I would compare this manga to Akatsuki no Yona - this one is more politics and less fantasy shoujo.
In terms of one befitting the role of emperor, the main character honestly, realistically, fits. The story is grand and the pace is slow, but developments continue to happen without end and none of it is frivolous. The politics in this are first and center and nuanced, though not difficult to follow. The main characters are all ones who take their roles and responsibilities entirely seriously, and will make sacrifices as they judge fit. The side characters each have their own agendas that they contribute to the plot.
The art for this story is done well.
The romance is a refreshing scenario not often seen in this genre. It’s attraction at first sight. The male lead falls hard and quickly and the female lead accepts this quite readily. While I was bummed at there not being more of a build-up at the beginning, I realized later that the build-up is in watching how such a relationship would actually succeed. It’s believable that the male lead would fall so quickly - his family believes in tradition, and the female lead is innocent to the point of naïveté, with no ulterior motives and a strong sense of justice. As a successor of the emperor she matches him in confidence and in how she conducts herself. To believe the female lead is immediately attracted to a mysterious, confident man who is the only one to treat her differently and open her eyes to the actual world at large isn’t a stretch, either. But how would the two in their positions actually have a mutual love, or any chance of their relationship being more than a random fling? Honestly given the circumstances, especially the FL as a person who doesn’t know her own emotions, has no worldly knowledge or understanding to begin with, and given how untouchable she is as the most royal person after the current emperor, it seems absolutely impossible that she’d even fall in love, never mind end up with the male lead. Throw in the male lead’s own responsibilities, his own role and personal agenda, and how he’s on her rival’s (step-brother and only other successor) side, and it really does seem quite impossible.
And yet the author makes it happen in a plausible sense. And both leads are so mature in thinking that their differing political loyalties don’t touch their personal relationship. And while they “get together” right away, it’s only after a hundred chapters or so that they have something more established and mutual, and even then it’s only the start of a “real” relationship.
The storytelling is woven in via dreams, and the timing for when they happen as the story progresses feels natural. This lends a cool foretold epic prophecy feeling to the story. These dreams, along with the ML, are what propel the FL to grow and she does grow quite a bit. It’s subtly shown as she begins to experience more and more emotion, and as she grows from a naive person to a person capable of actually ruling.
This all being said, I do have some complaints. The female lead hasn’t experienced personal punishment or harm at all. There is a particular punishment that befalls one of the most important people to her that certainly hurts her, but nothing befalls her own physical person. Maybe this is sort of realism as she is tied as the second most powerful person in the empire, but still. Also, it’s been established that it’s simply part of her character, but how she picks up on stuff so quickly is a bit OP. While I do understand, boy was it still low-key annoying to watch her be so naive and ignorant, even as she was growing out of it. While realistic, that the male lead was devoted and always pursued the female lead while she could not reciprocate in the same manner, for those hundred chapters and honestly even past that, made me almost pity the male lead and upset at the female lead. Sure it makes sense, and yes the male lead understands too, but ugh imagine holding out forever for the emperor-to-be to like you back. Lastly, along the theme of everything working out for the FL and the ML being worshipping her… it’s all because of the dreams she has. Were it not for those, she would’ve remained ignorant. It’s one of those things where she might not be at fault as her mother completely manipulated her, but her constant “genius” really isn’t her own even as she is painted as this absolutely amazing person.
That does bring me back to the title of my review, though. Sure I have my complaints, but nonetheless the story is nothing short of amazing. I can’t believe I hadn’t come across this until now.
(+4)
