#stepyapping

[angstandhappiness]

I LOVE YOUR WORDING

Couple Coding in ASM

So there's an interesting thing I noticed about Orka's color coding in ASM and the way it changes between different interactions.

For example, JerShu moments are commonly set during early dawn. There's a cool blue from the moonlight that shades the two, adding a sense of quiet mystique to their interactions.

Maybe it's to invoke a dream-like state where Shuri is stripped bare of her responsibilities and Jeremy is just a boy who misses his parents oh, so much. During the day, there's so much commotion and stress but when they're together at night, it's quiet and lonely, with only the moon watching over them. Because when morning comes, they're forced to return back to their normal lives like a Cinderella story.

On the other hand, NoShu moments are bright like a burning sun. It's a passionate watercolor of orange, pinks, and reds that bloom as they stare into each other's eyes.

It's pure romance the way you couldn't be sure whether the burn on their cheeks was because of the warm heat of the sun or because of something else. For a couple individually driven towards death, Nora and Shuri are experiencing living for the first time, when they're together. The way the light gleams on each other like they're always discovering new things about one another is just so perfectly lovely.

And then there's TheoShu. Theo and Shuri often interact in the morning, like a icy shock to the system. For a man plagued with too much guilt to sleep and a woman trapped in her nightmares, what's a more eerie wake-up call?

TheoShu as a morning motif is so interesting because we're faced with Theo who acts like he's still stuck in a dream where he's fated to be with Shuri and Shuri, who is trying to run away from those dreams and move on with her day. They're never quite on the same page, like the feeling you get when you're debating on getting up on a Monday morning.

Finally. RiShu. I find that Richelieu and Shuri are always in a strange state of limbo when they stumble upon each other. A space that only they know, where the light doesn't shine until Shuri walks in.

Richelieu is a man that exists in the shadows, lurking around in the dark underbrush. But he can't help but be drawn to that woman intruding upon that dark forest he lives in. She gleams like a holy light piercing the black darkness. Shuri knows what it's like to die in that forest and Richelieu wants to know what path she took to get there.

[stepmarchen]

Ludovika vs Shuri, a facial comparison breakdown

While it's obvious that Ludovika and Shuri have their similarities, as pointed out by various members of the ASM cast, let's break down some of their differences, shall we?

But before we do, let's address a few things!

ORKA takes design seriously! We can't just chalk up slight differences to "one-off mistakes." As you can see below, she did a study on her OWN designs, micro detailing down to the curve of each character's eyebrows. But to be fair, we will only be using art from recent chapters, as ORKA's style has evolved since the early chapters.

Another reason why we will be only using recent chapters is to avoid differences that may be as a result of Shuri being several years younger than Ludovika. I will also try my best to take this into account as we go.

First things first, let's get the obvious differences out of the way. Ludovika has a lavender hair, parted down the middle and golden eyes. Meanwhile. Shuri has light pink hair parted to the side with green eyes. So you might be thinking, if not for the color differences, they would look exactly the same!

But that's not the case! In some instances, seen from Max or Johannes' POV, Ludovika and Shuri almost seem 1:1. However! We must take into account that given their history with her, they are unreliable narrators, and may show a warped perspective on their memories of both girls.

So why don't we remove all the color! Here we have Ludovika on the left and Shuri on the right down below.

Since we don't have a 1:1 shot, here's the two in similar lighting situations with similar expressions and another with a similar angle.

Here are all the points of differences I noticed below!

Ludovika's long arched brows vs Shuri's downward sloping brows with no arch

Ludovika's long, straight, and slightly wider nose vs Shuri's small pointed, upturned nose

Ludovika's narrow and long face with a distinctly V shaped chin vs Shuri's fuller cheeks and shorter face

Ludovika's full lips, distinctly her full bottom lip but also the way the middle of her upper lips under her philtrum has more volume, often highlighted with a tint on pink (that may be makeup) vs Shuri's thinner, almost pointed lips (almost in an elfy way)

Ludovika's narrower eyes that sit higher on her face as a result of her brow to tip of nose ratio being greater than the top and bottom thirds of her face vs Shuri's larger eyes and 1:1:1 proportioned face (though this may change with age)

It's so fascinating how ORKA illustrates the two to look so similar, yet different. Noticing these small details really shines in on the fact that the two are TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

We've seen so many members of the cast chasing old ghosts that we're forced to compare and contrast Ludovika and Shuri. In reality, it seems like there are more differences than we initially thought, right?

[stepmarchen]

Two Timelines Colliding

[stepmarchen]

ASM Season 3 Promo Analysis

Guys!!! Look at this beautiful promotion art for ASM Season 3! We're blessed again with some beautiful 1st timeline NoShu art. I'll be breaking down the details below!

Holy Knight's Crest: Nora wears a pendant symbolizing the church, immediately clueing us in that this is a scene from the 1st timeline. He is kneeling on one knee, almost in prayer of his deity, Shuri.

Red Petals: The red rose petals seem to drip from Shuri's body like blood. It's a gruesome metaphor for Shuri's death at the end of the 1st timeline. Even the red shadows appear like blood flowing down her neck and arm.

Dress Feathers: The flowing fabric of Shuri's dress defy gravity, appearing like wings around them. Small translucent feathers float around, perhaps symbolizing Shuri's death or maybe even rebirth.

Sword in the Earth: Nora's sword (note: it's the same sword Shuri gifts him for Christmas!) in the foreground is embedded in to the ground, which may symbolize a memorialization of a lost loved one or a symbol of the end of an era.

Purple and Green Glow: On the left we see a royal purple tone in the background. And a small green glow on the right... Perhaps it's a hint at Shuri's rebirth? Or maybe just a pleasant design choice...

Shuri's Tears: Even in death, Shuri's sorrows are not left unseen! While the meaning is obvious, I think we're in for a lot of angst in this upcoming season. Prepare for tears and more tears. I think we'll be seeing more suffering than we've ever seen in both the 1st and 2nd timeline.

[angstandhappiness]

HEH HEH, YES YES I want an ML like this in a manhwa

But what if Nora was the one who regressed instead?

Imagine Streife!Nora, in all of his tortured glory, going back in time to protect Shuri from evil. It'd be so violent but also so romantic like-

What would his first re-encounter with Shuri be like? He would probably be the one to seek her out, since they never officially met if Shuri hadn't gone shopping or organized Johannes' memorial party. Would he ever formally introduce himself? I'm kind of imagining a "lady and the tramp" situation, where Nora runs away from his family and starts a life on the streets. And he becomes the mysterious scamp that appears like the wind on Shuri's balcony window.

He'd appear at a moment's notice, somehow knowing exactly when and where Shuri needs his help. Effectively getting rid of obstacles before they even become a threat. Theo and the church would actually stand no chance.

Nora would keep remembering his promise to Shuri at her grave. Knowing that God gave him the chance he always prayed for, he would never let it go to waste.

[stepmarchen]

this is so silly, but was anyone else jumpscared by this Heinrich panel?

[stepmarchen]

The guilt that Elias carries with him.

[stepmarchen]

Soo.....I saw like Twitter post discussing how like in Ch 74 (yes I am reading it for the 60th time again) where Ali tells Rachel about how his brothers kinda kill themselves for the throne or smth and then Ch 54 where like Halima (my mother) says "No one tormented you, right? Oh well...they would have been gone" (in short of getting killed?) sooo...maybe Ali's brothers........did smth......

Idk since it's hiatus and we all are going through starvation, hallucination etc etc, I thought of sharing this , what do you think?

Hmmm... it's pretty plainly written that the brothers killed each other fighting over an inherited treasure (the throne). In my mind, I like to think that Ali was probably born after the happened, in an attempt to save the bloodline (because of coooourse a WOMAN can't be king, right?), which explains why Ali is so much younger than Halima.

With their father being quite old and less likely to continue having more kids, it's highly likely that Ali, the last surviving and viable heir to the throne would be fiercely protected by the Safavid Empire. It's to no surprise to me that they would probably execute or banish anyone that offended him or looked at him funny.

So in my mind, I don't see the possibility that the brothers' deaths being caused by an act of rebellion against Ali. If anything, the opposite (Ali dying by rebelling his older siblings) would've been more possible.

Unless... you meant it in a different way? But i still don't think they were executed by any greater authority... I think they just killed each other.

[angstandhappiness]

Interesting!

ASM Characters as Fairytales/Folktales

Shuri - Alice in Wonderland

Shuri being thrust into a world of strange characters that all seem to have it out for her is pretty in line with the Alice in Wonderland fairytale. Shuri and Alice being girls forced to "grow up" earlier than they were ready for and to help others without any promise for help in return. They're both just trying to awaken from this terrible nightmare.

Nora - Robin Hood

The character Robin Hood is all about compassion and rebellion against authority, both strong characteristics that Nora shares. Robin Hood uses vigilantism to fight against corrupt officials and has no mercy against people that take advantage of the weak.

Jeremy - The Lion and The Mouse

The Lion and The Mouse is a folk tale about a lion that takes mercy upon a mouse, and to be returned the favor when the lion is captured in a net with only the mouse around to bite through the ropes. In the early chapters of ASM, Jeremy and Shuri are in an equal predator/prey situation. Only when Jeremy is in peril with Shuri as his lone supporter, do they become equals.

Theo - The Emperor's New Clothes

They're both royals caught up in their vanity, both delusional and foolish enough to let people manipulate them for the sake of power. Theo's greed to steal the love of every parent in the country is just as foolish as believing in garments "so rich in quality that they can't be seen by the wearer."

Ohara - The Princess and The Pea

The Princess and the Pea tells the story of a princess who can't sleep despite her lavish bed. Turns out, the pressure of a pea lodged in-between the mattresses have been causing her ails all this time. While Ohara's insecurities may seem insignificant to outsiders, we know that years of her mother's foretold woes caused her to be hyper aware of her own relationships.

[stepmarchen]

Ohara and Shuri's Alternating POVs

So ASM works in a way that we have a neutral POV, seeing the world from everyone's POV. Which I love because it makes everyone seem so human, but it's also just as interesting to reconsider the world from their individual POVs.

We, the audience, get to know why Ohara is so paranoid about marriage, AND we get to see how this is translated in her perception of Shuri. So let's isolate it!

In Ohara's POV, Shuri is portrayed in an eerie, suspicious light. Often cast in shadow and face unreadable. She's graceful but it almost appears like a facade for what's hiding underneath. The goofy, lighthearted, bumbling girl we know is nowhere to be found in Ohara's POV.

We know why Shuri says the things she says, but to Ohara, her prophetic warnings seem threatening and unnecessary. After all, why is she so wary over something that hasn't even happened?

I think it's worth considering how suspicious Shuri tends to appear to others, even if it's unintentional. She's secretive and strangely wise for someone her age, talking about the future like it's the truth and not just an educated guess. I can totally see why Ohara would misconstrue Shuri's genuine worries as a threat.

Meanwhile, Shuri is totally ignorant to Ohara's suspicions. In this timeline, they've all grown close enough to hang out regularly and in her eyes, Jeremy and Ohara are pretty much a closed deal. Even though she's been scorned by Ohara in the first timeline, she doesn't hold it against her and seems to view Ohara as a completely new woman (understandable, considering they hardly knew one another in the first timeline).

[stepmarchen]

Comparing different POVs of Shuri's first day at the Neuschwanstein Manor

potential spoilers below:

Narrative POV (above and below):

As Johannes narrates, we get this sickening visual of Shuri arriving at the manor. She's wearing a hat, a symbol in literature of her newfound noble class. It casts her in shadow and engulfs her small head. The bow tied neatly under her chin like a flamboyant collar to her new life.

And unlike the other POVs, she is completely alone, standing before the looming golden manor. A heavy wind blows against her, pushing her forward, forcing her towards the steps. She's stricken with unease, knowing that something larger than life is awaiting her.

Shuri's POV:

"In the beginning it might have been an obligation." - Shuri to Jeremy (ch. 54) "He is the first man I met... who as courteous... and kind." - Shuri (ch. 86)

Shuri's carriage ride to the Neuschwanstein Manor is briefly shown in a fleeting memory. Just from the single panel alone, we see a complex emotion on Shuri's face. She's not giddy to be dressed in pretty clothes or to ride a fancy carriage like Johannes' POV would suggest.

She was just abandoned by her family in exchange for a dollar amount. There was no time for goodbyes or to process that she would be leaving a life of poverty. The man she just met is now sitting before her, as her husband. It was just yesterday that she was daydreaming what her future might look like. She would've never expected things to change so quickly.

Gwen's POV:

"I was born and raised in Neuschwanstein Mansion. I've been a maid since I was young. I've heard many stories, regardless if I wanted to or not. I've always felt a little lonely, a loneliness similar to Milady's. When Milady first arrived, even though it was a little embarrassing, I thought I could understand. I wanted to help you" - Gwen to Roberto (ch 13)

Gwen might just be the closest age peer in the manor during Shuri's move-in. She may be sympathetic towards Shuri given her own backstory, but due to her lower status, Gwen's POV is quite detached from what we might expect. But that gives us our only unbiased take on the situation.

Even from a neutral standpoint, Shuri looks small and wide eyed, unlike the poise of the master of the household. She holds her wrist anxiously awaiting introductions. Even as a maid who lived her whole life around nobles, she's embarrassed and taken aback from the situation. After all, her master took off on a vacation alone and returned with a new wife less than a third of his age.

Jeremy's POV, imagination:

"She was sold at age fourteen. She had no connections... and it wasn't out of love... It wasn't her choice to get married... and then... she became the mother of us four siblings. Has any one of us really thought about what Shuri went through... and how she was feeling?" Jeremy to Elias (ch 100)

During Jeremy' investigation of Shuri's background, he discovers the transaction between her parents and his father. Roberto reports this with a flustered expression, likely crossed between accidentally making the late Marquess look strange in front of his eldest son.

He never saw Shuri during that first day at the Mansion. But he knew enough to draw his own conclusions: his father had replaced his mother. But now that he knows the truth... and Shuri's sacrifices. He's taking account of just how young she was, just how innocent she must have been. A young girl with a bright future ahead of her, only to be ruined by the heavy burdens of his wretched family affairs.

Jeremy's version of Shuri is angelic, idolized even. He wouldn't know the feelings she experienced that day. Wouldn't come close to being able to imagine it. She has always done the most to make sure him and his siblings would never have to suffer the hardships she was put through.

[stepmarchen]

introducing my basic relationship chart to ASM!

This chart mostly focuses on family ties and lineage, excluding most 1-off characters and estate affiliates (maids, butlers, knights). I may do an extensive guide in the future, but it's pretty complicated as is.

[angstandhappiness]

Interesting. Almost everyone is NOT having a good time

SEASON 3 IS HERE!!!!!!! SPOILERS BELOW!!!

Chapters 137 and 138 are out!!! (aka Chapters 1 & 2 of Season 1)

Some notes:

So that one photo of Shuri (top left) ended up being church propaganda of Shuri and Jeremy!! While we all thought this was a reference to the 1st timeline, but we're finally seeing some notable crossover of the two timelines. While Shuri avoided the "Spider Widow" persona in the 2nd timeline, the Church seems to be spinning her public image to be exactly that.

Jeremy growing up and losing that reckless habit of his by practicing restraint for his family's sake. And that maturity, being what reminds Robert of Johannes. Then Jeremy looking in the mirror and seeing his father in his own face. After coming to the realization that the great man he's always looked up to maybe wasn't as grand as he made him out to be. It's sickening.

Nora staying out all night wandering the streets after having the worst night of his live (reaching the breaking point with his father, splitting up with a dear childhood friend) just to come running (literally) to Shuri's feet in loyalty and support. Keeping his emotions locked down. MEANWHILE, Shuri sees this but can't bring herself to ask because now is just not the Right Time.

Everyone's dark circles were killing me.... all meanwhile Theo was bright, happy, and unbothered (psycho king).

The upgrade in the art??? I didn't think it could get any better but it totally did??? I'm thoroughly blown away.

Richelieu's freaky ass grin (oh my god. it's so simple but the english doesn't do the original justice... he's so creepy) Even Theo was taken aback by it.

THE FOOT TOUCH!!!!! So subtle but soo sooooo effective. A touch of "hey, i'm here, it's going to be okay" unfffff

[stepmarchen]

Animal Motifs in A Stepmother's Marchen

I'll be breaking down the (main) characters and their respective animal motifs in A Stepmother's Marchen. Potential spoilers ahead.

Shuri: Rabbit

Animal Characteristics: Gentle, Kind, Swift, Alert, Patient

Visual Symbolism: Split hair = bunny ears, large round eyes

Story Motif: Shuri is literally a prey animal caught in a world of predator animals, including her children. While her nature is gentle, she doesn't hesitate to fight against injustices done to her or her family. While headstrong, Shuri often requires help from her stronger (physically and politically) allies to help her overcome or escape various conflict.

More Below

Nora: Wolf

Animal Characteristics: Adaptable, Brave, Loyal, Wildness, Intuitive

Visual Symbolism: Dark hair, blue eyes, often seen wearing informal (messy) clothes, Nuremberg Crest = Wolves

Story Motif: Nora is a lone wolf amongst the Nuremberg Family and prefers lurking in the shadows. While he seen as wild and brooding to those he dislikes, he is loyal and eager to please to those in his favor. He is quick to adapt to social situations and observes his opponents from afar before striking.

Jeremy: Lion

Animal Characteristics: Confident, Aggressive, Direct, Stubborn

Visual Symbolism: Golden hair, Feral grin, Neuschwanstein Crest = Lions

Story Motif: Jeremy has shown himself to be self-confident and aggressive, choosing to use his fists over mental tactics to get his way. He is fiercely protective towards his family and is a natural leader among his peers.

Theo: Eagle

Animal Characteristics: Tenacious, Authoritative, Egocentric, Leader

Visual Symbolism: White hair, golden (single exposed "eagle") eye, Baden Bismark Crest = Eagles

Story Motif: While Theo is distinctly selfish and possessive, he puts forward a facade of humility that is expected of a future leader. He is guilty of using underhanded methods to get what he wants, even at the expense of his subject of desire (Shuri).

Richelieu: Raven

Animal Characteristics: Prophetic, Transformation, Intelligent, Cunning, Partnership, Guidance

Visual Symbolism: Black hair, eye bags, long black robes

Story Motif: Cardinal Richelieu has once experienced "rebirth" and follows a deep devotion towards God. He works at the hand of nobody but often gives mysterious words of (sometimes manipulative) advice to others. He has expressed an interest in partnering with Shuri in recent chapters.

Ludovika: Swallow tailed kite

Animal Characteristics: Divinity, Freedom, Awakening, Playful, Transformation

Visual Symbolism: Split hair = split tail

Story Motif: Ludovika was initially a commoner turned Empress, with a bright personality and desire for power. Johannes has expressed a desire to cage her, but since her death, she has flown beyond his grasp.

Bonus: Alberon as a fox(?) and Everette as a chipmunk

[stepmarchen]

wanted to ask about asm physical volumes covers they have a lot of signs and Symbolism especially Richelieu's cover , any thoughts abt them ? i love your analysis + btw i noticed an Eagle flag behind leon in the Vol.5 cover , is that the streife flag ? and who do you think will be in the next cover ? personally i think it would be ali

sure! let's get into it! but first, for my vol. 8 cover prediction! i'm also pretty inclined to think that ali will be the next cover. he's the last one on the roster for our main cast, so it's preeeetttty likely. unless Orka throws us a fastball and gives us a Letran cover for whatever reason... (i'm nervous for the day we'll get a johannes/ludovika cover)

Annnyways! So far we've got the korean/english physical releases of ASM vol. 1-6 (7, if you include Orka's teaser for vol. 7 featuring Ohara). for the sake of the length of this post, i won't be covering the japanese edition covers (they're mostly all the same, just simpler)

i'll be deep diving below the cut! Spoiler warning! be warned! it's a lot of text! (at the least, check out my vol. 6 richelieu analysis!)

Vol. 1 features our protagonist Shuri in all of her beautiful glory! This cover is so beautifully... generic (as it was meant to be) so we don't get a lot of info but.... here's what we got

The golden lions crest: I'd like to think that the family crest is symbolic of how her newfound family will come to back her up in the first volume.

Jeremy, his siblings, and Nora: The framing of the Neuschwansteins on the left and Nora on the right is both foreshadowing to their early conflict and a way to show that they're all watching over her shoulders. Whether in judgement or in protection is what new readers will come to find out.

The peridot brooch: We all know the implications of the brooch and it's connections to Shuri's death in the 1st timeline. It's a looming warning above Shuri's head, but also behind her, just like how Shuri's death is a memory that she can't seem to shake.

The red ribbon: It's the red string of fate that links eeeeeverything together. And it's also the symbol of the Empire. The red petals are a symbol of romance and violence, something that sums up ASM quite well.

Vol. 2 features a young Nora holding his sword. This is where the fun starts and Orka sneaks in more narrative symbols. The cover is bathed in blue, Nora's key color and his family's color symbol.

Broken peridot brooch: On the leftmost frame, we see Shuri's peridot brooch shattering in a pool of blood. It's a violent red flag on an overwhelmingly blue cover. It's a direct reference to Nora's investigation of Shuri's death in the 1st timeline

Knight's armor: On the right, we have a suit of armor, stoically framed in glowing blue light. Becoming a knight for the Imperial Family is the fate for Nuremberg nobles.

Shuri's portrait: In the back is a frame of Shuri as the Spider Widow. Her head is cut off ominously, another reference to her death. There's a small spotlit corner of the portrait flickering behind Nora, like he's always thinking of her.

Blue roses: Blue roses are a mysterious symbol. Shuri also happens to meet Nora under mysterious circumstances and doesn't even learn his name until their fateful second encounter.

Vines: The wrapping vines in the background are a fairytale symbol for danger and fate.

Overall, my take here is that Nora must choose between the three framing elements, aka Streife (the Brooch), Love (Shuri), or Family (Nuremberg Knights). Shuri was never a choice for him in the 1st timeline, but her ending isn't over just yet! So maybe Nora will finally get to explore his 3rd choice.

Vol. 3 features Jeremy in a much simpler setting. This volume is almost completely centric around Jeremy's trial and the cover reflects that. His pose centers focus on his right hand (the hand he almost lost) as he unsheathes his sword.

Chains: Jeremy's imprisonment. that's it

Golden Lions and the Peridot: We've gone over this. If you see a peridot, it means Shuri. She's what is holding together the Neuschwanstein estate.

Shuri and Johannes: There are two silhouetted busts of the current and former head of the Estate. Johannes, in white, has passed on his burdens while Shuri, in black, inherited the burdens of the estate. The Neuschwanstein manor is overlayed on top of the two, as the real subject at stake during the trial.

Lilies: White lilies symbolize purity and rebirth. Jeremy believed he would lose his hand that day, and knowing that Shuri was going to sacrifice herself for him was Jeremy's rebirth. The trial was reshaped the trajectory of Jeremy's entire life, which had been written from birth.

Vol. 4 features Elias and the twins. From this point forward, I don't own any of the physical volume copies, so I can't be 100% certain about it's contents... but it's a bright cover for a new season and kicks off new arcs and new characters, but i'm not sure if it includes the epilogues.

Golden lions crest: of course we can't be without the crest again. I don't think it needs any more explaining.

Streife: The eagle on the left is the Streife symbol, the Empire's secret police force. It may be in reference to Streife reporting Shuri's death but i'm honestly not sure of the relevance here, especially when i don't know which chapters are in this volume.

Golden amulet and Safavid: On the right we have a golden amulet hovering over a bird's eye view of Safavid. It's a little teaser for when we finally get Ali's first appearance

Devil's trumpet and bellflowers: The white devils trumpet flower symbolizes danger and power while the bellflower symbolizes calm. You could say that it's the calm before the storm. Season 2 introduces itself with Leon returning from boarding school. Everything seems happy and cool until Shuri reminds us that political strife has risen over the 3 year timeskip.

Vol. 5 features Theo in a sinister red, gold, and purple palette. I should note that the Japanese releases are behind from the Korean/English releases. Specifically, Vol. 5 includes the missing epilogue episodes that were not included in Vol. 4. However, the Guardian arc and the Family Trip arc (included in Vol. 3 of the english release) are included in the Japanese version of Vol. 5. TLDR, I'm not sure which arcs are included in the official Korean/English Vol. 5 volume.

Violet roses: The violet roses are a symbol of Theo's mother, Ludovika. In the Japanese version, Theo's childhood flashback appears in this volume and we get some insight on Ludovika.

Mirrors and Richelieu: There's a strangeness in the way Richelieu, who appears a surprising 6 times, faces away from the audience. Mirrors should mean self-reflection, but Richelieu faces away from the mirrors. He's so focused on enforcing his beliefs on others and in the process, becomes the greatest sinner. He's aware of this, but he doesn't seem to care.

Cherubs: Two twin cherubs frame Theo, as they seem ready to stab him with their arrows.By season 2, Theo has already fallen for Shuri, in a toxic obsessive love.

Upside down crown: A flipped crown can mean a lack of authority or a change in power. Richelieu manipulating Theo strips away Theo's power as a royal. It also foreshadows Theo's depleting support pillars (Nuremberg and Neuschwanstein)

Vol. 6 features a young Richelieu. Like Vol. 5, the Japanese volume contains the flashbacks of Richelieu's past, which is the only main moment we see a young Richelieu. Anyway, there's a lot here.

Richelieu: This exact depiction of young Richelieu never actually appears in the manhwa (his forehead is bandaged, not his eyes). But there is significance in him being "half blind." Not to mention, there's a huge glowing iris on fire behind him.

There's a saying "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." It's about a seeing man who comes across a town of blind men. He attempts to preach his seeing knowledge to the town, knowing that he is a tier above the people. However, the town cannot understand the meaning of sight and peck out his eyes, because after all, "the king must be of his people." Richelieu's seeing eye (in the background) is going up in flames in the same way. Richelieu literally calls himself a "king" in his youth, fully aware that he is cut from a different cloth. On the cover, he sits on a throne with a divine halo behind his head. Exemplary of how he feels "chosen" by God to strike punishment onto sinners. There's even meaning in the way he is holding his book. In art history, hands on a book in this specific manner is an allegory for great power in knowledge (think Aristotle).

Wolffe: I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure of Wolffe's significance in the cover, but wherever Richelieu is, Wolffe follows.

Apple: Another symbol of knowledge. Adam's first sin was eating the fruit (apple) of knowledge.

Raven: Ravens are a symbol of transformation, prophecy, and intelligence. I've gone further into Richelieu and his connections with ravens here!

Windows: The windows in the background reference Richelieu's divine awakening. To the moment he woke up from his coma after drowning and the window light shone onto the church pendant on the wall.

Bubbles: The bubbles reference his drowning and eventual "rebirth."

Dogwood Leaves and Thorns: The red leaves can be likened to blood, sure. But did you know it's believed that the Cross of Jesus Christ was made of Dogwood? Richelieu believes his self-flagellation is a form of early repentance for his future sins.

The Vol. 7 teaser features Ohara, but it's highly filtered (for good reason) but we can soooorta only make out some things. There's a jewel? and what looks like Jeremy? I can't say much yet, but let me know what you think?

[stepmarchen]

ASM Volume 7 Cover was released!!

Breaking my hiatus for an important news update!! The Volume 7 (Japanese) Cover that features Ohara has been officially released! I'll be doing a breakdown discussing the symbolism behind the cover below! Here's my breakdown post about the first 6 covers!

the WIP (now deleted from Orka's twitter) below!

Vol. 7 features a young Ohara in her iconic Season 1 yellow dress (above), flooded in an eerily romantic pink glow. Again, we don't know which chapters are included in the volume (and they differ between the English and Japanese releases) but here we go!

Red Ribbon: The first thing that comes to mind is the red string of fate ofc. Ohara is not only strung to Jeremy as his arranged fiancee but also to Shuri. Reminder: we've also seen this in Vol. 1's cover with Shuri.

Red Rose Petals: a symbol of romantic love, passion, or even sacrifice. Which ALSO makes an appearance in Vol. 1's cover. Again, drawing parallels between Ohara and Shuri's symbolism, with Ohara leaning more towards passion and Shuri to sacrifice. In this case, passion may refer more to her relationship with the concept of passion and adultery through her parents' broken marriage.

Heart Shaped Gem: It's unclear what kind of specific gem this is without a dialogue cue but most pink gems have a romantic affiliation, not to mention the literal shape of it. Again, we can draw more parallels with Shuri's peridot.

Jeremy and Elias: Funny how many parallels we can draw from Vol. 1's cover with Jeremy and Nora facing Shuri in her cover and Jeremy and Elias facing away from Ohara here. While Jeremy is tied to Ohara in an engagement, he's disinterested in her but Elias' position is a surprise. Perhaps if we turn around our thinking, we can see this as Ohara turning her back to Elias? Elias is one of her greater allies, but she doesn't quite realize it yet.

Pink Haze: While this is a bit of a stretch, we have seen a pink haze as a symbol of delusions when Johannes was hallucination Ludovika. I don't think it's far off to say that Ohara is drowning in her own insecurities, deluding herself into drawing false conclusions between Shuri and Jeremy.

Bloody Red-Marked Dress: OK. I don't think it's blood because she's not sinister, but I think the red shading is deliberate for a reason. The alternative cover shows this more clearly on the bottom of her skirt. I just think it's worth noting how violent it appears, especially hidden beneath the pink filter of the main cover's version.

BONUS:

Remember this sketch? Looks like it's a holographic extra illustration for the physical print!