That is both the best and worst possible way he could've gone. For everyone involved.
It can be spun in any way you want. Him redeeming himself. Him burdening her with his death. Selflessness or selfishness. The poor boy slave and the disgusting creep who continuously kept refusing to let go and be better.
Alas. Humanity.
The Duke (Ain) is sabotaging himself so hard.
Its been obvious that Ain is the Duke since day one imo but scenes like the one where he's explaining to Michel how couples spend some time alone to see if they're sexually compatible basically confirm it.
Then we have the scene where he says the "Duke" (him) likes to hunt by "setting traps and waiting" which obvs refers to the whole pretending to be a servant thing.
Someone else said he's an illegitimate child. I'm assuming he set this all up as an elaborate plan to see if Michel (someone from the south, where cheating and having mistresses and illegitimate children isn't frowned upon) would fall for someone else given the chance. Which like, is basically a self fulfilling prophecy and also something incredibly dumb.
Beautiful art and writing tho.
I've said it once and I'll say it again. I feel bad for Derrick.
He has guilt over losing his sister, which causes him to have a stronger aversion to Penelope when the Duke first brings her. Stronger than the other brother. Which makes him reject the idea of her as his sister. To him, she was just an unwelcomed guest he had to grow up together with. There’s no familial ties in his eyes, so when she changes and becomes someone he can respect, he sees her as a woman, not as his sister. So he develops feelins for her, but he recognizes that that is wrong, so he suppresses them. Suppressing feelings is never healthy and when you mix that with his unresolved guilt over loosing Yvonne you get... well, exactly what we just read. That is not to say that he couldn't have acted different, he certainly could have, but Yvonne and her brainwashing really didn't help either.
Honestly, the writing in this manhwa is just really really good.
God: "Hey you, I see that you're serving me, but you should know you're destined to become a powerful mage."
ML: "I don't care. I love you!!"
God: "Okay bet, I'll give you special treatment. The power won’t compare to that of a mage, tho.
God: "and when you DO become a mage, because destiny means you WILL, I'll let my followers brand you so you can suffer for centuries."
ML: "Huh?"
God: "Too late, no takesies backsies. Teehee"









Tbf, My mom and step-dad's first date was her telling him "Well, Ive got errands to run today but you're welcome to tag along." after he asked her out, and they've been together for 2 decades and counting soooo
If someone is interested and wants to be with you, they'll enjoy simply being with you regardless of the activity.