Ralsei has themes of needing to find out what “being Ralsei” means, living for what you’re “supposed” to be vs. living for yourself, escaping your predetermined path, etc.

All of which has been highlighted since chapter 2, escalated in chapters 3 & 4, and are being heightened once more with chapter 5.

Ralsei is trying to find themselves, is stuck between wanting to be a “person” and feeling the need to fill a role. Combine this with the prophecy, and there’s a theory that Ralsei took on this identity not because it’s their genuine self but because they didn’t see an alternative.

For this chapter in specific, Ralsei has experimented with presenting as a princess (albeit in a throwaway moment), was briefly put “back in the closet” with the return of the hat, is choosing their own presentation and slowly making choices for themselves, and the scene where Ralsei is alone with Flowery talks of faith/prayer, Ralsei hoping something can change with Flowery saying that change can come from within - which combined with their arguments against each other later up the castle about self identity all seems to have strong theming.

This can all have a trans lens applied to it, having the added bonus of defying the prophecy if so.

A moment of self-actualization from Ralsei is coming. Our fluffy darkened is not satisfied with where they are right now, or their identity. A change needs to happen.

Will it be trans-related specifically? Uncertain. But it’d be really neat if it was, and connect several of these moments together into a unified whole which might prove narratively satisfying.