beta
I'm baffled by the way the manhwa completely changed the ending. In the novel, they don't really end up permanently together. Ray's body matures so he regains his former appearance, and he goes back and rules his own country. He even gets married and has children to ensure succession. He and Jiskar still meet, but it doesn't happen often and their meetings are brief. Ray was always meant to be a monarch, and he refused to give up his position and his country for Jiskar. They do love each other in their own twisted ways, but neither is willing to give up their titles and countries for each other.
The novel ending was far more realistic considering everything Ray has been through and his inherent personality. To the end he was never willing to submit to Jiskar's control.
I can understand that maybe they wanted to give the manhwa a happier(?) ending where the pair ends up together permanently, but I feel like there were ways they could have done that without completely gutting Ray's character. Novel Ray never forgot he was an emperor and was always meant to be an emperor.
What's also weird is that the manhwa stayed pretty true to the novel for a good chunk of the story, then wildly deviated right at the end.