This is a 9/10 story. The character arcs and story are great, although the last few chapters are rushed and make the ending feel abrupt. However, once you re-read the story, you start to pick up on things that foreshadow the ending more clearly.
Spoilers: . Leonhard was set up as the best candidate for the king after Eins from the beginning. Leonhard was held back by his fear of tutors, and if theoretically Hein had been there earlier, it would have pushed Leonhard further ahead. Licht was always going to be the rule-breaker, and I doubted that he would easily adapt to the strict and confined world of the King. And as he said before, Licht only really wanted to be like his father (as a man not just as a king), so Licht going wild in his twenties but settling down as a businessman fits his character. Bruno had a specific interest in his studies since the beginning and he proved to be a good teacher to the church children. And although he could be a good king, Bruno was always more of a scholar than a politician type. So him going outside the country to continue to learn, developing the education system, and becoming a professor in the steps of his own teacher (Hein) is something I saw him preferring - because as Victor explained during his pov chapter, Victor had no dedicated time to learn once he became king. Victor had to take the chance to learn from Hein when he could, and Bruno would want to have the freedom to advance his studies instead. Kai was advancing his speaking skills and had the intelligence necessary to be king, however his interest in the military and his more reserved personality would be barriers for him. The position of king involved a lot of communication and a tight schedule, and in the same lane as Bruno, Kai would have little time to focus on his interests. As a military man, Kai was in a good position to advance his interests and to support his brothers, and he wouldn't have to wear himself out. Eins was always going to be the first choice, regardless of his depression and heartbreak. But Leonhard was an open book, ready to learn, and capable of thinking outside the box. He did it for the lace making village, for his brother Eins, and for the final speeches. Ultimately, Leonhard questioning the role of the monarchy was just a logical conclusion to his character.
This is a 9/10 story. The character arcs and story are great, although the last few chapters are rushed and make the ending feel abrupt. However, once you re-read the story, you start to pick up on things that foreshadow the ending more clearly.
Spoilers:
.
Leonhard was set up as the best candidate for the king after Eins from the beginning. Leonhard was held back by his fear of tutors, and if theoretically Hein had been there earlier, it would have pushed Leonhard further ahead. Licht was always going to be the rule-breaker, and I doubted that he would easily adapt to the strict and confined world of the King. And as he said before, Licht only really wanted to be like his father (as a man not just as a king), so Licht going wild in his twenties but settling down as a businessman fits his character. Bruno had a specific interest in his studies since the beginning and he proved to be a good teacher to the church children. And although he could be a good king, Bruno was always more of a scholar than a politician type. So him going outside the country to continue to learn, developing the education system, and becoming a professor in the steps of his own teacher (Hein) is something I saw him preferring - because as Victor explained during his pov chapter, Victor had no dedicated time to learn once he became king. Victor had to take the chance to learn from Hein when he could, and Bruno would want to have the freedom to advance his studies instead. Kai was advancing his speaking skills and had the intelligence necessary to be king, however his interest in the military and his more reserved personality would be barriers for him. The position of king involved a lot of communication and a tight schedule, and in the same lane as Bruno, Kai would have little time to focus on his interests. As a military man, Kai was in a good position to advance his interests and to support his brothers, and he wouldn't have to wear himself out. Eins was always going to be the first choice, regardless of his depression and heartbreak. But Leonhard was an open book, ready to learn, and capable of thinking outside the box. He did it for the lace making village, for his brother Eins, and for the final speeches. Ultimately, Leonhard questioning the role of the monarchy was just a logical conclusion to his character.