I honestly thought he would develop in the later seasons and that something would eventually change in him. I understand that people in that era could have had very controlling attitudes, and obviously people like that still exist today. I was willing to give him a chance because I thought his behavior might be a product of his circumstances and that he would eventually grow out of it.
But this man literally doesn’t change. After hearing the spoilers that they still don’t properly reconcile even after the four-year time skip, I completely gave up on him. If he had genuinely changed after Season 1 or around 40–50 chapters—especially by learning to communicate instead of constantly taking his frustration out on her—I could have eventually liked him. But he keeps repeating the same behavior, and at this point I genuinely don’t understand why the story keeps trying to frame everything as if his behavior is justified.
Personally, I don’t care for Riftan and I haven’t in a very long time. I understand that in his mind, he is doing everything in his power to protect Maxi from all the horrors he’s seen. But, in the same way he said he didn’t ask the princess for help, neither did Maxi, if I’m remembering correctly. Everyone around them has given Maxi the opportunity to show that she is her own person and has her own views on things. Riftan refuses anything she wants to do to help him, no matter how big or small. Granted, he didn’t know about her abuse and didn’t know to take that into consideration when speaking to her the way he does. However, I do have to agree with everyone saying he likes the idea of her and not actually Maxi herself. I won’t say he doesn’t love her since I believe he does; he’s just so toxic and emotionally constipated that he doesn’t give her the time of day if it even sounds like she wants to do something that he doesn’t even want her to speak about. That’s just my understanding of what I’m reading though