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Seriously, you can't try to tell me they naturally changed. It's way too obvious that they have fallen for some magic or shit like that. A charm maybe.
Depending on how it is explained, that will lead to certain problems, which is why this trope is where intrigue usually goes to die. Because, aside from those who just want to hate on a character, you can't really fault a character for falling for something like that. Magic would stand above natural feelings and I hate how people always pretend that just because it might be a generally strong character, that they have no right to let themselves be manipulated and are thus to be held accountable for doing things beyond their will.
I have seen this so many times, but only one (really great!) story did this in a good way. You can still hate the backstabbing bitches, because the story stated firmly that the potion used on them could not meddle with their common sense, but only unveiled their hidden emotions of envy, inferiority and whatnot, which had already been there. (Manga: "The One Within the Villainess")
Here, maybe it's like this as well, but my hopes aren't very high for that. Maybe they aren't actually manipulated, but my hopes are even less for that one.
It's super anticlimactic to end on a note of guys despairing (which we still hope for, since that's what revenge stories are built upon) after you find out they were victims themselves.
Now, in case it wasn't obvious, I literally only read the first chapter, so this is to be taken with a grain of salt. But I instantly felt annoyed at the start of the story, which is never a good sign. We'll see.