It's the 3rd time i read this so..

Now, let’s talk about Ruby. How can anyone say that Ruby is weak? Okay, she’s not physically strong, but mentally? She’s incredibly strong. Her trauma didn’t just last for 5 years or so; she’s been carrying this trauma since her previous life, combined with the trauma she faced as Ruby. Do you think she could heal instantly? We often see her true nature when she speaks in her head, but after Cesar kissed her, she started to show her real self on the outside, not just internally.

We saw how Ruby had given up and wanted to die, but after receiving the crown from Izek, she started to want to live again. Izek has always believed in Ruby, from start until now. That’s what made Ruby realize she has someone with her, someone who loves her and she wants to live with them

Yet, some people still say Ruby doesn’t have character development? Were you reading with your eyes closed? This is almost realistic compared to most manhwas I’ve read, where the MC overcomes trauma very quickly. Even my small trauma hasn’t gone away until now. When I encounter my ex-boyfriend( fcking abuser), I still feel scared and shaky. But Ruby could wear her mask and hide everything. Still, Izek could see something wrong in Ruby.

I do agree they changed some most important part in the novel but it's not a surprise anymore LoL, i still can accept the changes. Damn that's was long, anyway i love them, and please don't read it if this isn't ur cup of tea, just leave and let us enjoy this story

Pick a different argument then saying is it because she’s weak and then explaining how she’s so strong. Also, I’m not calling her weak, but she’s not even very resilient she can barely can keep a positive attitude and she’s literally very negative about everything and she’s practically consumed by her own self pity. You being able to endure abuse and putting up with it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re mentally strong. There’s many factors to it. (this does not mean she’s not mentally strong)

Okay, I get where you're coming from, and I can respect that you love both Ruby and Izek. But I think they’re poorly written and I’m gonna explain why even though I already did.

Let's start with Izek. Honestly, he's just another walking cliché of the "cold but secretly caring" male lead. His backstory about not wanting to love because of his dad's mistakes? That feels like a lazy way to justify his toxic behavior early on. It's like, "Oh, he has daddy issues, so let's make him emotionally unavailable until the plot decides he's ready to love Ruby." How convenient. It’s also such an overused plot line authors love using to justify the male lead from treating the female lead like shit and then they always pull up with “He actually loved her from the start.” I generally think it’s such a lazy writing and authors need to come up with better ways to make the male lead fall in love with female lead.

The reason why I felt like he loved her out of pity
was because his behavior only started to change after she returned from the forest. Before that, he was cold and dismissive toward her, barely making an effort to understand or support her despite knowing she was in a difficult situation. When she came back from the forest-traumatized, broken, and vulnerable-it seemed like he suddenly decided to care for her. But was it love, or was it guilt and pity? From my perspective, it feels like the latter. He might have noticed her expression, but he was very indifferent and cold towards her just because he didn’t want to admit he loved her doesn’t mean he couldn’t show her basic human decency and his backstory does not justify his actions. Like When Ruby came back from the forest, traumatized and hurt, zek suddenly started to show concern. He became more protective and attentive, but the timing is what makes it feel like pity. It wasn't her personality, her actions, or their shared moments that made him realize his love for her it was her suffering. He saw her at her lowest point, and his change in behavior felt more like guilt for not protecting her earlier and pity for what she went through, rather than genuine romantic feelings. Overall that scene felt rushed and not romantic at all like we didn’t see the gradual buildup of his character leading to that moment it just felt like a flip switch to his personality. The funny thing is people were praising him, even though he did the bare minimum in changing.

Now to why Ruby likes character development and is poorly written

Ruby's trauma feels like it's used more for shock value than meaningful character development, and this is one of the major flaws in her portrayal.
Instead of being a foundation for growth, her trauma is repeatedly showcased to evoke pity from the readers without leading to significant changes in her character. This approach diminishes the impact of her story and makes her feel more like a tool for drama than a well-rounded protagonist.

I’m gonna go deeper into the trauma as shock value

Ruby's past life and her abuse as Ruby are constantly highlighted, but they don't contribute to her growth. They're mostly used to reinforce how tragic her life is without providing any resolution or healing. For example the flashbacks to her past life often show her suffering and despair, but they don't connect to how she deals with her current situation. They serve more as a reminder of how much pain she's endured rather than driving her to overcome it.

One of the most glaring issues is how the forest incident is handled. After going through such a traumatic experience, Ruby should have had opportunities to process what happened and rebuild her confidence. Instead, the story uses her suffering as a turning point for Izek's feelings, making it more about his guilt and redemption than her healing.

Now this is why generally think her development is shallow and poorly developed.

Superficial confidence through
love

Ruby's supposed "character development" comes almost entirely from Izek's affection, which undermines her independence. Love alone does not equate to growth, yet the story frames Izek's care as the sole reason Ruby begins to change. This is a lazy way to write character development because it implies that Ruby couldn't have healed without someone else, which diminishes her strength.

For example, after Cesar's kiss, Ruby begins to show glimpses of her real personality, but this is too little, too late. It's framed more as a reaction to others than a conscious effort on her part to take control of her life. Her newfound confidence doesn't come from within but from the validation and protection she receives, which is not true growth.

Ruby does have character development, and to say her growth is entirely superficial or dependent on Izek's affection is missing the nuance in her story. While her relationship with Izek plays a significant role, it's not the only factor in her journey, and dismissing it ignores the layers of her development.
Also relying on love isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Ruby's development isn't limited to Izek's care. It's a combination of her resilience, small victories over her fears, and her gradual ability to reclaim her own identity despite overwhelming trauma. I’m gonna give you some examples since it feels like you didn’t pay attention to the story.

1. Her Mask and Survival Instincts

From the beginning, Ruby demonstrates strength by masking her emotions and navigating the toxic environment of her marriage and the hostile attitudes of Izek's family. While it may seem passive to some, this act of self-preservation is a form of quiet strength. Not everyone fights their battles outwardly-Ruby's ability to endure and strategize her survival is its own kind of bravery.

2. Her gradual openness

Over time, Ruby learns to let her guard down-not just with Izek, but with others. She begins to build trust and allows her true personality to emerge. For example, when she interacts with the servants or starts to express her desires more openly, these are small yet significant steps toward reclaiming her agency.

3. Taking Steps Toward Healing

Ruby doesn't rely on Izek alone for healing. Her ability to process her trauma and take steps toward self-expression comes from within. For example her decision to confront situations rather than retreat (like standing her ground in moments of conflict) shows her growing courage. Her inner monologues often reveal her self-awareness and her desire to change, even if she struggles to act on it immediately.

I would like to add as well is the kiss from Cesar isn't just a catalyst for Izek's jealousy-it's a turning point for Ruby. It shows her that she has the power to influence people and make her own choices, even if those choices stir chaos. This marks a shift in how she views herself: not just a victim of her circumstances but someone who can take action, however small.

OK, maybe I should stop commenting. I seriously didn’t think I was gonna be arguing with cuz you just seem like a rage baiter and this is the last thing I’m gonna be commenting and what made me comment.
What is generally wrong with growth through love???

The idea that Ruby's confidence stems partially from Izek's affection isn't inherently bad. Love is a powerful motivator and an essential part of many people's healing journeys. I generally don’t understand why you’re hating on the story so much. It’s not even that bad. I will agree on the trauma porn comments because there’s many things I felt like the story could’ve handled differently and better but overall, I don’t think it’s such a bad story the way you’re making it seem.

Rip to your notifications spooky I didn’t mean to yap so much this person just annoyed me and after writing so much I feel smart (used a bit of ChatGPT)

Gurl u pin out what i really want to say, it's just that im not good with words and my English not really good (i used chatgpt too LMAO) and I'm thank you for this. Except that im not really agree with the trauma porn part, but at least u r not hating in this story

Why don't you just leave and forget about this manhwa. It's okay...