I just honestly love how the teens really truly be teen-ing
I love how Iris and Leon are gonna have mellow drama. Like ofc a Leon turns into a lil emo boi when his first love rejects him. Him being so out of touch privileged rich kid that needs first hand experience to learn empathy is also just chef kiss character design.
And I love how Iris despite being someone who's written to be a level headed lady still has her moments of still being a child. She's 19 ofc she still has a bit of a childish side. I honestly love the arc where she decided to marry the old far and doesn't plan to tell her mother??? Most cause it's just such a teenager thing to do??? Idk. I was dumb and stupid like that once so I appreciate well written characters.
Lily and Ashley are also so well written too!!! Although I do find Ashley's story (finding her identity and what she wants to do) is a bit dragging. But I'm glad she loves her family. Lily being the most # relatable tho.
I really wanted to like this manhwa but BIG YIKES
Although I do understand the themes of the story: BDSM Smut in a college setting and Hyesol growing up and maturing (according to the author) BUT good lirdddddd this was a horrible representation of BDSM. Don't even get me started on the lack of consent, safewords and aftercare. But I can always ignore them red flags for some kinky fun times. And its low-key hinted they do decompress/chillout after sex by hanging out naked. But liiiiikkkkeeee
The first half of the manga was pretty great. I enjoyed the friendship of the siblings with the crown prince. And the fact she was ready to throw hands when provoked. I thought the start of the second half had a shaky start and pushed through cause I did like the lil romance going on. But then it became the sole focus of the story. With heavy focus on the fashion and god awful pacing of the story/romance
I kinda understand why the story went to this direction?? The current FL is technically a different person from her previous life. But when the author took the time to establish the connection and the retained skills/knowledge of her previous life..... The FL has now just become disappointing. I can't even find the energy to support the "late bloomer, teenager being a teenager/love makes you stupid" argument. Miss ma'am has lived 2 lives and is currently & mentaly 51yo. Plus there she used to be an empress with a trusted advisor, she should be able to navigate the political world a little bit more finesse. And the author could have taken the time to flesh out the FL's story with her trying to charm nobles to side with thecrown price.
I do like the fact she kinda has lost to the empress though in the recent chapter. Gives some drama and spice to an overused trip for max lvl girl boss protagonists tropes. And it really establishes the empress's as an antagonist. *BUT* for someone who rose to the top as an emperor in her previous life, who had to deal with her siblings that are probably similar to the empress.........this was disappointing. One can argue FL probably solved most of her problems with brute force in her previous life. But she's been established as someone who's clever enough to have contingency plans so she can protect her lazy life style. And maaaannnn what's the point of the meeting she had with her people. No matter how nervous she is for her brother.. she's proven before she can technically work under pressure even. Idk just disappointed by the choices even though it could have been a good story arc for her character growth.
Yuhhhh the on going joke of how Helena's just mentally more mature than her bother and the prince was really funny when they were kids. Plus it was great that she was able to spend this life being able to experience being a kid. (the ghost in the basement story was really cute)
it would have been a better if this conflict was explored even more before her jumping into the relationship so quickly. Its giving "I'm dating you just because this was the first time someone confessed" And it feels like a rocky foundation for a relationship.
I really wished their story was more of a slowburn with a fake dating trope thrown in and Helena FINALLY saying yes to a relationship with the Cesar when he's actually seated on the throne as the Emperor, when he's in his late 20s/early 30s. I'd like to think that would have offset the age gap imo and actually let her see him as Cesar rather than keep comparing him to his ancestor, Erez. Idk. The story really had a great set up for more political intrigue + power struggle but the 2nd season is a mess with sloppy romance.
I like the occasional romances with red flags but like..... this was alarming to read. JFC. The art is pretty but whew I could not stomach any of the characters and twas just really hard to read through/root for them.
I found both the leads so frustrating.
1. ML just SA-ed and humiliated the FL daily because of his grudge towards the FL's twin sister. And I get the motivation, I love a good revenge story~. But I just couldn't get behind the act as revolting as . There are other ways to humiliate a person (ie. A very public trial that leads to an execution, especially since the twin is known for being a shitty ruler or just for her to be his personal maid and make her the most asinine tasks or do hard manual labor of repairing the castle. Idk. Did had to be the only plot point just because the genre s Josei smut
2. After all the SA, FL just forgives him because they had a history and he had become nicer to her. I totes get that she's under the curse or whatever. But Stockholm syndrome is soooo not it.
3. And she's just soooo naive and ignorant about her sister and the ML's situation, it gave me an aneurysm. All that reading and visits to the library but still lacks critical thinking. The mentality she had "he's in-love with his tormentor and only uses me as a substitute" gave me such an ick. I'm sorry but ma'am. Ma'am please. Stop projecting. Your man's clearly going through something traumatic JFC.
I have more to say about the story but NGL skimmed most of it because I kept losing braincells.











I honestly love the reveal of Kippei's sexuality here. You start out thinking he has a girlfriend (his sister's words and him not saying anything to dispute them). And then he refers to his significan other as partner. And when he get the phone call you also can't tell the gender of the caller (well Eng translation. The OG Japanese might be different) and then you realize along with Honjou!!!!
And Honjou didn't offer the information that he himself is gay. How he handled the coming out with such grace and empathy especially when Kippei is upset. Arghhh honestly poetry.
But what is this mean? "i've batted by the other team before"
Honjou said that as coming out? I don't really understand tho
It's honestly just a minor translation mishap!
The phrase usually goes as"batting for the SAME team", a fun lil baseball themed euphemism for being a homosexual. Liking someone of the same gender. (Ex. A lesbian and a straight man are batting on the same team because they like women.)
Houjo is admitting to Kippei that he has liked a man before without putting a label (he might be fully gay or bisexual)
"Batting for the OTHER team" implies he's straight which he is most definitely not. whahahaha
Ohhhh okeoke thank you so much for the long explanation, i understand now^^
Isn't "batting for the other team" and "batting for the same team" the same? At least, that's what I heard. (@_@;)
I mostly hear "batting for the other team," though, which means to be gay or homosexual, instead. ( ̄∇ ̄")