For real. Usually, they make red flags have at least some attractive points in romantic fiction but this dude is a genuine creep, it's not even funny. In the middle of the novel i started feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Seriously, even his fiance Claudine is kinder in contrast. Claudine is so interesting because she seems aware how of just powerless ALL women really are, in their patriarchal society, so she doesn't blame Leila even if she's become a conformist and decided if she can't change stuff, she's not going to give two f... about it (and really, with my dark sense of humor I can't say I didn't go all lmao, at that, in fact)
I mean. If THAT doesn't tell us that she, Claudine, DOESN'T EXACTLY care much for, or love the duke... I don't know what else could
I like to think Claudine is a realist. Even tho she loves Riette, having a Duchess title will secure her footing more in the society. Im so sad for her when Riette died, and she actually shows a humane side of her during that scene. I guest it will be awkward for the MCs if Riette and Claudine got a happy ending, they will see each other alot since Riete is Matthias’s close cousin and all.
Matthias character is a piece of work sigh. His actions really contradict his thoughts. He never thought all the horrible things he had done to Leila was wrong. Even after finding out how hard Leila’s life is and how hard she tries to just be someone in the society. I like his face but his personality is a 2. I’ll probably run if i detect this sort of personality in real life. Emotional stability is more important than physical attraction.