I have also noticed those same deviations from the novel and I was at first kinda bummed out because it downplayed the DxA scenes and also showed Romantica as being the jealous, petty type. However at this point it's clear that the artist is showing a preference for Romantica and as pressed as I am about that, I'm still excited at how the rest of the story is portrayed in the manhwa.
If it's not a bother to you, can you tell me what chapter was the scarf scene from the novel? I want to see it in Desir's POV!
It's ch116. Here's the snippet:
With those two gifts as the highlight, the unboxing continued. The gifts unveiled were varied and each time a box was opened, a round of applause as well as exclamation or laughing could be heard leaking out of the party room.
It was as this kind of atmosphere continued that Adjest also picked up one of the boxes from a pile in front of her before opening it.
There was a muffler in the box. It was made out of a luxurious wool and the embroidery of blue thread intertwined with red thread intimating that it was a muffler filled with heavy feelings from the sender.
Adjest gazed at the tip of the muffler.
D.A.
It was the initials of Desir Arman.
Adjest picked up the muffler and looked at Desir as if she was possessed.
Desir smiled, fully immersed in the infectious happiness of the other party members, before suddenly turning to match the gaze that was avidly boring a hole into the side of his head.
Adjest was at a distance of less than half a meter. It was close enough to let him feel her warmth.
“… ”
For a moment, Desir’s breath stopped.
Before Desir regained his wits to ask ‘why’, Adjest moved.
For a while, Desir felt dizzy from the soft scent that lingered in the space around him. Desir’s reaction was so delayed that the back of Adjest’s hand caressed his cheek without any resistance.
“Adjest?”
Awakened Desir leaned back, but Adjest pulled the muffler and dragged him back towards her.
“Wait.”
One.
Two.
Desir said nothing until the muffler was fully wrapped around his neck.
As the muffler was finally wrapped around Desir’s neck, their eyes met.
Her golden eyes shook like a wave breaking against a shore.
Adjest hurriedly lifted her hand from the muffler, shrinking back as if a child touching a toy that they have been told should not be touched.
“… ”
In the party office which had been raucous just moments before, there was now only silence. It was as if the prior noise had been a lie.
No one dared open their mouth to break this awkward tension. The office which had never been quiet, was finally soundless for the first time.
“Your name was on it.”
Adjest attempted to excuse her behaviour after the awkward silence had truly become unbearable.
No one else spoke up though.
The awkward silence began afresh.
The door opened. Desir thanked God for the distraction.
“… What’s going on? It’s exceptionally quiet in here today.”
It was Professor Bridgette. She looked around with a relaxed smile like always.
While looking around the office, it was apparent to everyone that she was happy seeing Des1r.
“That muffler goes really well with you. It was worth all of the hard work.”
“Is this… a muffler that you knitted, professor?”
“Yes. I knitted it. Do you like it?”
“Yeah. I like it. Thank you very much, Professor.”
Bridgette looked delighted at the gratitude expressed for her gift.
“I was going to give one to each of you, but due to my inexperience in knitting, I ended up taking too much time to make just one of them.”
“Don’t mind it, thank you, professor. What brings you here? Do you have something to tell us? Don’t you?”
Romantica desperately blathered, attempting to forcibly change the topic of discussion.
As a Desir x Adjest fan, I actually have no problems if the webtoon wants to take the Romantica end. Reading the novel and webtoon simultaneously, with the novel indeed heading to the Adjest end, I would actually throw a fucking fit if it trolls me with Romantica. I vastly VASTLY prefer the novel, with the way it just builds its story up, that I'm satisfied Adjest will get novel!Desir lol.
Im not saying the webtoon sucks or anything, it's just a matter of preference. I already had an inkling Romantica end was possible: for example, the scene where Adjest gives Desir the scarf; in the novel, Desir was appreciating her beauty as Adjest wraps her scarf around him, while Pram and Romantica watches on. Here, Romantica never gives her jacket to him, and was more of a background character at this point. Also, in the fortune telling scene, the novel mentions that the two will be pillars of support to each other. Webtoon doesn't have that.
Im a bit bummed I wont see Adjest end drawn, but of course, as the webtoon seems to be exploring the Desir/Romantica angle, let all the fans enjoy everything the series is giving us.