*SPOILER!!*
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THEORY ON PALMIER
His our really soulmate, it was never Ivar. When we turned 18, Palmier's "soulmark" probably already appeared. His mark hinted that his soulmate is named ____ (our PC) so when PC said who they were, he immediately knew we're his soulmate. He probably already dealt with his family since it was revealed on the castle journal that Palmier is Seth's son. By then, in advance, Palmier probably decided to pose as Ivar to 1.) appear more "acceptable" or "lovable" to his future soulmate and 2.) for nobody to know his Seth's son (since he doesn't even want to associate himself with Seth when we confront him about the journal). As for why he brought us to his world, he did it for 2 reasons = 1.) to rescue Ivar who was abducted by Alexei because Palmier kept on reaching out to us on our dreams (idk why Ivar was targeted but that's to be explored on the full game). Since Palmier needs access to the castle, involving our PC was his only way. Lastly, he brought us to his world to convince our PC to either love him "over time" or if not, to have the chance to love someone else. In the bathroom scene, he admitted to being the one to cut off ties with Thane, Quill and possibly Fia (Miss Xero said Arshem canonically went back with the isekai'd Palmier). This definitely hints that he believes he doesn't deserve to be with anyone in general, not even to receive help...but by bringing PC, we're an exception because he wants to rescue Ivar and this is his only chance to introduce himself to us and for him to also give us the option to love someone else. To observe us from the sides as we interact with the MLs shows that he accepts the reality that the dreams he gives to us will definitely be short lived. And that we'll need to find someone else to love as we don't deserve someone "rotten in the inside" as him who only endangers people around him. Ever wondered why he somehow is always able to locate PC? 'cuz he already knew and saw where we were going, he was just in the shadows watching us interact with the others (from Irwin to Till and to Conri)
But ofc, despite everything, his still hoping that maybe while rescuing Ivar, he can form a close bond with us over time and that we can love him. This is why there's narratives in the market exploration like "do not cheat on your fiance? or give someone else a chance?" and the castle exploration making you choose "give the person a love potion? or don't force love?". It asks us if we would want to love someone else and not whose said to be mated to us and if we believe love should be forced or not forced. Remember, Lowell (the wolf maid) mentioned that Palmier reads people's minds and most likely already did to PC, making him say the lines "He probably did read your mind already without you knowing. The question is, what did he find?"..so your exploration choices are probably already being heard/judged by Palmier. His moments of yearning for us is also shown in multiple scenes: the necklace scene, the note scene and the bathtub scene. In the necklace scene before arriving in the castle, Palmier makes us wear the necklace and then sneaks in some light touches to our PC, if you choose to reciprocate it, he beams and gently rubs that hidden mole in our face ("hidden" is mentioned because nobody can see it easily unless its someone whose seen it up close or intimate with our PC, and the dream Ivar is the only one who knows and kisses that hidden mole, obviously hinting that Palmier really was the Ivar in our dreams the whole time). Another is when you find his notes as he writes on it, "Has a kind heart and high gullibility, occasionally smiles so wide there's dimples..I would like to bring that smile out more" when observing us. And lastly, in the bathtub scene our PC recalls intimate moments with dream Ivar in front of Palmier. As we mention how we love Ivar giving us different flowers every night, he asks what our favorite flower is and as we say Daffodils...Palmier blushes on the idea. This is because in the previous Bewitching Sinners game..Palmier's favorite or at least 'associated' flower to themself was always a daffodil. So to choose a daffodil over other flowers? To him it was like our PC adoring him than the rest. His yearning is also probably due to him being held back by the fact that he is a witch. When PC discovers the two Ivars, Ivar's words to our PC was, "Just how many calamities must my nephew cause in his attempt to mend the unmendable?" expressing disappointment in him because Ivar likely knows Palmier (being Seth's child + a witch) can't be loved or shouldn't be in love. There is a moment when Palmier did say he doesn't mind the world to be in chaos/to burn if he can be with his love, hinting that us being his soulmate will cause damage for some reason (kinda like a forbidden love situation). Yet, Palmier still visits us in our dreams as 'Ivar'. Makes sense on why he keeps saying that "delusions" aren't bad and why on the ending saying like, "why can't you stay in that delusion longer?"