
I was so lukewarm about the anime with the first two pairings, so I decided to give ep 8-9 a try. OMG, I didn’t expect to be so blown away by the chemistry and charm the 3rd pairing Rei and Yoshino have . WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE TWO RED FLAGS DATING TOGETHER. Pure chaos hahahaha.
Yoshino is so entertaining with his shoujo monologues yet I can’t get over the fact that he has herculean strength at the same time. Rei is such a good foil to him with his cbf attitude, these narcissistic red flags are the highlight lolololol.

I feel so let down. This was THE moment I’ve been waiting for since I started the manhwa. The moment where everything was laid exposed, Ruby being all bloodied as he slammed her to the ground, all mirrors destroyed, and everyone rushing in to witness the scene. There were shards embedded on her face, she could barely see. The scene HAS to be that horrifying for the group to understand the true ugliness of Ruby and Cesare’s relationship. But this scene fell completely flat, and for the first time, I feel this did not do justice to the climax of this plot point.

I mean unfortunately the manwha cannot be 100% true to the novel and i think they didnt add it because it probably would be too graphic for readers idk and of course novel/book readers always have high expectations but also you have to keep in my mind that they have to shorten novel scenes since they could be way too long

RIGHTTTTTT!!! From them changing it to Freya instead of Lorenzo who told Izek where Ruby was, to Cesare already rushing Ruby so early after the tournament to the whole mirror scene, it felt very rushed, as if it was all last minute changes. In the novel, it shows Ruby and Cesare taking their time in the mirror room (he was drinking wine and laid back which showed how confident he was) before he starts rushing her yet here.. the scene feels so out of place here because why didn't Cesare just rush her to the port if he was already panicking so much?? It felt random given the weird pacing they set.
Not to mention, he was far more abusive and emotional during this scene since the image he had of Ruby came shattering down with the mirrors. Yet here.. it looks like he doesn't even notice that... heck all he did was shove her into the mirror and its depicted like it was an "accident."
Too many changes for such an important scene that killed the significance.. the manhwa tries to make you see Cesare's POV and build his character during this scene but it destroyed the development of Ruby standing up to her abuser and finally voicing her thoughts. The scene was definitely more poetic and satisfying in the novel then in the manhwa which is disappointing since this is the first change from the adaption team I really did NOT like at all. Not to mention, before Izek attacked Cesare, it showed everyone's walking in to seeing her being abused (again.. the symbolism of the glass breaking: the reality was shown the moment everyone arrived.) Ruby even calls them her true family.. so many changes that it just feels like a different story.
Also mad they changed the dialogue. It was so empowering to hear Ruby say that with Izek, she doesn't feel like a queen but a goddess (it highlights how Cesare thinks he can promise Ruby the best but he can never compare with Izek who gives her something beyond that... even more when you realize the story focuses on religion at times.) Ugh.. everything was so lacklustre that I'm upset by it..

HYUNJAE. Oh Hyunjae. I can ALWAYS count on him to appear in some form, one way or the other around Yoojin. I am hyperventilating at all of their greatest hits moments because Hyunjae basically changes the genre lololol.
The sexual tension between them is hotter than ALMOST every BL manhwa out there.
So remember the part where Yoojin was counting the remaining minutes of his three pills and Hyunjae mentions he seems more experienced in dungeons despite his short awakening? Well in the novel, Hyunjae says he’s gonna fall for him the second time when he saw that and I literally went KYAAAA. And all I can say is, this is just the beginning. (I finished the novel, and waiting for the side stories to finish.)
I don’t bat an eye when I read porn Bl manhwas. But one touch or flirtatious moment from HJYJ has me screaming like a dying banshee. I’m waiting to see if they can stick the landing nicely, just so I can CONFIDENTLY say this will be gayer than ORV by 374829%

SPOILERS
This manga kickstarted my entire fetish for OYAJI SEME. YES, oyaji will top, he will show you why he’s the head of yakuza. I know right, it’s actually surprising if you consider the trope (normally it’s younger guy seme, boss uke) BUT NOT HERE. (It’s more shounen ai btw so don’t expect swinging dongs or anything)

Ask me anything on romance if you want. Sit down and be ready to experience one of the greatest isekai world building works and an equally mind blowing relationship development between two certain characters. They are on top 5 of most popular pixiv pairings. I’m ready to defend the pairing. If you stop here because of that, make no mistake - you will lose out big time. Tbh I can’t even call it romantic. But they are shades deeper than many pairings out there.

Can’t do that. They’re the heartbeat of the story because they separately and also jointly move the plot along so you’re better off asking questions.
But I can say this. Even if they’re not romantic (which I don’t think they are yet) their relationship is the most moving in the novels. Those who cry ‘omgg can’t believe xx is the ML I’m dropping this’ *shrugs*. TBH sucks to be them, they won’t be experiencing one of the greatest reads in modern isekai.

Looong spoilers
I should mention that even by the end of the novel, things have ‘not yet blossomed’ romantically between them. Myne’s love for books is the very core of her character, and though she admits that Ferdinand is more important than her library (a very big thing!) her feelings have yet to catch up to that point (romance). The thing about the world in AOB is that engagement/marriage is hugely a means to gain political favor, and we cannot apply our modern values to it. It is an alliance between your noble families to help your standing. So if Ferdinand / Myne becomes engaged, this is less to do with any romance but more for the sake of the nations (it’s a very long story).
Ferdinand himself has feelings, developed only at the final volume, but even that (for me) doesn’t compare to his desire to experience what ‘family’ is like, knowing what he knows and feels when he sees Myne with her commoner family. He was greatly abused as a child, and this shapes his character and beliefs early on, being guarded, perfectionist and stern. Rosemyne has completely changed this, in that he realizes there IS someone who truly cares for him. So if you were to ask me, are they in love with each other the way we expect? The answer is … no. Not yet. Even if they may be engaged to each other, they are not yet at that level. Ferdinand is fast catching up tho.
Anyway, to answer your question, there are two turning points, ALL near the end of the novel. It is a very long way if you compare this manga.
The first turning point for their relationship was during the events near the end of Volume 4, where Ferdinand was ordered by royal decree to wed Detlinde, Myne’s schoolmate (and one of the antagonists), in another nation, being the perfect candidate to stabilize the political climate there. This meant Myne and Ferdinand will be permanently separated… no longer will he be there for her, to act as her guardian, to watch over her health. Myne was coming to terms with all this. In the end, they both exchanged gifts that shocked their closest aides present with how intimate it was. Ferdinand’s especially, was a carefully crafted hairpin of rainbow feystones of the highest quality, meant to protect Myne in his absence. (For Detlinde earlier, so disinterested was he in giving a proposal feystone that he gave her one of his random creations and spun a sweet tale of bullshit which she fell for.) Here, this is where she reveals to Ferdinand that he is truly family to her. The blessing she gave to him was of the highest of high, never seen before. It’s a testament to how much Ferdinand means to her. I cried at this entire farewell scene.
The loss of Ferdinand here means Myne has to learn how to navigate her way politically and juggle all her duties and even more in Ehrenfest. They do exchange letters at Myne’s request, more to reveal enemy movements in Ahrensbach, this is why Ferdinand chooses to remain there and go through the wedding. It’s so he can protect Ehrenfest from there. They will have one more chance to meet again later for one day, during her academy events. Thing is, everyone close to them knows this is how they are… Ferdinand worries over Myne, checking over her health, touching her wrists and feeling her forehead is so second nature to him. Myne in return also seeks out Ferdinand, interacting with him very closely, they bounce off each other also with snark and how she’s pretty much the only person who could tell him off at that level, and him to her. Things like this are typical for them, but to the public who saw this then, this is an alarming closeness that is like an engaged couple (in a bad way because she is already engaged to Wilfred by that time. It’s like why the effing hell are you more worried over Ferdinand than your own fiancé??).
The second turning point was when Detlinde was going to kill Ferdinand that he gasped out Myne’s name and in Ehrenfest, she instantly saw a vision of Ferdinand losing his life. (Remember in the early days when Myne called out Lutz’s name and he could see what’s happening? It’s the same phenomenon.) Myne went BATSHIT insane, like she literally INVADED another country just to save him. I quote her :
“… The greater duchies, the Sovereignty, the royal family, and even the gods themselves—I would make an enemy of the entire world to save you.”
By this time, only Ferdinand has not seen her in her full adult body yet since he was in Ahrensbach, so he couldn’t recognize her. Anyway long story short, I believe this is where he started to see her as a woman (and the launch of a thousand fanart) I’ve tried my best to keep things as vague and less spoilery on plot so I hope this helps.

In AOB world, there are 420 days in a year (maybe best to refer it as seasons instead of year, since a new year starts in spring and ends in winter). She is 15 years old by the end (officially 14 on paper because she lost a year when she became Myne) Ferdinand is 13 yrs older.
So in our standards aka earth’s time, she
will be older than that, hovering 18 yrs give or take.

Yes, but not related by blood since she's originally a commoner, don't have any noble blood. You can think of it as her being adopted to be dauther-in-law (adopted bride to be for the son) in a way.. But it wasn't intended that way in the first place, it only happened since there were dangers or her being engaged to other duchies if it wasn't done (her magic was primary reason for her being adopted and they won't let other duchies have her). If you're off about step siblings being engaged, don't worry it will be broken after just a few years.
> readers thinking this is the gayest scene ever
Brace yourselves, comrades. This is /nothing/ compared to coming for us soon. This is the appetizer, and we are heading for the main course of Hyunjae x Yoojin goodness.
I hvnt finished the novel yet , are we close to the chapter where he 'gives birth' ? Cus i cant wait
Not close at all but tbh…
SPOILERS
if I were to rank pet child in my fav hjyj scenes, it would probably be middle or near bottom. (Meaning, there are other scenes that made me hyperventilate or scream more lol)
Right people emphasize the pet child so much (I’m guessing because they haven’t read that part yet) but the other moments are WAY more intimate
can you spoil it for me please i need more of yoojin and hyunjae fruitiness to cope with the han bros angst
Oops sorry I just saw this…let me think…okay so the little scenes I remember is Yoojin applying lipstick on Hyunjae (and saying it looks good), sensual af wine pouring scene, Hyunjae giving pink gifts and Yoojin being a tsundere at first and then gradually warming up to it. Yoojin drools over Taewon’s body and then Hyunjae gets jealous so he compliments Hyunjae saying he has a nice face.There’s also a scene where they smoke together with the same “lighter” There’s a lot more.
On a broader scale, it’s harder to talk about how intimate they are without reading the novel, but one of my favorite aspects of the novel is their “breakup” I’ll keep it vague there’s some points of the story where Hyunjae realizes Yoojin influences him so much and makes him feel differently that he completely shuts out Yoojin for the fear of himself changing. And then Yoojin is EXTREMELY hurt during these periods, and he reacts very intensely lol (like threatening to bomb Hyunjae’s house) And also as the novel goes on Hyunjae is one of the people Yoojin expresses his feelings to (since he usually bottles it up) and it’s so, so sweet how much they rely on each other. Also throughout the story it’s basically said that Yoojin is the person Hyunjae cares about the most (and then a certain someone else but it’s a different relationship) Anyway, Yoojin having a child in it of itself is not that impactful to me, but it’s more the relationship they form as two dads and this kid that really shine to me. Like they are literally a married old couple.
OH MY GOD YOUR REPLY JUST MADE ME FINALLY DECIDE TO PICK UP THE NOVEL LIKE I AM SO SEATED FOR THIS!!!! HJYJ RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS IS SO INTERESTING FOR ME I NEED TO OBSERVE THEM IN A LAB UNDER A MICROSCOPE THAT’S HOW INVESTED I AM IN THEM THANK YOU FOR THIS REPLY I LOVE YOU RANDOM STRANGER ON THE INTERNET
WOOOOOO YESS HOPE YOU ENJOY THE NOVELIM HAPPY TO HELP