The golden curse is a phrase that refers to the negative consequences or burdens that can be associated with material wealth or success. It suggests that despite the allure and apparent benefits of financial prosperity, there can be hidden drawbacks that come along with it. One interpretation of the golden curse is that immense wealth can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. When individuals accumulate vast amounts of money, they may find it challenging to connect with others on a deeper level. This can be due to the fear that people are only interested in their wealth and not their true selves. As a result, they may struggle to establish genuine relationships and may be surrounded by individuals who are more interested in their money than in them as individuals.
As a result, they may struggle to establish genuine relationships and may be surrounded by individuals who are more interested in their money than in them as individuals. Moreover, the golden curse can manifest as a constant fear of losing one's wealth. The accumulation of substantial financial resources can create an intense pressure to maintain and increase that wealth.
The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess
While this series had its big action climax back in episode nine, the emotional climax of the series is a much shorter fight with lower stakes objectively. Anis doesn't want to be a puppet queen forced to give up all that makes her the person she is, but her guilt makes her feel she has to. Even more so, she refuses to let Euphie sacrifice her humanity to take the throne in her place. She's already lost her brother due to how irresponsibly she handled the kingdom's looming succession crisis and can't lose Euphie for the same reason.
There's also a second layer to Anis' mindset—one that only became clear to her when Euphie announced her intention to take the crown. Anis is suffering from a severe case of existential impostor syndrome. At the moment Anis received her memories of her past life, they completely overpowered the memories and personality of the child princess. This makes her feel like she killed the girl she was supposed to be, that she stole an innocent child's family and future yet ignored all the responsibilities that came with it. This carries with it a ton of additional guilt, which is made worse by the fact that she truly loves her family. She'd give up everything to stay her parents' daughter, even live the hellish life that would await her as queen.
But here's the thing about this fight: Anis never had a chance. Anis is in a horrible emotional state with little experience using the dragon powers in combat. Meanwhile, Euphie is more driven and focused than she has ever been, with a literal decade spent refining her massive magical talents. And as the battle goes on, one thing becomes clear: Euphie never intended to give Anis a choice in the matter. She was going to force Anis to relinquish her claim to the throne regardless of how the duel turned out. That's why Euphie becomes a spirit contractor midway through the battle—not just for the additional power it grants her but to deliver a critical emotional blow—to show Anis that she has already failed to stop her from dooming herself to losing her humanity over the course of an immortal life.
This is doubly effective because, in doing so, Euphie has become a magical girl right out of the stories that inspired Anis so deeply. As Anis herself has said, magical girls use their magic to protect the smiles of others—even at the risk of their own lives. They are an unstoppable force of empathy and love. And with Euphie's final attack, Anis gives up. Even she can't beat her own dream made real, nor would she ever want to.
And so we get our bittersweet ending. Over the years to come, Euphie will become less and less human. But in the time before that happens, she has the chance to live a life beyond any she could have ever imagined just months before. As queen, Euphie has the power to protect Anis, allowing her to create magical inventions and spread them to the masses. By the traditions of the kingdom, magic power gives one the divine right to rule. And as she is the most powerful magic user in existence—one directly contracted with the spirits themselves—if the nobles were to reject her leadership, they would be undermining their own right to power in the eyes of both the people and other nobles.
More than that, the mixture of a ticking clock and a clear sense of purpose has given Euphie the clarity needed to go after the things she wants—namely Anis. It's a great role reversal to see Euphie so actively pursue Anis romantically, especially when it becomes obvious that Anis, despite being out of the closet from a young age, never expected to actually find another woman willing to be in a relationship with her. Having a woman she is highly attracted to put the moves on her constantly is new territory for Anis and she is completely unsure how to act. It's cute, endearing, and pretty much the happiest ending we could have hoped for.
All in all, The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady is an excellent piece of genre fiction. It takes the typical otome villainess story as a base and explores the implications and consequences—as well as the hidden motivations that could cause such a story to come to be. At the same time, it plays with the idea of what it would be like if a magical girl was reincarnated in a fantasy world. Both stories build on and complement each other to create an amazing anime that is far more than the sum of its parts.
Random Thoughts:
• It's not flying that makes Anis happy at the end. It's seeing the smiling faces of the children around her—children being inspired by the image of a magical girl just like she had been in her past life.
• I still kind of hate Anis' parents. Getting to retire and farm like they always wanted seems like too good of a reward considering how their bad parenting is the root cause of many of the series' tragic events.
• I feel like a lot of Tilty's story must have been left on the cutting room floor. I really want to learn more about her past, motivations, and ultimate goals. Still, she seems very happy to witness the birth of a new age.
• Thanks for watching along with me this season. While I was excited for this series from the start, it turned out far better than I ever expected and it was a treat to read everyone's thoughts in the comments each week.
Richard is an anime and video game journalist with over a decade of experience living and working in Japan. For more of his writings, check out his Twitter and blog.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
This is doubly effective because, in doing so, Euphie has become a magical girl right out of the stories that inspired Anis so deeply. As Anis herself has said, magical girls use their magic to protect the smiles of others—even at the risk of their own lives. They are an unstoppable force of empathy and love. And with Euphie's final attack, Anis gives up. Even she can't beat her own dream made real, nor would she ever want to.
Consequently, individuals may become consumed by the fear of losing all that they have acquired. This anxiety can significantly impact their mental well-being, leading to stress, worry, and an inability to enjoy their wealth. Another aspect of the golden curse is the potential for greed and corruption to take hold. When individuals amass significant wealth, they may be tempted to prioritize their financial gain above all else. This can lead to unethical behavior, such as exploiting others, engaging in fraudulent practices or disregarding social responsibility. The pursuit of money can overshadow personal values and moral principles, causing individuals to lose their sense of integrity. Additionally, the golden curse can create a sense of dependency and entitlement. People who become accustomed to a lavish lifestyle may start to see it as their inherent right. They may lose sight of the value of hard work, becoming reliant on their wealth to provide for their every need and desire. This reliance can lead to a loss of motivation, ambition, and personal growth. It is important to note that the golden curse does not imply that all wealthy individuals fall victim to these negative consequences. Rather, it highlights the potential risks that exist and serves as a reminder that material wealth does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment. It is essential to maintain balance and perspective, valuing meaningful relationships, personal values, and personal growth alongside any financial success..
Reviews for "The Price of Gold: The Story of the Golden Curse"
1. Jessica - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "The Golden Curse" after hearing all the hype, but I was sorely disappointed. The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters lacked depth. The supposed twists and turns were predictable and didn't add any excitement to the story. Overall, it felt like a poorly executed attempt at a fantasy novel. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a truly engaging and captivating read.
2. Ryan - 1 star - "The Golden Curse" was a complete waste of my time. The writing was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to become invested in the story or connect with the characters. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the pacing was incredibly slow. I found myself skimming through paragraphs just to get through it. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused about the setting and the rules of the magical elements. Save yourself the boredom and pick up a different book.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Golden Curse," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The narrative felt disjointed, with random jumps in the storyline that left me scratching my head. The main character was unrelatable, and I struggled to understand her motivations. The romance subplot also felt forced and lacked chemistry. I wanted to be transported into a captivating world of magic and adventure, but instead, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with the overall reading experience.
4. Brandon - 2 stars - As a fan of fantasy novels, I was excited to dive into "The Golden Curse." However, the world-building was poorly executed, and I found it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The pacing was sluggish, and the plot lacked originality. The supposed twists and turns were predictable and didn't offer any surprises. The writing style was also lackluster, with a lack of descriptive language and engaging prose. Overall, "The Golden Curse" failed to live up to my expectations and left me wanting more from a fantasy novel.
5. Olivia - 1 star - I regret wasting my time on "The Golden Curse." The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. The plot was incredibly predictable, with cliche moments that didn't add anything new to the genre. The writing itself was uninspired, with monotonous descriptions and unoriginal dialogue. I found myself cringing at the forced attempts at humor and romance. If you're looking for a captivating fantasy novel, look elsewhere.