I really like your comment and yes we have to take into consideration that those were the norms at the time but we also have to consider the fact that this is fiction created by a person born in our current society for other people born in the same society so it is sometimes preferable to disregard the norms from before and look into it with "our" eyes, if we took this context and made it the most realistically possible, it would be just horrible.
We cannot help but judge this story with our norms, if we were from that ancient time, the Duke would seem weird and delusional to expect to have a marriage not based on political purposes whereas now it would seem legitimate.
Also, if we take what you said into consideration, for women it is true that marriage is the only way but most of them didn't saw it as something tragic, it was easy. For the Duke, with his mindset, if he was a woman, he would regard it as something tragic but he isn't and nobody told him about what women would feel, so it is normal he is like that.
I like ur analysis of the plot and yes, this story and the female knight and the emperor clearly shows the contrast in character development. Here, the archduke has a volatile temperament at best. He is not progressing realistically. You can't just make readers forget the bloodbath at the beginning. (⊙…⊙ )
I think your last sentence is kinda the point. And part of why Chloe's view point feels painfully naive to me. He is not perfect or all knowing enough to be kind to the weak and harsh on the strong. That seems to vary depending on his moods, and perspective, which is normal.
He has not considered the world through the eyes of others. Even now with not knowing who Chloe really is he seems surprised that the woman he threatened to kill over a horse isn't 100% comfortable around him. It's kinda comical that he is so short sighted.
Indeed Chloe really is naive but that isn't the main problem, Im okay with a heroine naive but like you said, the way the personages are progressing through the story doesn't feel realistic. I'm only reading because the art is interesting and I want to see how the author is going to make the fall in love with each other
True. The art is great. He is eye candy to the max. I've been laughing with a friend over screen shots of his random shirt less ness since this story was first posted on here.
Yeah sometimes in stories like these the ml is shirtless for no reason and instead of being arousing it's just funny and confusing
And why the whole "He's a good person" makes me roll my eyes. He isn't evil incarnate in my mind, but I wouldn't call him good. Just normal. He has shades of grey. There is no grand and pure morality to him like Chloe is suggesting with the weak/strong dichotomy.
Have y'all been reading the one with the female Knight and the Emperor? They had to kill a whole bunch of royals a while ago, and had to kill a princess, but it was quick and merciful. Especially since that princess did nothing "wrong", but politically she had to go. She would only be used as a political figurehead in a rebellion later at best. The knight showed her how to take her own life quickly. And it was done. It was a bittersweet moment of triumph that showed the realities of war.
There was a lot of extra mocking and torture in the first chapter of this story. Especially because of that one rapey underling of the duke. I understand that he felt sorry for Chloe and let her go. I understand that the other princess had power and so she had to die. But did the duke need to rip that other princesses dress open first? Or get mad at her for trying to marry him? Just because he doesn't want to get married for political gain doesn't mean that she was in the wrong for trying. Political marriages are normal in his time. He seems to be next in line for the throne, of course people, including his father, is trying to marry him off. It really sucks, but it sucks for everyone, including that princess. She can't go to war and gain freedom by being high ranking in the army like him. For noble women marriage is often the only option.
We see that by what happend to Chloe when she was Beatrice. The moment she was brought back into a noble house she was married off. That's why she likes being a slave. Overall as a slave, if not for the Duke catching feelings, no one would notice her much so long as she does a good job.
Anyway, for me it is not the killing that we saw him do that bothers me. It is the cruelty, and arrogance. Just like how he was when he was so ready to kill Chloe over his horse. Good for her she is useful and talented.
He doesn't like politics, but he is still a very powerful man. And you can't have one without the other. He can only be free if he gave up his power, instead he wields that power to keep himself isolated and above societies rules. Like he did in these last few chapters by threatening the leader of this place for sending women to his room...Even though that guy is stuck between the emperor's wishes to see his son settle down, and the duke's wishes to be a bachelor. If you ask me the duke needs to just tell it to his father straight and stop playing games with the BL ruse. But that's another rant.