I can see that people are angry/dissapointed at Cain and with everyone around the MC and their sociopathic behaviors but I really want to emphasize, the story isn't based on modern common sense of fellowship and human rights, it has references to historical nobility circles/ aristocracy. The story has mentioned it already, the Duke chose the previous MC because her behavior and poor family standing is ideal politically and internally (matters of the house). He basically took her in as a tool and while he gave her some freedom in his head (that if she ever requested him something or wanted to speak of something they can talk about it), he also wouldn't care enough if she was coward enough to not say it. He just needed someone stuffed into the position, she was the type of chess piece where no matter what happened to her it wouldn't pose any problems at all. This notion just worked wonders among all the servants in a prestigious powerful noble house when the new mistress is as incompetent and cowardly as her social standing (not her duchess seat because everyone vaguely knows the intentions of the master, looking at it politically) implied.
I do think the harrasment is quite exaggerated (like really exaggerated in a sense, the maid's and other worker's actions specifically) in the webtoon, but Cain's attitude is about right. He's the closest servant to the Duke as head butler, he's clear on the position of the mistress. Also being a high ranking nobility's close aide, he's dealt and seen things as it's the privilege of a powerful household so he can't have a disposition like those warm family butlers. He just basically adopted the attitude of his master towards the issue. And personally, serving an ambitious and powerful master, he's bound to disdain the MC especially since he knew the Duke's thoughts and how in reality the duchess is below dissapointing in manner and personality.
I genuinely love love this manga!!! Like where were you in my life this is so good(/TДT)/ I've been wanting to read a hetero adult manga that's actually good for so long, with plot and good sex, only to be dissapointed time and time again. And in comes this manga w/o me looking for it what a blessing ╥﹏╥ like ngl this appeared in my dreams I'm that happy ⁄(⁄ ⁄·⁄ω⁄·⁄ ⁄)⁄
SAME trash shojou smutbis the reason I usually read Yaoi - the FL is usually too annoying to allow me to immerse myself
But tHIS! The MC I definitely like - I like her straightforwardness and her small petite size resonates with me, making it very easy to self insert oneself into the story.
And the ML. He looks for consent before during and after sex. He's just so hot and his body us just my type.
It's difficult to find manga with such nicely done MC and ML characterisation, plot and development.
I feel like crying coz even with everything up to now, from her birth as a disposable unfavored princess to her ascending as a queen, she still doesn't have a place in life. When Dowun helped her she tried to be oblivious but she still realized in the end that she had nothing, no real affection or connection with others, and she wasn't really important. Dowun is there because she had use. If she drags him down he will also throw her all the same. She climbed her way up to survive and became vicious, but even when she achieved it she still has nothing. Life must feel empty and meaningless. I could really agree that her identity as a royal is a curse.
I really wanted to like this manhwa... I love reading similar webtoons with the same cliche setups and I really love the elements in this story (strong fl, pets, magic, lgbt) . But as it progresses I'm just not into it... I feel like there is a lack of depth? Everything comes so easily, and the characters do certain cliche things but with not much correlation to their supposed character personalities. Like I'm kinda irked how ML and FL are supposedly in a contractual marriage but both of them get attracted to each other sooo fast with not much basis and I'm just '???'. I was assuming there'd be a lot more twists because both of them should be quite jaded and rational. And the face slapping scenes sometimes are illogical like that audience with the king. Political marriages, how could that be not a thing in medieval nobility even in fsntasy settings? Kings aint daft about it either and might encourage it too or else theyd suck as rulers. I really liked the BL too coz BL is life but idk.
I dropped the same argument in another similar manga, but I'm just going to leave the same thing here too.
While Shii looks and acts a lot more well put together than most teens of his age, please don't expect the same level of maturity as you would on proper and good adults who could properly assess what should be done. Both Tamaki and Shii are still teens who are a lot more susceptible to self-doubt, confusion and non-intended mistakes in life.
Imo, as far as this manga has gone to, Shii has shown that he is a good kid, with much more emotional composure than the usual teen. Ngl, I was midway even scared that due to repressed feelings, he would lash out and force Tamaki, but I instead saw him do the proper thing and talk it out. Some things, we just need to see play out. It's youth (⌒▽⌒)
The way George trapped Lancelot's wrists and Lancelot's distress...I-I'm starting to ship ⁄(⁄ ⁄·⁄ω⁄·⁄ ⁄)⁄