
No, I'm not feeling the bs they're on. Maybe I'd be for it if they ever showed the Emperor being genuinely in love with the Empress- and like fr him trying to defend her and worry, but it's been bare bones nothing for 80% of the story, so their reconciliation feels like a last minute "nvm, happy end for them ig". Especially after the Empress clearly voiced wanting to move on. They don't even show them warming up to each other again, just the Empress being touched that he defended her for once and said sorry.
Fr reminds me of my bestie who crawls back to her toxic ex every time he shows up at the front door with flowers.

And like, what was the point in showing off the annoying ass maid and the Empress' parents whining about making up with the Emperor, making her voice heard and confident in her actions - as if she's really set on divorcing this mf and starting her own life (at least that was the vibe for me) - only to be like nvm???

I just started reading but HOMIE I NEED TO VENT. About Lister specifically because he's reviving my potent HATRED for tsundere coded manchildren who skip that point in puberty where they realize that bullying your crush is potent virgin behaviour. This man clearly wasn't beaten up enough bc he's got THAT type of audacity, the one which makes you want to spit on him and his grave.
A grave which I pray is built soon, and put atop of this idiot's gratefully dead body to put MC. OUT. OF. THIS. MISERY.
What is wrong with this mofo that he doesn't realize that he's spitting on a decade long friendship AND actively making his crush hate his fucking guts?
Bitch, every time he gives MC this filthy, slimey, yucky, totally dis-gus-ting look I have to withstand ancient, primal instincts to not start punching my screen. I'm puking his filthy ass vibes up I CANNOT. If I at any point was able to choose what fictional character will be shot DEAD on the spot, this poop troop baby man is one of my top 5 picks, DO NOT underestimate my disgust people.
This kind of "Hihi, I like you but I first need to make you suffer bc I need to vent my frustration over being rejected!!!"-spiel is never, will never be cute nor charming. It is the ultimate antiphasis to hot man behaviour and EVERY TIME it triggers this genetic memory of running towards the nearest bug swatter to be rid of this pest.

And now that I'm catching up, let me add this. There is no way he didn't fuck up back then and was the actual moron responsible for kicking MC's dad/uncle out the window. MC's madness MY ASS.
I'm almost convinced that they were both there and the sister covered it all up and blamed it on MC because that was the least bloody way out of that mess (in her mind anyway). And bc MC was there they gave him meds to induce memory loss + gaslit the shit out of him. Perhaps I'm reaching but I wouldn't see why else his sister would be this weirded out by Lister acting all hurdur Im loyal and upstanding to mine duties. Well there is the whole assaulting MC thing, but I think there's nuance in her disgust.

I have no standards for this genre, so the rape itself is whatever for me, but I still find it to be a cheap build-up. Like where is the drama? The guy literally just dragged her into a dungeon to molest her, there were so many other options to make homie loose his pants in frustration that didn't involve straight up sa, but it somehow had to be a sex dungeon scenario. He's supposed to be this super professional top of the line agent but thinks THIS is a good strategy to torture his not-wife out of militia camp. MEH.

Ah yes, driving your enemies into poverty by giving them loans they won't be able to pay off, and ofc you let them put their whole territory up for collateral, so effectively you're stripping them off their noble status and privileges. With no territory the Angenas would have no income nor estate leaving them with nothing but the title, which at that point they'd have to sell to get by. Timeless classic. And if their trading and illegal bs is uncovered with that it's like a sacred double whammy of pain.
Huimen might've been delulu or whatever, but he's been carrying this man's ass in this lifetime