it's so trivial lmao. like girl was really willing to debase herself bc the prince had a "different expression"
the most ironic thing is she berates the other girl for thinking this is all a game when the other MLs' actions are easily influenced by mere game mechanics/cheats like a godforsaken flowerbed (that she also utilizes and constantly references to characterize everyone she interacts with). it doesn't lend any credibility to their autonomy as non-game characters when the author is trying to create/ resolve the conflict halfheartedly like this.
-"(...) so worn down by loneliness that you can't hide your joy from even the smallest display of kindness"
CUT TO: heejae falling over and over again for a stranger he's never even met in person for the tiniest scraps of kindness thrown his delusional way
-"(...) clearly hurt by my actions, yet you still try to save face by telling an obvious lie"
CUT TO: heejae moping over sesam, stalking, and tracking him down, transparenly hurt and heartbroken when he was ghosted, lying through the skin of his teeth that it's for revenge and not because he misses seyeong
aight buddy, sure.
"(...) my wife."
[THE READERS LIKED THAT]
and honestly????
i'm fuckin down for helio acting like this because (1) i love messy drama, (2) i love kael but dear lord you know we thirsting for him to be just a lil more forward considering all the chasing Hes did in the first half and this will spur him on, and most importantly (3) i like that this shows Diana's hold on Helio is loosening bc she's gonna be unrepentantly patronizing and obnoxious as long as the Prince of the kingdom is on her side. so yeah, i wanna see more shit stirred in their relationship, i need to see them doubt and compare their partner to people who made infinitely healthier relationship decisions than them
bro this chapter hit hard
like
once you know the inescapable shackle of a contract, debt that's way past anything you make, and the desperation that comes from it... god, it's honestly insane how he's still able to pretend to be chill about it in front of the others. and he's literally just a teen at this point. there's just something so raw and moving about a normally arrogant Top archetype outright saying, "I'm scared."
:'(
i'm willing to bet past taewon couldn't get out of this deal even when he became successful because mcFuckin Kim still had his sexuality to blackmail Taewon with and Taewon knew how that would implicate Yusung as the "famous gay idol's secret lover" so he tried to create a scandal to tank his career and escape from his contract. But then in the end Kim still stabbed him in the back and laid the blame on Yusung
they didn't say but that's the very essence of "OH SHITTTT" hahaha
also the artist understands the charm of a wolf's paw :') i love how instead of like most anthropomorphic depictions with human-like hand joints, the artist drew it like when a dog covers their face with a paw, it's so frickin adorable
initially enthusiastic about the BL Villain isekai mashup. turned criminally boring during the academy arc after they added the overbearing CEO archetype who interacts so patronizingly and territorial w/the MC, and MC evolved into every outdated mildly homophobic bottom from 2000s yaoi manga. screeches every time anything homoerotic happens, given every information available but is always oblivious to a fault, is always pursued and taken advantage of by people he likes to scream at, motives don't align with actions, inner monologues are always some variation of 'oh i hate him but he's actually sexy he can't possibly like me he's just playin' uwu'
dropped for now, might continue if bored
if the redemption arc doesn't involve something like him begging on his knees or the blonde guy getting the mark surgery and faking his death to leave him i won't be satisfied. i want their kid to see how much of a douche he is and hate him ok jfc i don't want a "he might be a horrible person BUT LOOK he's such a good dad" inner monologue from the MC
remember the golden ration of however cruel top is, his regret and suffering should be a hundred fold grrrrrrr










how will diana respond to this foresight???
will she actually back out and listen to helios against hess' expectations? OR WILL SHE DIG IN HER HEELS AND INVEST MORE CAUSING INCREDIBLE LOSS TO THE IMPERIAL FAMILY THAT WILL CAUSE STRIFE BETWEEN HER, THE EMPEROR AND THE PRINCE? WILL SHE DRAG MORE NOBLES THAT BACK HER INTO IT???
please tell me it's gonna go down so bad for her pleaseeee
She is stubborn for quite a while, but she is definitely put in her place. Don’t worry.
Spoiler
Helios refuse to give her the family money so she take a HUGE amount at the temple who, of course ask for their money back once the ship sink
yaaassss