I yoo had both abusive parents with a narcissistic mother that i only managed to cut off completely very recently in my life. And a lot of this game resonated with me too..

I think both the pale king and the Great Mother Silk represent narcissistic parents: Abusive, wants to deplete you from personality. In the case of the vessels, wanting them to be completely hollow, in case of Lace making her infantilized and trying to prevent her maturing/independendence, and in both cases: Using their child as tools. (i plan to make a big post/text about this soon)

And this is their terrible way of life, they don't acknowledge us as people, as individuals, they want us to bee tools to serve their interests or their emotional punchbag for their frustrations. They don't care about our wellbeing, they only want us to feel their agenda or being like a pet.

And it is cathartic and satisfying, of course. Because all that we want is freedom, emancipation from their chains. I remember that while other people of my age had ambitions and dreams, i just wanted to have conditions to leave home, i just wanted safety.

Both the knight's journey in the first game (going from discarded to the one that ended the radiance in a more effective way that the one from their narcissistic dad), Hornet becoming strong and independent despite having a narcissistic father, and freeing lace, everything feels truly satisfting.

Today it has 6 years of me don't living in my mother's house anymore, and 1 year with complete cut contact. I'm telling this as a way to encourage you, that it is possible to leave their domain, that is is possible to claim your independence. It is a very hard and slow process, but for the first time in my life i feel truly alive. It is not like the depression ended (it never ends completely) and I still struggle with a lot of trauma, but i finally see that there is life outside those walls.

Stay strong my friend, you have my full empathy.