KKC Theory Wiki

Devi May Be Ambrose Jakis's Estranged Younger Sister

fringe identity · popularity 75 · 1 source thread

Devi's hatred of Ambrose, brothel hints, and reasons she can't kill him suggest she is his disgraced sister.

About: Devi, Ambrose Jakis

Also involves: Caudicus, Elxa Dal

The theory§

This theory identifies Devi as Ambrose Jakis's youngest sister, the one Caudicus's reports say was discovered in a brothel, in one version selling and in another buying. It threads together several details: Devi is the one female character who hints at attraction to women; she speaks of Ambrose with insider certainty, knowing he 'beats his whores'; she admits flatly that she and Ambrose 'have a past'; and she says she cannot kill him and get away with it, which a noble sibling bond would explain. A noble's daughter caught in scandal and quietly cut loose would also account for how a sympathist talented enough to study at the University ends up running loans in Imre under a single name. The principal objections are that Ambrose comes from a famous court family whose legitimate siblings would be publicly known and would live as nobility rather than in hiding, and that the simpler reading is that Devi was one of the women Ambrose mistreated, or connected to one. A related strand argues instead that the Jakis daughter who ran away is Denna, not Devi.

Evidence§

  • what if Devi is Ambrose’s sister? … Ambrose’s youngest sister “was discovered in a brothel. There were two versions of that story, one where she was selling, and another where she was buying”
    OP's core claim, anchored in Caudicus's report about Ambrose's youngest sister in a brothel. — u/Revolutionary_Kale45
  • Devi is the only female character who has hinted at being into women … “Some women have trouble keeping their feet as well,” she said. Her grin changed slightly, moving from adorable to impish and then well past the border into wicked.
    Links Devi's hinted attraction to women with the brothel rumor (selling/buying). — u/Revolutionary_Kale45
  • “He beats his whores,” Devi said … “And if I could kill the arrogant bastard and get away with it, I would have done it years ago.” … “And yes, we have a past.
    Key textual evidence: Devi's insider knowledge of Ambrose, admission of a shared past. — u/Revolutionary_Kale45
  • that wouldn’t explain how Devi knows that Ambrose beats his whores. And the certainty with which she states this makes me doubt she thinks it’s merely a rumour. Perhaps she visited a brothel where she learnt this information, and perhaps she *was discovered* there.
    Refines: insider certainty fits a sister discovered in a brothel, not a mere ex-lover. — u/Revolutionary_Kale45
  • Devi is living as a gaelet instead of, say, enjoying her (arguable) position as the daughter of a Baron. I’d say that, if Devi *is* Ambrose’s sibling, she would surely disown her own family.
    Explains why a noble's disgraced daughter would run loans under a single name. — u/Revolutionary_Kale45
  • I think you're onto something with regards to a connection between the "he beats his whores" and "we have a past" comments and the rumor regarding Ambrose's sister. I would guess Devi is somehow connected to one of the prostitutes that Ambrose beat.
    CounterCounter: simpler reading is Devi connected to a victim, not the sister herself. — u/If-By-Whisky
  • The simplest answer is the most likely. She had a fling with Ambrose, got physical with him, and he beat her at some point. He treated her like a whore.
    CounterCounter: Occam's-razor alternative—Devi was a mistreated lover, not his sibling. — u/Toes14
  • she likely can't kill him because he is a high ranking noble and if he was killed by malfeasance it would incite one of the largest investigations the university has ever undertaken
    CounterRefines the 'can't kill him' point—blowback, not a sibling bond, may explain it. — u/Paintinmyeye

Book refs: WMF, WMF ch 74, WMF ch 33, WMF ch 26, WMF ch 10

Tier reasoning§

tier confirmed: fringe, simpler explanation defeats it

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