If you actually had basic empathy and not whatever selective blindness you’re using right now, you’d understand how damaging it is for a child to be told “get that thing out”. That’s not a misunderstanding, bruh. This emperor man made a wound. And pretending otherwise just makes you look dumb. You’re judging this situation from the outside while completely ignoring Philomel’s lived experience, the fear, the humiliation, and the emotional scar that didn’t magically disappear just because this supposed father for her decided to care later.
The fact that she doesn’t resent him isn’t proof that he was a good father, it’s proof she was forced to mature early to survive emotional neglect. That’s heartbreaking, not wholesome grrr. If he truly cared from the start, he wouldn’t have allowed the maids to mistreat her, Nor would he have ignored her existence until she conveniently changed into someone more acceptable. His affection only came after her forced character development, the stage where she became acceptable for him, which doesn’t erase the damage already done.
Another thing, just cuz he's an emperor doesn't mean it's an excuse for his neglect . History literally disproves that. There were kings like Henry IV of France who ruled entire nations and still let their children climb on them and ride on their backs. Power never stopped people from being present parents. Neglect is neglect, emotional neglect is abuse too, and no amount of late-stage redemption erases that. Defending a grown man’s feelings over a child’s trauma isn’t maturity or media literacy, that's just your willful ignorance bruh.
You're the one who should grow up, media illiterate idiot.
When I first started this I saw everyone calling the emperor a bad father and genuinely thought I was going to see some villainous shit. But he genuinely cares for her? Even more than his biological daughter? Yall lack media literacy and maturity if you actually think he’s one of the worst fathers out there. I wish I had Eustis as a father. He cares about Phil, always takes her side, wants to support her in whatever she does. He literally doesn’t let anyone disrespect her. He isn’t the same alcoholic uncaring father the author originally wrote him as. You can separate OG Eustis from the current Eustis and understand current Eustis is trying his best as someone that obviously didn’t grow up with a good example of parents and family.