I love itt
Yep. Even though it's being hinted a lot that both he and his brother may be attracted to her deep down, having secretly admired her intensity in "loving"... I'd take his brother over the ML any day: at least he is always 100% honest with his thoughts and feelings. Otherwise, it'd be difficult as heck for me to ever again put my trust in someone who had done to me what the ML did to the FL: not only ignoring her heartbroken tears after the dance, but even blaming her for her own heartbreak... and moreover, assuaging his remorse for this cruelty of his, to her, by trying to delude himself that he had always been "her victim" in their engagement, when deep down he had always known perfectly well that both of them were the emperor's puppets in this, and that out of the two of them she was the one who had it much, much worse...
Kinda hope that even if he is the ml she never fall in love with him and is forever not that phased by him.
Like she respect him as a person and can enjoy his company. But more so of like an ally than a lover.
And that he forever try to stay in her good grace and grovel all his life for her affection (that she would give him only occasionally)
Because in this life and the other one he ALWAYS has the upper hands over her. Because of patriarchal society and the fact that he have everything (education, family backing, power, love and respect) and she have nothing. And he kinda loved how obsessed and clingy she was with him(shown her by his chock when she stopped)
So I don't think he deserve to act all.shocked rn.