Amelia is back at the academy for her final year, and she has much to look forward her good friend Marie’s wedding to Third Prince Julius, the birth of the crown prince and princess’s child, and, after her graduation, her own wedding to Fourth Prince Sarge. However, although the countermeasures taken to reduce cold-weather damage to the kingdom’s agriculture have been bearing fruit, there is still much work to be done to combat the food crisis now looming over the entire continent. In particular, the rain-producing magical tools that the Kingdom of Bedeiht provided to the Beltz Empire haven’t been working as intended, an issue which could both jeopardize the already-shaky relations between the two nations and serve as the tipping point for political disputes within the empire. As the developers of the tool, it’s up to Amelia and Sarge to return to the empire to investigate the problem, uncover the truth about the enigmatic empire, and maintain the peace of the continent.
The final volume according to the afterword. In it Amelia and Sarge deal with the Empire, and finally get married. The characters are likeable enough, and the fact that the romance is not about opposites attract or damsels in distress are good things. It just that the plot has potential, but at the same time feels a bit disappointing: interesting, but resolved too quickly and simple (even for a light novel). As far as ending go, it feels a bit abrupt, but it is not bad. There is the marriage, but the series was not all about overcoming challenge for the marriage in itself and the problems with the weather and/or empire are only vaguely at an end. In the end, a decent read.
I’m so sad this is the end of this series but at the same time I’m happy. The story has so much potential but it’s underused and if it went any longer, I feel my love for this series might greatly diminish.
This volume focuses heavily on agriculture; the food crisis and the Beltz Empire’s drought-filled hot land. It highlights Amelia and Sarge’s work together as they try to solve the issues. Especially with regards to their invention of the rain-producing tool for the Beltz Empire. The situation in the Beltz Empire plays a large role in this volume due to the political instability but also because the hot temperature is irregular.
That’s not to say Sarge’s older brothers didn’t help. It was heartwarming to see all four brothers putting in effort and helping Sarge and Amelia. They are each strong in their own ways and although the novel doesn’t explore them in depth, their efforts and care are evident. Their brotherly love is one of the things that makes this story stand out for me.
Amelia and Sarge go through a fair bit of development in this volume. They have become more comfortable and closer but it’s not always romantic. They seem to keep a respectable space most times, given they are researching. Personally, I enjoyed watching them work together as equals, where they are both appreciated as they empower each other. And both have a few adorable and cute romantic moments together which makes them precious.
There are a few other characters and highlights in this volume. The majority of the other characters play a subtle, more muted role especially with the progressing of side events. This volume closes out all the loose ends such as the birth of the crown prince, the weddings and engagement, the future designations and more. Unfortunately, these life critical moments aren’t the highlight of this story and are mainly told in a few sentences or as background information.
As mentioned earlier, this series has potential for a more complex plot. For example, the magic is a critical plot point in this volume but it’s underused throughout. There are many characters, four princes and their respective interests so the volumes could have focused on them individually. I feel like I know them but don’t understand them, including the King and Queen. Also the nation is large, the problems with agriculture vary, so it was disappointing to read the solutions being easily found without many hiccups. I admit it did take a lot of research and testing, but I felt like it was missing that plot twist that would have made the story and characters more engaging.
Overall, I adore this series even with its faults. I don’t think I can find another story where princes from different mothers care about each other and their significant others are all friends. Basically, there isn’t an internal homewrecker or antagonist and it’s just a kind-hearted, warm family. I also loved Amelia and Sarge’s relationship. I absolutely wanted more romantic moments but it was also nice to see them working as equals and trusting each other. This is a good read but not something I’d put high on your list unless you’re looking for a story that progresses the plot without heavily indulging in it.