Yukalena's manga / #orphan(2)

[CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS] Okay guys, if you are reading this manhwa expecting some fluffy romance or just a means of spending your free time then this manhwa isn't for you! As someone who read the novel, Solche's writing is truly phenomenal to the point I read the whole novel in one sitting (at the cost of losing sleep smh). The novel used a LOT of metaphors, so you cannot comprehend the story on a surface-level understanding, you need to think why the characters did what they did and do to each other. Don't read the manhwa if you are going to end up complaining how red flag the ML is and how toxic their relationship is!! Don't spoil the mood for the other readers and read something else if this is not your cup of tea. Same universe as Bastian by the same author The ML is Matthias Herdhardt of Arvis Dukedom (age 18, later 23 then 25). He lived his life with everything planned according to his wishes, but ever since Layla entered his life, he found himself doing actions that he had no awareness of, crumbling down his perfect self bit by bit. While he is obviously toxic in his deeds and intentions, he is no doubt madly in love with the FL (he falls in love with her after she turns 18 and he turns 23) but because of his noble status, the way he was raised and his engagement to a noble lady, he is not accustomed to expressing his affection to the girl he loves. Matthias is like a elementary school boy (a much older version) who bullies his crush because he can't express his affection for her. Concerning the time period the novel is based on, his personality is quite realistic. He is your typical duke who was raised to stand above others, seperated from the classes that do not befit his noble status. He is so used to putting on a calm facade that he lost touch with his inner feelings, including those of love. Even his own mother is afraid of his unpredictable mood. Not that I condone any of his actions. In today's modern world, his actions are definitely red flag but for a high and mighty noble from a victorianish time period, his actions can be somewhat understood. But as I said, it does NOT justify the wrongs he did to the FL. He often tries to help FL in his own way, but ends up getting misunderstood bcuz FL thinks he hates her and only wants to torment her, so he could only hold onto her hatred to grab her attention. He is frustrated by his attraction to FL and her always avoiding him and treating him like a stranger when he wants to only get close to her, which drives him to take extreme actions that end up hurting the FL. He uses small excuses to monopolize her time for himself, asking her to bring roses from the garden for the vase or even approaching her when she is alone during a party. The Fl's dislike of him particularly started when she discovers he hunts the very birds she loves (cruel indeed, but hunting used to a favorite pasttime for aristocrats in the past) and thus gains the moniker of "Bird Slayer", cruel but beautiful too. Unlike Layla who's emotions are more easily understood, Matthias is a very complex and mysterious characters and it takes a lot to deduce his intentions. The FL is Layla Llewellyn (age 12, later 18 then 20) is an orphan girl who suffers from separation-anxiety because her mom abandoned her when she was very young and he dad became an alcoholic and drunk himself to death, so she had to live with one relative to another in order to survive. She suffered a lot of abuse from the relatives and the children she used to live with, so she often tends to forgo her needs over others. Despite her tragic backstory, she still retains both cheerfulness suiting her age as well as maturity which far exceeds her age. This insecurity does not explicitly stated but it's obvious to the reader. So she grew up among the birds and the greenery around her. Birds are very precious to her, so when she meets ML for the first time, she describes him with the characteristics of a waterfowl (she was blushing and eyes twinkling, which meant she fell in love at first sight but she doesn't realize that because she is obviously only a child of 12). She is a very lovable child, but she tries harder to be loved as she fears getting abandoned, but fortunately she met Uncle Bill who is the best father I know among all the Korean novels I read. Layla likes to read a lot of mystery fiction and dreams of becoming a teacher. But she spends the majority of her time, besides helping Uncle Bill with gardening work, is climbing the tree at the shore of the Schult River where the Herhardt family's annex is also located (ML's private residence). The FL describes her feelings using a variety of metaphors, so the readers must learn to read between the lines to decipher her thoughts. She uses words like Waterfowl, blue candy, etc, to describe Matthias. She tries to avoid the ML a lot after an incident during her childhood where she felt humiliated in front of ML, and often feels that ML only wants to torment her (rightfully so) but she doesn't know that ML wants to care for her and spend more time with her, but because she feels discomfort and self-conscious in front of him, the ML gets frustrated and ends up doing things that hurt her feelings. Layla (FL) and Matthias (ML) are obviously attracted and conscious of each other, but due to their difference in status, their peerage and their poor first meeting, they both believe they are hated by the other, so misunderstandings were bound to occur. The communication often ends up with arguments bcuz of their unwillingness to open up which is understandable. Both characters have their defining flaws.

Just so you guys know, some of us really liked the novel. But just because what we like in fiction doesn't mean we want them to happen in real life. In actuality, the events that take place in the story is very accurate and "normal" considering the time period and how the people of those times lived. We cannot apply our modern-day rationality and morals to judge the story. Just go with the flow, otherwise leave if it's too much for your fragile hearts. Not all stories are meant to soothe you.