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This is just my personal opinion, but while I genuinely enjoy the main female lead (FL), the plot, and the art, the revenge and redemption arc completely fell flat. I took a break from the story, but when I returned, within just 20 chapters, the FL was already back in the original FL’s family home. I kept reading, hoping for some real development in the revenge arc, but nothing came of it. I was so disappointed. I wasn’t looking for an intense vengeance plot; I was more interested in seeing if her past would be uncovered by others. Plus, I love the relationship between the FL and ML. But if you’re going to introduce revenge as part of the storyline, at least follow through.
The original FL died from something as simple as a fever, completely alone. Even her mother, at least, had her father by her side when she died. I understand that the original FL was timid and just craved love, but doesn’t the current FL realize how awful her family actually was? Her father’s neglect was just the beginning—and I could go on about him, which I’ll get to. And that’s not even touching on how despicable her stepmother, half-sister, and half-brother were.
Let’s look at the father. This is his third marriage. I’m guessing the first marriage was arranged, which is how he had a son. Then, after a year or two, he married the original FL’s mother—there’s an age gap between the FL and her brother, so that lines up. But here’s what I can’t wrap my head around: he claims to have loved his second wife, the original FL’s mother, deeply. Yet after her death, he immediately remarries. From what I understand (correct me if I’m wrong), there’s even a scene where he quickly finds another wife, sleeps with her almost instantly, and has a child who’s only a year younger than his first daughter. What kind of father claims to be grieving his “beloved” wife, only to remarry and have a child that fast? I might be able to understand if he’d waited a few years, but he clearly didn’t. And then, to make matters worse, he neglects this new wife and the children they have together! Let’s lay it out:
1.He abandons his daughter right after his “beloved” wife’s death, showing zero regard for her emotional needs.
2.He remarries almost immediately, in a way that feels like a total betrayal of his late wife’s memory.
3.He has another child so soon that, considering pregnancy is nine months, he must have moved on within just months of losing his “beloved” wife.
4.He fails to support or defend his daughter, allowing his new wife to not only avoid “mothering” her but to actively bully her—absolutely unforgivable.
5.He ignores his third wife and their children altogether, all while claiming to still be “mourning” his second wife.
And that’s just the start. Maybe it looks like he’s finally trying to appreciate his third wife and their daughter, but they clearly have no clue that their neglect and abuse led to the original daughter’s death. All of this leaves such a bad taste in my mouth. I can even understand why the half-brother acted the way he did. Even if the FL had to forgive them, I wanted to see them truly regret what they did—to grovel, to understand the depth of their mistakes. But what we got? Nowhere near enough.
I still plan to keep reading for the main couple and to learn more about the FL’s past, but this arc was such a letdown. I’d honestly rather be back at the academy than stuck in this shallow “redemption” arc.