Responses
Yea, I read some spoiler comments and basically it's not worth reading it unless you're into this shit lol. The art is nice tho, kinda a waste of art imo if the plot is just like this D': but that's just me ╥﹏╥
Yeah I really love the art and normally I'm ok with some noncon/dark tropes and love a slow burn redemption arc but man the story kept going in circles and the ending was kind of a bummer.
I read the raws up to ch 54 and this whole story so far is a one-step forward, 10-steps back kind of situation. I usually love dark tragedies and tropes but this was honestly too messy for me.
To summarize:
1) There's multiple instances of noncon 3p with Khalid/Emperor/Knox as the Emperor starts developing a deeper interest in Knox. The Emperor keeps reminding Khalid that Knox is just a slave for their enjoyment and inflicts a lot of sexual torture on him.
2) Everytime it seems like Khalid starts feeling affection for Knox it gets ruined by misunderstandings or jealousy and then we're back to square one of abuse and noncon again
3) Knox eventually tries to commit suicide but barely survives because Khalid+Emperor save him. It's also at this point that the Emperor discovers that Knox was actually trying to help him during the rebellion and he becomes mega regretful and apologetic towards Knox. The Emperor reinstates Knox's nobility back and grants him 3 instances of immunity from any crime. Khalid also finds out the real reason Knox kicked him out of the house when he was young and also feels terrible and regretful. However Knox wants nothing to do with either of them and as of ch 54 he begins ruling again as the duke of his household.
4) (completed novel spoilers) I didn't read the novel but based on KR comments the rest of the story goes something like this: Knox eventually goes to Khalid to have him help plot ways to curb the Emperor's power resulting in the Emperor capturing both of them and putting them in a dungeon. Then the Emperor drugs both of them and rapes Knox in front of Khalid while also physically torturing Khalid. Later Khalid kills the Emperor and Knox becomes the new emperor, taking Khalid in as his dog. There's no happy couple ending or redemption arc, basically Khalid continues to love and yearn for Knox while working under him as a servant again and his feelings remain unreciprocated.