Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-29752445-20170415172945/@comment-33077628-20200624011109

I think the main reason why Alma died was simply because the author wanted that dramatic scene of Historia's mother being killed in front of her.

Inside the story, logically speaking, I think there was more reason for her to live than to die. Rod Reiss wanted to bring "God" back, so he went looking for Historia, his last heir. When Kenny shows up to kill them, following orders from the Counsel and for his own interest in becoming the King himself, Rod could have told just him that he can't become a titan, due to his Arkerman blood, which, if true, Kenny could even test himself. Even if he could become a titan, he would still not be able to become the King for not being part of the royal bloodline. Kenny was close to Uri, he probably knew he had to eat his father 13 before he was eaten by Frieda. I think Rod would have been able to convince Kenny to help him get the Founding Titan back, in order to bring "Uri" back, as he would have wanted, and also because Rod could have told him that only "Uri" would have the power to stop the Titans from destroying humanity.

The Counsel knew the Reiss family had the power to alter memories. Rod could have told them that the King had the power to stop the titans, but his power was stolen. If they wanted to survive the Titans and remain in power, they would need to find and recover the Founding Titan, and in order for the True king to return, he would need to reestablish the royal bloodline of sucesion, and for that he would need Alma (the "only one who understood him"), since his wife was killed. Even if Historia was alive, Rod should have probably started having some other kids in order to ensure the line of succession, and in case anything happened to Historia. That's what I think Rod could have done.