Manga / The World is Still Beautiful

The King of the Sun, and the Princess of the Rain

Oh clouds, come upon us.
Oh rain, descend upon us.
Chase away the flames
and convey unto our thirsty King
that the world is still beautiful.
— Song of the Sun King

The Dukedom of Rain is a small country located far north of the mainland. While poor compared to the countries located on the continent, the country is peaceful, and its ruling family is much beloved by its people. It's a far cry from the turbulent times that the continent had endured over the past few years, before it was finally united under the rule of the Sun Kingdom's monarch, the eponymous Sun King.

The latter soon approaches the Rain Dukedom's sovereign, and much to everyone's surprise, decides not to conquer it and add it to the Sun Kingdom's holdings. However, in exchange for the Rain Dukedom's autonomy, they have to agree to a small deal: to send one of the princesses of the Dukedom's ruling family to become the Sun King's wife. This is because the Sun King had heard of the special talent of the dukedom's royalty, and wanted to witness this miracle himself. For you see, much like the name of their country, its royalty had the ability to call down the rain.

Nike is the fourth princess and, after a spirited match of rock-paper-scissors with her older sisters, was the one "volunteered" to be the wife of the Sun King. She's clearly not happy about being given this responsibility, but she goes out of duty anyway. When she arrives in the Sun Kingdom however, and meets her future husband, King Livius, she quickly realizes that things are definitely not going to be easy.

The Japanese title, Soredemo Sekai Wa Utsukushii (それでも世界は美しい), literally translates as "Even So, The World is Beautiful", and is rendered on the anime's logo as "Still world is Beautiful". Officially released in English as The World is Still Beautiful, the series is a Shoujo manga by Dai Shiina, and was serialized in Hana to Yume magazine from 2012 to 2020. An anime adaptation of the first eighteen-odd chapters was produced by Studio Pierrot and aired during the spring 2014 season.

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The World is Still Beautiful includes examples of the following:

• The Ace:
  • Livius himself. This is the guy who managed to put all the other countries on the continent under his dominion, and his only real weakness is the fact that, as he's barely gone past puberty, any adult would be able to overpower him in tests of strength — see his annoyance at how he's unable to properly draw a bow in chapter 8.
  • Livius' uncle Bardouin, who's not only an accomplished archer and scholar, he's also quite a charmer, all of this on top of being an accomplished statesman — he was the Prime Minister before he went Walking the Earth.
• Adaptation Induced Plothole: The anime's reordering of Luna's introduction and the Ring of Tales arc made some aspects a bit odd.
  • In Chapter 3 which is Luna's introduction, Nike and Livius also spend some time bonding hence strengthen their relationship enough to be devastated when their engagement isn't approved in the The Ring of Tales arc (chapters 4-6). The anime however adapted the arc before Luna's introduction, which made the Official Couple's depression over the disapproval of their engagement a bit strange since they've only just started to warm up to each other.
  • A minor plot-point in Chapter 3 is that Nike hasn't called Livius by his name yet which isn't out of the question since she's still new and not that close to him yet. Adapting it after the Ring of Tales arc in the anime made it weirder since Nike apparently still hasn't called him by his name after all this time, not even after she went through hell and emotional turmoil to overcome the engagement challenge and keep her marriage. She even says his name once (albeit in her head) beforehand.
• Affectionate Nickname: Livius is affectionately called Livi by Childhood Friend Luna, uncle Bardouin and eventually his wife-to-be Nike.
• All Love Is Unrequited:
  • Luna's been crushing on Livius since childhood but he never reciprocates. She accepts his engagement to Nike and moves on afterward.
  • Bardouin's first and greatest love was Sheila, Livius' mother. Since she was his brother's wife, this didn't go anywhere of course, but part of why Bardouin is so loyal to Livius in the first place is because of this love he held for the young king's mother.
  • Kitra for Nike. He along with Nike had trouble summoning the rain as children, and admires her hard work and determination. He's understandably not happy when he returns from a trip only to find she's betrothed to Livius.
• Anachronism Stew: Averted for most of the series, which leans toward a vaguely 18th-Century sensibility, particularly with regards to architecture and fashions. However, once the story returns to Nike's home country we're treated to, of all things, a full-blown idol concert, complete with speakers, spotlights, and wireless microphones. And later on, during Nike and Livi's formal engagement ceremony, they bring out what looks like a film projector. An exasperated Neil even comments on how he has no idea what these things are supposed to be.
  • This could be explained by a later reveal in the manga that the world is actually in a post-apocalyptic age, meaning the anachronisms could be rare artifacts of lost technology.
• Anguished Declaration of Love:
  • She doesn't say it to Livius' face, but Nike really tears up and is an emotional mess when she admits to Kitra while locked in prison that she does love Livius.
  • Chapter 38 has Luna run after Marquis Fortis and dramatically tell him that, yes, she does want to marry him.
• Arranged Marriage:
  • What kickstarts the plot to begin with: the Dukedom of Rain has to send one of its princess for the Sun King to marry. Nike just happens to be it.
  • Later on we meet the princess of the Sea Kingdom, Amaluna Luirasalle, who claims to be Livius' actual fiancee. It's not true obviously, and Livius just treats her like an annoying Childhood Friend.
  • In Chapter 30 when Luna reunites with Nike and Livius, she reveals she's just been put in an arranged marriage with the much older Marquis Claude Fortis.
• Authority in Name Only: Despite being King, Nike's father doesn't actually hold any power, and even admits as such to Livius. Instead, the power is held by Nike's grandmother.
• Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Nike and Livius are still figuring out what it actually means to be engaged, and are still prone to bickering whenever a misunderstanding happens. At the end of the day though, they're both devoted to each other.
• Beard of Evil: Luna sees Marquis Fortis as her enemy and will always take jabs at his beard when remarking how sinister he seems. He turns out to be good. Appropriately, he gets rid of it before he comes clean.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall:
  • Also a Take That, Audience!, when Mina is kidnapped by a pair of hoods, the boys intimate that they plan on sexually assaulting her to provide some Fanservice for "the male viewers", who otherwise would not be watching a Shoujo series.
  • There are several instances where Nike reacting to a situation is accompanied with running on-screen comments right out of Nico-Nico video.
• Boyfriend Bluff: Nike poses as Luna's fiance as "Vice Captain Kanaris Micaine" in order to drive away Luna's unwanted Arranged Marriage.
• The Bus Came Back:
  • Rani Aristels makes another appearance long after his scheme to stop Livius and Nike's marriage comes to light, oddly in a Breaking the Fourth Wall omake where he is one of the announcers for the character popularity poll. And then he makes a proper comeback when Bard runs into him while Nike is sick.
  • Kara is not seen for a while after the main gang visit the Rain kingdom, and finally makes her reappearance when she visits the Sun Kingdom and saves Nike from her rain powers getting out of control.
• Canon Foreigner: The council of elders that Livi always consults and Nike's retinue of maids debuted in the anime first, only making proper appearances in the manga a lot later.
• The Charmer: Bardouin certainly knows his way around the ladies.
• Chick Magnet: Again, Bardouin who's charming personality has most girls swooning.
• A Child Shall Lead Them: The 12-year-old Livius is the Sun King, much to Nike's shock.
• Childhood Friend:
  • Princess Amaluna Luirasalle of the Sea Kingdom has known Livius since childhood.
  • Kitra is Nike's cousin that trained a lot with her during their childhood.
• Compliment Backfire: While Nike is disguised as Luna's fiance Kanaris, Luna's brother Teibe is vocal about how he admires "him" for his manliness. Nike takes this as an insult to her femininity and sulks to Livius afterward.
• Contrived Coincidence: As part of the events starting in chapter 50, Kirra, Nike's sister, just happens to be in the Sun Kingdom with a beaded necklace made entirely out of Nike's Kryptonite Factor, and she arrived without notice or fanfare. While she admits to some logical difficulty trying to get into the castle to aid her sister, since the guards were still dealing with the aftermath of a coup attempt from Claus group, there is no explanation given as to how she even got to the Sun Kingdom, or why she's carrying that necklace in the first place.
• Corrupt Church: The state religion, which seems to be more concerned with its loss of influence upon Livi's ascension to the throne, and led by clergy that are by and large jerkasses to the flock they're supposed to look after. Livi mostly tolerates their shenanigans to avoid destabilizing the kingdom, but many of the higher-ups of the religion openly dislike him in return, given how his mother was both a commoner and someone who's not native to the Sun Kingdom. However even his patience was tested when some of the church's more ambitious leaders tried to get rid of Nike and discredit him in the process. Needless to say, that didn't go too well.
• Crazy Jealous Guy:
  • Livius considers Nike his, and his alone, and will go to any length to shoo off any other guy interested in his future queen. Violently. Even if it's his uncle. The threats of violence gradually lessens over time, however.
  • Kitra shows signs of abnormal jealousy, as he's very determined in carrying out his role in his grandmother's plan to end Nike and Livius' engagement, and accuses Nike of not truly loving Livius.
• Cuteness Proximity: Nike's older sisters find Livius incredibly cute and adorable. It's not the impression he wants to make to his prospective in-laws, that's for sure.
• Cynicism Catalyst: The death of Livius' mother is pretty much the cause of his negative impression of the world.
• Deadpan Snarker: Livius is a very snarky young man. Oddly enough, he only seems to be this way with Nike.
• Declaration of Protection:
  • Livius declares his duty to protect Nike to her when they find out the priests don't approve of their marriage and they have to fight to win it.
  • When finally confronted by Nike's mother, Livius puts his foot down on the matter of whether or not it would be best for Nike to stay in her home country.
    Livius: She should stay by my side forever. And I will protect her forever.
• Diegetic Soundtrack Usage:
  • In a flashback with a young Livius, Sheila hums the ending theme.
  • In episode 10, Kara sings the opening theme at the concert, to her sisters' (and Neil's) bewilderment.
• "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: Nike's voice actress, Rena Maeda, also sang the ending theme as well as the Rain Song.
• Dragged into Drag: What Nike had to do to Livi, so that the two of them could enjoy the Sun Festival without being bothered.
  Nike: I've always wanted a little sister.
• Dude Looks Like a Lady: Bardouin, thanks to his long hair and bishonen looks. Livius lampshades this in an argument, saying he should just look in the mirror if he wants to go after pretty girls. Bardouin doesn't react well to that comment.
• Fake Relationship: In order for Cassandra to be able to see Nike peacefully and heal her, Livius has her become his concubine so the priests can't stop him from taking her in the castle.
• Engagement Challenge:
  • To prove herself to the priest of Livi's kingdom, she must retrieve a ring from a deep crypt to prove herself. It's a trap as there's no ring and the priest have men there ready to detain and kill Nike. Livi saves her and they go around the lack of formal ring with Nike's rain skills.
  • What gets foisted on Livius by Nike's grandmother after the plan to hypnotize him into forgetting Nike fails. Overlaps with Impossible Task, given the ridiculous conditions he has to face — finding the key to the tower where Nike is held from a muddy swamp, in the middle of a massive thunderstorm summoned by said grandmother. This means that, if he takes too long looking for the key, there's a chance he might drown due to the rising waters. When he is finally pulled out, he had found the key and put it in his vest so he did not drop it.
• Even the Girls Want Her: Nike when she dresses up as a boy (or even when she dresses in masculine clothing) has the maids getting crushes on her.
• Everything's Better with Rainbows: Nike impresses a lot of people when she makes a rainbow ring in the sky. Using the exact words of her challenge, she presents this to the priest as proof she fulfilled her challenge, which he rigged for her to fail.
• Evolving Credits:
  • The opening initially just featured Nike wandering around a seemingly empty royal palace. Each episode after that adds more people to the opening — starting with Livius and Neil — after the episode they're introduced.
  • Starting from Episode 4, Nike wears one of her frilly princess dresses instead of her usual casual pink dress.
  • After Bardouin becomes a fixed character, he is also added in the scene where Livius has his Glowing Eyes Of Doom, to indicate he too also became a bit more cynical after Sheila's death and the war.
• Expecting Someone Taller: With titles like the Ruler of the World and the Sun King, Nike's sisters obviously expected someone more... impressive, when Livius finally made a visit to the Dukedom of Rain. It's no wonder he wasn't pleased when they mistook Neil for him.
• Filler: The anime's first episode was mostly anime-original at the time of its airing (the entirety of Nike's arrival and stay at the port town), only reaching the material covered in the manga when Nike arrives at the palace in the capital. Said filler was loosely adapted into a special prequel chapter in the manga.
• Fiery Redhead: Nike has orange hair and is hot-tempered and strong-willed.
• Gold Digger: Ameluna's parents. They have but one criteria for choosing Luna's fiance, how much money he's got in his bank account. They set Luna up first with Livius (who wound up being married to Nike instead) and then with Marquis Fortis purely based on this reason, constantly proclaiming he's good for her despite being over twice her age, solely because he's wealthy, and completely ignore Luna's protests in that regard. Even when Luna shows up with someone else as a fiance, their only concern is that they don't know anything about his holdings rather than the fact that they know next to nothing about his character.
• The Good Chancellor: Duke Bardouin is this after he returns, becoming the Prime Minister again and devoting himself entirely to Livius.
• Hard Work Hardly Works: Given what Nike's capable of doing from the beginning of the manga and anime, you'd think that she was born as an already extremely gifted Rain Singer. However a later manga chapter reveals that, among her sisters, Nike was the only one who couldn't innately influence the weather. It took her years of hard training under her grandmother for her to reach the point of proficiency displays in the series.
• Heart Is an Awesome Power: Nike's powers appear trivial at first, however the key to the rain is the manipulation of the surrounding air pressure. As Nike ably demonstrates in the first chapter alone, she can make it so that people pass out, and can even use it to cut the steel bars blocking the windows of the cell she was in. Later on, she even uses this to save Ameluna from falling off a cliff during their "duel" (by making the wind blow the princess closer to the cliff, enough for Nike to grab her arm). It is these eminently practical applications of Nike's powers that causes her grandmother to forcefully detain her, as she rightfully fears that it might get weaponized by the Sun King... Or if not by Livius himself, his and Nike's descendants.
• Hobbes Was Right: Nike's idealistic view of the world often turns out to be more accurate than Livius's cynical one, although Livius can only maintain the peace through a very dictatorial form government, and if he relents even a little bit, some group comes along and tries to kill him or those around him, and thinks they're the embodiment of justice for doing so.
• Improbable Age: King Livius, the Sun King, the ruler who conquered the world in a mere three years after ascending the throne... is a twelve-year old boy. Nike is as stunned as anyone when she meets him.
• Irony: Livius, who has throughout the series declared openly that he likes to be the one playing around with people... gets dragged around helplessly by Nike's older sisters Mira and Nia during his visit to the Rain Dukedom, where he's even forced to become their dress-up doll for the day. He lampshades this himself, complaining that only he's allowed to toy with people.
• Kissing Cousins: Kitra has feelings for Nike, but she only seems him as a good childhood friend.
• Lap Pillow: Nike has a tired Livius rest his head on her lap during chapter 2. Also present in the OP.
• Luminescent Blush: From both parties in chapter 17 when they see each other all dressed up for their engagement party at the Rain Kingdom.
• Magic Music: The Dukedom of Rain's royal family has singers who can each control the weather, either summoning rain or banishing it.
• Meaningful Name: Overlaps with Exactly What It Says on the Tin for the countries involved: the Sun Kingdom is constantly sunny, as if it's trapped in an eternal springtime, while the Dukedom of Rain is either raining, or cloudy. It would take the efforts of the royal family singing to give them even a short time of sunshine. Also the Sand Kingdom, which mostly comprises of deserts and and receives little rain.
• Mistaken for Pedophile: Bardouin jokingly flirts with his Violetta's younger sister and is poking her cheeks when Nike, Neil and Violetta walk in on him - it looks suggestive enough for Violetta to go berserk and make him repeat endlessly "lolicons are criminals".
• Modest Royalty: Nike, and indeed the rest of her family, don't dress any different from the people they supposedly rule over. Lampshaded by Kara when she greets Livius and Neil (and Nike in the anime) with a Hawaiian flower necklace and jacket over her normal outfit, pointing out to the embarrassed Nike that it's her most formal attire.
• Moving the Goalposts: Nike's grandmother offers Livius a deal: Find a key she tossed into a swamp to release Nike from her prison and she will let them be together. However, the swamp can be truly dangerous if the weather is really bad with lots of rain. Livius takes all but five seconds to look at the woman who trained Nike to control the weather and use a profane word against her. So, it's not the goal that is moved but the terrain to the goalposts.
• Murder Is the Best Solution:
  • While Livius' rule has brought stability to the Sun Kingdom, there are many that would just want to see him out of the way. It's gotten to the point that he's not even surprised anymore when someone is out to get him.
  • As Nike soon discovers, since she's the future queen she's not immune from this, when some ambitious priests try to use an ancient Sun Kingdom engagement ritual as an excuse to get rid of her.
  • When Livius' uncle Duke Bardouin returns after three years, guess what some worried courtiers suggested to be done to him? Yeeeah...
• Narrator All Along: The narrator in the anime? It's Nike's grandmother.
• Not What It Looks Like: Livius and his guards walk in on Nike sitting on the bed with Bardouin and assume adultery. Slightly averted as Bardouin beforehand does intend to seduce Nike to test her loyalty to Livius; she however knows he's not interested in her and calls him out on it. Bardouin expresses his relief that she's different than expected and that he can leave Livius in her hands.
• Offscreen Moment of Awesome:
  • Neil kicking ass after he and Livius catch a Rain Kingdom servant trying to drug the latter and all the guards try to go after him, only to be stopped by the former. It cuts to Livius running off and trying to find Nike. Neil is next seen the following day.
  • A sketch in the manga and the preview for episode 9 showed Neil singing karaoke and being really into it. The actual manga and anime never shows it, though he is seen (but not heard) singing in a later event which is Nike and Livius' wedding celebrations held by the Rain Kingdom.
  • In episode 5/chapter 6, only the SFX/sound of Nike punching the hell out of Aristes is given.
• The Omniscient Council of Vagueness: Parodied with Livius's advisors. On paper they're extremely influential men in their fields of experience — technology, warfare, and politics. In practice? They're just around to give perverted suggestions to Livius about Nike.
• One Head Taller: When they first meet, Nike is about a head taller than Livius. However she notices in around Chapter 40 that he's gotten taller since then.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Luna is actually a shortened version of her full first name Amaluna, yet no one calls her that.
• Parental Marriage Veto: Turns out, Nike's grandmother would rather not have anything to do with Livius, and certainly didn't expect Nike to take her engagement to the Sun King so seriously. Indeed, getting her to come back to the Rain Dukedom was just an elaborate excuse to separate them permanently, and keep it that way by all means necessary. No one expected Livius to come after his bride, which in turn forced old woman's hand.
• Parental Substitute: Nike's cousin Kitra, who has feelings for her, accuses her relationship with Livius to be nothing more than this and not genuine love.
• Perfectly Arranged Marriage:
  • They don't hit it off at the start but Livius and Nike grow to really love each other.
  • Despite Luna's disgust at being made to marry a much older guy, Marquis Fortis seems quite keen for their arranged marriage to work out, though some suspect he has ulterior motives. He does, but for good reasons that actually save Luna's family and country, and afterward he's willing to annul the engagement for Luna's sake. However they both also fall for each other and Luna confesses before he leaves, thus retaining the engagement and happily waiting for her to be old enough to marry.
• Person of Mass Destruction: Believe or not, Nike. As her mother tells Livius, in the past the rain singers of the kingdom had the power to literally bring ruin to entire nations, and in fact was the cause of the destruction of the ancient empire that once united the continent prior to the Sun Kingdom. It is THIS reason why Nike's grandmother wanted to keep Nike away from Livius; as the most talented rainsinger in generations, Nike was taught this most secret and destructive of melodies, and if Livius decided to use it for ill, the consequences would be devastating.
• Post Humous Character: Livius' mum Sheila died 3 years before the start of the series. His father also died some time before the series began.
• Princess Classic: Averted with Nike, but played straight with Princess Amaluna, the latter of whom rubs into the former's face just how lacking she is in the expected virtues that a princess is supposed to have.
• The Reliable One: Livius' assistant and close confidant Neil the butler, who also keeps a reasonable eye on Nike.
• Retcon: In the manga, Livius is said to be 15 until chapter 40 claims he's 12. The anime clears this up, with Nike's father specifically telling Livius that Nike's grandma ascended the throne when she was "not much older than [him]". This is in contrast to the manga where he says she was 15, "the same age as [Livius] is now". This, the fact he was still a boy when he became king 3 years ago and the fact that Nike herself is young and only a few years older than Livius is evidence that he should be 12. Also if the manga omakes of them as students are to be trusted, Livius/Livita is still in elementary school, leaving him to be 12 at the most.
• Revenge by Proxy: A double-layered example. The people of the Ice Kindgom, the Claus Group, went after Nike to spite Livius due to the long-past war between the Sun and Ice Kingdoms. Even then, Livius did not start the war, his now-dead father did. On top of that, it turns out that his mother, Queen Sheila, was a war captive.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something:
  • Although the Sun Kingdom has a well-established bureaucracy, Livius often feels the need to personally contribute at times.
  • Also quite literally in the case of Nike and her family, whose status as royalty does not exempt them from cutting firewood, doing the laundry, or peeling potatoes for a feast.
  • Prince Taishi of the Sand Kingdom does his best to communicate and help his people in person whenever possible because he has a great urge to look after them at all costs.
• She Cleans Up Nicely: Due to Nike's somewhat modest upbringing, it's not in her habit to pay attention to her appearance. However, when she does make an effort, she can be quite stunning, as evidenced by the slack-jawed surprise of many ambassadors, some of whom heckled her earlier in the day for being a "bumpkin princess".
• Strong Family Resemblance:
  • When Nike's mother Iraha is finally introduced, it's immediately made clear who Nike takes after, appearance-wise.
  • An official profile in the manga states that Livius looks like his father. Confirmed when Nike sees a painting of him.
• Sweet Polly Oliver: For a while starting from Chapter 31, Nike goes under disguise as "Vice Captain Kanaris Micaine" of Livius' army to pretend to be Luna's lover so they can stop her unwanted arranged marriage to Marquis Fortis. It fools everyone but him, so it turns out.
• Tailor-Made Prison: Because of the danger one of Nike's people could do if they abuse the weather manipulation powers, the dukedom has a Black Tower to nullify their powers when they imprison people there. To keep Nike out of the way as they separate her and Livius, she is put there.
• Taking the Bullet: Nike does this in the first chapter/episode 2, as she blocks the arrow from hitting Livius.
• They Just Dont Get It: On her introduction, Nike convinces Livius to spare the very people who tried to sabotage their wedding with assassination ploys, and arson of Livius's quarters, and the guards who either incompetently or corruptly looked the other way, rightly pointing out that retaliation would only serve to worsen their grudge. This means they all literally owe their lives to Nike's benevolence, so, of course, despite Nike being very popular with the vast majority of the Sun Kingdom's population, they continue to think killing her is a damn fine idea. What makes this particularly eggregious is that they all know Livius has a history of destroying entire countries to avenge his loved ones, not to mention that he's very, very vindictive, patient, clever and resourceful, and thinks nothing of waiting years to bring his vengeance down on those who slight him, the moment they drop their guard.
• Title Theme Drop: The opening theme plays in Episode 12 as the gang return to the Sun Kingdom... and it abruptly stops when they find out that the castle's overridden with women and Livius goes berserk at Bardouin.
• Tiny Guy, Huge Girl: A given for Livius who starts off at the height of the older Nike's shoulder.
• Tomboy Princess: Nike in the manga is introduced beating up four guards.
• Tonight, Someone Kisses: The opening would foreshadow the Official Couple kissing in a certain episode by having their silhouettes kiss at the end of the OP instead of standing side by side like usual for that episode.
• Took a Level in Badass: Luna's brother Teibe goes from being a timid nervous-wreck to saving his sister's life by hitting and disarming their Prime Minister who's been holding her hostage.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: The impression of both Princess Amaluna and Duke Bardouin of Livius, from the time he ascended the throne of the Sun Kingdom, three years prior to the start of the story. Take note, before that point Livius was a taciturn and unambitious boy who wanted to find a quiet place in the country to live in with his mother. He becomes less of a jerkass once Nike is in his life.
• Took a Level in Kindness: Livius has become progressively less ruthless, and has gradually become pleasant and even approachable. He's still prone to see the worst in people at times, but thanks to Nike's influence, he now keeps an open mind rather than react to a threat with extreme prejudice.
• Umbrella of Togetherness: Nike and Livius share an umbrella in episode 10 while it's raining.
• Unwanted Harem:
  • Neil is anything but pleased when he and Livius visit the Rain Principality and Nike's sisters fawn over him thinking he's Livius.
  • Livius isn't thrilled at all when he, Nike and Neil return home and they discover that the palace is full of women, thanks to Bardouin who's been in charge in Livius' absence.
• Weather Manipulation: The ability to make it rain, or rather, manipulate the air pressure to make the conditions conducive for rain to fall. It's something unique to the princesses of the Rain Dukedom.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Uluma of Prince Taishi's court is willing to lie to his price about how the people genuinely want Nike to stay (though it likely isn't too much of an exaggeration) in order to convince him to go along with the lie that Nike perished in a sandstorm just to keep Nike there for the Prince's well-being.
• What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?: The impression by outsiders of Nike's ability is that it's nothing more than a "cute trick", in their words, and rain is all she's capable of doing.
• Wise Beyond Their Years: Livius is actually a very capable ruler despite being so young. However, the fact that he had to shoulder so much responsibility at his age made him extremely cynical, at least prior to Nike's arrival.
• Wutai: Nike's home nation, the Rain Dukedom, is quite Asian as far as aesthetics go, mixing Tibetan (see Nike and livius' betrothal attire) and Chinese (the common architecture of the houses) influences, with some modern Japanese anachronisms thrown in to muddle things a bit (Kara's bob cut, her zettai ryouiki, the populace's love of idol concerts...)
• Youngest Child Wins: Nike is the youngest princess, and is chosen to marry the Sun King, the de-facto ruler of the whole world. However, she's initially not happy about this.

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