Responses
I think when it comes to Dranste, you have to consider that although this is not a perfect representation of old Europe, it's still quite accurate. In those times it wasn't even unusual for siblings and cousins to marry, so a large age gap is considerably tame. Taking into account that it was also common to create contract marriages in the child's young age and marry them off when they mature, I think this is contextually correct.
Of course, it's still weird, and not morally upright, but it fits the era.
I enjoyed your analysis though, and generally agreed with your points. Thank you so much for sharing.
There are lots of Isekai stories out there but when talking of an adult reborn as a child, I think this here is more realistic. Being reborn again makes one an "old soul", and though it means that the person will be matured for their age, there will be times they act according to their actual age. Right now, Ria is a kid but not a kid; immature but not at the same time. It's interesting how the author interprets being reborn from adult to baby, because we never really know what happens if that is ever possible.
Some people are angry that her mind is "regressing" to that of a child but people are quick to forget she *is* a child. What use is a matured soul if your brain lacks the capacity to process it? What we mostly get from being reborn is experience, not the brain itself, and that's the reason why she may act like a child sometimes. Because she is. Well, her body is.
The story is slow, true, but that's only because the Author wanted to build up their story, and they'd like to center it around Ria and Caitel's relationship as a parent and a child. The romance part for Ria has always been a subplot right from the start, and the author made it clear by only giving POV to the important characters that would further "prove" that Caitel dearly loves his child despite everything.
I can't complain about the writing much, I think the author has done a great job to fill plots and to round each character to the best of their abilities. What I'm more concerned about is the fact that Dranste is asking Ria for her hand in marriage at such a young age, waiting for her to grow up so they could be together. Though he's a spirit, he's still an adult. Though she used to be an adult, she is still, technically, a child. I don't see this get mentioned anywhere at all, and that's concerning. Well, he might have been joking but it's still in poor taste. I do hope the author clarifies on this more.