Dense can also come off as, "Well that was a great conversation. We've been friends for so long and it just improves my mood so much when we hang out. Our friendship is not like it is with other friends."
Hindsight slap 10min-5yrs later: "Oh f*ck, was he hitting on me? Nah, that can't be right. [Insert either over thinking or underthinking.]"
In Paul's case, it is the later. Lucas is her savior and she can't sway that image. He asks her to jump, she will ask him how high. But she also feels the most secure watching his back. She won't marry because she won't be with a partner who will accept her level of devotion. What she really wants is a few maids she trusts to keep a house for her arrival home, not a wife, per say.
"What she really wants is a few maids she trusts to keep a house for her arrival home, not a wife, per say"
"someone who can keep the hearth warm and food on the table"
can be just as easily applicable to a [wifes] traditional duties and since she is a knight and they are talkin in terms of prospects for marriage, maid doesnt really cover the significance of a romantic partner in the same context so it was just a more appropriate to use "wife" as an example to express her desire for "a place of belonging to come back/return to"
in all honestly tho, I think she would find more understanding from a woman then a man with regards to her devotion to her job
what truly constitutes as "dense" MC?
we already know what kind of background she was brought up and raised in as a soldier, and we know she sees the emperor as a "savior" and worships him to the point of being downright religious in her devotion to him. we also know the emperor was going to confess but decided against it after getting cold feet about changing anything in their current relationship as pauliana seemed satisfied with how things were. So.. who is truly at fault here? pauliana for lacking awareness in her own womanhood and not being privy on the subtext that is being given only to the readers for his behavior? or the Emperor for not being upfront with her about his expectations for fear of ruining the king/knight relationship they currently have?
usually in shoujos its a staple of the character to be often a preteen girl who doesnt know much in the ways of men and is often naive, trusting and "pure" but I dont see pauliana in this light at all so I cant see any similarity between those they are comparing her with..