The Abandoned Empress
Allendis deserved to be the ML. He is the best character in the story and i hate how this story turned into a reverse harem. Allendis was the one who truly loved her, while all the others were busy judging her. Allendis truly deserves better than the MC bc she is truly the worst. All he ever asked was to be loved and he was desperate enough to resort whatever means necessary. He has valid reasons for all of his behavior. You may see him as scheming but he is a genius so he sees through most of what is happening and plans ahead as that was all he could do growing up. He is interpretrated as manipulative but he never had ill intentions and was the best thing to happen to her. If he werent as calculative and manipulative she would have never overcome her fears. She was the only thing he ever wanted and he showed her what she wanted so that she could stay with him. Its referred to as “training her” while all he did was show her compassion in return for her affection. I was incredibly sad that not only did he get rejected but also got a bad ending. He might have been selfish but you cant say that other love interests are any better either. Truly, this story is a tragedy.
A Stepmother's Märchen