Natori's depression is coming...

I really don't see this happening. If she would still be thinking that she's just a bother for Lapis, sure, but now that she knows how important she is to Lapis, that Lapis has only been pushing her away to keep her safe, she should have all the motivation she needs to keep fighting for a happy ending.

Oh finally!
A progression between Natori san and Lapis sama.
Oh ho! Lapis sama breaks the curse and lets her go. Wow.

We now know the true feelings of Lapis sama towards Natori san.
Lapis sama's reluctance to execute her plan shows that she has a change of mind.
That means...
DRUM ROLLS

The theme of this manga can be
Love can save a person, even if she's a villain!

last edited at Jul 24, 2025 6:02AM

I know it's definitely not happening, but I feel like this would be more interesting if she really fucking killed her, in cold blood, to take her rightful place as a queen or whatever. How would Natori react to that?

I think that Lapis being laughably evil would be too much, but the twist of her being Aurora does it feel like a way to make her a sympathetic villain, like in every other isekai where the villain is the love interest/protagonist. The way Lapis was being presented as being completely wrong and aware of it but not trying to justify her made this series stand out in the genre but now is falling back in line.

I think that Lapis being laughably evil would be too much, but the twist of her being Aurora does it feel like a way to make her a sympathetic villain, like in every other isekai where the villain is the love interest/protagonist. The way Lapis was being presented as being completely wrong and aware of it but not trying to justify her made this series stand out in the genre but now is falling back in line.

I don’t get this sentiment or how it changes anything. She’s still planning to do potentially heinous things, and the story has hinted at her past almost from the start. The original assumption, based on flashes of the past, was that a girl she cared about was killed (we thought her sister); now, it might also be that she took that girl’s place after her death. But what does that change?

She was never going to be a mustache-twirling comic book villain--as that would be poor writing--but she is planning on doing bad and bloody things that she knows are bad (which is why she wants Natori to flee). Her having a tragic explanation for her rage doesn't change that, as having reasons makes her sympathetic, human, and layered, but doesn't excuse what she'll do. The story hasn’t suggested that we’re meant to root for her in her current state. It's been for Natori to save Lapis from herself. I don't think we're heading to a future where Natori agrees with Lapis' current plans.

last edited at Jul 25, 2025 2:42PM

Because is giving the plot a convenient out to "wash" her hands and letting her ride off into the sunset with Natori when everything is said and done, is slowly shifting the narrative so the anti-nobility faction are the true bad guys of the story and so, it kind of justifies Lapis crusade. It turns Lapis from a cold, calculating villain into a grieving child lashing out at the world.

I guess is just me but I think the narrative was more compelling when there was not a huge "freudian excuse" to justify Lapis' actions

Because is giving the plot a convenient out to "wash" her hands and letting her ride off into the sunset with Natori when everything is said and done, is slowly shifting the narrative so the anti-nobility faction are the true bad guys of the story and so, it kind of justifies Lapis crusade. It turns Lapis from a cold, calculating villain into a grieving child lashing out at the world.

I guess is just me but I think the narrative was more compelling when there was not a huge "freudian excuse" to justify Lapis' actions

But Lapis has always had a reason for her current plans. The series hasn't been shy about that, hinting at it from very early on; it's just not fully revealed her reasoning. The story has also always been about Natori's goal to save Lapis from herself. That's its premise. Lapis having a reason for her actions doesn't make her actions excusable, and having multiple bad actors doesn't alter the story or make her plans less harmful.

To me, the answer isn't "Lapis good and Anti-nobility bad," it's potentially "Lapis's actions bad and Anti-nobility also bad." Real-world villains have reasons, but they are still villains. I think we're focused on "justifications" when these are just "explanations," or causes, which all actions have. All she's been is cold and calculating--how will knowing her backstory change what we have seen "in-person"? Now we just might know why she is cold and calculating. IDK, I just don't see what changes here, but maybe we have had different impressions of the series from the start.

last edited at Jul 25, 2025 4:38PM

it hurts so good. they really get the knife deliciously far in there before twisting it. God it's so good.

My heart nooooo!!
It was going so well and I was so happy... and then BAM shattering your hopes and dreams into a million pieces.
Now "Lapis" is almost confirmed Aurora

If this doesn't end with both Diana and Natori reaching their hands out to Aurora to save her from her depression and dark thoughts, I will eat my pillow in rage.

Lapis is objectively a cooler and more unique name than Aurora, and honestly that’s the main reason I don’t want the Aurora is Lapis theory to be true

(/ω＼)

(I’ll prolly delete this later)

Lapis is objectively a cooler and more unique name than Aurora, and honestly that’s the main reason I don’t want the Aurora is Lapis theory to be true

(/ω＼)

(I’ll prolly delete this later)

Understandable. That's the best argument I've heard so far.

I binged this today (up to chapter 29 which hasn't been translated yet) and I will do anything for Diana. SHE IS SO. FUCKING. PRECIOUS. Her love for Natori has been the true highlight of the manga for me. Her unconditional dedication is something to BEHOLD. I have never wished for a poly ending more in my LIFE.

Diana only cares about Natori's happiness but GIRL WHAT ABOUT YOURS. YOU DESERVE IT TOO GODDAMMIT

Hmm, we've derailed for a moment here, but perhaps we'll be back on track very soon.

Allie be like "Just here to pick up my girl".
And then invites her home.
Terrific.

But also, Diana and Natori working together to pierce Lapis' secrets, to help her despite her rejection ? Yes please. More. Forget tensions, jealousy, and Diana's earlier obsession. They should be on the same side, not letting unrequited love drag them apart.

Also... I can't help but think that a family at the rank of dukes, who already have a daughter, adopting another from an orphanage, sounds a bit ominous. It could absolutely be an innocent act of kindness, but I don't really expect it.

last edited at Aug 26, 2025 3:39AM

Omg I love this manga

Allie be like "Just here to pick up my girl".
And then invites her home.
Terrific.

But also, Diana and Natori working together to pierce Lapis' secrets, to help her despite her rejection ? Yes please. More. Forget tensions, jealousy, and Diana's earlier obsession. They should be on the same side, not letting unrequited love drag them apart.

Also... I can't help but think that a family at the rank of dukes, who already have a daughter, adopting another from an orphanage, sounds a bit ominous. It could absolutely be an innocent act of kindness, but I don't really expect it.

also because we can assume they look suspicsously alike

Also... I can't help but think that a family at the rank of dukes, who already have a daughter, adopting another from an orphanage, sounds a bit ominous. It could absolutely be an innocent act of kindness, but I don't really expect it.

I'm sure it was a wholesome family.

Allie be like "Just here to pick up my girl".
And then invites her home.
Terrific.

Yeah. Allie saw The Green Yuri this week and decided to step up her game--just up and dragged her crush (soon to be GF) away lol. Diana is a good support to Natori and now Allie is Diana's support. They've quickly become a duo.

last edited at Aug 26, 2025 6:14AM

Oh yeah, Aurora is definitely "Lapis". Even her bangs curve to her right, where Lapis' curve to her left.

last edited at Aug 26, 2025 9:25AM

Also... I can't help but think that a family at the rank of dukes, who already have a daughter, adopting another from an orphanage, sounds a bit ominous. It could absolutely be an innocent act of kindness, but I don't really expect it.

It’s extra strange to pick a girl that looks so similar to a royal. But since it seems like public knowledge there was an adopted commoner sister it couldn’t have been a body double hire for security reasons or they would have hidden her unless needed. But here we are so…

Diana is like a shoujo protagonist to me in her perseverance, while Lapis and Natori are struggling with some Josei-like issues, and the contrast is making it hard for me to care about Diana when she's with Natori. Diana and Allie? Super cute. Diana and Natori? I'm like, girl she's got bigger problems to deal with than you, and you still can't get her name right, please no.

Now that it is certain, we have a switcheroo plot in our hands, I am really curious to see the justification for it. Since everyone is aware of the Tenebrae adopting a commoner orphan, the idea that she could simply replace Lapis without noticing is really dumb, unless everyone would be into the plan, but that sounds even more ridiculous.

Really interesting how invested Gran is into making "Lapis" happy, maybe he actually has feelings for her?

Allie subtly advancing her ship with Diana is adorable while it hurts to see Natori being so utterly depressed.

Also, the first english volume is coming out this week.

Diana is like a shoujo protagonist to me in her perseverance, while Lapis and Natori are struggling with some Josei-like issues, and the contrast is making it hard for me to care about Diana when she's with Natori. Diana and Allie? Super cute. Diana and Natori? I'm like, girl she's got bigger problems to deal with than you, and you still can't get her name right, please no.

That's hilarious but also a neat way to put it. I feel the same.

Also, the first english volume is coming out this week.

Yeah I'll be gobbling those up.

last edited at Aug 26, 2025 12:39PM

I love the casual use of flight magic. First Allie abducting Diana, then Diana going "the roof, you say?" and jumping out the window.

Maybe we'll get flying makeouts, like some NanoFate doujins.

jeez lesbians can never say i love you it always has to be something overly dramatic