OK I need to say something. ML is an asshole, fully agree, he is manipulative and has push...

OK I don't know what the fam knows, but as we've been shown, they are all schemers. Stab your back to get up schemers. I think his brother knew what he was doing and that's why he separated him from the FL.

did you understand that he sacrifice his bro to help her, if she did said anything she'll be back again to the begining.
Also, they ML and FL made a contract, he is not being manipulative, they both used each other to get want they want, FL got feelings for him. You all are putting her a weak, needy girl how needs to be protected but she is a badass who will do want it's need to be done for her to be Empress :v

Ok it is obvious you think highly of family bonds. I also agree that one should put family first. But I wanna lay out a few points; one's definition of family isn't defined as people you share blood with, and also, that family never acted like family. Everyone in this scheme signed contracts knowing what they were getting into. The FL walked in knowing he didn't have feelings for her, and while the ML did nothing to discourage it, he did nothing to encourage it. I'm not saying that he ain't an asshole, he is, but he never did anything cruel to our FL. Hell at this point he could've killed her and taken the throne for himself, but he hasn't. He knows his family, he knows they are all schemers, and so does his brother. The end game was getting her on the throne and everyone knew he would do anything to get her there. In essence: that family is not love oriented but goal oriented, which means everyone knew what they were getting into, feelings changing are one own's responsibility. And, even though he is undoubtably an asshole, he was not excessively evil. He had a goal, laid it out to our FL in clear terms, told his family as much and then followed it to the letter. His brother on the other hand is sneaking behind everyone's backs to consort with that pink sister to screw everyone over. As mean as it was the ML and FL followed their words, the brother betrayed them.
So yeah, I don't want him to suffer because he wasn't inherently evil, especially for that time period. He was an asshole and probably slightly a psychopath in modern standards, but he saved the FL's life because I don't doubt for a second that the pink sister his brother is helping wouldn't have killed her if she hasn't teamed up with out ML.

I don't think I have to explain anything anymore.. u just did (▰˘◡˘▰)

I understand your point, and is really nice to see how family oriented you are. But not all ppl are like that and not all fams are like that. I don't agree when you said he when you said he encorege FL to have those feelings cuz, yes it was noticiable that he knew about her feelings but never it was showed anything about him being nicer to her or changing his behaviour towards her. Also, after they changed the scenario to"grow ups" it was shown that they hadn't seen each other in quite a while, technically they had close contact again when FL returned to the palace.
She doesn't have to "walk away" from Down to be what she is, a total badass.
I know ML is an ASS but he isn't as sick and twisted as you guys are putting him. I actually like him cuz he is more complex than the general, He has a clear reason, he really has helped the FL even if it is not in the "tender and loving" way that everyone wants but a real one for the time in which the story unfolds, another thing if ML was really so fuck Up, as you can see, I think she would have already looked for a way to kill the FL instead of trying to protect her representation towards the people and the subjects (when she tells him to be careful how she treats the general), how I helped her to get better education (when she gave classes and when the brother's problem) and in the past chapters when she showed her refusal in certain plans and took them into account above what she informed / helped / consulted? her father

LOL i said i won't answer cuz the other comment back there answered pretty well but lol sorry i guess. Well that's my point of view if i got something wrong link the Ch down here and i'll reread it. Also sorry if there is anything wrong with my sentences english isn't my first lenguage and a need to practice more writting :V

Lol no those are good points. And highlights the fact that the ML is not a villain by any stretch of land. I mean you're right, compared to the Fl's brother, this guy is like the sanest crayon in the box. The author knows how to portray twisted and the ML isn't. An asshole, sure, but just because someone's cold and calculating doesn't mean that they deserve pain and punishment.

You understand me and I thank you for that xD, most of the time i get hate in the comments ╮(￣▽￣)╭

Well, I personally come from a rotten fam, so watching this well reading xD, wasn't shocking or new for me. Saddly I don't have those strong fam ties, so I think that's why I see the story from a different point of view, more partial and different from yours. I don't think we reached an agreement as you say, but it was a good conversation ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

Well my family was very...intense. So I recognize the reality of how different family dynamics are.
I was heartbroken when I read about the brother, but tbh, I do think he was scheming from the get go. Dowun never pretended to be someone who saw others as anything more than tools, but I don't doubt his brother could have gone the 'I'm so innocent' route to get the same effect. Manipulation can come in many forms and I doubt that kneeling in place for a day and then being banished from the royal grounds (honestly saving his life because the emperor totally could've requested it if they fought him on it), corrupted him to this extent.
That family is cold, calculating, and so are its children. Dowun just played the game.

I respect the fact points were argued reasonably and no one made any insults to someone's character or got offended. A good argument between people who share a certain level of morality is always fun. I'd friend you if I could! ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉ~

I get what you mean, I was just put in a similar situation because of my family and didn't turn out to be a complete sociopath, so I doubt his transition could be so extreme. I'm not saying he was Dowun level as a child, but he definitely had the origins of something that grew into the cold person he is today. I'm sure he wouldn't have become such an extreme person if he hadn't been the scapegoat in the situation and faced the scorn of his family. But I think Dowun saw that shared core his family has and didn't trust him. I don't have evidence he had it at all, sure, but we don't have evidence he was truly pure--we've only seen him around the FL. I guess the reason I can be more cold and analytic in this situation because I've had a difficult family life and have met others who've had one and after a while you accept it's place in the world. All we can do is be better than the people who hurt us.

And don't worry about calling me narrow minded, I really don't mind, I've been called much worse and instead am super happy you are also passionate about a manga I too love!

Same here! I respect your opinion even though I don't completely agree with you. Have a nice day!

NO without BeaK Han she would have died in that fire. she owes both of them to some degree