This Arc

made me feel a lotta things.

1. The Kids: It was so tragic to read about how Shuli and the kids just kept misunderstanding each other when all they wanted was just to be family. All of their reactions in the beginning were valid yet they were still able to create bonds that unfortunately never came to fruition. That scene where Shuli asked Elias, Rachel and Leon for advice on what Jeremy said was just beautifully tragic because it just showed how small misunderstandings can pile up and eventually become unfixable. They clearly regretted their actions but put off apologizing for tomorrow, not realizing that tomorrow is a possibility, not a certainty as it never came for them. Then came their true feelings about Shuli, their eagerness to start their secret plan and their devastation at her leaving. Add that to the wedding scene and their nervousness and sadness was taken to a whole new crescendo and it all just culminated in the announcement of Shuli's death. It was so horrible.

2. Ohara: I don't hate her; I have mixed feelings towards her that are mostly positive and pitying in nature. I think her character is a very realistic representation of a noble woman in such a patriarchal, influential era, as well as the subtly mentioned childhood trauma of being an everyday witness to the lack of love and unfaithfulness her father showed her mother who suffered because she fell in love with the wrong man, her father's glaringly obvious adultery and disrespect towards her late mother's memory, and the last words that her mother imparted upon her as 'true wisdom'. I cannot truly like her because of what she said to Shuli, though it fit in perfectly with the personality she had, but I can also not help applauding her for noticing the love that Jeremy felt for Shuil and SPOILERS (the possibility of him being in love with her). I do not believe that she is a malicious person. She did something cruel and evil, but she's neither cruel and evil at heart, and judging by her reaction at hearing Shuli's death, I'm sure she will receive consequences for her actions, although I hope she isn't suspected. That being said, I want the Ohara in this life to have a better ending.

3. The Church: A very realistic portrayal of powerful, fanatical institutions and the lengths they go to when absorbed in their self-delusions and faiths to oppress others and force their 'truths' down the throats of others. Conniving, greedy, ruthless and completely misaligned with the messages and teachings of the faith they follow. The Pope was a right bastard; I hope he dies. Same with the blond apprentice who was a spy, and same with the Cardinal who's a whole 'nother level of self-deluded by recognizing the cruelty of his colleagues and yet somehow believing himself to be better despite being an active participant. I want the entire institution to crumble.

4. The Side Characters: like the maids, the butler etc were all lovely and sweet in their devotion to Shuli and the entire Neuschwanstien family. It's nice to see Shuli had good company because as much as I love the kids, it's clear their misunderstandings prevented a completely open, healthy relationship from forming which would put Shuli at ease. I feel rather sad thinking about their reactions to Shuli's death. I hope we see more of them.

5. Nora: My boy, the light of my life. His section is unfortunately going to be rather short because so far we've only had him for a few pages and half of a face to see, that unfortunately looked white rather than tanned under the light. I do wonder if he managed to find the truth behind Shuli's murder and the actions he took afterward. I'm curious to know (if we will, that is) how he was without Shuli's influence and the probably crumbling relationship with his parents.

6. The Knight (aka does anyone know what his real name is?): Was quite easily the character who suffered the most in this arc. Firstly, as he swore to work under the Neuschwanstien family, he technically failed in his duty as a Knight to serve and protect the Mistress of the House he'd known for around 7 years. Then, he unknowingly betrayed his Mistress by revealing information that led to her death to someone he didn't know was a spy. Thirdly, he was the one who discovered the bodies of his friends as well as Shuli, truly affirming that he had failed his Mistress and his duties. Next, he was the one who was accused of being suspect and I believe, likely due to his self-guilt thought himself as the true culprit, and remained quiet even as he was likely either killed by Jeremy or executed by the King. Finally, and for the fifth point, he had an argument with Shuli as his last words with her, and could not make up for it as he arrived too late and found a slaughter.

7. Shuli: The Goddess Herself was also tragic this chapter. I could feel her hurt after all the excitement and joy - the genuine happiness - she held at being able to attend Jeremy's wedding, and taking that as a sign of having done her duty as the Marchioness of Neuschwanstien household, being cruelly shattered by unsuspecting, yet pitiless Ohara. The eventual acceptance of this being Jeremy's first and only wish of her (doe it wasn't（/TДT)/ ) really hammered in the fact that this entire family just doomed themselves to constant misunderstandings, and the fact that despite wanting to be family, she did not think she deserved that as proved by the fact that she didn't even attempt to fight or argue with either Ohara or Jeremy, or insist on going anyway. Her sadness at the misunderstanding caused by the kids really punched me in the guts. The only thing I can say for the tragic Shuli of the past, is that I hope if her body was brutalized, it was done after her death thus desecrating her corpse rather than torturing her still-alive body.

8. Jeremy: Gods, I have a lot of feelings about him as well. Firstly, hot diggity damn that boy grew up fine as fuck. He truly looked like nobility and definitely got the best of both his parents. I whistled softly every time he came on screen and dramatically swooned when he dolled up for his wedding. That being said, after Shuli and the Knight, I felt the worst for him. Can I just say that (SPOILERS) the small hints about Jeremy having possibly been in love with Shuli was absolutely devastating? Like, the reflection where he and Shuli reenacted the betrayal Ohara's mother faced at the hands of her husband and his mistress, with Ohara taking her mother's place was absolutely brutal. OFC, this assumption was likely biased due to Ohara's own insecurities, but I do think she hit the nail on the head here, though Shuli would likely never fall in love with Jeremy who she truly viewed as her own child. Jeremy's unrequited love for someone who's only a few years older than him, and yet was his mother figure is just another icing on the angst-filled cake that makes up his and Shuli's relationship. (SPOILERS END) The second detail that slapped my face and made me its bitch, was the scene where Shuli described in great detail her hopes and excitements for the wedding, while Jeremy stood outside the door listening. He heard the genuine happiness in Shuli's voice and took the necessary measures to make sure she came to his wedding and stayed with them a bit longer. He always cared for her even if it wasn't properly communicated and ugh! my heart! Then came Ohara's misconception and her shaken realization that Jeremy was never as removed from love as she'd idealized and believed him to be, and that he truly did love his family. His confrontation with her at the wedding and the rage he barely leashed at realizing that Shuli had left without knowing how much they (he) cared for her because of Ohara, and how much pain and sorrow she'd likely been in ,followed by his decisive and sift action of recalling her. And finally: the wedding scene. That scene really did break me as Jeremy stood alone on the podium for minutes, possibly a few hours, waiting for Shuli to come to his wedding and refusing to begin without her. In the tense sequence where we the readers know that Shuli is dead while Jeremy waits, not once do we see the expression(s) on his face. His emotions are amplified without him being drawn emoting in any way except for his stillness. The entire flashback of him eavesdropping on Shuli daydreaming about the wedding out loud pronounced the enormity of what Ohara had obliviously ruined, and the happiness their family could have experienced. We see his face at last when Elias goes to prompt him into starting the wedding as Shuli has yet to arrive, and it's filled with pure animalistic rage. He is fury incarnate and Elias flinches. Jeremy has made himself clear: not without Shuil. The doors fling open, the authorities enter and Shuli's fate is declared. The entire audience, including the kids take this news with their faces lacking all features, except for Jeremy, who has a few of his features drawn as he hears the news without absorbing it. Rachel breaks the silence and turns with tears in her eyes, and the next panel contains a single eye of Jeremy's, the panel drawn shakily as though a camera is shaking due to unrestrained motions, and the pupils alights with rage, and sorrow, and disbelief. Shuli is dead. As the kingdom reacts, the kids are comforted, Jeremy walks out with his back toward the frame, tall and strong like a King and hiding everything he feels as he strides out of the hall with a singular determination. He bypasses the guard holding the only remnant of the massacre scene, lifts his sword and advances to kill the Knight as the guards rush to block him. His stage fades as the page is consumed by the blood staining the emerald jewel. Not once, is his face seen even though all his emotions are on display. Shuli von Neuschwanstien is dead and there will never be any good in Jeremy's world again.

If you've made it this far, congratulations and please reply! I'd love to hear some responses. That being said, I do have one question myself: what is the signficance of the jewel the guard was holding in the last panel, and was the only evidence from the scene of Shuli's murder? http://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/a_stepmother_s_m_rchen/hs/mk_chapter-60/pg-20/ and the next few pages. Thanks!

Also, I can't wait for more chapters, please come quick!(づ￣ ³￣)づ