I feel so bad for him, being confessed to accidentally and not even being the person she likes...
Fat rip
I think she does subconsciously like him but the feelings are mixed up with her fear of him. He is more genuine than the prince and he has really helped her in moments of need. Unfortunately, those moments of need were all stressfull and not anything she wants to dwell on. So while she may trust him on a deeper level she is not comfortable with him.
The prince is more of a crush. Bright, positive and more shallow. Its obvious that there is something darker to him but he hides it well. He is easier for her to like because he tries to keep things light. He even admits to manipulating feelings for practical reasons. While she crushes on him I don't think they are as deep or genuine as what she feels for Cabel.
It seems that they represent two very different aspects of the difficulties of life and how we choose to deal with them. The Prince is the lighthearted, beautiful side. Hiding and twisting things to keep things pleasant but hiding the darker truth. Cabel is the darker truth. He does not hide but lives in and deals with it and its ugliness. Its not easy or happy but you see and deal with things as they are. The prince will let her hide from the uglier things where Cabel will help her through them. The later will build a deeper, more trusting relationship but not everyone wants to acknowledge the uglier side of things.
Its easier and more pleasant to hide from the unpleasant but it's a shallow way to live. Both ML's are lonely due to the extremes the live. The prince can't truly trust or rely on anyone since he acts a fantasy for others that leaves him alone to deal with the dark. Cabel's direct response to the darker parts of life make him intimidating so others are afraid to get close. Both are pitiful.
I really want to give your comment a like!! You wrote exactly what I think, for some reason I don't trust the prince, I trust in Cabel, he's more reliable, that's the feeling I get.
That and that the MC doesn't actually likes the prince, that this feeling is a bit... immature? Shallow?
And I think that if she would actually confessed to the prince and he accepted she wouldn't be happy in the long term
Why does he look so pressed