
I'm conflicted, I like Lester, I don't like his crush on the MC, because I think it's weird, but I still want good things for him. Like I thought he'd be a dad or brother figure, not the second ML, and the fact that he is is weirding me out.
Like people be in the comments saying it's only bc he was attractive that we like him otherwise he'd be a grooming pedo, and like no. Attractive or not, I just don't like the fact that he got a crush on her despite partially raising her. Literally if he just stayed a brother or father figure in her life I would be so much happier bc trying to make their relationship romantic (or at least one sidedly) instead of platonic makes it weird.
Personally I don't really see it as grooming, just because since the beginning they were much more like partners of equal standing than anything else despite the age gap. Like she has equal power in this relationship they have with each other. She even states that she knows she owes nothing to Lester bc she has earned her fame and place in society.
Yes, he made her dress as a guy, but also as a commoner female, in those mysoginistic settings, I highly doubt she would've been able to get as high a reputation if she were to reveal herself a woman.
I'm not saying it's right, or fair to the MC, and all of her feelings on the topic are completely valid. I'm just saying it was probably the best option *at the time*. Emphasis on *at the time* bc now the MC has the opportunity to change that view on females with her influence and closeness on the Empress herself.
I kind of lost track of the main point, but yeah, I really do like Lester, not just because he's handsome (I won't deny that it is a bonus though) I just really wish they would stop with the weird one sided love he has for the MC and give him a different love interest that he can be happy with like ugh I want his happiness but not with the MC because again that's weiiirrrddd. Let male female platonic relationships exist that aren't based on blood ties (like the empress and aenon) plsss I'm begging you authors. This was a goddamn essay thanks for coming to my TED Talk
Does anyone like, think the second male lead told her that advice to purposefully mislead her? Idk, i'm getting sus vibes from him.
I don't think so
no he's just really innocent minded
Nah, because he's also trying to persuade himself that the mc and the emperor only love each other like mother and son, so I'd say he's also in denial, and thus it's not really deliberate. He was being truthful the first time he gave her advice, but for the second one, he might have unwittingly chosen to ignore the new signs and just ellaborated on what he had already told her the first time.