Quick story-thus-far sum up:
The first season is about 42-44 chapters long (I forgot which chapter it ended on exactly). And is primarily about the background story of the FL, how the FL meets the ML, and how the FL rises in rank and prestige during their conquest of the entire continent. In the first chapter, we see that the ML realizes he's in love with the FL upon finally completing his 10 year conquest. In the final chapter of season 1, it finally circles back to that same moment.
In season 2: Currently ongoing, the story shifts back to the original capital city of the ML's kingdom (which is now part of his continental empire) and follows the transitional period of setting up the infrastructure of the empire. The capital city is moved to Yappa (where the FL, as an act of compassion, had assisted the deposed princess to commit suicide in a quick and "humane" way to maintain her dignity in death during the conquest of her kingdom in Season 1).
There is a lot more focus in this season on the ML's romantic struggles with his feelings. More specifically, his ongoing romantic and sexual desire for her while being accustomed to thinking he can have whatever/whoever he wants as an emperor..but, at the same time, not wanting to act on his feelings since it might break the faultless relationship between them as a master and servant. On top of that, he also knows he wishes for her happiness...but anytime it seems like that happiness might be given to her by another man, he can't ignore that he wants her happiness to be "being with him." Meanwhile, he has to repeatedly come to terms with the fact that the FL is 100.00% dedicated, loyal, friendly, trusting, and his steadfast ally...but she is 0.00% romantically interested in him. This leads to some good moments of comedy (such as when his feelings of joy leak out unintentionally when he realizes she has declined a marriage proposal), some good moments of "moe" (such as when the FL kabedons/"wall slams" the ML after he visits her as a surprise and he confesses in a daze that she was "so gallant he wanted to kiss her"), and some good moments of slight angst (such as when the emperor finally marries 3 concubines for political reasons, despite his reluctance, and his ongoing love only for the FL alone. And the concubines, so far, are totally likable and very pitiable characters. So even if you hate the fact that they're in between the FL and ML developing a romance, you know that as aristocratic women they had no choice whatsoever in the matter and you can't even dislike them, dang it.)
Through both seasons, lots of sexist/gender-biased BS, and the FL's responses, are superficially and directly addressed.
My thoughts:
Overall, it is an enjoyable story.
Art-wise, its a bit better than the average manwha and it has the typical full-color illustrations.
As far as main character design, if you approach this expecting that a lovely/handsome king falls in love with a rough and scruffy (and very masculine in appearance) warrior woman, then you'll be fine. Don't expect any femininity from this FL. Seriously, there were many times that I wondered if the artist didn't know how to draw strong women that still look like women, or just didn't know how to draw androgynous women, or just flat-out didn't know how to draw women at all. --- Which felt weird, since the king is so "pretty." --- But, in the end, I was like "does her lack of any sort of traditionally feminine appearance at all, even for a moment, really matter? Does the presence or absence of it change who she is as human or as a woman, and does it affect the believability of the emperor falling, and remaining, in love with her?" -- I concluded that regardless of whether it was due to artistic ability or artistic choices, its an effective mechanism of the comic to draw the reader's attention to their own gender-biases.
Story-wise:
It started off fairly weakly, with season 1 being rather superficial and having drastic pacing issues. Season 1 covers about 6-10 years, depending on how you look at it, and the story basically went in a repeating loop of "...(1) battle here, sexist garbage occurs, sexist garbage dealt with like a boss, time leap, move scene, (1) battle here, sexist garbage occurs, etc...". Additionally, the characters were rather 1-dimensional. When I say 1-dimensional, I mean it felt like the story presented characters such that it felt like it was saying: "this is the emperor/conqueror character, this is the grumpy sexist character, this is the "defies the odds, but in a believable way" female warrior character, etc.". And eventually, it got to the point that I just wondered just how long I would be reading until I could see the scene from chapter 1 again.
That said, season 2 is really helping this story become much better in various ways. The most important ways are that it is helping: to flesh out the story-world setting, to depict the characters in more well-rounded/multi-faceted ways, and to bring some more depth to the themes of sexism/gender-bias through personal growth of characters' mindset and thoughts (rather than just the FL "muscling" her way through BS gender-based situations).
Up to now reading reminders to self:
FL is head of second special forces division, which is usually the emperor's personal guards. As a strategic move, the emperor ordered the FL to be the protector of the 3 concubines (which is a lower position and much less respected) under the guise of a punishment for vomiting in front of him (again). FL is aware and happily following orders, as always. The concubines really seem to like (and envy) the FL, and likewise the FL likes the concubines. That said, she can't understand or empathize with the concubines' concerns about pregnancy, marriage, etc., or begin to fathom why they choose to endure silly things like starving themselves before their wedding to be more slender.
The emperor seems to be having marital relations with the concubines (based on a pregnancy false-alarm), but it is not clear if that is true yet. Still, the emperor said he'd make whichever concubine bears an heir first the empress, while knowing that the FL, whom he loves, is infertile. The idea that FL is infertile is currently unsubstantiated. We know her period is irregular, but that is to be expected with malnutrition, heavy alcoholism, excessive exercise, and low body fat (FL has 8-pack abs anyone would envy). Being from a conservative and patriarchal (read: ignorant) society, its only natural that an irregular period would be enough for someone to label her infertile.
Currently, one concubine had a "phantom pregnancy" scare. A second concubine is sick with a cold and is talking in her feverish state to FL about how envious she is of the FL's strength and independence. The FL is starting to appreciate the struggles of women who didn't find a path like her own.
The emperor was super shocked by news of a possible pregnancy, but haven't seen him since it was revealed to be a false alarm.
There's a pudgy dude in the palace that is stanning the FL, while also treating her like a lady. FL is starting to like it and become receptive to the rare treatment. -- Possible spring-board for developing a romantic interest for FL?
I'm looking forward to more.
Emperor And The Female Knight