I like both routes as well and both endings, but if you do the first ending first and then the second then you'll see what I mean when I say this. That the second ending is actually the selfish/ ignorance is bliss ending. The protag is more concerned about things going back to the way they were, that they become blind to the darker side of things as the cycle continues. Yes I actually like the first ending better as well because it showed the darker side of things which was a real eye opened and it showed just how twisted that fake king really was. Don't get me wrong though I'm sure some of these people got just what they deserved, some of them might've even criminals who committed heinous crimes for all we know. But to involve innocent people in these atrocities too when they hadn't done anything wrong that's just evil.