People need to understand what “grooming” actually is. Because it’s being thrown around a bit too lightly and we all need to be more educated about it…. Grooming is done with the INTENTION to build trust with a child with the intention to use, manipulate, exploit. Typically in a sexual manner.
Assuming: the FL raising a child who never saw her as a parent, and eventually falls for her which she never intended or wanted to happen (and is shocked by it). Not grooming. Just socially inappropriate. If she declines the advances in his adulthood and he continues to persist, now that falls into him being the aggressor.
Now if she is going to raise him to then use him to fight against the church, then yeah that’s grooming. Because of the intention to use/manipulate him. But I think people don’t really consider that THAT big of a problem especially in revenge stories— we’re just icked by him falling for her as an adult because of their close relationship during childhood. But please note that intention is always important)
The king is a pussy ass bitch.
I said it.
Despite the terrible things the Queen did, I at least get it. I even think she’s a compelling villainess. The king’s resolve is made out of jello, his emotional intelligence is 6 feet under, and his eyes might as well be rocks cause he’s fucking blind to others misery. Fuck him.
Overall great. But shoehorning the love interests for the two knights was so forced. It felt like they just made slightly better female versions of each other to be paired off with. The black haired girl has so little personality and the red head is… fine? But obviously there’s little to no chemistry.
So did Dolores not get married off because the empress wanted to keep her or because the empress actually hated her?
The empress actually loves Dolores. It’s said that Dolores is pretty much like the empress in behavior and thinking because they’re that close. However, the empress still didn’t want to give her the title of princess because she’s an ambitious woman and protects her son’s spot. Dolores will give the empress a lot of grief so the reader understands that the empress really does love Dolores because she was heartbroken over her. Dolores isn’t married because no nobleman in their right mind would marry an illegitimate daughter. Nobles marry for benefit and they look down on Dolores because she’s not officially a member of the imperial family.











uUUUUUH BUT DONT QUIT YOUR JOB???
If you have to quit making money to support yourself because your partner has worse attachment issues than a puppy you they need help. Not someone who coddles them?? Also that’s not going to help anyone in the long run????
Facts
He wants to take care of his boyfriend's mental health tho. There's a difference between coddling and taking care of someone who has d e p r e s s i on
Alright. As an amateur swimmer, don’t throw away your own life raft to save a drowning man. Get a lifeguard or else you’ll both end up drowning.
Getting rid of your means of supporting yourself and your partner (because in most situations like this, the partner would be too depressed to function in a normal job) is only going to kneecap both of you.
You could run through your savings, taking care of them. But without getting them proper help, eventually the money will run out. They won’t get better, and now both sides become resentful as they spiral into poverty, eventually breaking up because the relationship becomes toxic. The only way to help someone this depressed, is to get them
p r o f e s s i o n a l help. Medication. Anything. A concerned and loving partner is unfortunately never enough.
Of course this is a story that’s not a tragedy so it will work out. But please never think the power of love will pull someone out of their depressive state. It didn’t for my family.
Tl;dr The power of love isn’t proper medical treatment. Professional treatment and living costs money. Don’t quit your job because you need the money to get help and to live.
Bros bros all of your points are vaild, I agree! But, I'm pretty sure they both have enough savings to support themselves for a while. One is a famous writer and another is a freelance editor. They should be secure financially lmao (I hope?)
Also, professional help and proper medication is the way to go to help someone heal, I also agree! But, support should always start from home. It's the first step! Sometimes the support of the people you live with becomes the main reason if you even seek help in the first place.
Coming from someone who struggles with mental health, my family's support love and understanding has been the number one reason I manage day to day. And ofc therapy and meds.