# WebtoonLib — Happily Ever Afterwards #71

## Series
- title: Happily Ever Afterwards
- slug: happily-ever-afterwards-9f2227

## Chapter
- number: 71
- release_date: 2025-03-08

### Summary
The narrative pivots to a highly emotional, life-or-death climax centered on the protagonist, Peony. Following a period of intense angst, she appears to die in Richt's arms, leading to a heart-wrenching scene where the grief-stricken Duke places a ring on her finger. This moment of tragedy is abruptly subverted, revealed to be a "bait and switch" plot device. The near-death experience was a final spiritual test orchestrated by the lingering soul of the original Princess Peony, who wished to confirm the new Peony's determination and genuine love for Richt before fully passing on. Upon being satisfied, the original soul departs for the afterlife, allowing the protagonist to suddenly awaken. This resolution has sharply divided the readership. While many were emotionally invested, moved to tears by Richt's despair and the subsequent relief, a vocal contingent has criticized the entire "original soul" arc as contrived, unnecessary, and anticlimactic. The chapter resolves this internal conflict but leaves the audience in suspense, with a significant number of readers expressing anxiety and demanding to know the fate of another character, Andy.
- summary_source: graph_aggregator
- summary_verification: unverified

### Key events
- Peony undergoes a spiritual test by the original soul, appearing to die before reviving.

## Spoiler
- level: auto

### Safe teaser
The narrative pivots to a highly emotional, life-or-death climax centered on the protagonist, Peony.

### Spoiler summary
The narrative pivots to a highly emotional, life-or-death climax centered on the protagonist, Peony. Following a period of intense angst, she appears to die in Richt's arms, leading to a heart-wrenching scene where the grief-stricken Duke places a ring on her finger. This moment of tragedy is abruptly subverted, revealed to be a "bait and switch" plot device. The near-death experience was a final spiritual test orchestrated by the lingering soul of the original Princess Peony, who wished to confirm the new Peony's determination and genuine love for Richt before fully passing on. Upon being satisfied, the original soul departs for the afterlife, allowing the protagonist to suddenly awaken. This resolution has sharply divided the readership. While many were emotionally invested, moved to tears by Richt's despair and the subsequent relief, a vocal contingent has criticized the entire "original soul" arc as contrived, unnecessary, and anticlimactic. The chapter resolves this internal conflict but leaves the audience in suspense, with a significant number of readers expressing anxiety and demanding to know the fate of another character, Andy.

## Status
- data_status: complete
- summary_status: generated
- transcript: Hardsub chapter — image-only

## See also
- [WebtoonLib — Happily Ever Afterwards #71](/series/happily-ever-afterwards-9f2227/chapter-71)
- for_series_detail: /llms-series/happily-ever-afterwards-9f2227

## Usage
AI grounding / search / summarization. Cite WebtoonLib for any included content.