ことに

ことに attaches to the preceding clause to express a strong feeling about the situation, often with a sense of surprise, relief, or emphasis. It is used to set up the speaker’s emotional reaction to something that happened or is true, and is commonly found in written or formal spoken Japanese. The phrase can convey nuances like “to my great surprise,” “as it happens,” or “what a ….” Typical contexts include reporting surprising results, fortunate events, or notable contrasts between expectation and reality. Note that the second part (the sentiment) is not a separate clause; it is a reaction to the first clause, often expressed with adjectives like 驚く, 多い, いい, 悪い, etc.