Spoilers:
Aside from him calling Lee Ann his "heart" they just act like super close friends since they grew up together. There's no actual romance between them until after everything is resolved (basically the epilogue) and it's only like the last 10ish chapters of the novel. It's because, until that point, Lee Ann doesn't want to cross any boundaries since she's his bodyguard and he feels like he has no time/doesn't deserve romance until (someone) convinces him.
More specific spoilers about the romance:
Basically they travel together as friends with him thinking if he should actually pursue a relationship with her, then (someone) convinces him he deserves happiness, and then he immediately asks her out, and then since they already know each other they decide to get married like 2 chapters later. The remaining chapters are about their wedding and him and his kid.
Spoilers on who finally convinces him to get married:
Soma (smiling demon)
Also, idk if this counts as spoilers but there's been a few cut scenes of things that should have already happened.
Novel Spoilers from chapters 1-100:
In the novel he cares a lot about his mental health and wants to make sure he lives his life not focused on Hwa Moogi and instead lives a life of happiness. They did mention it in the manhwa when he was talking with his father and insisting he'll be happy but I feel like it's mentioned a hundred more times in the novel. So, whenever he gets stressed or overwhelmed by all the politicking, there's been a few scenes where he goes "im bored, let's play" and goes with her and they just hang out and have fun as friends. The novel makes mugeuk seem way more playful and they cut a lot of the jokes he says to characters.
My reflection but with some actual spoilers:
In that sense, I feel like their relationship feels more realistic in the novel since my biggest problem with romance in novels is that it usually is horribly written but this author shows that they're super compatible with each other and actually like spending time with each other throughout the whole novel until one day they're like "yo, what if" and go for it. But maybe I think that's realistic bc that's how my relationship went lol
Wow thanks for the spoilers
Lovelovelooove these spoilers. It makes me wanna read the novel faster now thankyouuu
Very curious to see if this has any romance. I've been loving it so far, genuinely one of the most engaging reads I've had in a while so I'd be incredible disappointed to see if it does.