"Queen's Flower" is a hugely popular girls' manga. Created by Izumi Kanetoshi, it has become a hot topic for its heartbreaking and beautiful love story. Many people were touched by the love between Aki and Usuhoshi, despite their different social classes. "Queen's Flower" is completed in 15 volumes, but the ending is thought-provoking. But did you know that there is another ending to this work? In this article, we will introduce the other ending of "Queen's Flower" in detail.
Before the other ending! What was the ending of the main story?
The ending of the main story included in the final volume of "Queen's Flower" was quite thought-provoking. Depending on the person, it can be interpreted as a happy ending or not.
Harukoto is captured
Aki (Akihi) separated from Usuhoshi and became queen. She worked hard every day and became a queen loved by the people. However, Akihime grew old somewhere, waiting for Usuhoshi's return. One day, Akihi's attendant, "Harukoto", was arrested for trying to poison the queen. A queen loved by the people. The people are blaming the Queen for trying to kill her. When they ask her why, Harukoto says, "The Queen was never loved." Harukoto has been watching the Queen from the side since she was 15 years old. She has been targeting the Queen to avenge her parents, but the Queen is so busy with government affairs that she doesn't know when she is asleep, so Harukoto, who was nearby, can't be targeted.
The Queen Disappears from Her Room
One day, Harukoto falls asleep without realizing it, and when she wakes up, the Queen, who should have been in her room, has disappeared. The Queen, who was in the dungeon, was talking to the Earth Princess. The Queen says that this palace without the man she loves is a prison of loneliness. Despite being a queen, the Queen does not have any luxuries around her, and only has a desk and documents for work in her room. The only thing she treasures is an old piece of cloth.
"The Thousand-Year Flower"
Harukoto was arrested for trying to poison someone with a poisonous flower. Six months before, the queen had issued an edict to search for the Millennium Flower. The "Millennium Flower" is an important keyword in the story, a flower that blooms only once every millennium and can grant any wish. However, this flower is not poisonous, but is used as medicine in the Western Regions. It eliminates pain and invites you into the world of dreams and illusions. Therefore, the queen is not dead, but continues to sleep. The "Millennium Flower" was something that the queen and Usuhoshi had been chanting like a spell all this time.
Harukoto's True Reason
The queen's wish was "I don't want to die as a queen." That's why Usuhoshi let her escape to the world of dreams. Harukoto wasn't trying to poison her either, but her true wish was to free her, who had fulfilled her life as a queen for the sake of her country and her people, and was unable to live her life as a woman, and to get her out of her empty room.
Reunion with Usuhoshi
Aki was asleep in her room. Usuhoshi appears there. Aki bursts into tears. Determined to choose Usuhoshi this time, Aki runs to Usuhoshi, who holds out his hand. Usuhoshi accepts Aki's hand, and Aki feels that she doesn't need anything else. Then, when Harukoto looks into the room, the queen who should have been there is not there. Harukoto begins to cry. The real Harukoto loved the queen very much.
What is the true meaning of the last scene of the main story?
The main story had a thought-provoking last scene. What happened to Aki in the end? The main story did not say whether she died or not. For example, if Aki was really able to reunite with Usuhoshi thanks to the mysterious power of the "Millennium Flower", it would be a very happy ending, but if she was just hallucinating and met Usuhoshi in that hallucination, it would be too sad. Therefore, this ending can be interpreted as either a happy ending or not depending on the person.
What about the disappearance of the body?
This is probably also the mysterious power of the Millennium Flower. As Haruko says, "It's interesting because there are things that can't be true," I think the author leaves room for the reader to imagine and speculate on these points. It's quite interesting. However, since their bodies have disappeared, it seems certain that both Aki and Usuhoshi are dead.
Another ending, with spoilers!
Now, let's talk about another ending that everyone is curious about. Did you know that there is a special edition of "Queen's Flower" volume 15? In fact, a special edition of "Queen's Flower" was released on March 27, 2017. It is an alternate story that is different from the ending of the regular edition volume 15, and was drawn by the original author, Izumi Kanetoshi. Unlike the ending of the regular edition, which has been speculated on in various ways, this is a completely happy ending. I'm sure many people felt saved after reading this one.
The one who became queen...
In this alternate story, it was not Aki but Tsuchihi who became queen. And her attendant was Harukoto. The reason for this is that Aki handed over the throne to Tsuchihi. Tsuchihi had lost her home and her son, was captured, and was no longer greedy. Aki thought that Tsuchihi would be able to properly rule the country in her place. And Tsuchihi said that she had a strange dream in which her former servant, Takafu, had become the prime minister, not the king.
Where is Aki now?
Harukoto mutters, a little sadly, "I wonder where she (Akihi) is at this time." In fact, in this world line, Akihi was on a journey to find Usuhoshi. And then, Tsuchihime said, "If this dream story of a woman who has nothing, who has abandoned her country and her position, and spends years and years searching for a man whose life or death is uncertain, can come true, I'll send her a flower." This is, of course, the "Millennium Flower." In fact, in the other story, Tsuchihime sends Aki the "Millennium Flower"!
Aki and Usuhoshi's Reunion
Then the scene changes. In a faraway land where she doesn't know where she is, Aki finally finds Usuhoshi. And the two of them embrace each other tightly. The two are reunited safely. Of course, this is the power of the "Millennium Flower." Both of them are alive and are reunited, so it's an unmistakable happy ending, and it's great.
Check out the illustrations!
The main story's sad and thought-provoking ending is wonderful, but this other story also has a happy ending, which is also wonderful. In addition to the happy ending, the special edition of volume 15 also includes illustrations, introductions to famous quotes that appeared in the work, and a message from Izumi Kaneyoshi-sensei. It's a must-see for fans of "Queen's Flower," so be sure to check it out!
[Queen's Flower] Spoilers about the other ending!
That's all about the other ending of "Queen's Flower"! What did you think? Opinions were divided on whether the main story had a happy ending or not, but the other ending was completely happy. Many people will have felt relieved after reading it. Having two endings like this makes it a very satisfying read, and you can see various aspects of the characters. We have also introduced the ending of the main story in other articles, so please read them. It's fun to consider it from various angles, and it's a sad and moving story!
