It's once again Witch Hat Monday!

I don't want Qifrey to become a Brimmed Hat, but if he did, this is the design that would cause me the most emotional damage. My headcanon is that Olly made the tassel glow to keep Qifrey warm, despite it all...

Heronia and Cecil’s relationship seems so shallow in the “correct” timeline.

So she’s a bit odd but they don’t seem to actually be close and I’m not sure why either would be into each other. They don’t seem to talk deeply about things and Cecil in the current timeline has raised all the issues both with how their relationship would work and how it should be approached. The original scenario him just brushed past all the propriety that the current one upheld.

The fact that the Pii-Chan is also there at every single moment and Bertia mentioned that there was some rumblings of light magic in the lore she didn’t pay attention to just makes the entire thing even sketchier. He’s always there and gems even glowing when Cecil “realizes” he loves Heronia. As the current Cecil said, when there’s magic that can manipulate emotions involved, it’s hard to tell what could be genuine feelings.

And then on the other side of the equation… Cecil never made an effort to get to know Bertia or understand her. He even mentions that he faked sympathy but that he didn’t even try to actually help. He let her do what she pleased but he probably could’ve nipped all of this in the bud if he’d gotten to know her and reassured her that they would be married and together.

That’s kinda what’s heartbreaking about Bertia as the villainess. Her father turned to crime and indulged her all because he realized his friend, the king, would not have his back and help protect his family (given the king’s reaction during the arrest, he knows he’s at fault for the fall of his former friend and regrets it). So he pushed himself to ensure she would at least be safe and pushed her to terrible acts as well to take out any competition and punish those lower than them who would’ve been upset if the king had helped them all those years ago. Not saying it justifies either of their actions but it does make them very human.

It also makes original Cecil’s almost pleasure at her despair and fall unnerving. He’s grinning while she’s crying. That doesn’t speak well for Heronia’s influence on him. Even if he allegedly has feelings for her, he doesn’t care about anyone or anything else.

Which is another reason why I think the current timeline is better. He and Bertia have an actual relationship. Sure, she managed to spark his interest all those years ago by being unusual, but he’s put in time and effort to get to know her which he lacked in the OG timeline (and didn’t even seem to do with Heronia either). And he’s also come to care for other people as well.

OG Cecil only has Heronia. He fakes sympathy again to get what he wants from Courtgain, but again, he only actually cares for Heronia and even that seems a bit conditional even without taking in the ick factor of potentially having his emotions manipulated by Pii-Chan.

Here, Cecil has Bertia, but he’s also become friends with the other capture targets/council members, Courtgain, and the love rivals. He can go to them for help and advice, unlike the OG version who still does everything by himself. And he’s a more reflective and caring person as a result.