
I hate that all this would be avoided if ryeo just told him he was in a relationship. He didnt even have to say who just tell him that he was in one. Plots based on miscommunication that are so easily avoided are such a pet peeve (〜 ̄△ ̄)〜

He can't say he is in a relationship outside his social circle. What if it leaks, you know how fans sometimes react when their "idols" aren't single anymore.
Although red hair is more or less his friend, you can see sometimes that that he isn't totally comfortable around him. And I think that he didn't confess to him (don't know exactly, correct me if I'm wrong)

100 chapters read and im not sure whats going on anymore

Hen and Ivan? Need to talk.
Ivan? Doesn't want hen to know the rumors about him.
Noah? He started those rumors while working with the grandfather.
Alek? Trying to help out Hen situation (I think lol)
Hen? He's confused but worried that the problem is about the rumors about "Ivan" (which is actually about him) get get to mentally get into Ivan head.
So basically this is all Ivan's Grandfather doing. And Ivan is trying to figure out the rumors to stop. ( ̄∇ ̄")

I cant be the only one who thinks what the duke is doing is super manipulative. Like shes literally doing voulenteer work and he bans her from going out???? Thats such a shitty thing to do. The fact that he also said i dont intend to let you be a free woman just raises ALL the red flags

The thing is, Ripley is neglecting her own health. Her pale complexion was noted by Wright and Etoire, and she had two nosebleed. The duke was extreme, but he did it because Ripley is pretty much stubborn and she doesn't know when to stop. She wants to do the volunteering mostly because she still works on her love project of getting Etoile and Wright together ( ̄∇ ̄")
The duke did manipulate her yeah(even threatened to cut Sylvia neck if Ripley so much as goes outside... Of course, this is a bluff but Sylvia pretty much believed in the threat lol. Iirc Ripley doesn't believe in the threat as well, but didn't argue because she has more work to do anyways). He also wants her to focus on marriage-- and to follow the schedule that has been set. And in the novel he said that she can focus on her work after the wedding.
That free lady statement, in the novel, it's actually more meant as he's not going to let her be free from him.
I kinda feelbad bc she never rlly did anything bad to Latte. She was just blessed with the curse of Mary Sue and becoming self aware. I hope she gets the development she deserves.