Rurunalia

A princess who once bore the title of “Princess of Hope” and lived in the Land of Hope. Now she resides in the Land of Despair, and appears as an antagonist who stands in Santalia's way — a woman shrouded in mystery.

With long golden hair and an appearance centered on purple, her commanding bearing and sharp gaze give off a strength and dignity that make her almost unapproachable. Together with her tall 175 cm frame, she has a mature air that contrasts sharply with Santalia.

What Rurunalia values above all else is “strength.”

She hates showing weakness and won't allow herself to give in to pain or fear. No matter what hardship she faces, she rises by her own power and tries to keep moving forward. Because of that, she is strict with others too, and sometimes throws words at them that seem downright cold.

But there is a reason for her obsession with strength.

Rurunalia doesn't love strength for its own sake.

“To protect what matters, you have to become strong.”

That is what she believes.

That's why she hates people who try to force others to become strong, and places that use the weak to dominate them. On the surface Rurunalia seems short-tempered and combative, but in reality she is someone who understands the pain of the weak.

And she holds a great secret that she can't easily tell anyone.

Rurunalia was originally a Princess of Hope.

She once lived as a symbol of hope, but after a certain event she left that position and came to reside in the Land of Despair. She now acts as someone on the side of despair, yet “hope” has never once vanished from the depths of her heart.

In fact, she loves hope more than anyone.

Because she knows despair, she knows how precious hope truly is.

And for Rurunalia, there is one special person: Santalia.

She harshly criticizes Santalia as “weak” and “naive,” and at times stands against her as an enemy. But despite that attitude, Rurunalia is always looking out for Santalia.

Just like an older sister watching over her little sister.

If Santalia is in danger, Rurunalia notices before anyone else. If Santalia loses her way, she scolds her with harsh words, and if Santalia stops in her tracks, she pushes her forward, even by force.

It isn't the kind of love that shows itself in a gentle hug.

“Don't give up over something like that.”
“If you're going to call yourself a Princess of Hope, stay standing to the very end.”
“Cry if you want. But don't let it end with you crying.”

Every one of those harsh words is filled with an older sister's worry and love.

Yet Rurunalia herself refuses to honestly admit those feelings.

Even as she tells Santalia “I hate you” and “You're way too weak,” in truth she understands Santalia better than anyone. Deep down, she treasures the pure hope Santalia carries more than anyone else does.

That's exactly why she keeps playing the enemy in front of Santalia.

If becoming the villain lets Santalia grow,

if being hated lets Santalia become stronger,

if standing on the side of despair lets Santalia learn what “hope” really is—

then Rurunalia is willing to accept even being despised.

But the day Santalia learns her true intentions has not yet come.

Her heart that “secretly loves hope,” and her current position as “the villain of the Land of Despair.” The two seem to contradict each other completely.

But that very contradiction is the essence of who Rurunalia is.

She didn't throw hope away.

Perhaps she deliberately stepped into despair in order to protect hope.

Strong, strict, short-tempered, never showing weakness — that is Rurunalia.

Hidden behind that mask is a heart kinder than anyone's, a heart that believes in “hope” more than anyone.

To Santalia, Rurunalia is her greatest enemy, and at the same time something like an “older sister” who understands her better than anyone.

And someday, when Santalia learns Rurunalia's true feelings, the bond between them will change into something that can't be described by words as simple as “enemy and ally.”

A princess who stood in the midst of despair, yet loved hope more than anyone — that is Rurunalia.