anw so much praise have been lauded for this story that i agree with, so imma just say something else entirely
ngl emi and remilia's relationship personally kinda giving me "when marnie was there", (SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE)
in the sense that when i watched the movie and saw how devoted anna was to marnie i was like omg! they're in lesbians with each other teehee :3 until the reveal that marnie was her grandma this whole time Lmfaoooo like the way i felt seeing that be revealed in the movie is the same way i felt when i was reading the original novel for this manga and the story decided to have remilia marry angel and have emi be reincarnated as the baby remilia gives birth to LMFAOO
for the yaoi-brained out there, it's probably like when they canonically confirmed/revelaed that kaito and shinichi from detective conan were cousins
I KNOWW. They're so sapphic coded they just have to downgrade it by being sister and end up as mother and child when they literally blush, adore and love each other
please let there be no endgame couple especially if choice number 1 is Loser Extraordinaire and choice number 2 is Misogynist McGee like #fuckcaius #fuckclaude i need to see the consistent theming in this story actually followed through and let miss maam be happy single and FREE
wanna add my two cents about the ppl who are constantly saying them communicating properly would have fixed their relationship or whatever - tbh, this could only happen if they have that conversation very early on in their relationship cuz even if they manage to have it at the starting point of this manga, there would be no point to it and caius still wouldn't have gotten what he wanted because already at the beginning of this manga nicole DOES NOT like caius. like she's not in love with him, so even if they were to have a proper conversation about it, i'm pretty sure the events of the story would unfold more or less the same way with caius throwing a tantrum because they're not mutually in love while nicole turns him down at every opportunity she's able to, except it all just happens earlier.
also about the people sympathizing with caius to the point where they want nicole and caius to still have some sort of positive entanglement outside of the mandatory husband-and-wife status, or pushing for him to still have a chance - y'all are giving those ppl who be pressuring women to give men they turned down a chance because they see the man in question moving like a creep, continuously harrasing the woman they like, and "courting" her, as romantic and that they can't fathom a woman being happier single and not involved with a man romantically, even when the woman is CLEARLY disinterested and even uncomfortable at the man's persistent advances. likeee it feels like you guys are spitting at nicole's entire arc and her character as a whole (idk how hard the story has to beat you over the head with nicole's actual desires as a character being wanting to achieve happiness independently without having to rely on a husband to get by and survive, and that the whole point of her arc is that she doesn't have to settle for an unfulfilling relationship with a loser and that she is capable of building her own happiness by herself once she realizes that the world is bigger and offers so much more than the little boxed society she lives in... unless ofc you are just that stupid, illiterate, and man-brained) in favor of throwing caius a bone.
like idk in the original novel caius is written as an inconsiderate, selfish man till the end who always ends up, even inadvertently, prioritizing his own desires before hers, and it's all also illustrated in the manga (realizing why nicole desires studying abroad but then still saying all that bullshit out loud about not letting her go and not going to leave her alone regardless, which was all done in chapter 10, and then continuing the futile behaviour of trying to seduce and court nicole even when she's president of idgafistan when it comes to him, and not even being able to wholeheartedly to support her decision even now) so like idk, hard ask maybe knowing what yall are like, but try shedding the veneer of rose-tinted lens when it comes to how endearing and awkward he is and at the very least try not to come across as so dismissive of nicole's whole story and set her progression as a character back for caius's sake so they can continue having an amicable relationship just cause he's an anime pretty boy #lol.
I’m Ngl, I thought I wrote a long comment. But I saw your and it was a whole essay lmao
(๑•ㅂ•)و✧
Anway, I also agree with your point. And props to the Author for creating this masterpiece!
had the notifs for this updating going for quite a while now but i ignored it cause i remembered that this was supposed to have been a finished work and so i thought it was updates for chapter reuploads... imagine my surprise when i come check it out and they have actually been proper updates because a new season came out LMAOOO
anyway im upset cause i was missing out on luxi and tong tong's uni romance and potential milf yuri all this time but beyond all that im happy this continued cause i felt the ending written prior this new season was way too rushed... also happy that we get to explore more about luxi's mom and that they reconciled about her being gay and having a gf :")) very relieved to see empathy and compassion extended to luxi's mom in her writing like wow so happy that instead of turning her into a comical villain in luxi and tongtong's way, her story really hammers down the reality of not just a woman but a mother living under a patriarchal society... i hope she and tongtong's mom can get together about it :] #milfyuriontop
wellllll.... toxic yuri! *shrugs* idk yall i thought id be able to stomach trashy love interests if it was a woman doing it instead of a man but i still felt the ick with the whole blackmail angle and the no actual negotiations and discussions prior to the whole cig burning and even just entering the entire bdsm relationship in general, even though it is undeniably hot JEJDJDJDJE just not built to love scumbags and assholes i guess... and i am more than at peace with that but yeah this goes out to the sloppy freaky toxic yuri lovers
wanted to like this so bad this is the 2nd time i gave this a shot buuuuut. it's just giving too much "i can fix him!" and "i'm the only one that can understand and change him!" and "i have to put in this much effort because he's the prize!", which is a shame because i Really like rishe as a character and i chugged along reading because of her, especially because the scenes where she's not all gung-ho about arnold and we get to know more about her past lives are what kept me going.
also, been trying to find out why i have the ick for the ml and i think i nailed it - the chemistry between the ml and the fl is soooo ass especially when you compare fl's chemistry with the other characters that don't even have half the screentime he does, i.e., her teacher, prince kyle, the merchant, hell even the guy's own lil brother. like i know being all aloof and mysterious is his fucking shtick, whatever, but the interest is sooo one-sided and there's not even enough back-and-forth between them that arnold comes across as boring occasionally. it also does baffle me sometimes the amount of devotion rishe has for this man beyond wanting to stop the war he'll start in 5 years.
i think if it wasn't just a constant barrage of rishe bending over backwards trying to understand and empathize with the guy while arnold is just being an impenetrable wall that passively accepts rishe's antics all the time it would be more enjoyable. feels like they really fail to strike the balance between them, like it's more just rishe trying to get to know arnold while there's barely any effort on arnold's part to get to know her back (he doesn't even deeply question the more questionable aspects of her person, like how does she know how to do all of this shit like making medicine, gardening, fighting, etc as an "ordinary" noble lady), he's just too busy aura farming or putting up a front that doesn't hold.
also it bothers me that they're not really written as equals due to the reasons i mentioned above. like it's as if rishe just Has to put in aaaaaall this effort into getting him because he's So Worth It once she can finally understand him. all the stuff she learnt in her past 6 lives just culminates into a continuous effort to show a Big Grand Gesture of Devotion for arnold, while he just kinda stands there and reaps the benefit of her work, because in the end he's an Impregnable Enigma who's gonna be So Worth It once she finally proves herself Trust Me Guys. like hello? arnold you are not That Guy. you are not the prize troy bolton. quite frankly rishe is a far, FAR more interesting character than you are and i would like to learn more of her adventures and accomplishments across her past 6 lives without having them tied back to you.
anw that's just my thoughts. who knows, maybe their chemistry will pick up and improve in future chapters. idk the disappointment for this one is just more palpable to me because rishe is such a fun character but the main component of her story, her romance and chemistry with the ml, is bogging it down and the contrast i feel betweeen how great everything surrounding rishe is versus how... unsatisfying the romance is so far is always a niggling presence in my mind as i read through this manga.
I agree. Too many of these types of ml in romance. Their personalities are bland. I will forget all abt this manga coz nothing interesting happen.. just repetitive plot. The fl is interesting and as the story progress, she turn into the bashful maiden that 'i can fix him' attitude. She does lots of effort for him. I felt too much 2nd embarrassment. Like, girly, please, what do you mean he is interesting???? YOU & YOUR PAST LIVES ARE INTERESTING. Wish we have more of her past lives journey.
Well, I wouldn't say that the ml is boring but it is indeed that "I can fix him" type of story. We mostly see from her pov so obviously we'd root for her but she's mentioned this time and again that he observes and tries to understand her as well. The short extra stories shed more light on their relationship. Both of them are also the lowkey type, hiding their intentions and playing around each other. I do feel a bit bothered by the fact that she becomes a blushing mess so easily while he's pretty nonchalant, but I guess it's a given considering their upbringing and past experiences. Rishe is upfront while Arnold has always hidden his real self. This story is pretty much gonna be a slow-burn. We'll probably get to see more of Rishe's past lives and how everything and everyone is connected. Arnold is just a part of her experience like everyone else. That's what makes it all interesting.
trying to find a semblance of realistic humanity in manga is a wild goose chase that only happens extremely rarely. It is what it is. I'd say this manga is not even worth the amount of words that you wrote, not worth the analysis at all. It's simply half decent entertainment and nothing more.
But you are definitely so right, rishe is far more interesting than he will ever be. I don't understand why this type of misogyny and always putting men a step above women no matter how amazing they are exists as a common thing in SHOUJO manga of all places but sigh. The world is an ugly place.
Especially in this manga I don't see it as misogyny at all. Even in real life if you love someone you see them in high regard. In the latest chapters Arnold said there was only one person for whom he'd get down on his knees. She's amazing and so is he. But if the author nerfs her down to a damsel in distress (like many stories do) after showing what she's capable then THAT would be misogynistic..
that's the thing, he is amazing why? because he's the male lead and he HAS to be slightly cooler than her. That's just how it is, no other explanation. He so far has not done a single thing that is cool in the manga, yet they keep telling us that he's so amazing and what not, when he simply is infuriating and nothing more. That is just real world misogyny seeping into making decisions about the structure of the story. No matter how amazing she is, she has flaws (which is good, she is a human after all) but he will never have it because, showing weakness is a woman thing and he cannot be like that.
The manga isn't particularly misogynistic, it's okay compared to others. But the general misogynistic vibe that is present in most shoujo is here as well, and that is undeniable.
Who says he's cooler than her?! Who even is comparing??
He doesn't take credit but he keeps his people's benefit in his mind. They're pretty advanced in technological and military might all thanks to him. She admires that. He has responsibilities which he carries pretty much flawlessly albeit coldly. She on the other hand shows that there are other possible ways just like how she showed to her alchemist master. So he admires her as well. Why would he be with her otherwise. A woman doesn't have to be an emperor or whatever to show that she's above others. Her strength lies in her knowledge, optimism, courage, resilience. Whoever said she's any less than him. ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ
there's a pretty apparent implication... If you don't see it and it doesn't affect you, good for you. But I can see it, and it bothers me. Simple as that. Like I said earlier, it's little subtle things and choices and little things in the dialogue that exude this vibe and if you don't notice it, again, good for you but you can't tell it's non existent when others have noticed and it bothers them as well. Peace. Let's leave this to rest.
Well, okay (▰˘◡˘▰)
the aura farming comment LMAO. As a fellow reader who just got caught up with this manga, I do agree with you. The fact he does not inquire how Rishe has this vast amount of knowledge baffles me. However, I do feel like his character makes sense. He is noble, cares for his people, is prepared to lay down everything for his beliefs, and will not allow Rishe to be the obstacle in his path. Even in the previous chapters, he boldly stated that if she gets in his way, he will cut her down. Furthermore, in other chapters, she constantly has to prove herself and convince him, because despite him trusting her, he will not blindly follow her. I think that is the beauty of his character in a way. He grew up with the typical brooding childhood and has a complicated relationship with his parents and family in general.But I do think it's important to understand his character outside of his relationship to Rishe. He is a prince and what comes first is his people, and then anything else. And that's why Rishe cares for him, because she knows he is a good person with redeeming qualities. She knows that the war that has killed her indirectly and directly in her past 6 lives may be a war that could be avoided had the crown prince found an alternative.
whoa thought risa was the freak initially but eko already matching her freak, actually dare i say OUT-freaking her in fact. #seated for further toxic yurious development !
oh i am simply too seated i cant even bring myself to be all that mad knowing that this story is gonna be wasted on idiotic incel mangago readers with shit from a butt reading comprehension and media literacy... I <3 Lesbian Mermaid Literature
I love you so much
tbhhh the split focus on the different couples really ends up hurting the structure pacing and focus on the overall story i fear, and judging by the comments ive seen im not alone in feeling this djcjejdj
its such a shame cause both couples are nicely written and im actually more partial to the 2nd couple's dynamics and writing but the first go i had at reading this webtoon i put it down once it switched focus to the 2nd couple cause i was too attached to the 1st couple to want to read more about a random new couple. my subsequent go around reading the webtoon i decided to start solely from where i left off, that is starting from the 2nd season or when it just starts focusing on the 2nd couple and found myself running into the same frustrations i had during my first read but this time my frustrations was directed at whenever the story switched focus to the 1st couple instead suddenly djejdjsj. also lowk it was very clockable that the 2nd couple is the author's fave by a large margin looking a the difference in emotional depth between the 2 couples - my first go around at reading, when i tried to force myself to read more of the 2nd couple's season i was pissed cause it felt like they had much more complexity to them and i was like "this side couple has no business being this annoying and in your face bitch take me back!!" how the turn tables LOL.
anyways, its such a shame because if the author just had more skill and/or talent at better integrating the stories of the two couples more seamlessly the switching focus wouldnt feel as jarring and off-putting... like maybe if the 2nd couple started off as the 1st couple and the 1st couple was the side couple instead? cause the more you read along the more you can Feel like the 1st couple is just getting shafted in a story where they were first introduced as like, the main couple. as it stands, the 2nd couple's story wouldve probably been better received if it was a standalone or a separate spinoff and its truly a shame cause i far prefer the dynamics of the 2nd couple over the 1st. also the weird short stint of the pink haired guy meeting the white haired guy and having that plotline end abruptly by pink haired guy finding out white haired guy was a dude had me thinking the author was tryna pull that shit off Again for a new 3rd couple and imma just say im glad they stopped there cause they do Not have the skills to pull that off smoothly LOL
i agree i definitely think the author ended up liking the second couple much more than the first couple and if anything should’ve focused the story more on them at the beginning. It was also a little confusing how it was constantly going between their highschool days and college days
if anything ever happens to keito im locking all of us in a room and filling it up with carbon monoxide
shit is SOOO good it gives me so much nostalgia of when i first started getting into bl manhwa all those years back and it felt like it was wayyy easier to stumble into stuff that was good instead of doodoo platter bl slop... like the quality, art, and atmosphere+writing really throws me back to when stuff like peak king's maker, wolf in the house, for your love, fools, etc. were updating and dominating in quality and popularity. actually so sad this got dropped </3