To Belong To Oneself

Although McGillis’ marriage to Almiria and fervent desire to ensure her happiness are key points of the character, there is an understandable hesitance in the fanbase to discuss it in-depth. It’s majorly uncomfortable to watch this adult man interact with a pre-teen in a pseudo-romantic fashion. The desire to just ignore it as best as possible is not unreasonable. But with the release of the new Almiria-focused side story, I really want to discuss what their relationship means to each of them and why it matters.

(Disclaimer: I don’t think IBO does a fantastic job at disavowing less benevolent reads of the situation, but this post is about an interpretation of the text-as-is in which their relationship is, while inappropriate, not one of sexual abuse.)

The most striking thing established by “Almiria in Love” is that Almiria’s desire to be perceived as an adult pre-dates even her first meeting with McGillis. It’s a wish that exists de-coupled from all romantic ideas of love - a core of Almiria as an individual.

Through all of canon, Almiria is never seen playing with same age peers. Her only companions appear to be her adult maids and her adult older brother, however rarely he’s home. While Gaelio, McGillis and Carta grew up around one another as playmates, Almiria appears to be fundamentally lonely. She is being raised isolated in a world made for adults, and she is painfully aware of it.

can’t find anyone in the world to take her seriously. All her social contacts treat her (rightfully) as a child and there are no peer relations to balance this out. When Almiria desires to become a grown-up, it’s a desire for autonomy, respect and companionship.

It’s not that Almiria wants to be an adult in order to become a wife. It’s that Almiria, after meeting McGillis, wants to become a wife in order to be an adult. Someone worthy of respect and consideration.