#puuuuuu

Sooo it's time for that almost weekly thing I do when I watch this show.

Naturally I'm in an outrage and also distraught. Alibaba had it completely right when he wished Kougyoku were a despicable person so he would have an easier time denying Kouen.

But wow was that sneaky of Kouen, driving a wedge between Alibaba and Sinbad called Balbad. I guess I was right a while back when I once said to a friend that the whole thing about making a big fluff on the boat about Alibaba's love life was preparation for serious shit about to go down.

I don't know how to feel or what to think at the moment. My emotions lie with Alibaba, as do most of the readership I assume. It was a very good trick for Kouen to use, because even if Alibaba is honest with Kougyoku (which I don't think he could be since she clearly doesn't know about the leverage and their deal) I don't think there's much they can do. Kougyoku might not be opposed to the wedding herself, but she might be for Alibaba's sake. And even if she is, there's no way Kouen would respect her wishes. If he's this ruthless to achieve his goals, there's no way he'd follow Kougyoku's pleas.

UNLESS Kougyoku decides to exile herself from the Kou empire? That way there would be no princess to marry off and half of Alibaba's incentive to change alliances would disappear (because yeah let's face it he will have to carry on the blood line eventually and while it's not a priority now, it's something he'll have to remember later on). 

AghhhhhhhhhhHHHHH Alibaba I'm so sorry I'm so frustrated and lost I can't SEE you as part of the Kou empire at all please don't give in!