One of the reasons I went with Benedict's route was that as king, Serenoa could make a better life and better nation, but it becomes clear that he really is a puppet to Benedict. We see the Rosellans freed, but living in poverty as late-capitalist-style "freedom" dominates and makes the rich richer and the poor poorer; I didn't realize that this Aesfrosti ideal would extend to Norzelia when I chose the path, since it doesn't necessarily have to go hand in hand. But Benedict cows Serenoa to block any attempt to aid the poor, especially the Rosellans. Meanwhile, Serenoa tells Benedict he needs him, which is probably true, as he's become a weak ruler in his own right. This kinda seems like a trap ending, where the reasons you choose it get yanked out from under you, as opposed to the others where (if I'm reading them right) you basically get what you picked in the long-run. (e.g. if you pick Roland's ending, you know you're sacrificing the Rosellans for the 'greater good' and giving the country to Hyzante, and that's pretty much what happens.) If I'd known allying with Aesfrost meant adopting their ideals, I don't know that I would've picked it. I suppose this wasn't unpredictable with the right amount of critical analysis, but it felt like the relevant info came after the decision instead of before. This route seemed to promise the most positive outcome of possibilities but ends with a pretty stark downside. But I suppose the other normal endings aren't any different either, and that's why there's a golden ending to balance out the good and bad.
