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To all the Ecles haters, he is far better then our fl. Dude was a slave, bought, and was MANIPULATED by our FL and not once was he ever given true love or affection. She always had an agenda with him. He grew twisted because his heart wanted love. His heart wanted closure because our FL left everything so open ended because she was looking at her options. Don’t get me wrong I love the story but our FL is not a good guy. She ruined this man. My heart aches for his story the most but I still ship her with Callisto.
She wanted a slave. She's bought him and used him, that's what a slave is. She didn't seduce him or had a physical relationship. How's she to blame for him to fall in love her? If men do something, why is it always a woman's fault?? She's trying to survive in the game where she died multiple times already. Is she supposed to play Saint??
Agreed. Besides, they live in a society with hierarchy. Although FL was thought to be an orphan, she's still part of a noble house. She's using all cards laid out to her to survive. Yeah, she isn't innocent, but Ecles' motivations are his alone.
How are we making her innocent for buying a slave from a fallen kingdom? It’s her fault because she held him hostage and put a collar on him, what he’s experiencing is most likely Stockholm syndrome so it is completely her fault she fell in love with him. Him falling in love was literally her objective when she got him
No one is saying she has to a be a saint but that doesn’t absolve her of being wrong
Yeah that comment caught me off guard, the one you responded to. Talking about the world or hierarchy and slavery. Just because it's normal doesnt make it okay doesnt absolve Penelope of her crimes. I dont like anyone who tries to make slavery seems likr a means to an end. Given our world history its icky seeing certain commengs.
Super yikes to the first two comments justifying him being a slave and his own actions. Ecles was literally GROOMED by her for her escape. Her situation was absolutely terrifying but to being blame him when all he wanted was her to be free and to smile? He wasn’t given education other than sword training. He was molded into her tool and given no other talents to survive in his own. If she cared for him she would have freed him. Let him truly live how he wants. Before she got him tangled in her web. The female leads growth is recognizing how she mistreated him but the author then glossed it over. Ecles is truly a victim of everyone’s schemes.
This is crazy reading the comments about wanting the empress to have a redemption arc. She has not only sexually assaulted him, but literally if there is something precious to him either kills or burns it. She is psychotic. I get the comments of wanting a strong female lead and such but the pure toxic that she is of raping, imprisoning, and mental damage to the king who has only ever tried to help his younger brother. If you all want him to be happy, fucking wish a gentle lover for him or let him die with the ghost of his past lover. Even though she confused him with his father she was a 1000 times better than the current empress. The current empress is one hell of a ruler but also gives the spoiled child troupe next level and she’s a great villian who is unhinged but there is no justifiable reason for her way of loving someone.
Right? When she told Enoch he was ignoring Juliet's will and she personally wouldn't stand for the same to be done to her, my brain screamed, "You don't respect the Emperor's will, though! You can't believe in it for yourself, ignore it for everyone else, and expect things to go your way."
I too get the strong female lead undertones but this story focuses on idol and ire. Her actions towards those she's close to matter the most. If she didn't find out within a few breaths that girl was his niece, she would have been dead before the next morning. The more actions she takes towards her husband, the more he pushes her away. I get being backed into a corner emotionally but she put it best herself when it dawned on her she was begging for his attention and affection. I can't wait to see if she figures out she's the reason he's ill.