THANK YOU! OH MY GOD THANK. YOU.
Everybody was throwing stone at her, calling her "Frustrating" but duuuuudes! The man said "Live as a dead rat" treated her like a rat, a nuisance, and then one "I'm sorry" and it's over? Nooooo.
Real, am so tired of people not understanding how simple psychology works
Word! Word! Like fr I didn't even expect her to think of him, and there was no actual need to speak to him if the guards whee not corrupt in first place, and Nasra was at the front door to help she didn't need to
YES! People always forget the neglect in those kind of stories like it’s nothing. I love LOVE Philomel for not forgiving him. That’s why this is my favorite story. Screw making up with abusive parents. I’m still not sure he would care about her if she stayed a clingy and desperate for parental attention child. Seems like he only came to accept her cause she did as he told her
Idk if he would’ve even come to care about her if she didn’t completely change for him
I like how people are jumping at how Philomel is so frustratingly obtuse and not gung-ho diving into the first opportunity to tell the Emperor about all the hoopla.
Newsflash!
She grew up in a place where that very Emperor isolated her by being nothing but antagonistic TO HER AS A CHILD. FOR YEARS. His actions are mostly guilt-driven (not saying that there's no love) but hello. Trusting the grown ass adult who's been blatantly and vocally hateful towards her would be the last thing I'd ever expect her to do.
Little time she's know her bio dad and bros but at least they had the advantage of a clean slate compared to the Emperor. Easier to trust them than the man who neglected her x-number of years.
Emperor wondering in his corner, "Why won't she ask me for help?" I dunno. Maybe coz you've never offered such kindness to her during her formative years so why on earth would going to you be the first thing she'd do?