The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

Society’s dominant perceptions of Osric and Aurienne’s respective Orders are essential to the pair’s shifting dynamics throughout the novel. Fyren assassins like Osric are often summarily deemed evil because of their unapologetic embrace of their murderous profession, while Haelans like Aurienne are celebrated for their healing abilities and their commitment to helping the community. However, the pattern of the narrative raises implicit challenges to the simplistic categorization of Fyrens as “evil” and Haelans as “good,” suggesting instead that an individual’s moral status depends on their actions. Even the question of whether an action is good or evil depends largely on the context, and in several significant scenarios, the Haelan Order’s vaunted “goodness” is tarnished by selfish concerns—just as the Fyrens’ reputation for undiluted evil is mitigated when Osric takes one life to save many others.

The author exposes the nuances of this moral quandary by describing Aurienne’s shifting opinion of Osric. Although this aspect of the novel is intended to align with the enemies-to-lovers trope, Knightley also uses the evolution of Aurienne’s views to critique her otherwise rigid perspective on morality. Initially, Aurienne’s introspective narration shows her belief that she holds the moral high ground over Osric, and she consciously stereotypes him based on her poor opinion of his Order.