Richard is even more of a son of a bitch in the novel. If I see anyone rooting for him it’s on sight spoilers :
He has a creepy obsession on Ancia, plans to kill the emperor, Blake and his whole family, so that he can be Ancia’s husband, spreads rumors about dark magic that can pass on a curse (in the og story the emperor tries to pass on the curse to himself, but fail and dies, since it was a fake rumor started by Richard). He then gets to brainwash the goddess of light to poison Blake AGAIN because he still wants to be the emperor.
Basically Ancia is the reincarnation of a girl called Laontel, Blake is Rakshul, Richard is Phillip and you also got ser/the goddess of light, who was friend with Laontel. So Laontel and Rak loved eachother, Rak was the emperor, then Phillip came in scheming, and betrayed the goddess of light in love with him, and he married Laontel (she wasn’t very willing). He trapped Ser in between in a dark magic door leading to the chaos abyss (something like hell). That’s also how Ser ended up cursing the royal bloodline. Back to the current timeline, Ancia learns she’s the heir of light, unlike in the original novel where Diana was, except that she was only because Ancia killed herself in the lake (you can see it first chapter here) so her power transmitted to her. Blablbla, at age 13 & 10 (3 year old gap between them) Blake and Ancia kiss, lifting the curse. But it’s only permanent. In between Richard developed an possessive obsession for Ancia because she prayed for his mother, and he planned to kill the emperor (a sweetheart btw) and Blake, then his whole family, to be emperor and get Ancia. He fails miserably after his brother Frank and his dad get thrown in prison for insulting Ancia, and I believe he gets exiled after. The curse then appears on Blake again, so Ancia goes to the dark magic door to unseal the goddess of light, that the emperor planned to close since it’s where the monsters come out. Going into the door she meets Ser and learns she’s the reincarnation of Laontel, then Ser goes apeshit and is pulling out a “Blake or me”. Ancia chooses Blake so Ser “kills” Ancia. Being regretful she takes Ancia’s soul in her body to preserve it, and 7 years later finally gets out the door, meeting Blake again, but she lost her voice and dk how to write. So you got Ancia in Ser’s body, and Blake names her Rose. That’s where richard is one hell of a mf. I skipped some chapters so I’m not sure but while Ancia has Ser’s body, Ser has Ancia’s body, and Ser did not repent much so she acts as if she was Ancia. Since she was in love with Phillip she goes to his reincarnation (Richard), and Richard is very pleased since he thinks that’s Ancia. He brainwashes her into poisoning Blake once AGAIN. Well, everything is resolved and Ancia gets her body back and they marry just after.
Also Diana, (Ancia’s sister) is very sweet, she strives to be a knight so goes to a knight academy, meeting her love interest there (someone totally unrelated to the story). And their father is thrown in prison
Richard is even more of a son of a bitch in the novel. If I see anyone rooting for him it’s on sight
spoilers :
He has a creepy obsession on Ancia, plans to kill the emperor, Blake and his whole family, so that he can be Ancia’s husband, spreads rumors about dark magic that can pass on a curse (in the og story the emperor tries to pass on the curse to himself, but fail and dies, since it was a fake rumor started by Richard). He then gets to brainwash the goddess of light to poison Blake AGAIN because he still wants to be the emperor.
Basically Ancia is the reincarnation of a girl called Laontel, Blake is Rakshul, Richard is Phillip and you also got ser/the goddess of light, who was friend with Laontel. So Laontel and Rak loved eachother, Rak was the emperor, then Phillip came in scheming, and betrayed the goddess of light in love with him, and he married Laontel (she wasn’t very willing). He trapped Ser in between in a dark magic door leading to the chaos abyss (something like hell). That’s also how Ser ended up cursing the royal bloodline. Back to the current timeline, Ancia learns she’s the heir of light, unlike in the original novel where Diana was, except that she was only because Ancia killed herself in the lake (you can see it first chapter here) so her power transmitted to her. Blablbla, at age 13 & 10 (3 year old gap between them) Blake and Ancia kiss, lifting the curse. But it’s only permanent. In between Richard developed an possessive obsession for Ancia because she prayed for his mother, and he planned to kill the emperor (a sweetheart btw) and Blake, then his whole family, to be emperor and get Ancia. He fails miserably after his brother Frank and his dad get thrown in prison for insulting Ancia, and I believe he gets exiled after. The curse then appears on Blake again, so Ancia goes to the dark magic door to unseal the goddess of light, that the emperor planned to close since it’s where the monsters come out. Going into the door she meets Ser and learns she’s the reincarnation of Laontel, then Ser goes apeshit and is pulling out a “Blake or me”. Ancia chooses Blake so Ser “kills” Ancia. Being regretful she takes Ancia’s soul in her body to preserve it, and 7 years later finally gets out the door, meeting Blake again, but she lost her voice and dk how to write. So you got Ancia in Ser’s body, and Blake names her Rose. That’s where richard is one hell of a mf. I skipped some chapters so I’m not sure but while Ancia has Ser’s body, Ser has Ancia’s body, and Ser did not repent much so she acts as if she was Ancia. Since she was in love with Phillip she goes to his reincarnation (Richard), and Richard is very pleased since he thinks that’s Ancia. He brainwashes her into poisoning Blake once AGAIN. Well, everything is resolved and Ancia gets her body back and they marry just after.
Also Diana, (Ancia’s sister) is very sweet, she strives to be a knight so goes to a knight academy, meeting her love interest there (someone totally unrelated to the story). And their father is thrown in prison