Connoisseur of All Things Freenbecky

I find it so striking how Princess Blew says, "I can't return the feelings," and not, "I don't return the feelings," to let Lom down. It's so good!

Because she's being very deliberate with Lom here.

Blew knows what words mean. We've seen how intentional she is with her words throughout the show when speaking to Lom - which makes sense because princesses definitely have to be steeped in that awareness (and doubly so for crown princesses who will become queens!). And Blew is that. A princess who can't just easily be with a commoner of another country (and woman, though we don't know Madelin's official stance on gay marriage and if a royal could be in a queer relationship, etc. etc.).

We've seen her try to come to terms with how she feels for Lom throughout this episode and the end of the last, and I think when she revisited them being Wind and Phatpha again while feeding Lom, it struck her that she could see Phatpha falling for Wind (and vice versa)... Which makes her saying, "Miss Wayo and I are fine," after being interrupted and being asked how they're doing by Din hurt even more in restrospect.

Because that interruption of their intimacy as Wind and Phatpha - being witnessed and perceived as potentially a romantic couple (as two people who would be allowed to be a romantic couple! and by Lom's close-knit family no less!) - along with her questions to Lada and Rose on what love is/how it feels, probably was the wake up call to how she and Lom can't be. She even doubled down on talking about the only love she has known is the love she has for the people of Madelin with them! If that's not Blew reaffirming her role and place in life, I don't know what is.

What I do know, however, is that all of that is what leads to this:

"I genuinely appreciate how you feel about me. But I'm afraid I can't return the feelings."

Can't. Not don't.

Because she does. It is clear Princess Blew has figured out her feelings for Lom, and unfortunately found them unable to be. She loves Lom, but she can't be with her - she can't return Lom's feelings.