I don’t even understand how you have stated my exact thoughts. Like from the moment I saw the cover, I was wondering why the author didn’t make Arjen more noticeable than Arien, at least put them side by side or smt. But then I soon came to an understanding that Arien would be the protagonist and there would be less scenes of Arjen. I was actually hoping since the beginning that Arjen would be the protagonist since he was the one who caught my interest. I don’t hate Arien, but she’s has a simple boring character that doesn’t really please me as much.
Right?! It just frustrates me because as a reader, I don't see the purpose of introducing this story to be about the twins; yet all of a sudden, making Arien the protagonist and sacrificing Arjen for Arien. Like, what was the purpose or reason behind these executive decisions? Because they thought readers would prefer a female protagonist? Because it was easier to write a story with a female protagonist? Because this is shoujo? Because it's easier to write romance with a female protagonist? It CANNOT be because she would have a better case to having great character development BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ARJEN HAS BETTER DEVELOPMENT EVEN AT THIS AGE. Ugh, I don't know. This just frustrates me because I don't understand why changing the focus of the story was going to BENEFIT the overall story. In the end, Arjen becomes a sacrificial figure. He becomes a figure that opens doors and opportunities for Arien but then is shut out from entering the door. Sigh, Arjen, from the perspective of a reader, deserves more. Personally, I feel like (from what I know from spoilers and what I currently have seen) this author has failed me in creating a convincing and enjoyable story. They have failed me as a reader because they made a choice that I, as a reader, feels would not benefit them. Ugh, maybe I'm being dramatic. But I don't see this story getting any better by focusing on Arien because frankly, she doesn't carry the story. She doesn't cause any reactions nor does she react to anything. She's... just there... haaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh... I wanna stick it for Arjen but he's too pitiful. I don't want to see him fade in front of my eyes...
I can’t help but agree with you, because you are saying the undeniable truth. The only reason I’ve been reading this whole story was to see what Arjen was going to do, what he would do next. Arien doesn’t have much going on, as you said she’s just THERE and she’s doing nothing as far as I know. Most of these types of stories have female protagonist and it’s getting boring since they all basically end the same way. Thus, I was looking forward to this story because there wasn’t only a girl, but also a boy that reincarnated and stuff. But since I’ve started to read some spoilers about the next season, it’s really disappointing. Honestly, if the story were to take a different turn and stare around Arjen, I would have no problem reading it.
I've been reading spoilers in the comments and I've come to a conclusion...
Due to the fact that apparently, the story will shift and become more focused on Arien, even forcing Arjen out of the spotlight by taking away his powers and Jason from his grasps...
Yeah... I'm thinking about dropping this. I honestly don't have much about Arien that makes me go "Wow! THAT'S why she's the protagonist!" or "I love her so much!" In fact, I feel more that way about Arjen. But if he's going to take a back seat for her, despite her not being that likable in the first place... yeah... I'm probably going to drop this. Arien is fine, but she's so flat. There's nothing about her that makes me feel attached. The story will develop so it's fine if she's a bit flat BUT! IF THE STORY IS GOING TO FOCUS ON HER, SHE NEEDS TO BE A DARN GOOD CHARACTER IF I'M GOING TO BE OKAY WITH HER TAKING THE STORY. AND I'M NOT OKAY WITH IT BECAUSE FRANKLY, SHE'S NOT THAT INTERESTING OF A CHARACTER FOR ME TO WANT TO COMPLETELY ABANDON ARJEN. Yeah... nah. I'm good. Let me go read another male protagonist manhwa to replace Arjen's lack of magnificent presence in this story.
Sigh, why do you gotta do this to my lovely Arjen? He has the most reasonable and likable character and development. He has goals. He has opinions. He has his own views. He has his likes and passion. He was the first to feel an attachment to Jason and to his imperial powers. He was the first to feel hate for the imperial family and the first to forgive. He was the one to always make his own destiny. But Arien... she has no goal, no motive. She has no opinions or drive. She only follows what others say. She doesn't have any redeeming factor to herself or her personality; yet everyone loves her more. It makes me so infuriated because Arjen is just left aside despite his desires surpassing Arien's in every way and factor; yet everything he loves and desires ends up going to her. Arien is fine. But that's all she is to me. Arjen has drive, motivation, desires, opinions, and development. He has all the factors that make a protagonist. Yet he isn't. Instead, the protagonist is the indecisive sister. He's the agent to his own destiny while she's in for the ride. It makes me so frustrated because I saw this happening. Just looking at the cover, you could tell she was going to take more screen time. Looking at how most of the story narrates HER internal monologue over Arjen's. I had an inkling this would happen, but I was trying to convince myself it wouldn't. Sigh, my poor Arjen.
To be clear, I don't hate Arien. I just... I just feel like if the author were to pick one of the twins to focus on, I feel like Arjen would have been the better choice simply during to his character development so far. But what can I do about an executive decision...