Assistant to the Villain

The manor is Trystan’s home and the office from which he conducts business. Located deep in the dark, enchanted forest near Evie’s village, the manor has earned the nickname Massacre Manor because of the many alleged deaths that the Villain has caused there. The moniker is yet another way in which Trystan’s character seemingly represents The True Definition of Evil. Like his own nickname (the Villain), the manor has an epithet that is suited to the evil label that the king has imposed upon Trystan. Unlike “the Villain,” however, the manor was not given the name through any official channels, which shows how labels and images take on lives of their own once they are widely accepted as truth. The Villain is known for his terrible deeds and horrid treatment of those he captures, so it only makes sense for his lair to have an equally horrific name, and this serves as a feedback loop of validation. The people accept the villainous image that Trystan has been given and then affirm those beliefs by embellishing them, thereby making it less likely that Trystan will ever overcome The Damaging Power of Expectations.