Didn’t get very far into the story. I just really dislike the ML. The FL and her son could have so easily had a happier life yet the ML ruins it all because he’s desperate to keep her. Not to mention a glaring plot hole that would have allowed both of them to be happy away from the political fight for the throne.
Context
The FL, once she realised she was pregnant, had fled overseas and had found work as a tutor to a kind noble family. Unfortunately, her son falls mysteriously ill and no doctor in the country knows how to help. They recommend her to go back to the empire (the place she had fled from) to find a solution.
The ML (an illegitimate third prince) hears that she’s back, telling her he has the thing to cure her son to get her into the palace, and intentionally makes their presence known to the emperor and empress (who want to kill the ML). Now everyone in the palace knows the FL’s child is royalty - and in doing so now makes it impossible for the child to leave the empire and palace. The ML then gives the FL an ultimatum: marry me and live with your child or leave without your child. (%!#*#!)
She, obviously not wanting to leave her son, agrees to marry him until her son is an adult.
The child wakes up and is horrified at this agreement and is (rightfully) angry at the ML. The child tells him to call off the marriage and the ML replies: “Then I’ll have to send your mum away […] you cannot leave this castle […] agree with your mother’s marriage and I’ll let you live together” (what the f**!)
He could have simply done the decent thing and hid them. He could have just given her the medicine her son needed and let them go back overseas where they were clearly living a happy and comfortable life! (Which is what he should have done if he truly cared for her)
Or (since he’s so smitten/obsessed with her) he could have just gone with them overseas. The empress already wanted him gone (since he threatened her son’s claim to the throne) and the emperor was clearly only using him. The ML had no desire to be king (he only wanted the power so he could find the FL).
[ ASPECTS / TROPES ]
- Historical fantasy setting
- Royalty
- Fight for survival amongst fight for throne
- Empress wants to kill them
- He falls first
- Morally grey ML (translation: he’s sh*t towards the FL)
- ML is an illegitimate prince
- Child from a one night stand
- Stiff art
[ MAIN CHARACTERS ]
🍷 Rosena Estalot
- Determined, loving towards son
- Daughter of fallen noble family
- Was warned by father never to marry into royalty
- Deceased father. Uncaring mother and sister
- Ran away from home. Disguise as boy. A wanderer.
- After pregnancy, moved overseas. Her son’s mysterious illness brought her back to empire.
⚜️🗡️ Yerhan
- Possessive, selfish, obsessive
- illegitimate third prince in empire
- Fought in war in the name of crown prince (a condition of being allowed into offical royal family)
- Leads loyal group of knights
- Hated and feared by the public
- Very powerful divine power
- Has seizures only the FL can make go away