imagine ur sister being a sacrifice in a beast-human marriage, but you take her place and have to handle the corruption within the dukedom and survive/tame a beast- while having to produce an heir with a “wolf”. her detached nature of birthing an heir ties in with astina trusting that the household will care and love the child (not all kids need their birth parents raising them to be happy/good children) assuming the duke remained a beast. what theo/astina have isn’t true marriage but a year-long contract to help theo have lineage- it was unexpected he would transform back.
i would say astina rejecting the duke’s affections before it blossoms (keep in mind he’s the one who told her that he can’t promise her his love or intimacy in ch 32) isn’t mean considering what she’s been through in her past life and present one now, as theo looks similar to her first love who ultimately betrayed her. she knows he’s not the king in the past but her character is known to be coldly level-headed and dignified. her words come off harsh so there’s no misunderstandings about her intentions and what she wants in people.
imagine ur sister being a sacrifice in a beast-human marriage, but you take her place and have to handle the corruption within the dukedom and survive/tame a beast- while having to produce an heir with a “wolf”. her detached nature of birthing an heir ties in with astina trusting that the household will care and love the child (not all kids need their birth parents raising them to be happy/good children) assuming the duke remained a beast. what theo/astina have isn’t true marriage but a year-long contract to help theo have lineage- it was unexpected he would transform back.
i would say astina rejecting the duke’s affections before it blossoms (keep in mind he’s the one who told her that he can’t promise her his love or intimacy in ch 32) isn’t mean considering what she’s been through in her past life and present one now, as theo looks similar to her first love who ultimately betrayed her. she knows he’s not the king in the past but her character is known to be coldly level-headed and dignified. her words come off harsh so there’s no misunderstandings about her intentions and what she wants in people.
astina is nice, but doesn’t owe him kindness