beta
Penelope really does treat Eclis like an idiot. She's always so surprised when he shows any kind of personality because she's already casted him as her escape route who only has affection for her.
She genuinely just doesn't see him as a person. Like I get WHY, but understanding her doesn't really change the fact that she took in a slave and proceeds to treat him like a slave. Not violently, but she's certainly manipulative.
Everything she does is so he will love her, and despite his affection being the highest, I think he's very much aware she doesn't actually love him. Which is why his affection will never reach 100%.
And Penelope is a bit too self absorbed to give Eclis the same consideration that she does to the Crown Prince, so she doesn't understand why his affection won't go higher. She's still very much seeing Eclis as just a game, even though she's starting to treat others like actual people.
Like I said, I get her. But she's still so very flawed when it comes to her intentions with Eclis.