
They are giving me a headache with this. Why changing the novel so much? It doesnt even make sense now. I get that the surprise factor is often lost when novels turn into manhwas, but people want to see the novel they read illustrated, not a whole new universe created.
The thing that pains me the most is the fact that Lucas and Claude were left as almost useless characters. It's not even to show Athy's strength, since in the novel she had several moments were she proved how skilled and strong she was.
Sigh. I hope this mess makes sense soon.

As a novel reader myself
The big differences are so obvious and slightly sad how they went with it. However I do think that the exposure of this view of drama and her early on proxyhood is what continues to draw in readers. Some people will never know the novel verse but the manhua verse ain't so bad either.
I genuinely was excited for that runaway princess scene to be extended causethat shebang was so interesting with those side characters at the school.

I think people are forgetting a really important character: Aeternitas.
He is the brown haired boy that was brought before Lucas as an apprendice, only for him to reject him due to his lack of magical power. Aeternitas was OBSESSED with Lucas ever since, wanting to gain his recognition. To do so, he used dark magic to become more and more powerful, by sacrificing his descendants' magical power. This is why Athy showed trouble controlling her magic and had magic leakages. He also used dark magic to reincarnate in different bodies. This time, he is using Anastacius body.
Anastacius is Claude's older brother and former crown prince. In his youth, he was very caring with Claude but suddenly changed when he got older (due to Aeternitas posessing his body).
Now, Aeternitas is trying to gain Lucas attention while also placing himself as an emperor with Anastacius body. Jennette is just a piece of his puzzle, to gain Athy/Claude's trust and get them out of the way to ascend.
If anyone wants to discuss this theory with me, feel free to do so!

His soul might be dead, yeah.
His body... I don't really know. I have two theories: 1. Aeternitas faked Anastacius dead with Duke Alpheus help. 2. Aeternitas created a Anastacius look-alike to use his body.
I'm going for the first theory, since Aeternitas has been tempting Anastacius ever since he was young (you can see that in that chapter with young Claude).

This is a theory right? Because in the novel, and I believe it was mentioned in the beginning of the manhwa as well (where Lucas was reading books with Athy) that Aeternitas was a king. (Remember that bit where Lucas read something about Aeternitas being the most powerful king Obelia had & he blanched because he knows it wasn't true)
He's a royalty that got snubbed by Lucas - the master of the Tower who was supposed to support the empire. Like, Aeternitas was next in line but Lucas was like, yeah no I'll sleep for years instead lol
I don't think Aeternitas is the brown haired boy, but idk tho if Plutus & Spoon decides to change that part in the manhwa as well.

lots of people say they read the novel but don't say wHERE god please help a sis out, gimme a link. ヽ(`Д´)ノ
also, is the manhwa following the novel or did the author change something?

I recommend the spoiler form, that's where you'll find the information about the novel:
https://forum.novelupdates.com/threads/the-reason-why-raeliana-ended-up-at-the-dukes-mansion.78647/page-3
The spoilers made it look like Hyunsoo was gonna be completely helpless, but I'm so glad he was the angry kitty he usually is!! My baby!!
(Of course, I'm still hoping Youngchan bets tf out of that mf. Not a bone intact)