
GODS I WANNA KNOW HIS SECRETS SO BADLY
I wonder if Fake ML's real self actually hates Mc. That ths is an elaborate obsession of revenge that got so twisted on his side, that he delulu himself that his fake self does really love the fake self of Mc. Since again, they are all almost identical in looks to the Mc's characters.
I wonder if this is now a game of who breaks "character" first.
Since it's really the only thing holding back ML's real self who seems more violent

My theory
Since the Dowenger Queen said something about her son.
I thought the Duchess was in love with the ML's brother and that he died under suspicious/terrible circumstances.
So she entered into a contact with the ML, she would be his tool and do whatever he wanted only if she could rule in the shadows.
Idk, maybe the death of her love broke her and she decided to get revenge on everyone, no matter if she became a tyrant. And maybe later on she realized her mistake and so let the kingdom fall into ruin.
Only regretting how ML was caught up in it all and his tragic end
So I thought ML had unrequited love for Duchess since she was in love with his brother and missed who she used to be before his bother was murdered. And he entered this contact and played up his role because Duchess told him his mother was still alive.
I want to say ML's mother was accused of his half brother's murder and was "executed" but last second she was switched with a serving girl. The cell she was in caught on fire so the only way they could ID the body was the jewelry she wore.
The Duchess was the one and had plans to end the ML's with her own hands but first wanted to know why she killed her love. Since the ML's mother was always so kind to not only her but her love. She then finds out that ML's Mother didn't kill him and of course she would be framed. Who is the prefect scapegoat to the murder of a prince? The mother of another one.
ML's Mother asks Duchess to bring ML to her and help them so they can escape. She's done with this kingdom but the Duchess denies her. Instead she imprisons the Mother in her estate. She is well taken care of but she's just a bird trapped in a cage. Duchess uses her to make ML side with her.
Even letting them meet once a month
Mother doesn't dare to escape since every attempt Duchess kills a servant or makes the ML take a life. Worse, the moment the Mother tries taking her life that mean she not only forfeits her life but of her son the ML.
I guess the Duchess' end goal was to find the real culprit of her love's murder, why she's greedy for money, it makes tight mouths loose. And building her own power. But she lost her way, ruling the kingdom how she thinks her love wanted, just a twisted justified reason to he a tyrant
BUT SEEING FROM THE SPOILERS
I AM WAY WAY OFF

Out of the two, the fist couple is my favorite but the second couple has such more development.
Idk, I feel like their story was short, idk that it needed something more.
Also, I wonder what an alternate universe would look like if Jun & Woo-in had been a thing? I have a few ideas but
Either way I love love the art style and the couples and ugh I would so want more chapters to see how their future is!

The art is really pretty, but yeah the story is lacking a bit.
I'm also glad that the MC wasn't in love with his other brother, that he genuinely didn't know how he would handle knowing his main parental figure was leaving. There are way to many stores of unrequited love for one brother and then the other swooping in and saying they will make you forgot them.
Nothing wrong with those types of stories, just I feel like it's been overdone.
Finally, why was MC's crying face so adorable!?
LOL I SAW THIS COMING
Someone commented last time that they ship A and his brother, is it u??? HSHHSHZHS
No but whoever it was understandable.
But I've read so many yaoi that you just know when a author is hinting something even if it's between "brothers"
I hope they are not brothers in anyway and just lied for some reason. Idk why most East Asian stories don't treat half/step siblings as bio siblings.