Chapter 146 ***SPOILERS***

You are implying that in the end hwaryun is asking Suu to remain with him if he really loves him so this just concludes that even the recognition of Suu's deep feelings the feeling isn't mutual in a profound devotion. The imbalance of the relationship where he will not adjust to whatever or bend to what Suu may want as freedom away from the palace, but Suu must sacrifice that thought if he loves him. He can't surrender the throne to be with Suu if Suu wants to be somewhere else as you mentioned that Suu bowled over with him staying in the palace. His affection is only to an extent and that is if you cater his demands because his objective is above Suu, it overrule the chance of choice he can give to him. He proposed a condition that favors solely to his convenient advantage. His conviction with his ambition hinders the love that you suggest is reciprocal because as I can deduce with it, he's hitting two birds with one stone which is binding Suu with him and also putting someone in charge of the shrine it all still proceeds as his plan and it will be displayed as everything falling into place because Suu might accept the offer coz of his sentiment.

While this is definitely one way to think about things, I'm not quite sure if Hwaryun is willing to leave the throne. It's really hard to say because his objectives for pursuing the throne have always been unclear to me. There is a line in ch.146 in which Suu asks Hwaryun if he ever just wants to run away. Hwaryun doesn't say much to this, but he makes it somewhat clear that he needs to stay in the palace. Imo, Hwaryun seems to pursue the throne because he has something he needs to do first, rather than because of pure greed for it. Only time will tell, though. However, I don't necessarily think that this is a bad thing. Also, I just want to make something clear before I move on to the main event: Hwaryun isn't demanding Suu to come back to the palace. In the actual Korean text, he ASKS Suu to come back. It is implied in the chapter that Suu wants to be with Hwaryun... so when Hwaryun asks Suu to come back, he lists out the benefits of coming back to the palace so that Suu can make his own decision. (Honestly, though, if I'm gonna be real with you: Hwaryun already knows that Suu wants to follow him lmfao that cheeky bastard.) It's as clear as day that Suu is going to return to the palace with Hwaryun for two reasons: 1. If Suu is still going to be a character in this story, then the writer needs to position this character in the same setting that the plot is going to take place in, which is the palace lol; 2. It SEEMS like Suu already made up his mind to go back in the previous chapter because of his little monologues and facial expressions. This could be false, but my intuition tells me otherwise and my intuition has not failed me thus far.

So, with that being said, let me ask you: what is love? What is this reciprocation that you speak of supposed to be in this timeline, given their circumstances? What are the logistics of this so-called reciprocation?

From your entire response, you seem to imply that feelings are not mutual, that there is some sort of imbalance in terms of level of affection/appreciation between Suu and Hwaryun. I suppose this is one way to think about things at first glance... But, from the way I see things, even if Hwaryun wanted to run away, he can't. He has a duty to hundreds of thousands of people. He has a duty to Rahan. Princes, especially crowned ones, don't just "get up and leave" to pursue something else. It might be possible to leave if you're not the crown prince, but guess what? Hwaryun is the only real option because he is the one and only true king in his generation due to possessing that supernatural healing ability. So, you are right that his objectives are above Suu, but what do you expect? Wouldn't you hate Hwaryun more for abandoning his nation to pursue love? If the author wrote that, then wtf kind of character development is that? Ass character development, I'll tell you that. Hwaryun has to sacrifice his own happiness too and he has been doing so for the entirety of his life. The poor guy has literally been eating shit for as long as he has lived.

Now, taking this into consideration, it's going to be difficult to say that his feelings are not mutual. You see, I think it's entirely possible to feel a certain way, but it's another thing to act on those emotions. We can agree that, at times, he may display a lack of action towards those emotions, but from the way I see Hwaryun and his interactions with Suu, he is completely genuine. However, his genuineness is limited and expensive. The same goes for Suu because Suu is most definitely not spick-and-span either.

What is mean by this is: Suu isn't necessarily able to leave Hwaryun, meaning that he is not in the optimal position to leave. I'm not quite sure what you mean by "Suu would be sacrificing freedom away from the palace." For one, he has tried to flee and still has not found happiness. He doesn't even know where to begin when it comes to "finding happiness" because he has never truly known it. Like the saying goes, we always want what we don't have; thus, we must learn to appreciate what we have in front of us. This sentiment resonates with Suu. As I mentioned before, the only person who actually gave Suu a makeshift home and offered him warmth was Hwaryun. Because this warmth is familiar to Suu, it makes most sense that Suu would accept the hand that is extended towards him. Also, if you're thinking that Sahara or Nadan were Suu's home, then that's incorrect. I don't like telling people flat out that they're wrong, but the author intended for Sahara and Nadan to be a temporary crutch for Suu to help him limp, not run. These are all apparent when you go and read the chapters featuring Suu and Nadan/Sahara, especially the scenes following Nadan's death. Suu barely even batted an eyelash lol. If I recall correctly, Suu even admits that he realizes his ambition to escape Rahan was his own and not for the benefit and sake of his future with Nadan. I apologize for digressing.

Two, Suu's decision to return to the palace would not only be reciprocated out of love either, you know. Suu will most likely covet a high position to not only help Hwaryun but also to maintain his own security and stability, especially because he is slowly losing his humanity and basically feeds off of Hwaryun. Suu also has something to gain and he would equally be killing two birds with one stone by going back to the palace. In fact, if he left Hwaryun's side, he would most likely lose a lot more because he would have to resort to killing people to survive. I'm only saying this because your response seems to single out Hwaryun solely; however, I would like to stop and say that we should look at both sides of the coin first before we make any accusations.

If you think that mutual feelings and reciprocation only boils down to Hwaryun's ability to give up the throne, then I'm not sure if there's anything else that I can say. You're entitled to your own opinion so you do you. But, for me, I try to be a little more flexible and work around the limitations that the author has set in place when she crafted this story.

Tldr; my point is that their circumstances make it very difficult for them to do things out of their own pure, undying loyalty and volition. So, as readers, we need to think as pragmatically as them to truly understand the magnitude of their situation. Hope I didn't offend you because that was never my intention. Thanks for reading!

Here is a link to my original Hwaryun analysis that I referenced before:
http://www.mangago.zone/home/mangatopic/8631459/

Co-Sign everything you said here and I need to take a deep dive into your Hwaryun analysis as soon as I'm sober. I have a lot I need to add though.

Namely in response to @Painterofthenight

Honestly, this is a pretty surface view of looking at the situation without much understanding of the characters or um...any of the story?

For Hwaryun, it is not about his needs vs Suu’s. It is about accepting fate and recognizing that there are things far more important than one’s own personal desires. The ambition you speak of is taking ownership of the duty that befalls him.

If you want to talk about ambition and lust for power let me remind you that Hwaryun wanted nothing to do with the fate he was cursed with. He had the birthright, he had the healing abilities of the chosen one, he even had the Shrine Mistress’ support. He did everything he could to avoid ending up where he is today and, in doing so, inadvertently caused his own mother to resent him, curse him, and end her own life. Even when he wanted nothing to do with the battle for the crown, it was kill or be killed. His father hated him all for trying to survive. He ran away to the border. None of it worked.

In chapter 20 he ponders all the things he does for the throne to his two sidekicks and it’s clear they all hate their roles. Hwaryun literally says he never lets personal feelings get the better of him so he’s definitely stopped considering his own wants and needs at this point.

From being angry enough to curse his own fate with the prayer for not a single drop of rain upon Rahan to wishing for rain at the last lantern festival, Hwaryun has shown tremendous growth and acceptance of his inescapable destiny and the responsibilities that come along with it.

Surrendering the throne would put the fate of an entire country in the hands of the Noble Consort who has already wrought devastation upon the land with toxic rainwater at the assistance of Sahara and Suu.

And you want him to give it all for Suu?

Hwaryan has been traveling the country healing people and giving blood to Suu while Suu ran off with Sahara to play make believe.

(Sidenote- Hwaryun’s mother cursed him to die at the hands of the one he loves so it’s pretty understandable if homeboy isn’t too keen on doing much in the name of love to begin with)

If you want to talk about ambition and lust for power, shall we take a look at Suu?

Suu was miserable in the palace because he obsessed with his single minded goal of running away with Nadan. He clung onto a false idea of himself as a justification for all the unspeakable things he did while refusing to admit that he didn’t actually want a quiet life or to be with Nadan in the first place. He smashed an hourglass at the words of the fortuneteller telling him as such in the most literal metaphor for wasting everyone’s time ever.

(He turned down Nadan trying to secure them a house to live together! He turned down Nadan for sex because his virginity was a bargaining chip much more valuable than Nadan! He got them both to the palace to begin with when they could have led a much simpler life all along. Friendly reminder: Suu had already bought his own freedom at the start of the story. So without even his own freedom on the line, he still killed children for the noble consort for trivial personal gain - 3, to be exact, in the year that he joined the palace. I mean we learn all this about Suu in the first chapter but, sure, instead of Suu growing and being better Hwaryun should give it all up for this)

Suu never wanted a simple life. Outside of the palace, I can’t imagine someone with Suu’s personality, as it currently is, being able to be happy anywhere else.

Suu complains in the last chapter that he hates how Hwaryun and Sahara have implied his fate is intertwined with theirs as if his life and all the hardships he’s been through was all for their sake. I get that Suu still feels powerless between a chosen prince and a destined dragon and he’s resentful for it but until he realizes his own importance and accepts his fate helping Hwaryun and Sahara bring rain to Rahan I imagine he’ll be running from himself and happiness forever.

I mean, his native tongue is literally the language of the shrine master’s book that he took for Hwaryun. We’re repeatedly reminded he’s a foreigner. His people could call upon rain without hassle. Like, god dammit Suu, stop running away and learn how important you are all on your own already.

At one point, early on in the story, Hwaryun and Suu read the tale of Sugungga to tiny Sahara and discuss their own thoughts with each other. This single discussion is pretty telling of the baggage and growth they still have for the course of the story

I think Hwaryun is attracted to Suu bc he sees himself in the Suu. On more than one occasion and I think as latest as this last chapter he says he’s mentioned something similar as Suu in the past.

He gets Suu, more than anyone, but there are some things more important in life than love.

Gdi, I don’t even hate Suu. I’m just so sick of everyone thinking Hwaryun’s Machiavellian tendencies are all for personal gain and not, you know, the greater good of the world while the rest of the cast wreck havoc upon it

I would love nothing more than for Hwaryun to be able to say ‘FUCK IT ALL’ and go live his dream as being a millet farmer (post-coital convo ch 91 and brought up again ch 143) but as Hwaryun says too much has happened for him to be able to do what he wants so how tf do you accuse him of being selfish?

I’m pretty certain this is what Suu dreams and asks about in chapter 83 with a future Hwaryun and has his heart broken: if they can leave it all behind to become millet farmers/distillery owners as Hwaryan responds “I’m awfully tempted” bc of how often he drops the word tempted describing his childhood dream to begin with in chapter 91

But happiness doesn’t look possible for Hwaryun

tl;dr: Hwaryun is the most tragic character in this whole thing and wtf have you been reading if you haven't picked up on that?

LOL, I was wondering if the second part of your response was towards me or @Painterofthenight because the line "namely in response to..." was between part 1 and part 2. But, I read the rest and I think you should really read my Hwaryun analysis. Everything you said here is VERY similar to what I wrote in my Hwaryun post. I'm wheezing by how similar our analysis is.

Hahaha I agree with everything you said and ily but only the first two sentences were for you also, read through your analysis! lots of thoughts I’ll try to reply there eventually. same wavelength for sure!

btw this was chapter 143! The real chapter number is in the title. There's 146 chapters available from the raws but 111 got posted twice back to back and 116 is actually 113 posted again. The title credit always has the correct chapter number too.

Oh damn, I didn't notice lolol. I read the raws on newtoki and I didn't even notice. Just followed the numbering on the episode list. My bad, but thank you for letting me know! Hope you enjoyed the analysis >.<

Agree with everything the 2 of you said in your analysis. I've been saying this since the first few chapters. People read the story at the surface level focusing only on the romance and miss out on a lot of nuances that make the story interesting.

Yeah, seriously, there is so much to be said about this story and none of it revolves around Suu and Sahara as a serious pairing. Yet it's impossible to bring up anything here without these readers inciting fantasy ship wars. They need to return to their yaoi without plot and stop embarrassing themselves.

They'll wank over everything Sahara does because he's an "EfFiNg DrAgOn" yet rake Hwaryun over the coals for not bending over backwards to Suu abusing him. It is both equally sad and hilarious to see someone try and twist any and all support of Hwaryun’s actions to prove he’s morally wrong. When their argument is that Hwaryun’s powers doesn’t excuse anything that he does and demand he should treat Suu as an equal it only clearly shows their logic is about as sound as their reading comprehension. God forbid they bring any consideration of the genre, very obvious tropes, or setting context to their reading and understand, oh I don’t know, basic class structures and relationship dynamics of a historical fantasy.

Don’t even get me started on the “well, I hope Nadan comes back then” readers. How many times does the story have to tell you he hates Suu for you to remember? Are you a goldfish?