Nope, the novel definitely plays up their relationship a lot. Sometimes the level of focus on their relationship is almost shounen-level (300+ chapters about their relationship, but The Girl is still treated as their romantic interest).
(Please note that I said THEIR romantic interest, because Pryde has yet to pick out a ML. So far it's just a whole bunch of men crushing on her.)
I'm curious, where do you read the novel?
I personally MTL the raws on syosetu. The author updates Monday-Friday, so as you can imagine, there are a LOT of chapters. There are over 1000 chapters up now. (FYI, the last update was a four-chapter Valentines special that had me screeching with laughter, so.)
Raws
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0692es/
The novel is also being translated on NovelUpdates, but the translation is currently at the last chapter or two of the Knights Arc, so...the manga's probably a couple pages ahead right now (since chapter 10 of the manga clears the entire next arc, which is the Accused Arc).
Ohh, thank you : D
damn it am i the only one shipping stayle and arthur?