The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold To Another Kingdom

Episode 12

Philia's journey has been about love. I realize that sounds corny at best, but it has been a central theme in her story. She didn't know parental affection growing up, either from her vicious adoptive parents or her biological mother, who was a harsh teacher out of misguided affection. Her fiancé certainly didn't love her romantically (or otherwise), and the only person who demonstrated affection for her was Mia – and that became tempered with guilt later on. While it's important that Osvalt truly falls in love with her, the bigger triumph is that Philia can accept that people love her in general. The prince is great, but it's seeing her worth through others' eyes that brings things home for her.

That's not normally something I'd be thrilled about, but in Philia's case, she was truly lacking approbation. She knows she's strong as a saint; maybe not how strong she is, but she's still aware that she can do an impressive amount of things, even if she's not clear on how unusual that is. But she's never really been praised for it, and she regarded her saintly skills as nothing more than her duty – she was just doing her job. In large part, that's because of how everyone around her treated her work, as if it were a given that she'd do it and do it well. When she was sold to Parnacorta, she just assumed it was because she hadn't done it well enough. For Philia's journey to be complete, she needs to see that she has value to the people around her, and for who she is as much as (if not more than) her powers. She has to matter, not just her job.

The final battle with Asmodeus, relatively lackluster as it was, drove that home by having Osvalt take up his position as her guardian, but also in showing the difference between his feelings and Asmodeus'. Asmodeus claims to love Fianna, but he also clearly doesn't actually know her. He thinks that bringing her back to life will make her love him back, but since that would come with a hefty price tag in lives, there's simply no way that she would be pleased about it. Fianna gives up her last bit of power of her own volition to help Philia. She sees Philia as someone worthy of it, but also knows that her time is over. It's both the perfect rebuke to Asmodeus and reassurance to Philia.

Do I wish Julius were punished more? Absolutely. I'm also not entirely sure Hildegarde deserved unilateral forgiveness after the way she treated Philia, although it also wasn't entirely her fault. Otherwise, I'm pretty pleased with this finale. Sadly, Philia and Mia will continue living apart, but now that relations between Girtonia and Parnacorta are more normalized, they can visit each other, especially since Girtonia has a backup saint in Hildegarde. The most important piece is that Philia, at last, knows that she has worth as more than just a saint. She's a person with emotions that she's allowed to feel, and if she'll still have some trouble reading a room or expressing herself, at least she's made a start.

Philia was never “too perfect.” She was a person who was made to believe she was nothing more than a title and a magic power. And now, at last, she's learning that there's more to life than being a “perfect” saint.

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The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold To Another Kingdom is currently streaming on Crunchyroll on Wednesdays.