I love the rendition of the historical clothing. So beautiful and detailed. But anyway, story-wise, I don't think the epilogue was needed. I lowkey loved the ml for his obsession and insanity and tragic backstory. No notes on him. I also don't have much to say abt the "redemption arc" since this story isn't abt groveling or making up for the wrongs ml committed, but I think the ending is kinda rushed. Even though a lot of time passed, I felt mc's attitude towards ml was too different, and trauma doesn't fade that easily. He even said himself that he didn't give a shit about what happened in the past. He was so resentful towards ml that he stabbed himself to spite him (and perhaps he also really tried to kill himself to get away from ml). Resentment like that doesn't simmer down that easily just bc of guilt and compassion. Such conflicting emotions coexisting are difficult to dissect and resolve, and I don't think the story was as introspective about the complexity of his feelings towards ml as it should've been. It was basically nightmares, guilt, hallucinations, nothing really abt how ml abused him... eventually he got over it, and when he meets ml again, it's like he's a whole new slate for a new beginning with ml. If it was more ambiguous with the ending, like mc's heart is conflicted but leaning towards forgiving him in the distant future, rather than a 90% reconciliation, I'd like it more
I love the rendition of the historical clothing. So beautiful and detailed. But anyway, story-wise, I don't think the epilogue was needed. I lowkey loved the ml for his obsession and insanity and tragic backstory. No notes on him. I also don't have much to say abt the "redemption arc" since this story isn't abt groveling or making up for the wrongs ml committed, but I think the ending is kinda rushed. Even though a lot of time passed, I felt mc's attitude towards ml was too different, and trauma doesn't fade that easily. He even said himself that he didn't give a shit about what happened in the past. He was so resentful towards ml that he stabbed himself to spite him (and perhaps he also really tried to kill himself to get away from ml). Resentment like that doesn't simmer down that easily just bc of guilt and compassion. Such conflicting emotions coexisting are difficult to dissect and resolve, and I don't think the story was as introspective about the complexity of his feelings towards ml as it should've been. It was basically nightmares, guilt, hallucinations, nothing really abt how ml abused him... eventually he got over it, and when he meets ml again, it's like he's a whole new slate for a new beginning with ml. If it was more ambiguous with the ending, like mc's heart is conflicted but leaning towards forgiving him in the distant future, rather than a 90% reconciliation, I'd like it more