Now that I read your comment... ouch, that hurts for our mc
my heart started hurting when she went outside and said, "His highness FINALLY sees me as a woman" while crying she was so distraught about the fact that she developed feelings for the one man she shouldn't have them for. I am a VERY emotionally empathetic person, so this was a nightmare for me to read. I was sobbing by the end of the chapter
(╯°Д °)╯╧╧
this story is so different to others. finally that topic get's more attention.
In Japanese, the phrase, to be seen as a women/man means to find someone sexually attractive or to at least be aware of them. For example: I've never viewed my little brothers longtime friends as men, even though we are all adults. People will often say "I don't see you as a man" or "I've never viewed them as a woman" to mean that they have absolutely no romantic interest in them. In the west, you'd probably say "You're like my younger sibling!". The crown prince wouldn't know that phrasing because he hasn't ever dealt with romance.
Think as if the conversation went like this:
ML: I love you like family
FL: I'M NOT YOUR FAMILY
ML: No, but you don't get it. I love you like to the extent that I love my family!
FL: I'm not your family! Look at me as if I'm not your family.
ML: I don't understand why you're upset.