straightforwardly (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
straightforwardly) wrote2020-12-12 05:52 pm
straightforwardly) wrote2020-12-12 05:52 pm
231 | Rose of Segunda feelings
What’s this, a wild update?
Earlier this week, I played The Rose of Segunda, and I’ve had a hard time thinking about anything else ever since.
I know that royalty/fantasy-themed otome games aren’t anything particularly unique—even the basic premise of this game, “children of nobility gather together at the castle to try to woo the heir to the kingdom”, is definitely one I’ve seen before. It’s not necessarily a bad thing—I like that kind of royalty/fantasy-themed set-up for my otome—but it does mean that it’s harder for a game like this to stand out. Nonetheless, this game did manage to stand out, at least to me! There was a lot of the usual things I expect from this sort of game, but there was enough that felt fresh and different (or, if not that, then at least very much calculated to appeal to me, personally) that I ended up falling more and more in love with it as I played.
One quick note—the main character’s default name is Iolanthe, and I’ll be calling her that in this entry, but it’s not actually what she was called in my playthrough. I initially didn’t realize that she had a default name—the way the game presents the choice is a bit unclear—and it wasn’t until after I’d already completed all the routes that I found out otherwise. That’s why you’ll see her being called “Mina” in the screenshots I share in this entry; I named her that because her brother’s nickname for her is “Minette” and that was the first vaguely similar name I could come up with.
I played the routes in this order:
Sofia -> Charlotte -> Bastien -> Guillaume -> Leopold -> Frederique
and it worked out basically perfectly, in terms of my usual “attempt to sandwich the routes I think I won’t like as much in-between the routes I think I will” approach to visual novels.
I’ll be honest: the main reason I picked up this game was because I’d been spoiled that the identity of the secret route—which you can only unlock if you beat all the other routes first—is that of the main character’s brother, Frederique. Which, incest routes aren’t unheard of for otome, but I was particularly pleased with this one—though there was no kiss, it was unambiguously romantic and didn’t go with any of the standard “oh btw one of us is adopted” cop-outs I’m used to in these kinds of routes. But more on that in a bit, when I get to talking about his route!
In my first playthrough, I was initially a little uncertain about who I should romance first—I instantly adored Frederique, but, of course, his route isn’t unlocked until all the others are done, so I had to choose someone else. But Sofia then very quickly won me over, and even now she’s my second favorite LI, and one of my favorite routes. She’s also definitely the LI who appeals to me the most personally—I mean, an intelligent, scholarly woman who loves nature and her family? Sign me up!
I also played as scholar!Iolanthe in all of my playthroughs, so this dynamic of two intelligent women stifled under society’s expectations coming together and being able to be themselves with one another is just… I really, really like it.
And I loved the reveal about Sofia’s family—that she’s not being forced to marry because her family wants a title to go with her wealth, but that she’s chosen to sacrifice herself to a practical marriage because that’s the only way she can see for saving her family from ruin! I have such a weakness for characters in historical/historical fantasy settings approach marriage from a practical rather than a romantic standpoint—though, unfortunately, it also means that she’s the one LI whose probable fate on the routes where Iolanthe doesn’t romance her distresses me the most.
THAT ALL BEING SAID. Though most of this route was a solidly done story which I enjoyed experiencing, but wouldn’t have felt a strong need to play through again, the ending of this route turned it into one of the three routes that left me absolutely shrieking from the strength of how much I adored it and also how much it appealed to me personally.
BECAUSE FREDERIQUE. I’m trying to write about this rationally, but it’s so hard! HE PROPOSES MARRIAGE TO SOFIA SO THAT SHE CAN SAVE HER FAMILY AND BE TOGETHER WITH HIS SISTER.
Like. My love of practical marriages means that I’m also really into queer couples in historical/historical fantasy settings marrying their lover’s sibling in order to be together, especially especially especially ESPECIALLY when the sibling is also in on it and understands. But then you add in Frederique’s obviously being in love with his sister and just. HIS PROPOSING TO THE LOVER OF THE SISTER HE’S IN LOVE WITH JUST SO HIS SISTER CAN BE HAPPY I CAN’T I CAN’T I CANNOT BELIEVE I ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE THIS ON MY SCREEN
HE EVEN FLAT-OUT REFERS TO IT AS A DECISION BEING MADE DUE TO HIS LOVE FOR IOLANTHE. HE ASKS IOLANTHE IF SHE “ACCEPTS HIS PROPOSAL”. JUST, JUST, LOOK AT ALL OF THIS:
Basically, I spent a lot of time shrieking, and I instantly wanted to write post-canon fic about the three person household they (canonically plan to!) set up afterwards and all the complicated emotional dynamics that might follow.
Next, I did Charlotte’s route. I was intrigued by her being one of Iolanthe’s “rivals” for the prince, as well as the set-up about her being the “stupidest person in all of Segunda”—it seemed ripe for the type of story about uncovering hidden depths that I really like. And it was! I wasn’t left shrieking with the strength of my feelings on this route, but it was very solidly done and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I loved the emphasis on kindness in this route: both Iolanthe’s kindness towards Charlotte and Charlotte’s own inherent sweetness. She’s more naive and ignorant than truly stupid, and I love how the game draws out the things she’s good at (basically, practical applications of things rather than theoretical), and the growth she goes through in the epilogue to her route was satisfying to see.
Also, I like how the ending to her route—the two of them travelling the world together—is more of the ending that one would typically expect from a character like Sofia, while the marriage set-up of Sofia’s route is more of what one would expect from a character like Charlotte. It’s a nice way to play with player expectations and give each of them their own individuality.
After that, I went for Bastien’s route, which was—kind of dull, to be honest? My expectations for this route shifted several times before playing it. My initial reaction to “son of the steward” was a solid “meh”, but his dynamic with Frederique and Iolanthe in the beginning / non-romance specific portions of the game was pretty fun—in fact, I originally was having some OT3 Frederique/Bastien/Iolanthe feelings.
But, ultimately, while the “close as children, but grew apart due to differing stations in life” set-up can be fun, I felt like this was a bog-standard take on it, and I really disliked how… unenthusiastic Bastien felt about the romance at times? The conflict between duty and feelings can be a lot of fun, but I feel like he fell down too hard on the side of duty, without us getting to see enough of the conflict that makes us want to root for the romance.
Though, honestly, one of the things that really killed it for me was how he seemed to be almost regretting?? his decision in the end?? after he’d already run off and married her??? He just felt so wishy-washy about the relationship, and it made me feel like Iolanthe deserved so much better—and it also made my interest in Frederique/Bastien/Iolanthe wither, though maybe his route in the Thorns of War sequel will wake it up again; we’ll see.
Though—getting back to my Frederique/Iolanthe nonsense—I did laugh hard at this exchange occurring IMMEDIATELY after they decided that they wanted to be together.
(though, considering the conversation he has with Iolanthe in Frederique’s route, I now can’t help but wonder if he had a split-second where he thought he might have accidentally agreed to an OT3, ahaha)
Next I did the prince’s route—out of all the routes, I expected to like his and Leopold’s the least, and in his case, I was absolutely correct. Although it was clear from the very beginning that Guillaume is just as trapped in the role he has to play as Iolanthe and the other girls trying to woo him, I found the set-up of her marrying the person she was sent to try to marry rather dull.
In general, the route was basically what I’d expected, with the two of them discovering the other’s true selves behind the masks they wear, but, again, it wasn’t really my thing as a romance, and Guillaume lost my sympathy forever with an outburst he had mid-route. I understand what the game was going for—and I love the scolding Iolanthe gives him here:
—but the fact that he would even think to say those things to her tells me that he internalized his father’s teachings more than I’m comfortable with, even though he mostly strives towards a different path.
That all being said, there was one thing I liked about his route, and that was how it made me begin to grow aware of the political undercurrents within the game. There’d been hints of it throughout, but it was only when I played this route that I started to realize that the writers genuinely meant for his father to be seen as a tyrant and started to pick up on some of the political undercurrents shaping the world of the game.
But that was just the start: it wasn’t until I got to Leopold’s route that my understanding of the world and politics was blown full open, and it’s because of the reveals in this route that I am so, so, so very hyped for the Thorns of War sequel, which seems to be intending on taking those implications and spinning it out into a full-blown story.
I loved, loved, loved all the political reveals, and this route also had one of the iddiest scenes in the whole game—Leopold went so fast from being a character I couldn’t care less about to being one of my favorite routes in the game.
One of the reveals I loved best, though, was that of Iolanthe and Frederique’s mother. One of the first things we learn in this game is that they, the di Parisi family, is the wealthiest and most influential noble family in the country, and with that in mind, her children view her determination to have Iolanthe marry the prince as being born of nothing more than pride and ambition.
It’s only in Leopold’s route that you discover how precarious that seemingly solid position is: their mother has to work incessantly on keeping the king convinced of their loyalty, because if he sees them as a threat, he’d be fully willing to destroy them just as thoroughly as he destroyed Leopold’s family. Her wanting to Iolanthe to marry the prince regardless of the cost isn’t because of pride or ambition, but because she sees it as the best way to keep their family safe from the king, and it gives such an interesting depth to her character.
And god, the growing realization that LEOPOLD IS PLANNING A REBELLION just filled me with the utmost of glee. Especially when I suddenly remembered other comments made throughout the game about how the political system works and realized there was a reason for those comments. It wasn’t just flavour text, but foreshadowing!
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE SEQUEL TO UNPACK ALL OF THIS, oh my goddddddd
ALSO THE THRONE SCENE THE THRONE SCENE god, that was the iddiest thing in the world to me—I love “I will make you queen” scenarios, and just, Leopold’s clear respect for her abilities and just all the tension of his placing her upon the throne, both of them knowing it would be treason if they were caught and. Just. It was all very, very good.
AND NOW WE COME TO FREDERIQUE’S ROUTE. And god, what a route it is. Or, rather, relationship, seeing as their bond is something that spans out across the entire game, no matter whose route you’re on. Just, I love Frederique and I love his relationship with Iolanthe and everything the game chooses to do with it.
Already in the beginning of the game, it’s stunningly obvious that he’s thoroughly in love with Iolanthe. He’s the one person who is 100% on Iolanthe’s side, no matter what. There’s this bit that happens near the beginning of the game that I already really liked in my first playthrough:
—But now I love it even more, because I know how absolutely true it is. He’s so troubled when Iolanthe chooses to marry the prince (and, to a lesser extent, when she marries Leopold), and even with the other LIs, there’s always a beat of hesitation where you can see just how much the thought of Iolanthe being with someone else affects him—but he always, always sets his own feelings aside and does whatever it is that she needs in order to be happy, because he is there for her, and he does support her.
Even more than that, I love how he’s clearly constantly absolutely delighted with everything she is and chooses to be. There’s this one scene I adore where Iolanthe makes a sarcastic comment in the sweetest and most earnest manner possible, and the screen cuts to Frederique snorting with laughter. In general there’s just so many moments where he’s angry on her behalf, both when it comes to the bigger picture—
or when it comes to (relatively) smaller things—
or just generally singing her praises—
or otherwise expressing how completely and fully he adores her.
And they’re always so happy when they’re together—both of them are! So many of their scenes together feature them smiling or laughing together—or teasing a longsuffering Bastien! If the game wanted to sell me on them being utterly smitten with one another, it succeeded.
Honestly—there’s this moment where, if you choose to end the romance at the very end of his route, Iolanthe acknowledges that she’s never happier than when she’s with him, but also wonders if that’s in part because they never allowed anyone else in. And after reading that, I can’t help but wonder if that’s what she’s doing in all of the other routes: giving someone else a chance to be let into her heart, instead of losing herself in her bond with her brother.
Anyways. I do have more to say about these two (and also this game in general—the bee scene!!!—but mostly just these two), but I’ve spent literal hours writing this up and do have other things that I want to get to today, so I’m going to leave it at this. Basically, tl;dr I am shipping Frederique/Iolanthe so incredibly hard.
Earlier this week, I played The Rose of Segunda, and I’ve had a hard time thinking about anything else ever since.
I know that royalty/fantasy-themed otome games aren’t anything particularly unique—even the basic premise of this game, “children of nobility gather together at the castle to try to woo the heir to the kingdom”, is definitely one I’ve seen before. It’s not necessarily a bad thing—I like that kind of royalty/fantasy-themed set-up for my otome—but it does mean that it’s harder for a game like this to stand out. Nonetheless, this game did manage to stand out, at least to me! There was a lot of the usual things I expect from this sort of game, but there was enough that felt fresh and different (or, if not that, then at least very much calculated to appeal to me, personally) that I ended up falling more and more in love with it as I played.
One quick note—the main character’s default name is Iolanthe, and I’ll be calling her that in this entry, but it’s not actually what she was called in my playthrough. I initially didn’t realize that she had a default name—the way the game presents the choice is a bit unclear—and it wasn’t until after I’d already completed all the routes that I found out otherwise. That’s why you’ll see her being called “Mina” in the screenshots I share in this entry; I named her that because her brother’s nickname for her is “Minette” and that was the first vaguely similar name I could come up with.
I played the routes in this order:
Sofia -> Charlotte -> Bastien -> Guillaume -> Leopold -> Frederique
and it worked out basically perfectly, in terms of my usual “attempt to sandwich the routes I think I won’t like as much in-between the routes I think I will” approach to visual novels.
I’ll be honest: the main reason I picked up this game was because I’d been spoiled that the identity of the secret route—which you can only unlock if you beat all the other routes first—is that of the main character’s brother, Frederique. Which, incest routes aren’t unheard of for otome, but I was particularly pleased with this one—though there was no kiss, it was unambiguously romantic and didn’t go with any of the standard “oh btw one of us is adopted” cop-outs I’m used to in these kinds of routes. But more on that in a bit, when I get to talking about his route!
In my first playthrough, I was initially a little uncertain about who I should romance first—I instantly adored Frederique, but, of course, his route isn’t unlocked until all the others are done, so I had to choose someone else. But Sofia then very quickly won me over, and even now she’s my second favorite LI, and one of my favorite routes. She’s also definitely the LI who appeals to me the most personally—I mean, an intelligent, scholarly woman who loves nature and her family? Sign me up!
I also played as scholar!Iolanthe in all of my playthroughs, so this dynamic of two intelligent women stifled under society’s expectations coming together and being able to be themselves with one another is just… I really, really like it.
And I loved the reveal about Sofia’s family—that she’s not being forced to marry because her family wants a title to go with her wealth, but that she’s chosen to sacrifice herself to a practical marriage because that’s the only way she can see for saving her family from ruin! I have such a weakness for characters in historical/historical fantasy settings approach marriage from a practical rather than a romantic standpoint—though, unfortunately, it also means that she’s the one LI whose probable fate on the routes where Iolanthe doesn’t romance her distresses me the most.
THAT ALL BEING SAID. Though most of this route was a solidly done story which I enjoyed experiencing, but wouldn’t have felt a strong need to play through again, the ending of this route turned it into one of the three routes that left me absolutely shrieking from the strength of how much I adored it and also how much it appealed to me personally.
BECAUSE FREDERIQUE. I’m trying to write about this rationally, but it’s so hard! HE PROPOSES MARRIAGE TO SOFIA SO THAT SHE CAN SAVE HER FAMILY AND BE TOGETHER WITH HIS SISTER.
Like. My love of practical marriages means that I’m also really into queer couples in historical/historical fantasy settings marrying their lover’s sibling in order to be together, especially especially especially ESPECIALLY when the sibling is also in on it and understands. But then you add in Frederique’s obviously being in love with his sister and just. HIS PROPOSING TO THE LOVER OF THE SISTER HE’S IN LOVE WITH JUST SO HIS SISTER CAN BE HAPPY I CAN’T I CAN’T I CANNOT BELIEVE I ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE THIS ON MY SCREEN
HE EVEN FLAT-OUT REFERS TO IT AS A DECISION BEING MADE DUE TO HIS LOVE FOR IOLANTHE. HE ASKS IOLANTHE IF SHE “ACCEPTS HIS PROPOSAL”. JUST, JUST, LOOK AT ALL OF THIS:
Basically, I spent a lot of time shrieking, and I instantly wanted to write post-canon fic about the three person household they (canonically plan to!) set up afterwards and all the complicated emotional dynamics that might follow.
Next, I did Charlotte’s route. I was intrigued by her being one of Iolanthe’s “rivals” for the prince, as well as the set-up about her being the “stupidest person in all of Segunda”—it seemed ripe for the type of story about uncovering hidden depths that I really like. And it was! I wasn’t left shrieking with the strength of my feelings on this route, but it was very solidly done and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I loved the emphasis on kindness in this route: both Iolanthe’s kindness towards Charlotte and Charlotte’s own inherent sweetness. She’s more naive and ignorant than truly stupid, and I love how the game draws out the things she’s good at (basically, practical applications of things rather than theoretical), and the growth she goes through in the epilogue to her route was satisfying to see.
Also, I like how the ending to her route—the two of them travelling the world together—is more of the ending that one would typically expect from a character like Sofia, while the marriage set-up of Sofia’s route is more of what one would expect from a character like Charlotte. It’s a nice way to play with player expectations and give each of them their own individuality.
After that, I went for Bastien’s route, which was—kind of dull, to be honest? My expectations for this route shifted several times before playing it. My initial reaction to “son of the steward” was a solid “meh”, but his dynamic with Frederique and Iolanthe in the beginning / non-romance specific portions of the game was pretty fun—in fact, I originally was having some OT3 Frederique/Bastien/Iolanthe feelings.
But, ultimately, while the “close as children, but grew apart due to differing stations in life” set-up can be fun, I felt like this was a bog-standard take on it, and I really disliked how… unenthusiastic Bastien felt about the romance at times? The conflict between duty and feelings can be a lot of fun, but I feel like he fell down too hard on the side of duty, without us getting to see enough of the conflict that makes us want to root for the romance.
Though, honestly, one of the things that really killed it for me was how he seemed to be almost regretting?? his decision in the end?? after he’d already run off and married her??? He just felt so wishy-washy about the relationship, and it made me feel like Iolanthe deserved so much better—and it also made my interest in Frederique/Bastien/Iolanthe wither, though maybe his route in the Thorns of War sequel will wake it up again; we’ll see.
Though—getting back to my Frederique/Iolanthe nonsense—I did laugh hard at this exchange occurring IMMEDIATELY after they decided that they wanted to be together.
(though, considering the conversation he has with Iolanthe in Frederique’s route, I now can’t help but wonder if he had a split-second where he thought he might have accidentally agreed to an OT3, ahaha)
Next I did the prince’s route—out of all the routes, I expected to like his and Leopold’s the least, and in his case, I was absolutely correct. Although it was clear from the very beginning that Guillaume is just as trapped in the role he has to play as Iolanthe and the other girls trying to woo him, I found the set-up of her marrying the person she was sent to try to marry rather dull.
In general, the route was basically what I’d expected, with the two of them discovering the other’s true selves behind the masks they wear, but, again, it wasn’t really my thing as a romance, and Guillaume lost my sympathy forever with an outburst he had mid-route. I understand what the game was going for—and I love the scolding Iolanthe gives him here:
—but the fact that he would even think to say those things to her tells me that he internalized his father’s teachings more than I’m comfortable with, even though he mostly strives towards a different path.
That all being said, there was one thing I liked about his route, and that was how it made me begin to grow aware of the political undercurrents within the game. There’d been hints of it throughout, but it was only when I played this route that I started to realize that the writers genuinely meant for his father to be seen as a tyrant and started to pick up on some of the political undercurrents shaping the world of the game.
But that was just the start: it wasn’t until I got to Leopold’s route that my understanding of the world and politics was blown full open, and it’s because of the reveals in this route that I am so, so, so very hyped for the Thorns of War sequel, which seems to be intending on taking those implications and spinning it out into a full-blown story.
I loved, loved, loved all the political reveals, and this route also had one of the iddiest scenes in the whole game—Leopold went so fast from being a character I couldn’t care less about to being one of my favorite routes in the game.
One of the reveals I loved best, though, was that of Iolanthe and Frederique’s mother. One of the first things we learn in this game is that they, the di Parisi family, is the wealthiest and most influential noble family in the country, and with that in mind, her children view her determination to have Iolanthe marry the prince as being born of nothing more than pride and ambition.
It’s only in Leopold’s route that you discover how precarious that seemingly solid position is: their mother has to work incessantly on keeping the king convinced of their loyalty, because if he sees them as a threat, he’d be fully willing to destroy them just as thoroughly as he destroyed Leopold’s family. Her wanting to Iolanthe to marry the prince regardless of the cost isn’t because of pride or ambition, but because she sees it as the best way to keep their family safe from the king, and it gives such an interesting depth to her character.
And god, the growing realization that LEOPOLD IS PLANNING A REBELLION just filled me with the utmost of glee. Especially when I suddenly remembered other comments made throughout the game about how the political system works and realized there was a reason for those comments. It wasn’t just flavour text, but foreshadowing!
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE SEQUEL TO UNPACK ALL OF THIS, oh my goddddddd
ALSO THE THRONE SCENE THE THRONE SCENE god, that was the iddiest thing in the world to me—I love “I will make you queen” scenarios, and just, Leopold’s clear respect for her abilities and just all the tension of his placing her upon the throne, both of them knowing it would be treason if they were caught and. Just. It was all very, very good.
AND NOW WE COME TO FREDERIQUE’S ROUTE. And god, what a route it is. Or, rather, relationship, seeing as their bond is something that spans out across the entire game, no matter whose route you’re on. Just, I love Frederique and I love his relationship with Iolanthe and everything the game chooses to do with it.
Already in the beginning of the game, it’s stunningly obvious that he’s thoroughly in love with Iolanthe. He’s the one person who is 100% on Iolanthe’s side, no matter what. There’s this bit that happens near the beginning of the game that I already really liked in my first playthrough:
—But now I love it even more, because I know how absolutely true it is. He’s so troubled when Iolanthe chooses to marry the prince (and, to a lesser extent, when she marries Leopold), and even with the other LIs, there’s always a beat of hesitation where you can see just how much the thought of Iolanthe being with someone else affects him—but he always, always sets his own feelings aside and does whatever it is that she needs in order to be happy, because he is there for her, and he does support her.
Even more than that, I love how he’s clearly constantly absolutely delighted with everything she is and chooses to be. There’s this one scene I adore where Iolanthe makes a sarcastic comment in the sweetest and most earnest manner possible, and the screen cuts to Frederique snorting with laughter. In general there’s just so many moments where he’s angry on her behalf, both when it comes to the bigger picture—
or when it comes to (relatively) smaller things—
or just generally singing her praises—
or otherwise expressing how completely and fully he adores her.
And they’re always so happy when they’re together—both of them are! So many of their scenes together feature them smiling or laughing together—or teasing a longsuffering Bastien! If the game wanted to sell me on them being utterly smitten with one another, it succeeded.
Honestly—there’s this moment where, if you choose to end the romance at the very end of his route, Iolanthe acknowledges that she’s never happier than when she’s with him, but also wonders if that’s in part because they never allowed anyone else in. And after reading that, I can’t help but wonder if that’s what she’s doing in all of the other routes: giving someone else a chance to be let into her heart, instead of losing herself in her bond with her brother.
Anyways. I do have more to say about these two (and also this game in general—the bee scene!!!—but mostly just these two), but I’ve spent literal hours writing this up and do have other things that I want to get to today, so I’m going to leave it at this. Basically, tl;dr I am shipping Frederique/Iolanthe so incredibly hard.