Look, my guy, there's nothing strange about nothing.
anyone anywhere anytime would fall for victoria.
This IS a burning trashcan, BUT.
That was a painfully accurate depiction of how an abuse victim might react once they see their almighty abuser shrunk down to banal proportions. Laughing is ABSOLUTELY on the table, just rarely depicted without a manical expression.
But her face was filled with wonder.
Soft, amused wonder that might seriously help her overcome the years and years because she was THERE she SAW how that impenetrable, invincible person got whacked and bled and begged for mercy just as she did.
Pointing and laughing IS a cure
Why is everyone so ... useless.
The FL can't make a straight shot for anything without dithering, although she's hailed as someone who manages crises. How do you manage crises if you can't make up your mind about anything. Portrayed as cold and tough with a backbone of mashed potatoes. That just doesn't go together.
The ML is just utterly useless in every aspect. Even his reasons for being so useless is basically just another layer of uselessness. You want to be a king? what for even? For one girl to look at you fondly even though you can't pull your head out of your own ass for long enough to overcome the frailty of your ego?
This is probably aimed at people two or three decades younger than me, but good god. This plot flew at me with the velocity of pudding and did a similarly graceful landing.
As of ch. 32 I gotta ask.
What was his idea. Honestly. Him going full steam ahead to get her? Yeah, well, if he thinks so. (I'm not cheering for him) What's his plan?
He has her in front of him for the first time and dares getting COLD FEET?!
Look alive brother, she was the happiest clam that ever fled her homeland until you started a war, and you have no plan at all, no bearing, no dignity, no contingency plan and as the smoothest move in the history of smooth moves you think threatening your only ally for the last decade is your insanely brilliant cure all?
I sure hope her father tries her. Unaware that he got no threatening power compared to monsters slowly eating her alive again and again.
Hope he chokes on it.
Ok, no matter what - this guy is the epitome of uselessness and cowardice. I can let cowardice go, everyone's a coward every now and then, and that's fine. But he didn't pull his head out of his ass for long enough to do something about his cowardice and dares to sulk and whine? After a DECADE of being passive?
"I can never see you as a woman."
That's understandable! How about you act like the grown-up you're supposed to be and OWN UP to the responsibility you took.
"I was a child myself"
yes, well congrats! 10 years passed and apparently you matured not a single minute
"Oh I cannot process this as fast as you...?"
my god, he's gotta be some damn useless aide to the prince, then. Or is his inability SOMEHOW precisely shaped like "regarding this woman"?
Nah.
The story is mid. The real masterfully chosen thing is this guys persona which is ABHORRENTLY real. I know at least 5 guys like that.
"You've got blood on you"
"So do you"
(blushing ensues)
...lemme just check the genre REAL QUICK
Some people would rather invoke potentially lethal ancient magic than go up front and ask a simple question.
... hand me a magic circle, I got social problems to solve.
Nono he just remembers her.
Though going by the concept "I am spying on my crush by providing a safe haven for her stress-induced mini-me-form and getting her to relax and talk over some sweets" is like, upfront brazen and cunning rolled into one madelaine
He probably reasoned along the line of
1. even if I could approach her, she's engaged
2. even if she wasn't engaged, I'd be blocked by her impenetrable outer layer of civility
3. (she doesn't remember me)
4. how to approach her without causing 2 scandals and approx. 12 misunderstandings??
5. she's so stressed, she ain't got no time to be wooed (which, like, stalls competition but also keeps everything in a stalemate)
... why does this child look like my my crush years ago and TALKS LIKE HER
Oh she's adorable. And falling asleep after she couldn't properly sleep for a week was to be expected (somehow) but the timing was impeccable.
Recommendation: Throw the whole man away. He's only fictional and I know him for all of one chapter and I enjoyed none of them.
I love that this family goes "he's a little weird but he's doing what he loves and what he loves yields UTTERLY IMPORTANT RESULTS so we're torn between cheering him on and knocking him out so he can rest"
And just let him do what he loves. It's fantastic
Slap him some more on my behalf. I'm just as annoyed and I'm not even involved.
As of Ch. 3 I swear she bit him as a kid.
Still, he took apparently the scenic route with stewing and came out freshly steamed and slightly deranged.
No matter what, there's something I agree with the Empress on:
his first son is an idiot.
If anything, I am enarmored with the prospect that - while these characters where gambled - the prince pulled the "heroine" card and Vicky got the "hero" card.
1. Making idiotic decisions and leaving (supposedly) secure environment in a fit of rage and hightened emotions with next to no contingency plan? Check!
2. Blushing with all his might for one reason or another? Check!
3. Mildly useless in a fight and the damsel in distress? (he damseled his distress beautifully) Check!
4. Mysteriously showing cleavage for no reason? Check! (That shirt was risqué)
5. Fanservice "almost naked" scene? Check!