it was so unnecessary to add into the plot though
People be throwing at random words just cos the first sentence fits is crazy.
Not necessarily. Because it created a boundary between them. That is the specific reason for why they had no relationship even remotely romantic in the eyes of the protagonist.
While the prince meant every word, Tei didn't think of him in a romantic way. He might actually love, but him being a child blocked that out, which is also why he thought that he wasn't sought after, even when the servant was called back.
the author could've just made them both kids when they met
Wouldn't have made sense. When writing, the relationship between the characters and the world around it (the plot) have a symbiotic relationship. They respectively give and take constantly.
If both had been adults, they would have fallen in love and likely been an actual couple after three years - if not, it would have never happened, even ten years later.
Had both been children, as you just suggested, not only would Tei have not been in a position to go through with his idea of leaving at the "bride", because he would have been just a child, but also, and more importantly, he would have likely died. His role as the knight for Shuraka would not have been possible.
Adding to that, had they been any older, both would have been too old later on. Also, Shuraka would have not been in a vulnerable position in his home.
Had they not waited a few years, it would have been unrealistic to believe the political issues were solved, because that shit takes time. The country would have to stabilize after such events as well.
With no political problems, the story itself couldn't be told, with why they have to depart and that's a baseline of their relationship. Being together for long enough to form a connection, albeit no romantic connection, only to separate for a time much longer and finally finding each other again, having to get reacquainted in a way.
If you don't like the story, nobody forces you to, but the story is written in a way that makes the things around it possible to happen, which is an essential element in storytelling. Some things have to happen a certain way, in order to reach a certain outcome. I much prefer this over stories in which all events start and end with whatever the author fancied at the moment, with barely any causal connection to be seen.
i didn't read everything gng thanks for the explanation though. They both should've been children AND blonde guy shouldn't have ever been in danger to begin with/should've had a powerful protector. Or ,like you said, they should've met as adults ╮(￣▽￣)╭
I still don't like the story as is though — the thought of having met him as a child, then after years as an adult and form a romantic dynamic is quite... unusual. I jst hope he doesn't remember his child form and allat when having sex
or ykw I didn't read all of ur msg i'mma just say I just hope he doesn't keep fucking remembering his child form
There's certain people in this comment section, throwing a fit about how this is "grooming". It is not. I will now proceed to explain why, so read carefully.
Tei came into Arnata to perform a charade. Has he been sent back, he wouldn't have had a leg to stand on in an argument and he knows it.
But Shuraka didn't care, he just accepted things as they were, likely because of his own enlightenment, but also because he is a child an wouldn't yet actually be a driven by carnal instincts, therefore will likely not think too much about the role of a "wife". He clearly liked Tei right off the bat and probably found him beautiful in his own right.
Tei could also tell that Shuraka is beautiful as a person, which is an objective fact, but the light he saw in him was that of someone who would have an important future. His feelings toward him started with a sort of pity, yet turned into reverence. He swore to protect him, just like Shuraka tried to protect Tei in the process. Both were on a mental level that was far from that of a child and its parent, as "some" people claim. They were two people meeting each other on the same level, while putting themselves down to be a pillar to the other. While Tei was obviously strong, Shuraka provided his calm mind to the other.
After just three years, in which they were neither in a familial relationship, nor in a relationship of actual lovers, they have to part for a whole decade.
Tei did not raise Shuraka; he always had his actual brother, Oroban, as well as his somewhat present father around him. They spent time as equals, being important to one another in a normal human bond. While Tei thought he might have died without him, he also knew that if he didn't, he would have grown up and found a real bride; he wouldn't need him anymore. Like a master abandoning a loyal knight without there being break in their bond beforehand. Shuraka on the other hand, did see him as his "beloved" - a word he kept saying to the point where Tei would have felt that this was just his way of dealing with the situation and keeping up their charade.
It's really very simple to understand all of that when reading this story. I really can't tell how something so innocent can be turned into something idiotic. Literally what? They will surely come in with the smutty scenes soon, but since Shuraka ear surely beyond the age of ten, even at the very beginning, he must be well beyond 20 years of age now. So who the fuck cares? They got to know each other and have "history" which is the fundament of what's to come, but more didn't happen.