A lot of ppl doubt Cedric before but I think he's genuine for his feelings for Rowena. If he truly only see her as his dead cousin, why would he go that far to injured himself to save Damian, participate in black business & put his life at risk?
Alas he's just a 2nd male lead and forever will be. He will be abandoned like every 2nd male lead out there.
She was first sent to palace when she was a kid (around 9) to that pedo emperor. When the former emperor passed away she was sent to a monastery. Then her family want power so she was sent again to inner palace as a high ranking consort (teenager) for the current emperor.
But instead of treating her as a noble lady, her maids always insult and neglect her. What a poor baby ( T﹏T )










If I guys hate this kind of story drop this before your blood boils hotter. Base from the novel, the ML will have redemption arc & the FL will forgive him . Then the two of them will have a happy ending.
Yeah he's beyond redemption but the author add a backstory in the novel where it shows the ML's tragic childhood.