Seee

Because with humans, there's a fine line between "ah, look, that one just went crazy in the war" and the moment a human being takes their own values and morals and flips them on the head, 'cause that's the only way they can still live with themselves and get up and put on shoes and do things that human do to live.

This doesn't excuse anything. It makes nothing better. If anything, it is a bitter revelation, something entirely human - while the way TO this and the way FROM this is paved with inhumane deeds.

In essence, he never knew her. He knew nothing tangible about her except her playing the Piano, being the daughter of the overlord and pretty. Everything in his mind that he conjured up during torture and in the years before is simply his delusions. Understandable comfort but nonetheless not a pinch of truth in there.

Him conflating her with a saint from a mural is just... the cherry on top. The pedestal he put her on to save himself is so far removed from any human notion that she cannot be anything else but a disappointment in reality.

This is a good comment. This story is very "human"; it shows the greed of humans and it's effects to the world (war, unecessary deaths and losses, nobles living in luxury etc). The way he treated her in the present is shitty for sure and knowing his past is NOT an excuse but rather maybe an explanation why he is why is he in the present to inform us viewers. Whether we "forgive him" or not based on the information given is up to us ┑(￣Д ￣)┍

Nothing's black and white, it's not always good vs bad. They were both "unlucky" being born where they were, one grew up in a harsh environment being subjected to torture and death on a daily basis while the other one was being completely oblivious to the reality of the outside world. Both of them obviously need serious help and healing.

I agree to this! I can't explain much in english since it isn't my first language but this manhwa portrays reality so good that it hurts. Sometimes I forget that a lot but good thing I read your reply! Its well explained (=・ω・=)