Honestly I do agree this is hella toxic... they are both big raging red flags tbh. My only difference in opinion about 2nd world mcs is that...
1- It seemed that she didn't get rid of the mistresses just out of jealousy...
2- Idk if you missed it but he was poisoning her to death besides trying to force into an abortion AND selling her tho the holy land... so I can't see him as purely victim like 1st world Adrisa.
3- I'm not saying he ain't traumatized by what happened to his family... but you also have read that the crown prince's closest aid plotted a civil war to off with 2nd Roth's life right? Somehow I got the feeling he'd be dead if not for her and her family. Especially because 1st world Roth offed his family to get to the throne and the 2 world are kinda opposite.
I'm not really trying to defend her, it was made very clear she ain't right in the head. Just explain why I don't pity him. The only one I pity for now is 1st Arissa... the other 3 all went crazy and harmed others...
Also... that holy place and gods are very sus... and I wonder how 1sr Roth got there and where did 2nd Roth went to. I wonder if they changed places or something... but I don't think I'll have the patience to find out... I'll probably come back in a couple years to see it it ended... ╮(￣▽￣)╭
1- I remember that she was poisoned but not every mistress Roth had tried to poison her which means she still killed innocent people. Correct me if I'm wrong but Lady Vartier (fav black hair mistress) is the one who tried, but Roth had others beside her.
2- I also definitely saw that he tried to force an abortion and get rid of her. I'm not ignoring that part, I just put that on the same level as 1st timeline Adrisa escaping while her family distracted him (in the first chapter where he killed the mother). We didn't see the hijinks they used but nobody in 1st timeline world ever had an iota of a chance killing Roth due to him being a swordmaster. But I'm sure if they could've they definitely would. 2nd timeline Roth innately has more power than 1st timelime Adrisa since he's a man and emperor (even if he is a bad one). He's not someone that can just be locked up like his counterpart. So I don't necessarily blame him for trying to use that power to get revenge (the abortion) and permanently getting rid of her (selling her). It hits two birds with one stone while also being a plus for the empire. We can agree to disagree on this though because I know what he did sounds pretty harsh.
3- Lastly, in chapter one when they explain the parallel world we see that Adrisa forced the engagement when she and Roth were still children. Adrisa is from the strongest family in the kingdom so an engagement with her made Roth and immediate threat for the throne. I imagine his relationship to his family wouldn't have been in much strife if she'd just never set her eyes on him in the first place.
I get what you're saying though, we do see more of 2nd timeline Roth being an asshole but I think that's just because this is taking place from Adrisa's pov so we're able see her sad and stuff. But I only really feel so bad for him because he's been dealing with her since he was a child. He may not be the perfect victim but he is still a victim. Also my assumption was that 2nd timeline Roth just died???? And that's why first timeline Roth took over his body. Idk now that you're mentioning it. I like the unique premise it's the first time I've seen such horrible people be leads both are irredeemable assholes and they work perfectly together. Now if the story wasn't so mid it would be perfect.
Oh yeah... I forgot that 1st Roth was a swordmaster... good point. It actually makes me wonder how he managed to use that kind of power after getting into 2nd Roth's body...
Dear... it wasn't the mistresses that poisoned her... it was HIM... it was 2nd Roth... he poisoned her bit by bit in every meal and tea they shared together. That's why she consumed it even knowing it was poisoned. And the last time it wasn't Vartier, it was her youger brother, in a last ditch attempt to make her give up on Roth.
Honestly, I don't think the mistresses were innocent. It would be one thing if they dlept with him while he is incognito... but they knew who he was, knew he was married and knew how obsessed Adrissa was with him. So to me that was more of a calculated risk that went awry... but anyway... I still think there was something more to she offing them... especially because Vartier was left alive. As you said, she could have done it no matter if she got a strong backer or not... so... why she got the others disposed off but not her and the others that 1st Roth kicked out (I presume)? Not to mention that 2nd Roth knew these women would probably end up gone anyway when he slept with them.
There's a lot of suspicious things about everything overall... and yes, both 2nd Adrissa and 1st Roth are absolutely insane and deserve each other. But she already noticed he isn't 2nd Roth... I wonder if she'll accept him still... I don't think 2dn Roth died... from what was shown of him it didn't seem he was willing to die just to spite her and make her suffer like 1st Adrisa did... and he was about to success in deposing her for having a "miscarriage" when 1st one got into his body...
Overall they are all messed up in some ways... and everything is very toxic... the plot per se ain't really mid... I think you focused too much in their relationship and missed a couple details... like what I pointed about the poisoning or how sometimes Roth's reflection in the mirror shows him with 2nd's haircut and not following his movements... and a lot more heavy and suspicious details.
I think the reason the double standard happened is because is easier to readers to relate with Adrisa than Roth because irl cheating is way more common than being abused to the point he was. And I don't think most women that try to put themselves in his shoes would think of cheating for revenge... same with having the guy wanting an abortion over pregnancy news... those just feel more realistic and relatable in comparison...
But yeah... they're all trash from Cherno...
╮(￣▽￣)╭
Think I'll look for something healing to read to recover from this one...
It's been like 2 years and people are still beating on OG 2nd timeline Roth and hyping up Adrisa. Like did you miss all the torture she put him through???? Killed his siblings just to give him a position he didn't even want, gave him trauma from watching them all die in front of him, forced an engagement that he couldn't even break because of pressure from her family, who mind you don't even like him, yet he's an asshole for cheating. Like the scale of culpability is way off guys!
2nd timeline Adrisa is literally just 1st timeline Roth. No one forced her to marry him and even when he treated her as badly as possible to make her leave she still didn't. She responded by killing the women he was with. They all had families who loved them too but she killed them bc she was mad at her man.
I'll always be the first to dunk on a cheater but this is not a relationship Roth ever asked for. He's the victim here just like 1st timeline Adrisa. No doubt if the 2nd timeline continued as the 1st she would've killed him or drove him to his death. 1st timeline Roth and 2nd timeline Adrisa are both selfish pathetic assholes, that's why they work so well together.