in order to be worthy of Kyros (huh?). I mean, Fine, I admit that this isn’t really a bizarre concept. Let’s say you’re dating a jerk. Your friends might then tell you something like, “Girl, he’s not good enough for you. Dump him!” That’s tantamount to saying that the guy isn’t worthy of you. But even then, that’s just too many moving parts for me to worry about. I try to keep it simple. Do I like you? And do you like me? The answer to both questions is yes, then sweet, let’s stay together. And conversely, if we don’t like each other or if we’re not having a good time, then see ya. For some people, there are other factors to consider. For example, I know some guys get their panties in a twist if a girl brings home more money or whatever, but I really couldn’t give a shit.
But we know why Marie still feels as though she has to measure up. First, she’s obviously still traumatized by her parents’ mistreatment. Second, this is all setup for when she finds out that her sister is still alive. Marie accepted Kyros’s love under the assumption that her sister is dead. But if Anastasia is alive, our girl is gonna start thinking some bullshit like how the betrothal should be canceled in order for him to marry her sister instead. We already know it’s going to happen, because that’s the episode’s title. Marie thinks her sister is more worthy of Kyros than her, and that “worthiness” somehow trumps everyone else’s desires. So again, that’s why I like to keep things simple. If the equation is just “I like you, and you like me,” solving it is easy-peasy! But when you try to add in other variables like worthiness, now it gets all dumb and complicated.
Naturally, hearing Norman talk of his new apprentice all but confirms that the kid is none other than Anastasia. I mean, we already knew this from the first time we saw him spying on Marie from afar. But she now knows that her sister is alive, and she’s freaking out. She’s making everyone worry by running off to hide in some dark corner of the castle. Marie is self-sabotaging for all the reasons stated above. She wants to call off the betrothal because she thinks Anastasia deserves Kyros more. It’s quite sad. It’s also not how it works. Not only does Kyros not love Anastasia, Anastasia doesn’t love Kyros either. She doesn’t even know the guy! Who’s to say she even wants to get married! Maybe she wants to be single all her life, and just craft really cool shit for people to buy. But of course, people marry for convenience or political reasons in this sort of society. I don’t want to keep trotting out the excuse that I know nothing about how the nobility operates, but it’s true.
Still, there’s one thing I can’t get accept. Sure, I get that Marie hates herself. I get that she has a low self-esteem. But that’s even more reason to look beyond your own personal feelings and insecurities. Obviously, Marie loves Anastasia more than anything. So shouldn’t Anastasia’s own wishes and desires also be considered? Marie isn’t even asking herself what her sister might want. This is the part that bugs the hell out of me. Marie’s just going on and on about how Kyros would love Anastasia more once he gets to know her, and likewise, how Anastasia deserves this and that — how Anastasia deserves this dream life with this dreamy prince. Well, it sounds like her sister is living her own dream life right now as an independent tradesman. Marie loves her sister so much, but she can’t even put herself in her sister’s shoes.
In a strange way, by obsessively hating ourselves, we end up being more selfish than we ever wanted. It’s like when we become self-conscious and start thinking that everyone is judging us, but in reality — and maybe this is even more depressing to accept — nobody is paying attention. Nobody even cares. Self-hate is a form of conceitedness. To self-hate, you have to turn your gaze inward. And sure enough, Marie’s thoughts are consumed with, well, herself. I loathe myself. My feelings are repulsive. I dared to dream. Marie has been abused enough, so you don’t want to be mean to her, but damn girl, get over yourself.
Luckily, the super maid comes to the rescue by employing a bit of reverse psychology. Instead of actually fulfilling Marie’s ridiculous whims by taking her back to her parents, Mio instead drives the carriage in a circle to buy some time. And what does she do with that time? She starts trashing Kyros, which is partly deserved because he’s also being kind of pathetic. Wow, your future wife is down in the dumps, and you just let her go after one emotionally charged discussion? Way to fight for your love. But hey, Mio’s gambit works. By provoking Marie, she gets our girl to think about someone other than herself, i.e. her fiance. Ah, if only Marie could now do the same for her sister. But I guess that’s reserved for next week’s episode, because a certain blond apprentice has crashed the party.
Stray thoughts & observations:
- Kyros informs Marie that he’s dispatched a carriage for her father. He’ll even resort to force if he has to. I must be missing something, because I don’t know why they need her father at the betrothal ceremony at all. I would’ve cut ties with that jackass ages ago.
- Even if I accept that Marie needs to “up her game” before she gets married, why ballroom dancing? Why not something cool like, I dunno, make a ton of money by deftly managing a business or write a brilliant thesis that revolutionizes the world. I’m sorry, but I don’t give a fuck if a potential partner knows how to dance. But again, this is probably just more nobility bullshit.
- If you think about it, it’s pretty wild to jump to the conclusion that your dead sister is actually alive because you saw a blond boy from a really long distance. Anyone else would think Marie is having a break from reality. But Kyros is rich and influential, so he can invite the smith for a little meet and greet. Unfortunately, he can’t compel the apprentice to come with.
- Norman completely freaks out at the idea that he might have taken in a woman as an apprentice. Wow, misogynist much?
- Plus, he seems kinda stupid. Ah, my apprentice has a strange quirk! He loves making men’s clothes for women! What a silly cad!
- How the hell does Marie even manage to elude an entire estate full of people employed to attend to her every needs?
- I don’t know what to think of the little Cinderella moment between Marie and Kyros. We got the prince, the slipper, and the carriage. Most of all, we got the maiden who must hurry home for… reasons. And I guess her parents are pretty wicked. Still missing the evil stepsister(s) though.
- Pre-marital bed sharing? Is this also what the nobility do?! For shame!
- I think it’s dumb that Anastasia unknowingly tried to hold her own sister hostage. Sure, it’s dark so she can’t see clearly, but how many redheads with a weird toxic green sheen do you know in this kingdom? And also with the same exact height and build as your younger sister? What a coincidence!
- Kyros even says Marie’s name when he goes to defend his fiancee! Don’t tell me Anastasia didn’t hear that!
