Governance of Leona’s country is proving difficult for his older brother, Falena, with their father wishing that Leona will to go to his brother’s aid. Speaking more bluntly, Leona says that Falena is going to run their kingdom into the ground.
We possibly get a hint of the situation during the Cloudcalling event: after Leona explains how precious water is in the country and how a lack of investment in infrastructure means people outside of the capital (like Ruggie) are living off of well water, Kifaji shows their visitors a water fountain that was commissioned by Falena in honor of the birth of his son.
Falena is ten years older than Leona and not yet king, serving as regent while their father is bedridden with an unspecified illness. When visiting his hometown during Cloudcalling Leona explains that tourists are not granted audiences with Falena and he will not be going to him: “Don’t think I can handle bathing in all his majesty, ya see.”
When Kifaji explains how bringing all the different demographics of the population together is a difficult task for the royal family, insinuating that Leona ought to be helping his struggling brother as their father wants, Leona replies, “Best thing I can do for my brother is not be here. It’s why I don’t come home. The country’s better off.”
Later Kifaji says, “I do wish you’d put those wits of yours to use for the sake of your country’s future,” with Leona replying, “This country already has a fine leader. What use do you have for a fangless weakling like me?”
On the subject of his older brother, Falena, Leona says, “he could focus on the kingdom’s affairs—you know his JOB,” but Falena instead insists on being “the caring big brother who’s nice to everybody.”
One example that Leona provides is Falena gifting him with an expensive traditional rug for his dorm room: “In the time he spends sending me gifts I don’t even want, he could be sending rugs to neighboring lands and bolstering our foreign relations.”
Falena seems to be focusing on preserving nature rather than investing in infrastructure like running water for the country’s citizens, while Leona’s vision might align more closer to that of his father. Leona explains, “The city began to develop under my father’s rule —while he was still in good health, anyway.”
Leona says that Falena also views spelldrive as “just a diversion for the masses,” and is “clueless” about the boost it would be for tourism if their country was able to win the world league.
During Leona’s overblot flashback we see how he would overhear attendants to the royal family gossiping about how they prefer the “bright and cheerful” Falena to Leona’s moodiness and frightening unique magic.
While the novels are not canon to the game, Leona’s overblot monologue is very different in the novel and highly recommended, including;
“Someday, someone will see me for who I am. I was so certain, and I worked so hard.”
“I knew thinking about it was pointless, but I couldn’t stop. And I started to hate myself for it.”
“When I realized that the plan to remove Malleus had failed, suddenly, I understood. That everything is pointless. That the future throne I desire does not exist. It didn’t bother me as much as I’d thought it would.”
“It’s not their expectations that scare me. I’m scared of myself. Of how pathetic I would be if their words inspired me, so that I am never able to give up hope.”
“I’m not strong, I’m not wise, and I’m not loved. Is this who I am?.”
“I hate knowing how insignificant and boring I am. People say I should try. What else can I do? I’ve already given it everything I have. Maybe what I should be striving for is the strength to give up. And that sounds like the most painful thing of all.”
Leona points out that Falena will become king even if he spends every day singing and napping and Falena does not deny it, instead telling Leona that he has the potential to help their country with his wisdom. Leona responds, “And maybe if this country selected its kings on the basis of intelligence, l’d be motivated to do something with that wisdom.”
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 