Wtf is up with the ML completely disregarding the FL's wish to not be married? If you just...

That's not a fair statement. He already announced that they are engaged to a large group of people and even put someone in jail for disrespecting his fiancee. This was bound to happen. Like what was he supposed to do just be like it was joke everyone hahaha. The bitch that was in jail would basically be in jail for no reason and her whole family would ask for compensation. If turned out to be a joke the FL would be a laughing stock 10x. The FL is kinda stupid in my opinion for not seeing that coming. She enjoyed teaching that girl a lesson with the help of the prince and now it's time to pay the piper. Sorry for the grammar I am on mobile.

I mean he have to though. She an idiot if she didn’t see that coming. She basically used the emperor to get revenge on that girl instead of sticking up for herself and saying what she thinks in a classy way. He put a woman in jail because of her so do you really expect him to publicly admit that they aren’t getting married and that he just said it to help out the girl he “love” first off her social life will be over and the emperor will definitely get in trouble or face some backlash. If the FL just learn how to handle her own problems instead of being scared and trying to get out of the situation that SHE cause then she wouldn’t even have to worry about being his wife. The fl cause this mess so now she have to pay for her actions.

Exactly!!

Yeah, she should've known the ship had already sailed the moment he professed that they were engaged in front of everyone.
However, that was done without her involvement or consent, so it still comes down to him being inconsiderate and controlling.

Look, I'm not going to defend FL.
She needs to grow a back bone and learn to fend for herself.

I'm just saying that ML put her in a situation with no way out, which was selfish and inconsiderate.
Using the excuse of "defending her in the moment" to force her into marriage - something that will shape and change her life permanently - is a prime example of controlling behaviour imo.

Buy yeah, they're both stupid, so maybe it's a waste of time to critize them ┑(￣Д ￣)┍

Controlling? Sure but inconsiderate is a bit of a stretch. What do you expect him to do in that situation? Call it off and say it was a joke or say that she dumped him? She would be made out as a fool. She better off skipping towns or living in the mountains because her social life would be ruined. And she might also need to compensate the family of the female that she had gotten put in jail for insulting the emperor fiancée. She was using him to get out of a situation that she caused. She had the choice to not go to that event especially when she knew that the countress was just going to try to publicly humiliate her. At the end of the day she have no choice but to agree to be his fiancée since it was already known publicly.

If she cares that much about not marrying him then she should have never caused a problem in the first place. She slapped her. Sure it was for a good cause but she still slapped her. And she didn’t even try to defend herself after she slapped her. If she gonna act tough and defend others then she should also defend herself.

Um I sort of get where you're coming fr but I think you're missing something. The fact of the matter is they may or may not have slept together. That would have ruined her without the engagement especially if she were to get married eventually. She would have been known as a loose woman without her virginity. Also there's a chance that she could be pregnant. Her life would have been even more hell if that turned out to be the case and she's not married to or engaged to the emperor. Plus it's not like he's a womaniser or something. From the flashbacks it is hinted that he has had feelings for her for a very long time. He's being pushy yes but at the end of the day he knows what he wants. Also how can mere commoners like ourself ever understand him. He GREW UP in an environment where he is entitled and probably been told that he is right even when he "wrong". I personally don't see anything wrong with it. He helped her out big time and he's always been interested in her. The only reason why she acting the way she acting is because she insecure and she all bark but no bite.

I'm saying: don't announce an engagement in front of a large group of people, without consulting your fiancee to be, in the first place.
THAT is what is inconsiderate.

If she wanted to risk being known as a loose woman or an illegitimate pregnancy, then that would be her choice to make.

He's missing the step where he talks to her and gets her opinion, before announcing their engagement.
He completely decides for her and THAT is why I'm saying he's being controlling and inconsiderate.

Am I missing something here?
How did the natural consequence of slapping someone become getting forced into a marriage?

There should be plenty of other ways to help her out in that situation, than to say she's the emperors fiancee.

I agree with your characterisation of the Emperor.

He was most likely raised being entitled, especially when it came to women, as he grew up in a patriarchal society.

That doesn't mean he's right, though.
Just because he has "an excuse" doesn't mean it's okay to act like that. The consequences are still the same, regardless of intentions and reasoning.

There is always an excuse, but what we should look at and judge is a person's actions.

She had the opportunity to defend herself and say that she is not marrying him. Even if it is in front of a bunch of people she could have told him that she doesn’t want to marry him.

But guess what she did? SHE used HIS name to get her ex fiancé wife thrown in jail instead of using that opportunity to clear up any misunderstandings. And explaining to people that she isn’t his fiancée even if it mean she will embarrass the emperor. She is just as much in the wrong as him.

She should be able to help herself out if the situation SHE caused. She all bark and no bite. If you’re gonna slap someone then you should also be able to handle the consequences of your actions along with be able to defend yourself and not make yourself look like a fool in front of people.

She supposed to be a “strong female lead” but the way she acting isn’t strong at all. She acts like a damsel in distress that needs a man to save her. And she got exactly that. Man who saved her from a problem she caused.

She could have ignored her ex fiancé wife and stood up for herself but she keeps putting herself in troublesome situation.

I see your point.

I still believe what he did was selfish, but she did act like a damsel in distress.
She didn't think her actions through and didn't do anything to defend herself.

That just means they are both stupid

Touché.

Using his name instead of defending herself and then thinking she could just walk away afterwards without consequence, was beyond stupid.

Guess they're a pair of idiots. They deserve each other ┑(￣Д ￣)┍

Yupppp, they’re both stupid and deserve each other.

Okay same could be said about her. Just because she could slap someone doesn't give her to right to do so. Also didn't give her the right to claim she engage with the emperor to avoid said consequences. She already gave up ALL RIGHTS to disagree or not wanting to participate when SHE agreed to use his name or his cla of her being a fiancé.

You can't go to a restaurant order the food take a couple bites then be like nah bruh I don't want this or I won't pay for this cause I don't like it. You already put your grummy spoon in it and your mouth best start swallowing everything on that dish. It is what it is. How you make your bed is how you gon lay on it. 乁( •_• )ㄏ