I feel sorry for the people she controls

Ya but you got to remember the potion wouldn't have worked if he didn't have some negative feelings for her ┐(´ー｀)┌ but still you can't help but feel bad

Alright, let’s break this down: the idea that a love potion could make people act totally insane isn’t so far-fetched when you think about it. Realistically, nobody loves anyone *that* purely. Like, if a husband leaves the toilet seat up and the wife falls in, she’s not going to sit there in the cold toilet water thinking, *“Wow, he’s so adorable for doing this to me.”* No. She’s going to think, *“I might strangle this man in his sleep.”* But she doesn’t because, deep down, she still loves him—even if she’s plotting minor acts of revenge.

And friends? Sure, we love our friends, but we also roast the hell out of them. Do you think anyone greets their bestie with, *“Oh, radiant goddess, your presence fills my soul with light”?* No. You roll up in your car yelling, *“Get in, loser, we’re getting Taco Bell.”* That’s how real relationships work: love and annoyance go hand in hand.

Now, this love potion you’re talking about—it’s like weaponized pureness. If it makes someone so in love that they’d sniff their partner’s farts and call it Chanel No. 5, that’s not love; that’s witchcraft. People aren’t perfect. Everyone has moments where they think, *“Wow, I love you, but also, I kinda hate you right now.”* That’s normal. Even babies aren’t immune! Babies are cute, sure, but when one pukes on your favorite sweater, you’re not thinking, *“How charming!”* You’re just dealing with it because it’s a baby and you’re not a monster.

This potion, though? It’s like emotional lead poisoning. These people are being dosed little by little, and suddenly they’re acting irrational, obsessive, and totally unhinged. It’s not love—it’s brain damage. You can’t blame them for losing their minds because their emotions are so out of balance, it’s like their brains turned into Swiss cheese. They’re basically drunk on “love paint,” and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I think it’s worth noting tho that Remi discusses the power of the love potion in an earlier chapter. While it does have a strong grip on emotions and provides infatuation, she notes that their decision to betray Emi is possible only because they actually held some resentment, jealousy, or other negative emotion that made them want her to suffer. It amps up their feelings for Pina but doesn’t delete their love for Emi.

THANK YOUUU!! YOU GET IT!! like yeah, willard’s low self esteem issues and competitiveness with emi is annoying, but its human. what’s important is how you handle such feelings and make sure to recognize their irrational and a personal issue. but with that potion effecting them and essentially making those thoughts stronger so he acts out on it, how can we put the blame solely on him??

You're spot on about love potions being the magical equivalent of roofies! It's like, if someone's under the influence, their emotions and decisions are being manipulated. That's not love, that's magic-induced coercion!
Imagine if someone slipped you a Mickey and then asked you to make life-changing decisions. If you weren't drugged, of course you'd be like, "Uh, no thanks!" And if someone did that to you, and made you say yes, we'd never say, "Oh, you must have secretly wanted it!" Nope, we'd say, "That's messed up!"
It's the same with love potions. If someone's emotions are being magically manipulated, they're not in control of their feelings. It's like their emotions are on autopilot, and that's not fair.
So, let's set the record straight: love potions are not romantic, they're manipulative! And if someone's under their influence, they're not accountable for their actions. Instead, let's focus on respecting people's autonomy and consent – no magic required and that love potions are basically drugs.

I'd love to stir the pot with a counter-argument, so thank you. Debates are my chocolate . So let's break it down....
FIRST, The Love Potion Conundrum...
While it's true that Remi mentions the love potion's limitations, let's not forget that we're talking about a magical concoction designed to manipulate emotions. It's like saying, "Oh, the victim was asking for it because they had some underlying issues." Um, no.
and don't forget The Potion's Power...
The love potion may not delete existing feelings, but it certainly hijacks the victim's emotional faculties. It's akin to saying that a person who's been roofied is partially responsible for their own assault because they might have had some underlying trust issues. Not cool.
Also there is Free Will vs. Manipulation!
Just because the victims had some negative emotions simmering beneath the surface doesn't mean they deserved to be manipulated into betraying someone they love. That's like blaming a person for being vulnerable to a scam because they had some financial worries. It's a slippery slope.
The Real Issue...
Let's focus on the real culprit here: the person who created and administered the love potion. They're the ones who exploited the victims' vulnerabilities for their own gain. It's time to stop victim-blaming and start potion-shaming.
So, there you have it. The love potion may not be a mind-control serum, but it's still a potent emotional manipulator. Let's not excuse the behavior of those who wield it and let's not blame victims who were brainwashed by it. None of those boys look happy nor do they look like themselves... look at them. They look like zombies.

Yeah you’re right

no the love potion isn't that strong remi would know because this was a game emi was born into and usually in games items like potions have set stats. you are comparing sexual assualt to something thats not even close to being as powerful as a roofie it can't even brainwash them they said it in the story themselves all it literally does is make a bit of affection but it doesn't erase what affection they had already for remilia they willlingingly stabbed her in the back they all have an inferiority complex and the story definitely shows that

they all are clear headed obviously they can still go on about their duties its not as if the love potion that no longer affects them mind you because it only lasts a little bit of time and the mean girl was caught off a long time ago from it for years and they still did nothing to set things right all this time out of pride especially the prince

Okay that is a good conclusion and yet we could draw a parallel between the effects of magic potions and the way drugs influence people. Just like certain drugs can make individuals seem functional — holding jobs, fulfilling responsibilities, and maintaining social appearances — that doesn't mean they aren't deeply affected or controlled by the substances. People under the influence may still make choices they wouldn't otherwise make, and those choices often come with long-term consequences that linger even after the drug is out of their system.

Similarly, a love potion may allow someone to appear clear-headed and capable, but it could warp their emotional perception, leading them to act out of false desires or attachments. Even after the potion’s effects wear off, the psychological and emotional damage may persist, creating guilt, confusion, or shame. This is comparable to how addiction recovery often leaves people grappling with the fallout of decisions made under the influence.

In both cases, external forces manipulate behavior, blurring the line between accountability and victimhood. The prince and others influenced by the potion might not just be prideful—they could be dealing with unresolved trauma caused by the manipulation itself, even if they outwardly seem fine.