This is actually so fcking sad! Like, we KNOW Shaia knows his fiance loves some other person that he can never live up to, and it's not like Beryl is trying to move on and WANTS to be with Shaia, he's simply doing this whole thing FOR the dead soulmate. That musty old dog set him up with someone who had a soulmate already on purpose, with hopes he'll just sleep with numerous people. What's so horribly sad to me is exactly that: Shaia only agreed to this marriage for politics and looks because he wanted to give Theo what he really wanted (a relationship with his brother without anyone meddling) because he loves him. It's so fcked that Shaia and Hugo likely fell for Theo around the same time and ages, but Theo simply fell in love with Hugo in a way he cannot for Shaia. And Shaia seems very, very aware of this.
I get he's being a bit of a turd, dare I say a troll, to Beryl -- but I argue that this isn't because Shaia is some evil brat. I think he's desperately sad and really really wants what it seems everyone else is able to have: a real relationship. His parents, grandparents, his uncles, and now his brother all get their happy ending with THEIR love of their life. His giving up on Theo is recent and probably still a fresh hurt. The side story implies Shaia started to be more independent to give Theo reason to pay him less attention. Now Shaia's love life is being dictated by someone who laughs at the idea of him never finding what his parents had, a relationship so strong you want only that person forever and you CHOOSE them, not just for fate's sake but out of love and devotion. And now he's constantly in competition with a dead soulmate (no that's not fair to Beryl, his dead soulmate, or Shaia). Like, I feel for Shaia. Hopefully the story spends time letting this develop. It's not hard at all to feel bad for Beryl, he's a sympathetic character who is easy to like because he's so sweet and all he wants is to do right by his caregiver and soulmate. But at the same time, I really hope we get Beryl opening Shaia up beyond this "Everything is fine. Life is fun!" facade he has towards his classmates. I mean, Shaia straight up said he wanted them to pretend, at school, that they are high school sweethearts and that Beryl does all these things Theo does for Hugo, because he wants the facade that he is loved the same way Hugo is loved. He's going about it terribly, but geez it only makes it sadder that he so obviously wanted exactly what he cannot have: a relationship started out of pure interest and formed into an honest love. Maybe they'll work up to that (hopefully) but rn every scene confirming that Shaia is doing his BEST to keep the peace for his family is gut wrenching.
ngl, u wrote a lot but I read them all loool and honestly I agree to all of ur points. I also hope this story will develop beautifully and won't rush everything (人 •ᴗ•)
I just don't understand where the "Theo loves Hugo" came from. All he does are things an overly dedicated servent does it. Sure he loves the twins, but it doesn't seem romantic so far. He was even complaining he can only do things for Hugo now because Shaia got too independant... Also, he seemed to not have realised yet Hugo wants him that way. Yes, it's obvious and everyone with eyes know but Theo himself seems to still be oblivious about it. I want to see him realise It or admit it to himself if he's just in denial... At the same time, Theo is a very flat character so I hope to see him better developed
That one guy who told him to be appreciative of everyone wanting to celebrate his birthday early is my new favorite character. He's a rare character in this work, willing to tell the ML to chill out.
He’s the only one Jaekyung spars with too! He definitely respects him on a different level :)
I think once she knows Mr. Kwon is getting a kind strong handsome young husband and a cute little baby, the granny (and other such elders) will be supportive! Also, peep the baby calling them both dad - I cryyy!
When she addressed both of them as dad I squealed it was too cute
The communication has me in a CHOKEHOLD! The way he was just like "I'm having so much fun. This is so fun." PLEASE! ME AND WHOOOO?!?!?!
+1 ┗( T﹏T )┛
Aiden is such a lil shit lol. Ash is such a DREAMBOAT OMG. Karlyle is me fr. Low-key I laughed when the horse was shook at a year estimate for a relationship milestone.
I wonder if maybe Shaia was also in love with Theo but gave it up in the face of Theo and Hugo's obvious attraction, so now he wants that same connection. It's so specific to want a school romance love story and then running away from the two that likely know him best? I speculate that Shaia was in love with Theo and if he's going to marry to satisfy the granduncle, then he wants to at least have on a surface level what his brother gets to have. It's lowkey sad if that's the case. All the other members of his family that he's ever known got to have an epic love story with the person they're destined to be with and he probably feels some type of way about feeling pressured into having to marry for politics...
It really is sad that he was raised with people who were destined for each other but he’s now arranged to be married with someone that was destined for another :(. Obviously they’ll find love in the end, but the fact that he felt he has to do this for his family despite the love he grew up with is so heartbreaking
Right?? Like, imagine growing up and your parents are soulmates, your uncle has a soulmate, your grandparents are soulmates. Shaia and Hugo both so obviously wanted a soulmate bond like their mom and dad. I can only imagine how upsetting it would be to get kind of booted out of the three person dynamic you grow up with (who would want to third wheel) and then get harassed by the granduncle into marrying someone who is only even considering you to save the house of their dead soulmate. Shaia almost lives in this sad state of watching others be in love that makes his abrasive brattiness make more sense.
Shaia giving his bear up made me feel so many emotions