The Princess Glow debate: history, justice, and the cycle of resentment
⚠️This blog will contain spoilers for TWST Book 8 Part 3/Chapter 3 (JP only content)⚠️
The Princess Glow is a special stone that used to be attached to Maleanor’s scepter and had healing abilities. After the defeat of Maleanor, the Princess Glow was under the possession of the Bladevale, attached to a golden cup, and was passed on to a mage named Ambrose. It eventually became (or is hypothesized/rumored to be) part of the interscholastic tournament’s trophy.
After Trein’s findings about the whereabouts of the Princess Glow, the rumor that the Princess Glow was part of the tournament’s trophy spread through NRC. It eventually reached the ears of Malleus and Lilia and they were called by Crowley and Trein to discuss the right of its possession.
Following Book 8 Chapter 3, many fans expected Malleus and Lilia to react angrily upon learning that Princess Glow had become part of the interscholastic tournament trophy.
In this blog, I’ll mention fan expectations of their reactions, what actually happened in Book 8 Chapter 3, alternative interpretations, and my analysis.
✅I’ll refer to Maleanor’s magical gem as the Princess Glow, the original JP term, despite its EN localization Majestic Ember.
Many fans expected outrage from Malleus and Lilia.
The Princess Glow originally belonged to the Briar Valley royal family, specifically Princess Maleanor. Given TWST's recurring themes of injustice and historical discrimination against fae, many assumed Malleus and Lilia would demand its return.
Some fans argued they were simply suppressing their emotions because they occupy important political positions, especially Malleus, and have to think about the future rather than acting impulsively.
Others criticized the writing, with a few even questioning whether a Japanese writing team could appropriately portray themes resembling colonialism or cultural appropriation.
Instead of demanding the artifact back, Malleus proposed reclaiming it by winning the interscholastic tournament (Book 8, Chapter 47).
Dialogue: “The Princess Glow should belong to the victor.
We simply have to win the interscholastic tournament and claim it through our victory.
Isn’t that right?”
He also revealed that the Princess Glow originally belonged to the diurnal fae before Princess Maleanor and even Queen Maleficia. Lilia responded by emphasizing that history is shaped by perspective and that tracing ownership indefinitely only perpetuates resentment.
Alternative interpretations
Some fans argued that Lilia's response reflected lessons learned from Maleanor's death. Having witnessed the consequences of fighting for pride, he may have come to value survival and the protection of future generations over symbolic revenge, which he may have taught to Malleus (and Silver). Likewise, Malleus's proposal to win the Princess Glow through the tournament was interpreted as consistent with his responsibilities as Briar Valley's future ruler.
Others praised the scene because both characters acknowledged the complicated nature of history instead of reducing it to "take back what was ours."
One thing that stood out to me was that many fans projected an expected emotional response onto Malleus and Lilia. Since fans know the historical injustice behind the Princess Glow, some assumed that anger or demands for restitution would be the "correct" reaction. However, I think their responses are consistent with both their characterization and the themes presented in the chapter.
Lilia has lived through war as the General of the Right, witnessed Princess Maleanor's death, and experienced centuries of political and historical change. Similarly, Malleus was speaking not only as an individual but as Briar Valley's future ruler. Rather than reacting emotionally, both approached the issue with the responsibility expected of leaders. Malleus's proposal to reclaim the Princess Glow through the interscholastic tournament reflects confidence without escalating the situation into a political conflict.
Lilia's dialogue from Book 8 Chapter 47 especially stood out to me.
Dialogue: “If the storyteller changes, then justice and evil easily trade places. That is the nature of history.”
“If we continue tracing the past to ask 'who originally owned it,' the cycle of resentment will never end.”
Rather than dismissing Briar Valley's loss, these lines acknowledge how complicated history can become. Lilia recognizes that if every generation continues asking who "originally" owned something, resentment never truly ends. His comment about justice and evil changing depending on the narrator also suggests that historical events are remembered differently by those on opposing sides. I think this perspective feels fitting for someone who has personally witnessed centuries of history rather than simply read about it.
The revelation that the Princess Glow originally belonged to the diurnal fae reinforces this idea. Instead of presenting ownership as a straightforward matter, the story introduces another historical layer that complicates the question of who has the strongest claim. In that context, Malleus's decision to win the Princess Glow through fair competition feels symbolic. Rather than repeating the cycle of conflict, he chooses to create a new piece of history through peaceful means. Because of this, I find it difficult to interpret the scene as the writers ignoring history. Instead, they seem to be emphasizing that remembering the past and deciding how to respond to it are two different things.
Some fans interpret Malleus and Lilia's calm response as unrealistic given the Princess Glow's history. Another reading is that their reaction reflects Lilia's long-held belief that survival is more important than pride, a lesson born from Malleanor's death. While later chapters may clarify their feelings, the current text leaves room for both interpretations.
Rather than providing a simple answer, Book 8 Chapter 3 presents history as layered and contested. Through Lilia's reflections, the chapter suggests that historical injustice should be remembered, but that responding to it is rarely straightforward. Malleus and Lilia's decision doesn’t erase Briar Valley's past; instead, it reflects a belief that the future should not be shaped by repeating cycles of resentment.
Whether fans agree with their approach or not, the Princess Glow debate highlights how TWST encourages discussion about history, leadership, and justice rather than offering easy moral resolutions. That complexity is what made this scene one of the most interesting moments of Book 8’s most recent update for me.
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