The novel's exploration isn't really about identity in a deep, philosophical way for me—it felt more like a classic, satisfying trope vehicle. The fun came from watching the princess's careful performance unravel, not from an internal crisis of self. She's playing a role out of survival, and the tension comes from the web of small lies she has to maintain, like remembering fake childhood stories or mimicking royal mannerisms. The 'deception' is the plot engine, and the 'identity' question gets resolved pretty neatly once the truth comes out.
I actually found the side characters' reactions more telling. Some nobles cling to the deception because it serves them, while others sense the 'offness' but can't pinpoint it. That says more about a court's relationship with truth than the protagonist's own journey. The book is a solid, entertaining read in the 'hidden identity' genre, but it's not breaking new ground thematically. It’s a comfort read with a predictable but enjoyable arc of revelation and acceptance.