By Higuri You Published by Asuka DX Comics Genre: Shonen ai Reviewed by Kitty
After dipping his hand into the pool of international politics, Ludwig comes away more disillusioned and scorned than ever. Convinced that he was never meant to be happy, he rejects anyone that has the remotest hint of sincere love for him, in fear that he would taint their own happiness. Ludwig drowns his despair and feeds his madness through music while burning holes in the royal pocketbook. The master of the royal stables, Robert, tearfully pursues Ludwig, willing to follow the manic depressaive king into his self-created abyss. Ludwig is almost saved by the sexually generous boy but the king's love for the young man is the very thing that severs the one genuine thing Ludwig had ever had in his life.
Without giving much of the ending away, it's not a spoiler to say that the real Ludwig and the royal doctor's bodies were found in the lake behind the manor the king was confined in. Higuri romanticizes her version of how Ludwig was gotten rid of, like the albatross around Austria's neck. Historically speaking, Ludwig's death remains a mystery. Some accounts say that the deaths were accidental while some others say murder. By any rate, don't hold this manga too accurate on the facts. There's no indication that the bishonen stable boy existed at all. Stunning background designs to look at, if you're not already salivating like Pavlov's dogs over the bishonen/biseinen here. |
The final installment that chronicles the fictionalized
account of King Ludwig II of Austria-- through the aesthetic eyes of Higuri You. Beware of SPOILERS below.
After a failed assassination attempt to remove the mad
king from power, and with Austria in political chaos, Ludwig is declared mentally
incompetent to rule by the royal physician and locked away at a remote manor. The
stable boy senses a conspiracy brewing and plans a simple escape for himself and the
king the day after.