She’s honestly a mess. Most people jump into The Eminence in Shadow looking for Cid Kagenou’s delusional power trips or the sleek, efficient perfection of the Seven Shadows, but then there’s Alexia Midgar. She’s the literal wrench in the gears. While Alpha is playing 4D chess and Cid is busy trying to look cool in the rain, Alexia is just trying to survive her own family trauma while wielding a sword style that everyone—including her own sister—basically called "trash."
That’s why she’s great.
Usually, in these isekai power fantasies, the "heroine" is either a damsel or a goddess. Alexia is neither. She starts off as a manipulative, somewhat bratty princess who blackmails Cid into a fake relationship just to spite her sister. It’s petty. It’s real. And frankly, it’s a breath of fresh air in a genre that often treats female characters like trading cards.
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The Problem with Being the "Ordinary" Royal
Let’s talk about the "Ordinary Sword." In the world of Alexia Midgar, excellence isn't just encouraged; it’s the bare minimum for survival. Her sister, Iris Midgar, is a literal prodigy. Iris is the gold standard, the hero of the kingdom, and the person whose shadow Alexia has been suffocating in for years.
When you grow up next to a sun, you tend to get burned.
Alexia’s initial complex comes from the fact that her swordplay is fundamentally basic. It’s refined, sure, but it lacks the "flair" or the monstrous magical output that defines the elites of Midgar. She knows it. Everyone else knows it. This is why her early interactions with Cid—who is pretending to be the most mediocre "mob" character in existence—are so fascinating. She sees a kindred spirit in his perceived blandness, even if she expresses that "connection" by beating him up or making him buy her sandwiches.
But here is the nuance: Alexia’s sword isn't actually bad. It’s just honest. In the cult-fighting madness that defines the series, her dedication to a "normal" style becomes her greatest strength because she isn't relying on flashy gimmicks or ancient bloodlines. She’s just working harder than you.
That Zenitsu-Style Breakthrough (But Without the Napping)
There’s a specific moment during the Zenon Griffey arc that changes everything for her character. When Zenon reveals himself as a traitor and starts ragging on her "commoner" sword style, Alexia is on the verge of a total breakdown. Then Shadow (Cid) shows up.
He doesn't give her a pep talk. He doesn't tell her she's special. Instead, he shows her.
By watching Shadow move—using the most efficient, minimalist, and "ordinary" movements taken to a logical extreme—Alexia realizes that her "ordinary" sword isn't a curse. It’s a path. It’s one of the few times in the series where Cid’s chuunibyou nonsense actually provides genuine, grounded inspiration for another character without it being a total misunderstanding. Well, it’s still a misunderstanding, but the result is a massive leap in her self-actualization.
She stops trying to be Iris. She starts being Alexia.
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Why Her Relationship With Cid Is The Only Real One
Every other girl in Shadow Garden worships Cid. To them, he is a literal god, a savior, and the smartest man to ever live. It’s a bit one-dimensional, honestly. They don't see the idiot behind the mask because they’ve built an altar where his personality should be.
Alexia Midgar is different.
She thinks Cid is a loser. She thinks he’s a spineless, average, slightly pathetic guy—and she loves that about him. Or at least, she finds comfort in it. Their "relationship" is built on a foundation of mutual manipulation and physical comedy. When she asks him if he likes the "excalibur" or the "pooch" (her nickname for him), it’s the only time we see Cid interacting with someone who isn't either a subordinate or an enemy.
Even though she eventually develops feelings for him, it’s rooted in the version of Cid that actually exists in the light of day. There is a delicious irony in the fact that the girl who hates "Shadow" (or at least distrusts his vigilante justice) is the one who most appreciates the "Mob Cid" persona he works so hard to maintain.
The Dynamic of the "Third Force"
As the story progresses, Alexia moves away from being a mere love interest and becomes the leader of a "Third Force" alongside Rose Oriana and Princess Epsilon (in her civilian guise as Kafka).
This is where the political depth of The Eminence in Shadow starts to shine. You have:
- The Diablos Cult (The literal Illuminati/Villains).
- Shadow Garden (The vigilante extremists).
- The Kingdom of Midgar (The confused people stuck in the middle).
Alexia represents the struggle of the "normal" world trying to make sense of two god-like entities fighting in the dark. She knows something is wrong with the world. She knows the Cult exists. But she also doesn't trust Shadow Garden. She refuses to be a pawn for either side. That takes a level of agency that most characters in this series just don't have. She’s outmatched, outgunned, and out-magicked, yet she still walks into the room like she owns it.
That is pure "Eminence" energy, just without the cheat codes.
The Midgar Sisters: A Deconstruction of Failure
The relationship between Alexia and Iris is one of the more tragic elements of the narrative. Early on, you think Iris is the "main character" and Alexia is the "sidekick." But the roles flip.
Iris is a character who cannot handle losing. She’s been the best for so long that when she finally encounters Shadow—someone she can't beat with raw power—she starts to spiral into obsession and potential villainy. She becomes blinded by her own sense of justice.
Alexia, meanwhile, has been losing her entire life.
Because Alexia is comfortable with failure, she’s able to adapt. She can look at a situation objectively because she doesn't have an ego to protect. While Iris is busy shouting at the sky, Alexia is in the trenches, investigating the Cult’s influence on the Academy and trying to piece together the truth about the "Possession" disease.
She’s the detective of the story. If Cid is the protagonist of a superhero parody, Alexia is the protagonist of a gritty noir thriller that’s happening in the background.
Addressing the "Bratty" Misconception
If you go on any forum or Discord, you'll see a lot of hate for Alexia. People call her toxic. They point to the scene where she tries to slice Cid after he rejects her "confession" (which was fake anyway).
Is she toxic? Yeah, probably. But in a series where the main character regularly causes massive property damage and "cool" explosions for a hobby, holding Alexia to the standard of a "polite waifu" feels a bit hypocritical. Her flaws are what make her a person rather than a trope. She’s defensive because she’s been compared to a prodigy her whole life. She’s aggressive because, in the royal court, weakness is a death sentence.
Watching her slowly lower those guards—especially in her interactions with Rose—is one of the few genuine character arcs in the series that doesn't rely on a "power-up" to feel earned.
What You Should Actually Pay Attention To
If you’re re-watching or re-reading, keep an eye on how Alexia reacts to the "Possession." While the rest of the world sees it as a curse or a sign of demonic influence, she starts to see it for what it is: a biological condition used for political leverage.
Her intellectual growth is arguably faster than her physical growth. She is one of the few characters who actually questions the status quo of the world without being told the secrets by Shadow.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Analyze the Swordplay: Look at the choreography in the anime during the Zenon fight. Notice how Alexia’s movements change after seeing Shadow. It’s a transition from "stiff textbook" to "ruthless efficiency."
- The "Pooch" Symbolism: Pay attention to when she uses nicknames for Cid. It usually happens when she’s feeling vulnerable or trying to hide her genuine interest. It’s a classic defense mechanism.
- The Contrast with Alpha: Compare how Alexia treats Cid vs. how Alpha treats him. Alpha treats him like a visionary; Alexia treats him like a person. One of these is much more valuable for Cid’s mental health (even if he doesn't realize it).
Alexia Midgar isn't the strongest character in The Eminence in Shadow. She isn't the smartest. She definitely isn't the most stable. But she is the most human. In a world of over-the-top parodies and "all-according-to-plan" tropes, her struggle to find her own "ordinary" path is what gives the story its actual stakes. Without her, the series would just be a one-sided stomp. With her, it’s a world that actually feels worth saving.
If you want to understand the real themes of the series—identity, the value of effort, and the masks we wear—stop looking at the man in the trench coat and start looking at the princess who’s tired of being a shadow.
To get the most out of her character arc, focus on the Light Novel's third and fourth volumes, where her political maneuvering starts to outpace her combat scenes. It’s here that she truly separates herself from the "rejected love interest" trope and becomes a sovereign power in her own right.
Next Steps:
- Review the Red Moon arc to see how Alexia handles a crisis without Shadow's direct intervention.
- Compare her fighting style in the Bushin Festival against other "ordinary" knights to see her actual growth.
- Note the subtle shift in her dialogue with Iris; it marks the exact moment she stops being the "younger sister" and starts being a leader.