beta
All three had moments of wanting to become her love interest in subtle and unsubtle ways: the priest telling her he loves her even though they are biologically related (her soul isn't but still ... weirdo). The knight trying to be her partner to the ball to "help her" safe face and prior to that being oddly interested in her because she seems similar to him (according to him). He got rejected brutally by her (loved that scene because he was being very "I'm so nice for even bothering to like you" ... weirdo). The prince started getting obsessed when he saw she no longer paid him any mind. And realized that he actually liked her and only hated her because of what her father did (her dad was another mentally unstable man). She always gave him the love he didn't get from his parents or others around him but he took it for granted that she would always love him and was beside himself when she didn't (this man loves Helena apparently.... weirdo). Honestly, all these women deserve better, maybe becoming a witch is the real way they can gain freedom and peace ╥﹏╥.
Also, another theme of the powerful (non-side character) men seems to be that the women they pursue are those that don't have any interest in them making them become obsessive. The women can say "no" but they keep pursuing them to the point of delusion.
ex: king to queen, past OG Mls to Helena, now OG Mls to Elise, Marquis to Marquess.
Btw Helena never liked any of the MLs but was now being coerced to marry the prince so the other two gave up and moved onto the next potential target, Elise. And the prince seems to want both now: Helena who can't tell him no since he's a prince and Elise who would always love him (︶︿︶)＝凸
You summarized this perfectly. Literally they’re all abusing their authority and power on these girls (Helena for sure didn’t like it but she couldn’t say no to royalty), and none of these pigs understand CONSENT.
Idk why ppl want MC to end up with the (adopted) brother but IMO it’s very unlikely. I used to want the same but then I learned he threw his friend’s letter away, embarrassed him for being Miss E, and then tried to prevent any potential love interest from interacting with him. That goes beyond caring and into controlling territory. In fact, both the Childhood friend and Brother have been really manipulative and obsessive. They both know they don’t have a chance and yet are stalking horses to someone that isn’t even aware about their feelings. MC only just found out about his Childhood Friend’s feelings. And he doesn’t know about his brother’s, but I’m sure he will also reject his love confessing. Out of all of them, the only one that hasn’t try to manipulate him and has been upfront (albeit mean) is the Director. I’m 97% sure he’s end game.
just let the friend and the brother end up together AHHAHA