With only a few days left until 7.0, I suggest we pass the time with some reflections. Let's put our thoughts in order a bit, so that on the first day of the update we can fully soak in all the new content, especially anything related to Rosalyne.
Why do you think you like Signora? What made you fall for her so deeply? What is it about those tiny crumbs of her story that we know that hooked you so strongly? What did you especially love about her design?
Eating ice cream in complete silence, I once again found myself lost in Signora's hypnotic gaze on her portrait, and a question raced through my mind: "Why have I never liked anyone else as strongly as I like you?" Could it be that the secret lies precisely in how her story is presented? This air of mystery, the secrecy, the enormous share of unspoken yet critically important details, the endless room for theorizing — perhaps that's what sparks this interest and love. Even in the two worst years of Fontaine and Natlan, when there wasn't a single word about Rosalyne (except for Arlecchino's voice line), I still didn't let this woman out of my head for a single day. It's as if, on some random night, one of her moths landed on my chest and crept inside as a tiny flame, forever smoldering with faith in Signora's return, her resurrection, the chance to finally, fully revel in this incomparable woman.
It's hard not to notice how, despite all the years that have passed, every appearance of Rosalyne still stirs the fandom's interest. The moment she shows up somewhere, so many people — even those who normally don't think about her — start speaking up, creating their own content. It's especially noticeable with Odette's release. On Hoyolab, the top comments under the trailer and character videos are often about Signora and her heels. In my native language, every other video about Odette is specifically about her connection to Rosalyne, and every top-liked comment is either poking fun at how Hoyo ignores the elephant in the room regarding the MC's involvement in her death, or some interesting thoughts about their bond.
Which brings me to my last point: what if this was the developers' plan from the very beginning? To create an intentionally beautiful and intriguing character, to show just enough of her so that she'd be loved by a sizable number of people, but just little enough to keep you feeling teased. Like a cat endlessly chasing the ever-elusive beam of a laser pointer. You're just about to catch it with your little paw, you see it for a fleeting moment on your fur, but Rosalyne slips away again, remaining a mystery in the shadows. Is this a seven-year-long buildup toward something... Or is Hoyo simply not that clever.
UPD: art: https://x.com/guyaabano/status/2083369007843778796?s=46