*Upon the tainted sorrow*

Short form: Royal Eye of the Roads

Official description

A dignity granted to the person who travels across the Five Tribes in the name of the Crown, listens to the people, inspects roads and settlements, proclaims royal decrees, and reports directly to Her Majesty everything he has witnessed.

Actual description

Su-Won and his loyalists should have at minimum been faced formal trial during the transition of power, and he should have publicly acknowledged what he did to the kingdom and explained to the people why he did it. Ugh that would have been SO good and a step forward for his character which was all about deception! Carrying out a coup d'état can't just be glossed over like that. He gets to just keep it all some personal secret until he goes to his grave? Fuck that, that bastard needs some accountability.

Yona wouldn’t win any trial though if she tried that, the whole country hates her father, all the nobles, all the generals. No one gives a shit about him and many people were helped out by Soo-won. I don’t think anyone would want Soo-won punished for killing him, even though it was kinda rude lol. Deserved tho

The whole forgiveness trope made it a bit too far in this story overall imo. I think Yona not killing Soo-won and them peacefully parting ways would’ve sufficed, and would’ve been better in general for both of them. But I get that Soo-won never wanted Yona or Hak dead, and he went very far for them. I also see no other place for Soo-won than an influential political figure, he was born for that stuff. To Yona his knowledge is super useful too as she’s now only learning, and he likes what he’s doing soo🤷‍♀️

She was not being compelled by a law of nature, an irresistible prophecy, or an assembly crowning her at spearpoint.

She could have said:

“I do not want the throne under these conditions.”

“I will not govern by relying on the same men who tried to kill me.”

“I will not accept a crown handed to me by the man behind the coup without a clear transition, an investigation, or any conditions.”

But she accepted it. From that moment on, she cannot be presented as someone with no options who was simply swept along by circumstances. She chose to enter that structure.

Even after accepting the throne, Yona still had alternatives. She could have dismissed Kye-sook. She could have refused to keep Su-Won as an adviser. She could have replaced those involved in the coup and formed her own government.

That would have meant actually exercising power. But she would also have needed her own competent people, administrative knowledge, a political network, experience, and a transition plan. She had none of those things.

Then it would have become obvious that Yona was not prepared to govern without relying on Su-Won’s political and administrative machinery.

A kingdom does not remain standing because its queen stares intensely at the reports until they arrange themselves.

So it is not true that she “had no choice.” She had choices, but the alternatives would have exposed her lack of capacity:

Refuse the throne, and give up the ending the narrative wanted for her.

Accept the throne and purge the court, risking serious collapse because she had no competent replacements.

Accept the throne and keep Kye-sook and Su-Won, allowing the kingdom to function while undermining any claim to genuine independence.

Agency does not mean having a comfortable option. It means choosing between difficult alternatives and accepting the consequences.

Yona chose the third option. It may have been pragmatic. It may even have been the least harmful option. But it was still a choice, and it should be called what it was: Yona inherited the crown, but she also inherited Su-Won’s government, including his officials and his knowledge.

She did not build a government of her own. She placed herself at the top of the existing one.

Which makes the idea that everyone now depends on Yona’s extraordinary political ability rather amusing. If she dismissed the administrator and rejected the former king as her adviser, she would probably be left without a kingdom within two days, and without any subjects capable of appreciating how incredibly “fortunate” they are to have her as queen.

Indeed. Yona had no effective strategy on her own how to raise the country out of its ashes. Yona is responsible for this statue as well.

Therefore it is the more logical conclusion to use the given resources, because strife would hurt the whole country further.

If she had wished to get killed sooner than later, she could have tried to eliminate Soo Won, but this would have led sooner or later either to her murder or to Hak´s.

Agency does not mean having a comfortable option. It means choosing between difficult alternatives and accepting the consequences. Yona chose the third option. It may have been pragmatic. It may even have been the least harmful option. But it was still a choice, and it should be called what it was: Yona inherited the crown, but she also inherited Su-Won’s government, including his officials and his knowledge.

I think, it goes even further. How many people of the entire Sky Tribe had collaborated? Basically all the guards. How deep is Soo Won´s rule established? I think, it would be difficult if not completely impossible to remove Soo Won. Or she may call herself "Bloody Mary". The Tudor daughter had tried to reestablish the former belief and remove disobedient people with disastrious consequences.

Should she let Jon Gi, Lily´s father, who has also collaborated also be killed? What about Geuntae, who has a little son? Does she wish for the son to take revenge on her? Or even become like Soo Won´s father, kiling the baby?

Then she would hurt Lily the same way, she was hurt. I think, that this girl has greatly helped Yona to see the possible consequences.

Which makes the idea that everyone now depends on Yona’s extraordinary political ability rather amusing. If she dismissed the administrator and rejected the former king as her adviser, she would probably be left without a kingdom within two days, and without any subjects capable of appreciating how incredibly “fortunate” they are to have her as queen. The crown is hers. The machinery of government still belongs to them.

Indeed. Like in the example I have provided with Japan´s history. Yona was lucky, that Soo Won bent the knee in front of her, as she was also responsible for the disaster in the first place.

Naturally, none of that could be achieved in a single day. Then again, this is Yona, who became a god-tier archer in a couple of months, so perhaps rebuilding the state apparatus before lunch would not be beyond her.

But I agree with one thing you said: Yona had no effective strategy or administrative structure of her own, so keeping Su-Won and Kye-sook was the pragmatic option. That is precisely my point. She had choices, but she chose continuity because she was not capable of governing without the machinery they had built.

If she had the resources yes, but most of the government served under Soo Won. Yona lacks the literal possibilty to perform this trick. Yona needed the literal education to come up even with this. I think, she might be clever enough, but she surely lacks much methodical knowledge on how to run a country.

Even though I believe, the people involved are all so strickingly and unnaturally nice, that they would have removed themselves.

Naturally, none of that could be achieved in a single day. Then again, this is Yona, who became a god-tier archer in a couple of months, so perhaps rebuilding the state apparatus before lunch would not be beyond her.

If you practice archery, it is not impossible to shoot successfully in a couple of hours, actually. Not on moving objects at the beginning, but later it would be likely possible. Since I have at least a little experience with archery, I believe it is not unrealistic for Yona to become good at archery in a short time frame.

Kusanagi however, was not so unrealistic to establish, that Yona could literally run a country on her own in a short time.

But I agree with one thing you said: Yona had no effective strategy or administrative structure of her own, so keeping Su-Won and Kye-sook was the pragmatic option. That is precisely my point. She had choices, but she chose continuity because she was not capable of governing without the machinery they had built. It may have been the least harmful choice, but it was still her choice, and it does not demonstrate political independence.

Did I became a master at shooting? Certainly not. But I was able to hit the aim - an unmoving object - not too far away from the centre. Why should Yona then not be able to learn archery in a short time frame?

If Yona trains for months for several hours, she certainly might be able to shoot moving objects. Yoon taught her how, additionally. She had to take into consideration, how her opponent would move.

Soo-won’s line, “We can trace a line and connect Kouka, Xing and Sei just like this,” sounds as though he were solving a children’s connect-the-dots exercise.

Then they say that Kouka does not have to bear the burden. If the line had at least been “the burden doesn’t have to be taken only by our country,” it could be understood as the costs being shared among the countries involved. But it does not say only.

The moment a route enters another country, Kouka no longer has authority there. It cannot hire workers, lay out roads, occupy land, or decide priorities in foreign territory without formal agreements. Even empires usually have to pretend to negotiate before planting a road.

And there is another question: why would the neighbouring countries accept the exact routes designed by Kouka? Xing might want to connect different markets, Sei might prioritise its ports, and Kai might have neither the money nor the interest to restore a corridor that mainly benefits Koukan merchants.

The proposed solution is to mobilise the merchants and wealthy people interested in the routes, without clarifying whether they are from Kouka, foreign, or a mixture of both. And somehow, national and foreign money will simply flow.

The rich pay for it, and the poor build it. Perfect.

The text itself says that those who invest will receive priority use. If the investors are foreign, Kouka would be allowing foreign merchant capital to finance strategic infrastructure within its territory and receive preferential access to it.

The most charitable interpretation would be that merchants from all interested countries jointly finance the network, while each state regulates the sections within its own territory. But that would require treaties, cost-sharing arrangements, limits on privileges, and public oversight. The scene mentions none of that. It simply moves from “Kouka does not have to bear the burden” to “the merchants and the wealthy will pay,” and then to “they will have priority.”

If the investors are domestic, the system encourages internal oligopolies. If they are foreign, it adds external dependence over strategic infrastructure.

Either way, the proposal is a recipe for privatising the routes and granting preferential access to those who finance them. It creates an obvious incentive for the concentration of economic power: those with priority access can earn greater profits, invest in further routes, and strengthen their position even more.

This is neither a new nor an innocent mechanism. The history of chartered companies shows how far the combination of private capital, commercial monopoly, and state-granted power can go.

Whoever controls access to a route can influence transport costs, which goods circulate, which markets prosper, and which regions are left out. This is not some remote possibility. It is the logical incentive created by the model, unless the state imposes strict limits that the scene never mentions.

And the real problem is that this idea is placed in the mouth of the character who, for almost twenty years of manga, has been portrayed as someone capable of calculating consequences several generations ahead.

With Hak, one can accept that political economy is not exactly his battlefield. But Soo-won is supposed to be a strategist who understands incentives, resources, and power. It is difficult to believe that he would fail to see that granting priority to investors amounts to creating a class with institutionalised commercial privileges.

Soo-won should see the trap. That, to me, is the real narrative failure. Not simply that the idea is simplistic, but that it is given to the one character who should be able to recognise exactly what is wrong with it.

Soo-won’s line, “We can trace a line and connect Kouka, Xing and Sei just like this,” sounds as though he were solving a children’s connect-the-dots exercise.

Then they say that Kouka does not have to bear the burden. If the line had at least been “the burden doesn’t have to be taken only by our country,” it could be understood as the costs being shared among the countries involved. But it does not say only.

The moment a route enters another country, Kouka no longer has authority there. It cannot hire workers, lay out roads, occupy land, or decide priorities in foreign territory without formal agreements. Even empires usually have to pretend to negotiate before planting a road.

And there is another question: why would the neighbouring countries accept the exact routes designed by Kouka? Xing might want to connect different markets, Sei might prioritise its ports, and Kai might have neither the money nor the interest to restore a corridor that mainly benefits Koukan merchants.

The proposed solution is to mobilise the merchants and wealthy people interested in the routes, without clarifying whether they are from Kouka, foreign, or a mixture of both. And somehow, national and foreign money will simply flow.

The rich pay for it, and the poor build it. Perfect.

The text itself says that those who invest will receive priority use. If the investors are foreign, Kouka would be allowing foreign merchant capital to finance strategic infrastructure within its territory and receive preferential access to it.

The most charitable interpretation would be that merchants from all interested countries jointly finance the network, while each state regulates the sections within its own territory. But that would require treaties, cost-sharing arrangements, limits on privileges, and public oversight. The scene mentions none of that. It simply moves from “Kouka does not have to bear the burden” to “the merchants and the wealthy will pay,” and then to “they will have priority.”

If the investors are domestic, the system encourages internal oligopolies. If they are foreign, it adds external dependence over strategic infrastructure.

Either way, the proposal is a recipe for privatising the routes and granting preferential access to those who finance them. It creates an obvious incentive for the concentration of economic power: those with priority access can earn greater profits, invest in further routes, and strengthen their position even more.

This is neither a new nor an innocent mechanism. The history of chartered companies shows how far the combination of private capital, commercial monopoly, and state-granted power can go.

Whoever controls access to a route can influence transport costs, which goods circulate, which markets prosper, and which regions are left out. This is not some remote possibility. It is the logical incentive created by the model, unless the state imposes strict limits that the scene never mentions.

And the real problem is that this idea is placed in the mouth of the character who, for almost twenty years of manga, has been portrayed as someone capable of calculating consequences several generations ahead.

With Hak, one can accept that political economy is not exactly his battlefield. But Soo-won is supposed to be a strategist who understands incentives, resources, and power. It is difficult to believe that he would fail to see that granting priority to investors amounts to creating a class with institutionalised commercial privileges.

Soo-won should see the trap. That, to me, is the real narrative failure. Not simply that the idea is simplistic, but that it is given to the one character who should be able to recognise exactly what is wrong with it.

She’s left now all alone with all those people that betrayed her and wanted her dead not so long ago. Most of her friends left to be free and happy, Soo-won got rid of the throne’s burden, Hak it seems will be traveling a lot now, she’s still not even engaged to him, will be now working her ass off until the end of her days or until they come up with a new government system.

Zeno: Betrayed them in the end and caused a ton of shit, nearly got them all killed.

Soo-won: Murdered her father

Kye-sook: Has ordered her death twice and Hak's once

Mei-nyan: FRAMED YONA FOR MURDER OF AN INNOCENT MAN SHE POISONED, betrayed the dragons and nearly got Yona executed

Val: The above dumbass's boyfriend

Creepy Soo-won guard (I forgot his name) :THE GUY THAT MURDERED HER MOTHER

Joo-doh: One of the people in on the coop and chose to be in on Il's death and ousting her from the castle

This might just be the worst ending on a personal level. For me, not because she's "abandoned among traitors," but because she achieves exactly what the story portrays as her glorious destiny, only to discover that this prize is a permanent burden.

The irony is quite effective: everyone else achieves some kind of liberation, while Yona remains trapped in the role that supposedly fulfilled her. The queen Kouka needed, yes. And for that very reason, probably the least free person of all.

Yona wins the throne and loses almost everything else.

I agree. No sensible person should think, “How wonderful, I get to become queen and spend the rest of my life dealing with affairs of state while all my friends move on.”

But narratively, Yona’s accession to the throne is still associated with her legitimacy, her public recognition, her supposed readiness, and her role as a mythic figure destined for Kouka.

The throne is not presented as a prize that will make her happy, but it is presented as the culmination of her journey.

And that is where the irony lies: the culmination that was supposed to prove Yona had finally reached her rightful place becomes, on a personal level, her confinement.

Everyone else finds some way out of the role that had trapped them. They can leave, visit, choose.

Yona cannot.

And that is especially cruel because so much of Yona’s journey throughout the story was tied to leaving the castle, travelling across the kingdom, and discovering the world beyond it. In the end, after spending so much of the story living outside the palace, her reward is to return to the very place she once left and remain fixed there.

It is almost circular, but not in a beautiful way. More like a particularly malicious revolving door.

“She completely lost her earlier freedom.” That is true. Yona did not only lose the daily presence of her friends, even if they can still visit her. She also lost the way of life she had come to know and value.

For me, the tragedy is that she accepts the throne and willingly takes on the role of queen, but that role requires her to remain where everyone else is now free to leave.

And that is especially cruel because so much of Yona’s journey throughout the story was tied to leaving the castle, travelling across the kingdom, and discovering the world beyond it.

100%. I'm not really sure if she ever truly wanted to be queen.

"A more modest and grand wish than a castle or a throne"

im thinking about reading svss

Anon, Kusanagi only said Su-Won had no significant reason to give the pin on Yona's birthday. That's not the same as saying the hairpin itself has no narrative importance. Lili explicitly declares she will buy it from Ogi in exchange for information about Su-Won. What happened to that setup?? We never saw her actually follow through on that! It just disappeared without a single resolution.

Why even have Lili make that declaration if it's irrelevant? Why did Lili even want it in the first place, if it never mattered in the story? And not to mention, Lili does not even get a single cameo this chapter!

Don't get me wrong, the whole mechanism of trying to open new trade routes with other kingdoms and trying arrest corrupt officials and all are good, and I do like that we got more insight into Judo and Kei-shuk, but it seems like the start of a new arc than an end. So many unresolved plot threads, lots of build up with zero payoff.

For one thing, I also can't believe the hairpin has been completely forgotten, and we never even got the timeskip scene with Yona with her sword at the cliff.

Honestly the same scene could have been brought back in a meaningful way, maybe as an alternate version where her friends are alive. All the setup went to waste.

she's left to spend her days mostly with Joodoh and Keishuk. No comment.

Yep, some company, who offed her father and tried to off her too.

(Gaiden spoiler warning)

I already explained why I think otherwise, Anon. Lili said she would get it even after Yona gave it to Ogi. It never went anywhere.

That person was like "Yu hon´s mother", like his father King Junam. And this was King Il. You have to change with every generation, as people wear masks. Man, how difficult!!!

Lily is the person, who Soo Won hates the most- King Il. But loves Soo Won the most in a new way. Lily is Zeno. And therefore literally the "One true King". Because Soo Won spoke to both people truthfully.

In reality. Because King Il loved Soo Won the most. He was the child of the people King Il later loved the most - his brother and Yon hi.

Soo Won was King Il´s Yona. That is the reason Hak is not allowed to see Soo Won or Soo Won would get "heart eyes". He would literally fall in love with Hak.

Hak has now a "daughter" and knows fully well, why he is unable to marry or else he would not see "Soo Won" as Yona. For as long as Gulfan is with him, he sees Soo Won as Yona. Therefore Hak can absolutely say this shit, because Hak knows Soo Won can do everything. Because Soo Won has become "the Queen".

????

Il loved Soowon

????

(Gaiden spoiler warning)

I already explained why I think otherwise, Anon. Lili said she would get it even after Yona gave it to Ogi. It never went anywhere.

Lily will become Soo Won´s wife, but never his queen. You were right. Lily will marry Soo Won, when he is not king anymore. Just think about it, that Lily will marry Soo Won, when he is not king anymore. You are great at character analysis. You know Lady Oscar. And I could mostly share your opinion about it, even when I love too much winning the game. You are interested in Wuthering Heights! You have a wide knowledge about these topics!!!

And we all "-correctly"-concluded, that Soo Won is still king together with Hak!!! You are so near the answer!!!

Yona got the hairpin and is now queen. So what does the hairpin mean?!!! For whom was the hairpin important?!! Who is now out and ruling with Soo Won?!!!!!!!

In Wuthering Heights Heathcliff, who was a kind person is horribly traumatized and abused later the "blonde children", even his own son, but he just cannot hurt the son of his worst enemy, his literal abuser, because he recognizes the one person, who truly loved him in that boy.

Cathy and Hareton, who is a mix between Heathcliff and Cathy, literally their child because Hareton went the "same way", made the same experiences as Heathcliff, are responsible that Heathcliff can finally give up. Hareton, who is "truly" his son in mind and character, can truly change Heathcliff. That is why Heathcliff dies at the end.

I have to admit "Wuthering Heights" is one of my absolute favorite books. I have read this book in a short time basically 5 times. I made lots of character analysis. I was basically part of another fandom, when this shit ending happened.

It is always a generational trauma. All these people are wearing masks. That is why she showed us the truth beneath the masks. That is why Shin ha continues to wear a mask.

He gave Soo Won honey, the possibility to be himself at least.

Because Soo Won was merely with a couple of people truly himself. And she gave us the last hint.

Why he wished to rescue his father so greatly. Soo Won always spoke truthfully around Gulfan. I was basically thinking: Damn!!!!

Gulfan is a reminder of his father - Yu hon. It means Soo Won mournt the only person, he could be truly himself with. His soft and rough side.

Only with his father Yu hon could Soo Won be truly himself. Gulfan is the key. He is Soo Won´s hairpin.

Now you have to find the person, with whom Soo Won spoke without Gulfan. Absolutely truthfully. In regard to Yona and Hak, because those two are his siblings. Hak was Yon hi, not Yona.

And it was obviously not Hak. The person, with whom Soo Won could talk like he truly was without anything. You know now Yona´s true identity. Because you said it all along. About Yona´s character flaw. Yona was never been too harmless. This person has the ability to go batshit...Yona wanted weapons, after all at the beginning. So she was cuddled endlessly, that she has never a reason to literally do this.

This person is like Yu hon.

Because Yu hon was Soo Won´s mother. The person, who loved Soo Won, like he was. With all his edges. Yona knew, that Yu hon was "different around Soo Won". He saw King Il in him and tried to "overcorrect" or else Soo Won would be laughed at.

But then there is the possibility, that King Il lied, too. Yu hon wished to go hawking with his brother. Yu hon gave Yon hi a hairpin. Arg...do I have turned around something again. The answer lies here...But how should we put this? One way or the other.

Maybe Soo Won really wished to marry Yona...he gave her the hairpin, after all. Unfortunately for him, she did not know his rough side.

Then King Il committed suicide. Because Soo Won had changed the person in his mind, while Soo Won thought he was correct. That is why it is Hak, who considers the hairpin as important. Because Soo Won thought it was Yona, but it was in reality Hak. I mean "hawk" is a pretty good implication, who Gulfan/Yu hon truly was. Yes, it could be like this.

Thank you for this question. Because of your clever question I see a little clearer. Soo Won thought the whole time, that Hak could kill him, but was mistaken, because Yona is truly like his mother. Pretty selfish. Hak is the selfless part, after all. And Yu hon was a pretty selfless person.

Yes, I do think it is truly, that Soo Won made a mistake, that was corrected by King Il. He knew Hak´s and Yona´s true character - King Il. (But one has to pay attention. One wrong turn and you have to go back to the beginning). It is truly difficult to find the truth.

That is the explanation for the murder of King Il. Because King Il knew, that Soo Won would make this mistake. That he thought that he could truly speak with Yona, but he has never shown her his rough side. Hak did know both sides, since Soo Won spoke freely with Gulfan.

(Gaiden spoiler warning)

I already explained why I think otherwise, Anon. Lili said she would get it even after Yona gave it to Ogi. It never went anywhere.

Lily will become Soo Won´s wife, but never his queen. You were right. Lily will marry Soo Won, when he is not king anymore. Just think about it, that Lily will marry Soo Won, when he is not king anymore. You are great at character analysis. You know Lady Oscar. And I could mostly share your opinion about it, even when I love too much winning the game. You are interested in Wuthering Heights! You have a wide knowledge about these topics!!!

And we all "-correctly"-concluded, that Soo Won is still king together with Hak!!! You are so near the answer!!!

Yona got the hairpin and is now queen. So what does the hairpin mean?!!! For whom was the hairpin important?!! Who is now out and ruling with Soo Won?!!!!!!!

In Wuthering Heights Heathcliff, who was a kind person is horribly traumatized and abused later the "blonde children", even his own son, but he just cannot hurt the son of his worst enemy, his literal abuser, because he recognizes the one person, who truly loved him in that boy.

Cathy and Hareton, who is a mix between Heathcliff and Cathy, literally their child because Hareton went the "same way", made the same experiences as Heathcliff, are responsible that Heathcliff can finally give up. Hareton, who is "truly" his son in mind and character, can truly change Heathcliff. That is why Heathcliff dies at the end.

I have to admit "Wuthering Heights" is one of my absolute favorite books. I have read this book in a short time basically 5 times. I made lots of character analysis. I was basically part of another fandom, when this shit ending happened.

It is always a generational trauma. All these people are wearing masks. That is why she showed us the truth beneath the masks. That is why Shin ha continues to wear a mask.

He gave Soo Won honey, the possibility to be himself at least.

Because Soo Won was merely with a couple of people truly himself. And she gave us the last hint.

Why he wished to rescue his father so greatly. Soo Won always spoke truthfully around Gulfan. I was basically thinking: Damn!!!!

Gulfan is a reminder of his father - Yu hon. It means Soo Won mournt the only person, he could be truly himself with. His soft and rough side.

Only with his father Yu hon could Soo Won be truly himself. Gulfan is the key. He is Soo Won´s hairpin.

Now you have to find the person, with whom Soo Won spoke without Gulfan. Absolutely truthfully. In regard to Yona and Hak, because those two are his siblings. Hak was Yon hi, not Yona.

And it was obviously not Hak. The person, with whom Soo Won could talk like he truly was without anything. You know now Yona´s true identity. Because you said it all along. About Yona´s character flaw. Yona was never been too harmless. This person has the ability to go batshit...Yona wanted weapons, after all at the beginning. So she was cuddled endlessly, that she has never a reason to literally do this.

This person is like Yu hon.

Because Yu hon was Soo Won´s mother. The person, who loved Soo Won, like he was. With all his edges. Yona knew, that Yu hon was "different around Soo Won". He saw King Il in him and tried to "overcorrect" or else Soo Won would be laughed at.

But then there is the possibility, that King Il lied, too. Yu hon wished to go hawking with his brother. Yu hon gave Yon hi a hairpin. Arg...do I have turned around something again. The answer lies here...But how should we put this? One way or the other.

Maybe Soo Won really wished to marry Yona...he gave her the hairpin, after all. Unfortunately for him, she did not know his rough side.

Then King Il committed suicide. Because Soo Won had changed the person in his mind, while Soo Won thought he was correct. That is why it is Hak, who considers the hairpin as important. Because Soo Won thought it was Yona, but it was in reality Hak. I mean "hawk" is a pretty good implication, who Gulfan/Yu hon truly was. Yes, it could be like this.

Thank you for this question. Because of your clever question I see a little clearer. Soo Won thought the whole time, that Hak could kill him, but was mistaken, because Yona is truly like his mother. Pretty selfish. Hak is the selfless part, after all. And Yu hon was a pretty selfless person.

Yes, I do think it is truly, that Soo Won made a mistake, that was corrected by King Il. He knew Hak´s and Yona´s true character - King Il. (But one has to pay attention. One wrong turn and you have to go back to the beginning). It is truly difficult to find the truth.

That is the explanation for the murder of King Il. Because King Il knew, that Soo Won would make this mistake. That he thought that he could truly speak with Yona, but he has never shown her his rough side. Hak did know both sides, since Soo Won spoke freely with Gulfan.

While I have not actually read it frfr, (I’ve been scrounging twitter and binging summaries and comments lol) I know how it ends and oh geez my heart.

I’m really glad Zeno gets to slack off. I have no doubt Yoon is going to yell at him before he becomes a true alcoholic, but I’m glad he’s enjoying himself 😭😭 gives me fuel for drunk Zeno fics lmao. I really wanted more of him figuring out what his next steps are, but he’s still biologically a kid who’s been carrying heavy shoulders for much too long. He’s got a right to make some stupid teenage choices, and I am more than willing to die on the Kaya reincarnation hill.

I’m going to go out on my precarious limb because personally I couldn’t care less what Val and Meinyan are doing, but I do appreciate them for hanging out with Yona. I’m glad they’re happy. Trade routes are the solution to everything. I know this, you know this, and the shared Hak and Soowon braincell know this. It makes me really happy that they’re working together again!! I doubt their relationship (Yona included, obv) can ever truly go back to the way it was, but they still care for each other!! Look I’m not going to lie because I REALLY wanted hakyona wedding, perfect excuse to bring everyone back together, happy hopeful ending, etc. But this is good too! And did enjoy the finale more than I am sad about it!!

Kusanagi’s words in the interview make even more sense now. That the happy hungry bunch are very close, and the fact that they are making new connections and meeting new friends doesn’t mean their bond is in any way diluted. They are all working towards the same future, a better future for Kouka, and just because they’re separated doesn’t change their past. They’re bound to run into each other (as proven by Hak’s side quest in gaiden 3) and they will always worry and care about each other. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Those who we consider family often aren’t those we spend day to day life with, but that doesn’t make those relationships any weaker or less valuable. The ending isn’t perfect, but everyone is alive, happy, thriving. And honestly, that was the one thing I asked for. I lowkey think I would’ve dropped the series out of heartbreak if anyone actually died (We don’t talk about the Five Stars. [we do talk about them actually but this is why we have an everyone lives au] and Kaya was already dead so she doesn’t count lol). It’s poetic, and something I genuinely appreciate. The ending was a good one that I very much enjoyed, and I’ll treasure every chapter every time I read it over again.

I wish nothing but the best for all the characters, and the people that worked so hard to bring this story to life. The excitement in the possibility of seeing the characters in the background of future stories isn’t lost on me!! I’ll be keeping an eye out for sure!

While I have not actually read it frfr, (I’ve been scrounging twitter and binging summaries and comments lol) I know how it ends and oh geez my heart.

I’m really glad Zeno gets to slack off. I have no doubt Yoon is going to yell at him before he becomes a true alcoholic, but I’m glad he’s enjoying himself 😭😭 gives me fuel for drunk Zeno fics lmao. I really wanted more of him figuring out what his next steps are, but he’s still biologically a kid who’s been carrying heavy shoulders for much too long. He’s got a right to make some stupid teenage choices, and I am more than willing to die on the Kaya reincarnation hill.

I’m going to go out on my precarious limb because personally I couldn’t care less what Val and Meinyan are doing, but I do appreciate them for hanging out with Yona. I’m glad they’re happy. Trade routes are the solution to everything. I know this, you know this, and the shared Hak and Soowon braincell know this. It makes me really happy that they’re working together again!! I doubt their relationship (Yona included, obv) can ever truly go back to the way it was, but they still care for each other!! Look I’m not going to lie because I REALLY wanted hakyona wedding, perfect excuse to bring everyone back together, happy hopeful ending, etc. But this is good too! And did enjoy the finale more than I am sad about it!!

Kusanagi’s words in the interview make even more sense now. That the happy hungry bunch are very close, and the fact that they are making new connections and meeting new friends doesn’t mean their bond is in any way diluted. They are all working towards the same future, a better future for Kouka, and just because they’re separated doesn’t change their past. They’re bound to run into each other (as proven by Hak’s side quest in gaiden 3) and they will always worry and care about each other. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Those who we consider family often aren’t those we spend day to day life with, but that doesn’t make those relationships any weaker or less valuable. The ending isn’t perfect, but everyone is alive, happy, thriving. And honestly, that was the one thing I asked for. I lowkey think I would’ve dropped the series out of heartbreak if anyone actually died (We don’t talk about the Five Stars. [we do talk about them actually but this is why we have an everyone lives au] and Kaya was already dead so she doesn’t count lol). It’s poetic, and something I genuinely appreciate. The ending was a good one that I very much enjoyed, and I’ll treasure every chapter every time I read it over again.

I wish nothing but the best for all the characters, and the people that worked so hard to bring this story to life. The excitement in the possibility of seeing the characters in the background of future stories isn’t lost on me!! I’ll be keeping an eye out for sure!

(Gaiden spoiler warning)

I already explained why I think otherwise, Anon. Lili said she would get it even after Yona gave it to Ogi. It never went anywhere.

(Gaiden spoiler warning)

I already explained why I think otherwise, Anon. Lili said she would get it even after Yona gave it to Ogi. It never went anywhere.

Lily will become Soo Won´s wife, but never his queen. You were right. Lily will marry Soo Won, when he is not king anymore. Just think about it, that Lily will marry Soo Won, when he is not king anymore. You are great at character analysis. You know Lady Oscar. And I could mostly share your opinion about it, even when I love too much winning the game. You are interested in Wuthering Heights! You have a wide knowledge about these topics!!!

And we all "-correctly"-concluded, that Soo Won is still king together with Hak!!! You are so near the answer!!!

Yona got the hairpin and is now queen. So what does the hairpin mean?!!! For whom was the hairpin important?!! Who is now out and ruling with Soo Won?!!!!!!!

Like "oh no I'm dead bitter smile" cheap shock value when you're gonna be back in like a chapter anyway.

Everything was stacked against him, and he didn't have the dragons, the very thing Yona was told she NEEDED or else he'd die. And Yona would have that regret she never told him she loved him. That her naiveness costed him his life, because she was careless and got captured AGAIN.