I've read the spoiler. But it would have been nice to have Elko at least a happy ending after that madness. Elko is so loyal and pure as a knight and thought (might be really true) that he had fallen in love for the first time with his master's woman. The emotions that come with it are complex to process but he doesn't deserve to be the sacrifice and face that kind of torture. Poor Elko.
Them: competing to be empress
Our FL: Killing enemies and blushing with our ML denying her feelings lol
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I smell a second lead couple happening (⊙…⊙ )