i think historical context needs to also be considered though; tei can't fanthom the thought a god personified could ever settle for a disgraced noble born from wedlock when shuraka's main focus should instead be finding a wife to continue his bloodline.
just my two cents
Honestly, yeah, that is something to consider, but then again I think if he weren’t as emotionally constipated as he is, he would have brought it up already! Considering the historical context, it would be strange for him to even consider taking a HUSBAND as his queen consort.
That being said, Shakura has no interest in taking anyone else besides Tei. That’s what makes it so infuriating to see Tei continuously bring up a “wife” when it clearly only makes Shakura upset. It’s not like Tei hasn’t noticed that fact, and Shakura expresses it quite well.
And, yeah, I somewhat understand Tei’s thought process. He still sees Shakura as a child or a naive kid (something he HAS to stop doing), so in his head he doesn’t comprehend that Shakura genuinely doesn’t nor never will want a female or male companion other than him.
Tei cares for Shakura, that much is obvious, but he so seemingly still sees Shakura as a child—the little boy he must protect. He’s willing to protect him by partaking in intercourse, but even then he’s looking at it from a “i must do this for his safety” perspective. A part of me wonders if the reason Tei feels uncomfortable when Shakura speaks with authority is because it makes him face the reality that Shakura is no longer a person who needs protection or is no longer a child. It could also be that Shakura is just genuinely unsettling when he gets that look, but Tei doesn’t seem to be an easily frightened man.
Tei himself seems to feel useless whenever he cannot help Shakura. I fear that he thinks his only use is helping Shakura until he falls in love with someone else—which he will not.
The misunderstandings that come to mind right now could easily be solved with conversation. The feelings that come with the misunderstandings may still linger, but the misunderstandings themselves would be absolved. Like how Tei doesn’t understand that his status as queen consort is permanent. How he thinks Shakura would ever be interested in someone else (honestly, that conversation could wait). How Shakura believes Tei is frightened of him whenever he doesn’t act like a defenseless puppy. And especially a conversation needs to be had about Tei feeling like he has any worth when he is useful to Shakura.
Like I said, that won’t happen though because they’re both emotionally constipated. Shakura lived having to keep his head on a swivel from a young age, and Tei felt like an outsider in his own home from a young age—always believing that he could only be of worth if he was useful (like hunting and killing monsters). Do correct me if I’m wrong though, because it has been some time since the first chapter came out.
The misunderstandings make SENSE for their situation, but I personally find the extremely aggravating. Having to wait 10-20 chapters for some kind of communication is tiring.
The thing is Shuraka is very immature rn bcs he was forced to pretend to be a grown up wayy to soon. While Tei is honest but looks down on himself to much therefore is insecure about everything. They need to work with that...
I would also like to add from Tei’s perspective, he thinks Shuraka “imprinted” on him and as a result, even when Shuraka proclaims that Tei is the empress consort and his ‘beloved’, he thinks it comes from a place of deluded childhood affection and not compete romantic love. He probably thinks he’s the “beloved” in Shuraka’s eyes because Shuraka was taught to see him as such from the moment he entered the palace and combined with his sudden exile which caused his kingdom to scorn him as an outcast, it will be hard to fix his self worth which seems to hang off a cliff by the small thread called ‘As long as I’m useful’ with just words now.
Also from Tei’s perspective and seemingly looking at both countries, sex looks like something a lot of royalty and such took part in pretty early so Shuraka having no experience also adds to the “this child just hasn’t experienced the world yet” view
Yeahh I totally agree with what ya’ll said as well!
I mean have you spoken to grown men
True! Age doesn’t really determine maturity.
In my line of work, I sometimes have to deal with ‘grown men and women,’ some even over 50, yet they talk and think like toddlers.
These are grown men who have the sense of children. Do they fear explaining the words they speak? I get it’s only chapter 17 but I swear we’ve been on this same miscommunication for ten chapters (an exaggeration, I hope). You’d think they’d sit down and have an honest conversation but… guess not. I understand, to a point. They’re both emotionally constipated from their life experiences which is driving the misunderstandings in the story. We need context and some flashbacks before we can even get of taste of the resolution, but I feel like… y’know. I don’t know. I actually don’t know what I feel or think.
I might need to drop this for a few months and come back as I might start pulling my hair out if this continues. For realsies.