YMMV / The Goblin Emperor

• Magnificent Bastard: Aina Shulivar is a leader of a political reform movement seeking more rights for workers. The Big Bad hires him to build a bomb to kill the emperor and his heirs. Shulivar recognizes that the current empire and anyone else who is raised in a position will never give up enough of that power to give fair and adequate rights to non-nobles, but also sees that his Ax-Crazy boss will be no better. Shulivar deliberately detonates the bomb prematurely, becoming The Kingslayer and ensuring that Maia, The Woobie, will quickly be cemented into power as emperor. Shulivar correctly believes that Maia's past and experiences will make him willing to surrender wealth and power to help people who are vulnerable like he once was. Shulivar's plan succeeds, but also leads to his arrest thanks to an investigation Maia orders. Shulivar is brought before Maia, politely explains his motivations, happily notes Maia is meeting his expectations, and says that he regrets the lives he took but feels that the sacrifice pales next to the people who suffer and die without the reforms Maia is enacting. Shulivar then departs for his trial and certain execution without a hint of fear or resentment.