Dong-im isn't the one who's trapped, it's actually Jeongyeom (the older brother). The younger brother is just a brainy, calculative, manipulative boy
His every action is calculated, like how he fucked another man to show Jeongyeom that he will never be his. And how he marked a servant to make Jeongyeom angry. From the moment Dong-im was born, Jeongyeom became trapped to that life of misery
Wait this makes sense as well
It’s just extremely toxic so I feel like both parties could be the manipulator
A boy who wants to bath in another's admiration. However let's remember he's still a boy.
Jeongyeom on the other hand is obsessed as fuck and a murderer. He's a few years older and an adult later so he should know better. He didn't need to be brainless and act before thinking every time. And I know he's traumatised, but in this story both are at fault and we shouldn't point "x is guilty of everything".
Rather it's Jeongyeom who wants to bathe in another's admiration because he's the one who had nothing. While Dongmi had everything. Jeongyeom never became an "adult" as he was just an empty shell wanting to be filled by Dongmi's existence, hence he was manipulated easily. Dongmi is his god, his everything.
I don't see jealousy of things in Jeongyeom. Ofc it would be logical but I didn't see it here. Jeongyeom doesn't care about being recognised or about other ppl at all. He wanted to just live almost alone in a big house with Dongim and not be interrupted.
I agree though, Jeongyeom's emotional growth had stopped due to traumatic experiences and Dongim was his only light, making him addicted to his younger brother.
You need to step back and control your words. You said a lot of things that did not even happen.
Try to read the Literary Analysis at the end of Chapter 5 (fan translation) to understand the story better
So did he run away at the end or not? I cant tell. The whole time I was praying that he would leave Jeongyeom and he would be free. I was hoping they’d show the seme grieving and regretting his actions