I'll just be sharing my thoughts on the story and its characters based on Chapters 1–42, which is as far as I've managed to read so far. I'll try to keep this review as clear and concise as possible. The story is still ongoing, so these are only my impressions up to this point.
I’ve read a few spoilers about the novel, and from what I’ve seen, the manhwa has toned down Han Ju-eon’s madness quite a bit and portrayed Jeong Hwa-ik as a much better person compared to his novel counterpart. In the novel, neither of the two men was really a good person.I’m honestly very happy that, in the manhwa, my husband Hwa-ik is written as a better person and that his relationship with Heo Yewon ended on a much better note. I really prefer this version of his character
The story is good. I love non-con in fiction I'm not going to pretend otherwise. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it keeps me entertained and constantly on edge. The male lead is the kind of character I both love and hate at the same time. In the manhwa, he feels like an extreme red flag, but according to what I’ve read about the novel, he’s more of a black flag. The only thing missing is him resorting to mutilation against the person he claims to love.I’ve only felt this way about a handful of characters before. Some examples that come to mind are Ulrich, Charon, and George.
The artwork is absolutely stunning to the point where I have to spend several minutes just staring at Hwa-ik before I can move on to the next chapter. The man is ridiculously handsome. The explicit scenes are also some of the best I’ve seen; they’re beautifully drawn and really stand out.I honestly can’t find anything negative to say about the art. If anything, I wish the artist would consider creating a BL manhwa in this style, because their artwork would suit the genre perfectly.
To be honest, I can’t completely blame Yewon for getting involved with a wealthy married man. If I had been 16 or 18 and met someone like Ju-eon, I honestly think I might have been willing to become the other woman too, not because it was morally right, but because at that age I was immature and didn’t really understand what was right or wrong in that sense. Back then, I genuinely believed that love could overcome everything.
Besides, when Yewon first met Ju-eon, she was clearly not in a healthy state of mind either, especially once you finally learn about her past. She came from a very unstable environment, so I can understand why she made the choices she did. I also don’t blame her for the way Ju-eon treated her, because his actions and decisions were his own responsibility.
However, once Yewon becomes an adult, there really isn’t much of an excuse for continuing a relationship with a married man. At that point, she does face the consequences of her choices, and honestly, she gets her own form of karma. She loses everything she wanted: her place at school, her money, Ju-eon, and even her reputation, to the point where she has to leave and study somewhere else.
I think Yewon is a complicated character because while some of her actions are wrong, her background and circumstances explain why she became the person she was.
Regarding Han Ju-eon, honestly, I don’t think there’s much anyone can do to help him. In fact, that man genuinely scares me. He reminds me of violent men you see in real life. There were moments when I honestly thought he was capable of hitting Yewon because he has no control over his anger.
He was already an adult and married when he met Yewon. He knew exactly what kind of person she was and what her life was like. Everything he did to her, he knew it was wrong. I think he probably believed it would just be a short affair and that he would move on afterwards; he never expected to actually fall in love with her.
He was raised in a way where he never really had to struggle to get what he wanted, and he always believed that money could solve everything. That’s why he thought Yewon would eventually forgive him for anything as long as he gave her enough money even something as serious as the assault/rape. But he was incredibly naive and completely wrong. Now the manhwa has reached the point where I think he’s going to have to actually fight to win Yewon back.
It goes without saying that one of the things that made him develop feelings for her was their physical relationship. Personally, I don’t think that alone is necessarily a bad thing, but the problem is everything surrounding it and the way he treated her.
I completely forgot to mention that Ju-eon reminds me of a mix between Jaekyung and another character whose name and even the BL manhwa he's from, I can't remember right now.
About Jeong Hwa-ik (my husband, even though he doesn’t know it.)
He’s a rich boy and my favourite character in this manhwa. Honestly, he’s the main reason I started reading it and the reason I kept going. When I searched on Pinterest for “top blonde-haired characters in BL manhwas” and his picture appeared, I spent a long time thinking he was the Top from some BL manhwa. You can imagine my surprise when I found out he was actually a straight character from a heterosexual romance manhwa. I literally screamed from excitement.
There’s no doubt that the reason he became interested in Yewon at first was because she’s beautiful, has an attractive body, and they had amazing chemistry in bed. However, I really liked that he eventually realised that was all they had and that a romantic relationship between them wasn’t possible. I’m glad he chose to end things with her and remain friends instead.Honestly, I always saw them as the kind of people who are like real-life friends with benefits. Two people who tried to turn their relationship into something serious but eventually realised they were much happier being best friends.
At first, I did suspect that he was the wife’s lover or that he had some kind of involvement with Han Ju-eon’s wife, but that never happened in the manhwa (although apparently it does happen in the novel, according to the spoilers I’ve seen). I also thought he might have known Yewon from before, which was why he sometimes acted so protective of her, but apparently that’s just how he is. He’s simply that kind of person.
About Suyeon: everything I thought she was going to be like when she finally appeared turned out to be completely wrong. She’s actually the opposite, she doesn’t care about Ju-eon or Yewon at all. The only things she seems to care about are her company, her power, and her own interests. She even has her own lover.
The good thing is that she finally ends her divorce with Ju-eon, and it looks like she’s doing really well for herself. Honestly, I don’t dislike her.
That’s everything so far. Now we just have to wait and see Han Ju-eon’s redemption arc, and hopefully I’ll get to see my husband Hwa-ik again soon.
I'll just be sharing my thoughts on the story and its characters based on Chapters 1–42, which is as far as I've managed to read so far. I'll try to keep this review as clear and concise as possible. The story is still ongoing, so these are only my impressions up to this point.
I’ve read a few spoilers about the novel, and from what I’ve seen, the manhwa has toned down Han Ju-eon’s madness quite a bit and portrayed Jeong Hwa-ik as a much better person compared to his novel counterpart. In the novel, neither of the two men was really a good person.I’m honestly very happy that, in the manhwa, my husband Hwa-ik is written as a better person and that his relationship with Heo Yewon ended on a much better note. I really prefer this version of his character
The story is good. I love non-con in fiction I'm not going to pretend otherwise. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it keeps me entertained and constantly on edge. The male lead is the kind of character I both love and hate at the same time. In the manhwa, he feels like an extreme red flag, but according to what I’ve read about the novel, he’s more of a black flag. The only thing missing is him resorting to mutilation against the person he claims to love.I’ve only felt this way about a handful of characters before. Some examples that come to mind are Ulrich, Charon, and George.
The artwork is absolutely stunning to the point where I have to spend several minutes just staring at Hwa-ik before I can move on to the next chapter. The man is ridiculously handsome. The explicit scenes are also some of the best I’ve seen; they’re beautifully drawn and really stand out.I honestly can’t find anything negative to say about the art. If anything, I wish the artist would consider creating a BL manhwa in this style, because their artwork would suit the genre perfectly.
To be honest, I can’t completely blame Yewon for getting involved with a wealthy married man. If I had been 16 or 18 and met someone like Ju-eon, I honestly think I might have been willing to become the other woman too, not because it was morally right, but because at that age I was immature and didn’t really understand what was right or wrong in that sense. Back then, I genuinely believed that love could overcome everything.
Besides, when Yewon first met Ju-eon, she was clearly not in a healthy state of mind either, especially once you finally learn about her past. She came from a very unstable environment, so I can understand why she made the choices she did. I also don’t blame her for the way Ju-eon treated her, because his actions and decisions were his own responsibility.
However, once Yewon becomes an adult, there really isn’t much of an excuse for continuing a relationship with a married man. At that point, she does face the consequences of her choices, and honestly, she gets her own form of karma. She loses everything she wanted: her place at school, her money, Ju-eon, and even her reputation, to the point where she has to leave and study somewhere else.
I think Yewon is a complicated character because while some of her actions are wrong, her background and circumstances explain why she became the person she was.
Regarding Han Ju-eon, honestly, I don’t think there’s much anyone can do to help him. In fact, that man genuinely scares me. He reminds me of violent men you see in real life. There were moments when I honestly thought he was capable of hitting Yewon because he has no control over his anger.
He was already an adult and married when he met Yewon. He knew exactly what kind of person she was and what her life was like. Everything he did to her, he knew it was wrong. I think he probably believed it would just be a short affair and that he would move on afterwards; he never expected to actually fall in love with her.
He was raised in a way where he never really had to struggle to get what he wanted, and he always believed that money could solve everything. That’s why he thought Yewon would eventually forgive him for anything as long as he gave her enough money even something as serious as the assault/rape. But he was incredibly naive and completely wrong. Now the manhwa has reached the point where I think he’s going to have to actually fight to win Yewon back.
It goes without saying that one of the things that made him develop feelings for her was their physical relationship. Personally, I don’t think that alone is necessarily a bad thing, but the problem is everything surrounding it and the way he treated her.
I completely forgot to mention that Ju-eon reminds me of a mix between Jaekyung and another character whose name and even the BL manhwa he's from, I can't remember right now.
About Jeong Hwa-ik (my husband, even though he doesn’t know it.)
He’s a rich boy and my favourite character in this manhwa. Honestly, he’s the main reason I started reading it and the reason I kept going. When I searched on Pinterest for “top blonde-haired characters in BL manhwas” and his picture appeared, I spent a long time thinking he was the Top from some BL manhwa. You can imagine my surprise when I found out he was actually a straight character from a heterosexual romance manhwa. I literally screamed from excitement.
There’s no doubt that the reason he became interested in Yewon at first was because she’s beautiful, has an attractive body, and they had amazing chemistry in bed. However, I really liked that he eventually realised that was all they had and that a romantic relationship between them wasn’t possible. I’m glad he chose to end things with her and remain friends instead.Honestly, I always saw them as the kind of people who are like real-life friends with benefits. Two people who tried to turn their relationship into something serious but eventually realised they were much happier being best friends.
At first, I did suspect that he was the wife’s lover or that he had some kind of involvement with Han Ju-eon’s wife, but that never happened in the manhwa (although apparently it does happen in the novel, according to the spoilers I’ve seen). I also thought he might have known Yewon from before, which was why he sometimes acted so protective of her, but apparently that’s just how he is. He’s simply that kind of person.
About Suyeon: everything I thought she was going to be like when she finally appeared turned out to be completely wrong. She’s actually the opposite, she doesn’t care about Ju-eon or Yewon at all. The only things she seems to care about are her company, her power, and her own interests. She even has her own lover.
The good thing is that she finally ends her divorce with Ju-eon, and it looks like she’s doing really well for herself. Honestly, I don’t dislike her.
That’s everything so far. Now we just have to wait and see Han Ju-eon’s redemption arc, and hopefully I’ll get to see my husband Hwa-ik again soon.
The story was very short, only 10 chapters plus one side story. Personally, I wouldn't even call it a romance. It had the potential to be a romance that challenged the social norms and laws of that era, but instead it ended up being mostly forced smut with a small amount of plot.
The age gap is quite questionable from my perspective as an adult with more modern values. I'm a fan of non-con in fiction, so I'm not going to pretend that's the issue here. However, this time I just couldn't ignore how young the female lead was.
I know the story is apparently set during the Joseon era, so within that fictional setting such an age gap isn't portrayed as unusual. That said, I'm not trying to justify paedophile in any way. I'm simply pointing out that relationships with significant age differences were far more socially accepted in that historical period, even if they are deeply uncomfortable by today's standards.
As for the main characters, I wasn't particularly fond of either of them. They're both very young, especially Seohye (the FL). She's only 15 years old and has had no proper education, having gone from being a slave to working as a maid. I genuinely felt sorry for her, though at times I also found myself frustrated by some of the decisions she made.
To be honest, I think the first and the last times she tried to run away were genuine. The other attempts, though, felt more like she was doing it to get Yoon's attention. I know that sounds harsh, but that's honestly how I interpreted it. I blame a lot of it on her immaturity—we shouldn't forget that she's still a teenager, and most teenagers act impulsively.
By the end, she also came across as if she didn't really care about the baby. In fact, I think that if Yoon had told her he only wanted to protect her because of the baby, she might have ended up having an abortion or even resenting the child. I also feel like there's a darker side to Seohye's personality that the story never really explored. At times, especially judging by her inner thoughts about Yoon, she gave me the impression that there was a hint of cruelty beneath the surface.
Kwon Yoon (the ML) is 20 years old, an orphan, and a noble. The only family he has is an uncle who only visits from time to time and sees him as nothing more than a tool to carry on the Kwon family name. That means the only people who have really been by his side are his servants, which explains why he became so obsessed with Seohye.
That said, he's educated and knows the difference between right and wrong, unlike Seohye. He's fully aware that what he did to her was horrible; otherwise, he wouldn't have apologised to her afterwards.
To be honest, I didn't understand why Kwon Yoon suddenly started treating Seohye the way he did. There was nothing beforehand to suggest he was going to turn into that kind of red flag. He ended up sexually and physically abusing her, and it felt completely out of nowhere.
In the end, they're both going to become parents, and I honestly dread to think what kind of life their son or daughter is going to have.
One thing I couldn't stop thinking about with the male lead was how oddly cute his penis looked—I think "cute" is the best way to describe it. It wasn't veiny or anything like that; it actually reminded me of the way some ukes are drawn in BL manhwas. I'm not even going to lie, I think Yoon would suit the uke role surprisingly well. Also, the scene where he tried to imitate my beloved top, Seung Ho, absolutely cracked me up.
As for the artwork, I didn't feel it suited this kind of story. It has a very soft, sweet and innocent look, which, in my opinion, doesn't really match the tone or genre the plot was aiming for.
That's pretty much everything I have to say about this manhwa. Sorry if this comes across as a bit harsh, but I honestly wouldn't read it again. The main characters just didn't appeal to me at all.
The story was very short, only 10 chapters plus one side story. Personally, I wouldn't even call it a romance. It had the potential to be a romance that challenged the social norms and laws of that era, but instead it ended up being mostly forced smut with a small amount of plot.
The age gap is quite questionable from my perspective as an adult with more modern values. I'm a fan of non-con in fiction, so I'm not going to pretend that's the issue here. However, this time I just couldn't ignore how young the female lead was.
I know the story is apparently set during the Joseon era, so within that fictional setting such an age gap isn't portrayed as unusual. That said, I'm not trying to justify paedophile in any way. I'm simply pointing out that relationships with significant age differences were far more socially accepted in that historical period, even if they are deeply uncomfortable by today's standards.
As for the main characters, I wasn't particularly fond of either of them. They're both very young, especially Seohye (the FL). She's only 15 years old and has had no proper education, having gone from being a slave to working as a maid. I genuinely felt sorry for her, though at times I also found myself frustrated by some of the decisions she made.
To be honest, I think the first and the last times she tried to run away were genuine. The other attempts, though, felt more like she was doing it to get Yoon's attention. I know that sounds harsh, but that's honestly how I interpreted it. I blame a lot of it on her immaturity—we shouldn't forget that she's still a teenager, and most teenagers act impulsively.
By the end, she also came across as if she didn't really care about the baby. In fact, I think that if Yoon had told her he only wanted to protect her because of the baby, she might have ended up having an abortion or even resenting the child. I also feel like there's a darker side to Seohye's personality that the story never really explored. At times, especially judging by her inner thoughts about Yoon, she gave me the impression that there was a hint of cruelty beneath the surface.
Kwon Yoon (the ML) is 20 years old, an orphan, and a noble. The only family he has is an uncle who only visits from time to time and sees him as nothing more than a tool to carry on the Kwon family name. That means the only people who have really been by his side are his servants, which explains why he became so obsessed with Seohye.
That said, he's educated and knows the difference between right and wrong, unlike Seohye. He's fully aware that what he did to her was horrible; otherwise, he wouldn't have apologised to her afterwards.
To be honest, I didn't understand why Kwon Yoon suddenly started treating Seohye the way he did. There was nothing beforehand to suggest he was going to turn into that kind of red flag. He ended up sexually and physically abusing her, and it felt completely out of nowhere.
In the end, they're both going to become parents, and I honestly dread to think what kind of life their son or daughter is going to have.
One thing I couldn't stop thinking about with the male lead was how oddly cute his penis looked—I think "cute" is the best way to describe it. It wasn't veiny or anything like that; it actually reminded me of the way some ukes are drawn in BL manhwas. I'm not even going to lie, I think Yoon would suit the uke role surprisingly well. Also, the scene where he tried to imitate my beloved top, Seung Ho, absolutely cracked me up.
As for the artwork, I didn't feel it suited this kind of story. It has a very soft, sweet and innocent look, which, in my opinion, doesn't really match the tone or genre the plot was aiming for.
That's pretty much everything I have to say about this manhwa. Sorry if this comes across as a bit harsh, but I honestly wouldn't read it again. The main characters just didn't appeal to me at all.
A girl who was sold as a slave at a young age. Yoon, the eldest son of Kwon fanily, who named the gi...
- Author: Eun seo-jeong
- Genres: Webtoons / Josei / Adult / Drama / Fantasy / Historical
I'm going to share my thoughts on the story from Chapter 1 to Chapter 43, as those are the only chapters I've been able to read so far.
Before I begin, I'd like to mention that I'm not very experienced at writing reviews, and I don't always express myself as clearly as I'd like because my vocabulary is quite limited. For that reason, I'll be using a translator while writing this review. I apologise in advance if any part of it sounds awkward or is difficult to understand. (￣∇￣")
• About the story:
There isn't any real romance, at least not at the moment. There are a few subtle hints of it, but it isn't a major focus. Instead, the story centres on revenge, the protagonist's struggle to survive the many ordeals thrown her way, and her determination to protect her beast daughter, Lily. I don't know why, but I get the impression that this story feels more like an otome game, where you'll ultimately only be able to choose one male lead. I can also imagine there being a few extra chapters afterwards featuring a harem ending as an alternative route.
• Art:
The artwork is absolutely stunning. To be honest, it's the very first thing that draws you into the story and immediately captures your attention.
• Regarding the main characters:
Martina (the FL) wasn't a good person in her previous life, unlike the person she has become now. However, that's clearly a result of the circumstances she was forced to endure. Both in her past and present, she was driven to make ruthless choices simply to survive. Much like in real life, where some victims eventually become perpetrators as a consequence of their trauma, Martina was forced to become a villain in order to survive and, above all, to protect her daughter.
• Mayfield, the brother and the main villain, is honestly one of the most confusing characters to understand. At times, he seems to genuinely care about his sister, yet the next moment he wants to kill her or see her suffer. Trying to make sense of him is enough to give me a headache.My interpretation is that, much like his sister, he became the person he is simply to survive.
Perhaps the time they spent together as hostages affected him far more deeply than he lets on.
Sometimes I think he genuinely wants to protect her, and that's why he's doing everything he can to make her give up the throne so he won't have to kill her. At least, that's the interpretation I want to believe.What I still can't make sense of, though, is why, in the previous timeline, he stood by while she was exiled and even allowed her to receive a hundred lashes, only smiling as it happened. My guess is that he expected her to beg him for help, but when she refused to do so, he simply let her suffer.
I also think that, in the previous timeline, after Martina was exiled and he became King, he ordered his soldiers to find her and bring her back to him so he could force her to stay by his side, rather than hunt her down to kill her.Another possibility is that he's being manipulated by his father through magic that has twisted the love he once had for his sister into hatred. That would explain why he treats her the way he does, especially if his father is determined to prevent a woman from ruling the empire.
These are just a few of the many theories I've come up with after reading the story.
• Siegfried and Lily are absolutely adorable together. I have a feeling Siegfried will eventually leave Mayfield for Martina, and I genuinely hope he does.
• Now, regarding the potential male lead candidates:
Mikhail is still my favourite candidate. Even after everything he's done recently, I can't bring myself to hate him because I strongly suspect his current actions are ultimately meant to help Martina. That said, some of his behaviour before the betrayal was undeniably questionable. In particular, confessing his feelings, kissing her, and then immediately telling her he was going to leave her was an absolutely idiotic thing to do.
I also think his decision to betray Martina has a lot to do with his insecurities when he compares himself to the other potential male leads. If I'm being honest, they're far more powerful than he is and are able to protect Martina much more easily. Mikhail, on the other hand, is held back by his past as a slave, which seems to have left him feeling inadequate.
What really made me angry, though, was seeing him standing alongside Mayfield. After everything Mayfield did to him when they were children, Mikhail still chose to side with him. Then, to make matters worse, he greeted Martina as though nothing had happened. That genuinely infuriated me. One thing I absolutely loved, however, was Lily telling him that she hated him. It was a very satisfying moment.
• Ryan is my second favourite candidate, and honestly, I adore him. A future general, too.
I was genuinely surprised to find out that he'd already fallen for Martina in the previous timeline. It explains so much about why, in the current timeline, he developed romantic feelings for her so quickly. It wasn't rushed at all, his feelings had been there all along.
One of the scenes that completely broke my heart was when, after the war in the previous timeline, he went looking for Martina, only to find her dead in the forest. That scene was absolutely devastating.
At this point, I honestly feel like Ryan is the true male lead. He's suffered so much throughout his life, yet whenever his illness flared up, there was never anyone by his side to help him. His mother died from depression, and his father couldn't do much for him because he was dealing with his own struggles as well.
• Fayenix. Physically speaking, he’s completely my type. I have a weakness for characters with white or grey hair, so he immediately caught my attention. He’s a genius mage, but despite his talent, his childhood was incredibly lonely. The people in his community looked at him with admiration and reverence from a very young age, which only made him feel more isolated.
I still can’t really see him as the ML yet because of his age. Eighteen still feels too young to me. Maybe when he’s older, I’ll consider him a stronger ML candidate, but for now, I mostly see him as a young man who has a crush on his teacher.
I genuinely felt sorry for him because of his past, especially after what he went through with his former sponsor, who physically abused him terribly. Thankfully, he’s no longer as alone as he thought he would be for the rest of his life. Now he has Lily and Martina by his side.
Out of all the candidates so far, he was actually the one I thought had the highest chance of betraying Martina. So I have to admit, he completely proved me wrong. I was genuinely speechless when the person I least expected turned out to be the traitor.
I originally thought the ML was going to be Mikhail, but after finding out that Ryan and Martina shared moments together in their past life, and that Ryan remembered those memories in the present, I was already 90% convinced that he was the ML. Then Mikhail’s betrayal happened, and that pretty much confirmed for me that Ryan is the male lead.
On top of that, in their past life, Ryan and Martina were the only ones who spoke with the legendary tree that allowed them both to return to the past. That detail alone makes me even more certain that Ryan is the true ML.
• Regarding the supporting characters:
The parents are, quite simply, awful. The mother is especially frustrating; she’s the type of person who only truly cares about her husband and abandons her children because of him, while still pretending that she loves them. The father, at least, was honest from the very beginning, he made it clear that he only saw his wife and children as tools to use in order to gain more power.
Honestly, the parents are the real villains of this story, especially the father. They are the source of many of the problems, and their actions make them far worse than most of the actual antagonist.
For now, that's everything I think about the story. I should point out, though, that the male lead hasn't been officially confirmed yet—it's just that all my suspicions point towards Ryan being the ML. Aside from him, there are two other characters who also seem to be potential candidates, one of whom is a blonde woman.
I'm going to share my thoughts on the story from Chapter 1 to Chapter 43, as those are the only chapters I've been able to read so far.
Before I begin, I'd like to mention that I'm not very experienced at writing reviews, and I don't always express myself as clearly as I'd like because my vocabulary is quite limited. For that reason, I'll be using a translator while writing this review. I apologise in advance if any part of it sounds awkward or is difficult to understand. (￣∇￣")
• About the story:
There isn't any real romance, at least not at the moment. There are a few subtle hints of it, but it isn't a major focus. Instead, the story centres on revenge, the protagonist's struggle to survive the many ordeals thrown her way, and her determination to protect her beast daughter, Lily. I don't know why, but I get the impression that this story feels more like an otome game, where you'll ultimately only be able to choose one male lead. I can also imagine there being a few extra chapters afterwards featuring a harem ending as an alternative route.
• Art:
The artwork is absolutely stunning. To be honest, it's the very first thing that draws you into the story and immediately captures your attention.
• Regarding the main characters:
Martina (the FL) wasn't a good person in her previous life, unlike the person she has become now. However, that's clearly a result of the circumstances she was forced to endure. Both in her past and present, she was driven to make ruthless choices simply to survive. Much like in real life, where some victims eventually become perpetrators as a consequence of their trauma, Martina was forced to become a villain in order to survive and, above all, to protect her daughter.
• Mayfield, the brother and the main villain, is honestly one of the most confusing characters to understand. At times, he seems to genuinely care about his sister, yet the next moment he wants to kill her or see her suffer. Trying to make sense of him is enough to give me a headache.My interpretation is that, much like his sister, he became the person he is simply to survive.
Perhaps the time they spent together as hostages affected him far more deeply than he lets on.
Sometimes I think he genuinely wants to protect her, and that's why he's doing everything he can to make her give up the throne so he won't have to kill her. At least, that's the interpretation I want to believe.What I still can't make sense of, though, is why, in the previous timeline, he stood by while she was exiled and even allowed her to receive a hundred lashes, only smiling as it happened. My guess is that he expected her to beg him for help, but when she refused to do so, he simply let her suffer.
I also think that, in the previous timeline, after Martina was exiled and he became King, he ordered his soldiers to find her and bring her back to him so he could force her to stay by his side, rather than hunt her down to kill her.Another possibility is that he's being manipulated by his father through magic that has twisted the love he once had for his sister into hatred. That would explain why he treats her the way he does, especially if his father is determined to prevent a woman from ruling the empire.
These are just a few of the many theories I've come up with after reading the story.
• Siegfried and Lily are absolutely adorable together. I have a feeling Siegfried will eventually leave Mayfield for Martina, and I genuinely hope he does.
• Now, regarding the potential male lead candidates:
Mikhail is still my favourite candidate. Even after everything he's done recently, I can't bring myself to hate him because I strongly suspect his current actions are ultimately meant to help Martina. That said, some of his behaviour before the betrayal was undeniably questionable. In particular, confessing his feelings, kissing her, and then immediately telling her he was going to leave her was an absolutely idiotic thing to do.
I also think his decision to betray Martina has a lot to do with his insecurities when he compares himself to the other potential male leads. If I'm being honest, they're far more powerful than he is and are able to protect Martina much more easily. Mikhail, on the other hand, is held back by his past as a slave, which seems to have left him feeling inadequate.
What really made me angry, though, was seeing him standing alongside Mayfield. After everything Mayfield did to him when they were children, Mikhail still chose to side with him. Then, to make matters worse, he greeted Martina as though nothing had happened. That genuinely infuriated me. One thing I absolutely loved, however, was Lily telling him that she hated him. It was a very satisfying moment.
• Ryan is my second favourite candidate, and honestly, I adore him. A future general, too.
I was genuinely surprised to find out that he'd already fallen for Martina in the previous timeline. It explains so much about why, in the current timeline, he developed romantic feelings for her so quickly. It wasn't rushed at all, his feelings had been there all along.
One of the scenes that completely broke my heart was when, after the war in the previous timeline, he went looking for Martina, only to find her dead in the forest. That scene was absolutely devastating.
At this point, I honestly feel like Ryan is the true male lead. He's suffered so much throughout his life, yet whenever his illness flared up, there was never anyone by his side to help him. His mother died from depression, and his father couldn't do much for him because he was dealing with his own struggles as well.
• Fayenix. Physically speaking, he’s completely my type. I have a weakness for characters with white or grey hair, so he immediately caught my attention. He’s a genius mage, but despite his talent, his childhood was incredibly lonely. The people in his community looked at him with admiration and reverence from a very young age, which only made him feel more isolated.
I still can’t really see him as the ML yet because of his age. Eighteen still feels too young to me. Maybe when he’s older, I’ll consider him a stronger ML candidate, but for now, I mostly see him as a young man who has a crush on his teacher.
I genuinely felt sorry for him because of his past, especially after what he went through with his former sponsor, who physically abused him terribly. Thankfully, he’s no longer as alone as he thought he would be for the rest of his life. Now he has Lily and Martina by his side.
Out of all the candidates so far, he was actually the one I thought had the highest chance of betraying Martina. So I have to admit, he completely proved me wrong. I was genuinely speechless when the person I least expected turned out to be the traitor.
I originally thought the ML was going to be Mikhail, but after finding out that Ryan and Martina shared moments together in their past life, and that Ryan remembered those memories in the present, I was already 90% convinced that he was the ML. Then Mikhail’s betrayal happened, and that pretty much confirmed for me that Ryan is the male lead.
On top of that, in their past life, Ryan and Martina were the only ones who spoke with the legendary tree that allowed them both to return to the past. That detail alone makes me even more certain that Ryan is the true ML.
• Regarding the supporting characters:
The parents are, quite simply, awful. The mother is especially frustrating; she’s the type of person who only truly cares about her husband and abandons her children because of him, while still pretending that she loves them. The father, at least, was honest from the very beginning, he made it clear that he only saw his wife and children as tools to use in order to gain more power.
Honestly, the parents are the real villains of this story, especially the father. They are the source of many of the problems, and their actions make them far worse than most of the actual antagonist.
For now, that's everything I think about the story. I should point out, though, that the male lead hasn't been officially confirmed yet—it's just that all my suspicions point towards Ryan being the ML. Aside from him, there are two other characters who also seem to be potential candidates, one of whom is a blonde woman.
...
- Author: Bulgama
- Genres: Adult / Drama / Mature / Romance / Smut / Yaoi / Webtoons
She, the leader of the hidden sect, specializes in poison and assassination. A genius, and a weirdo,...
- Author: Yuan man dongman
- Genres: Action / Martial Arts / Adventure / Drama / Webtoons
Once the big boss with a thousand lifetimes is reincarnated, the boss will be the little pitiful Lon...
- Author: 共小创,漫神共创
- Genres: Historical / Webtoons
I love this manhua.
Are they not going to continue it anymore? They had only just reached my favourite arc when they stopped releasing chapters.
Does anyone know where I can read it?
Once the big boss with a thousand lifetimes is reincarnated, the boss will be the little pitiful Lon...
- Author: 共小创,漫神共创
- Genres: Historical / Webtoons
ABOUT THE STORY:
I absolutely love this story, its greatest strength lies in its focus on the romance between the two protagonists, while there is certainly drama, most of it stems from external antagonists rather than conflicts between the main couple themselves. The enemies are not especially powerful, yet they are persistent and resourceful enough to keep Qingyi and Yuanyu from achieving the happiness they deserve.
One of the aspects I appreciate most is the relationship between Qingyi and Yuanyu, there are no frustrating misunderstandings, no unnecessary emotional games, and no endless cycles of doubt. Both characters are fully aware of their feelings and openly accept them, creating a relationship that feels refreshingly sincere. In a genre that often relies on excessive complications, their bond stands out for its simplicity, proving that a romance does not need to be grand or dramatic to be meaningful and satisfying.
Although the story has not yet been completed, and it remains uncertain whether it will ever receive a proper conclusion or additional chapters, the recent developments have left me feeling disappointed. Qingyi's memory loss introduces a direction that I personally find frustrating.
What makes this plotline particularly unusual is that, unlike most manhuas where the male lead is the one who suffers from amnesia, here it is the female lead who loses her memories. While I appreciate the attempt to reverse a familiar trope, I am not fond of the way it is being handled. As a result of her amnesia, Qingyi is beginning to misplace her feelings and confuse her love for the male lead with affection for the story's villain. I understand that she is not at fault, since her actions are a consequence of her condition, but I still find this storyline difficult to enjoy.
Overall, the romance remains the strongest part of the series, and the genuine connection between the protagonists is what keeps me invested. I only hope that the amnesia arc reaches its conclusion soon, allowing the story to return its focus to the relationship that made it so engaging in the first place.
ABOUT THE PROTAGONISTS:
• Qingyi (FL). Qingyi is a likeable protagonist. She is funny, sweet, and brings a lot of charm to the story. One of her main flaws is that she can be a little naïve and overly trusting, which often leads her into difficult situations and sometimes even serious danger. There are several moments where her trust in others puts her life at risk. However, what I appreciate about her is that she is not completely helpless. She knows how to fight, and the story occasionally shows that she is capable and has genuine strength. Unfortunately, she rarely gets the opportunity to demonstrate it because the plot is largely written around the male lead rescuing her. As a result, her independent action scenes are quite limited.
• Prince Chen/Xuan Yuanyu (ML). There aren't many male leads with a personality like his in the Chinese manhua I've read. He's cold towards most people, but not towards the female lead. While that dynamic is fairly common, what makes him stand out is how straightforward and honest he is. He doesn't hide what he really thinks of her, and he says things directly to her face. For example, he openly told her that he didn't choose to keep her just because he thought she was beautiful. He even called her fat when she was in her fox form.
Another thing I like is that, at the beginning of the story, he seems to treat the female lead as a genuine friend. He trusts her, feels comfortable around her, and can even joke and play with her. Their relationship feels natural and develops gradually.
From the latest available chapters, I can already see some potential yandere traits in him, which is honestly quite entertaining to watch.
What I like most about his character is how firmly he sets boundaries with women. Whenever a woman tries to get too close to him or touch him without permission, he immediately steps away or moves her aside. The story makes it very clear that he does not welcome unwanted physical contact, and I appreciate how consistently this aspect of his character is portrayed.
MY FAVOURITE SCENES:
• When Qingyi draws a portrait of the assassin she saw. It always makes me laugh how everyone tries to hide their amusement but simply can't, and in the end Yuanyu realises that her drawing actually did resemble the assassin after all.
• After they capture the assassin and go to sleep, Qingyi wakes up some time later. The first thing she sees when she opens her eyes is Yuanyu staring at her with a smile on his face and no shirt on. She immediately thinks he's trying to seduce her, and he gives her a smack on the head for even thinking that, lol.
• When she is seriously injured after defeating all of the assassins by herself. That scene really shows that she has the potential to become a skilled fighter. Then, when Yuanyu finds her wounded, I almost feel like crying. He goes to the palace to obtain the only medicine that can save her, not caring that he is effectively defying the Emperor.
• When Yuanyu places part of his soul into a rabbit and accompanies Qingyi after she leaves the mansion. I love how, even in his rabbit form, he still protects her and continues teaching her.
• When it is revealed that the person who saved Qingyi from suffering the same fate as her clan was Yuanyu's mother. I loved that twist because she brought Qingyi to Yuanyu so that the two of them would have each other's company and wouldn't have to be alone.
ABOUT THE SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:
• Yuanyu’s chief guard.He’s one of the best guards I’ve ever read about. He doesn’t interfere in the protagonists’ relationship. He treats her with respect and looks after her just as faithfully as he does his master. If he ever oversteps the line, Yuanyu puts him in his place. The same goes for the maid, Zhiyi, whom I think he may be attracted to.
• Zhiyi, my dear animal lover. I always felt sorry for her because the few times she was scolded, it was usually because of Qingyi’s impulsive and poorly thought-out decisions. She comes across as a genuinely kind, reliable, and efficient character. We do not get to see much of her throughout the manhua, which is a shame, because every appearance she makes leaves a positive impression. She also seems to have a potential love interest in Yuanyu’s chief guard, and I would have loved to see more development between them.
• Doctor Li was a remarkably brave character. Despite being terrified and having no veterinary training whatsoever, he still managed to solve the problem, even if his main motivation was saving his own life.
• Princess Bei of the Northern Country. At first, I thought she was going to be Qingyi's love rival, but it turned out she wasn't. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she is also from the modern world. I think she arrived before the protagonist, but ended up in a different country, where she fell in love with her guard.
She eventually becomes one of Qingyi's closest friends, which was a nice development. I'm really glad she was able to marry the man she loves and find happiness.
Her little storyline was enjoyable to follow, and I think she's going to play a very important role in the future. I'm looking forward to seeing how much she helps Qingyi and the others as the story progresses.
• Moyu. A good guard and a worthy man for the Princess, and someone who returns her love as well. So, they are the side couple.
• The red-haired headmaster with blue eyes. At first, I didn't like him, but as the story progressed through the few chapters he appeared in, he turned out not to be such a bad man. In fact, by the end, he genuinely respected Qingyi. It's a shame that he met such a tragic end, just like his companions.
• The Second Headmaster. I did not particularly like him when he first appeared, but as the story progressed and more chapters were released, he gradually grew on me. It was mentioned that he was still alive, but nothing further was ever revealed about his whereabouts or situation. If he is indeed still alive, then I think there is a good chance that he will join forces with Yuanyu in order to save Qingyi from Muyue. This is one of the theories I currently have regarding how the story might develop.
• The Queen of the Southern Country. I disliked her from the very first moment I saw her, and I won't deny it. Although her life has been difficult because she is a woman, that doesn't automatically make her likeable to me. I can understand her struggles and the unfair treatment she has faced, but that doesn't change how I feel about her character.
• Modou, a relative of Moyu. He is a spoiled and cruel young man. Honestly, he deserves a proper beating, one that would finally teach him to respect other people.
• Xiao Hua Jing. She is not human, I think she is some kind of demon. She has known Muyue since childhood and is in love with him. So far, she comes across as a genuinely good person, but she is also willing to lie if it means helping him.
AS FOR THE ENEMIES, BOTH MAJOR AND MINOR:
• Xiao Cui. An animal abuser. I honestly do not know why, but from the very moment she laid eyes on the female lead, she developed an intense hatred towards her. That hatred eventually drove her to attempt to kill her. Fortunately, she received the karma she deserved in the end. Overall, she was one of those antagonists who was easy to dislike and whose downfall felt entirely justified.
• The purple-haired girl. Another character who tried to kill the female lead when she was in her fox form. That woman was completely ridiculous. Her ending was well deserved. If she was willing to do something like that to an animal, just imagine what she may have done to other women who showed any affection towards the male lead. Her actions made her one of the least sympathetic characters in the story, and it was difficult to feel any pity for her by the end.
• The Soup assassin. He was such a complete idiot that calling him human feels like an insult. He literally exposed his own alibi just to kill a small fox because she ruined his plan. What frustrates me is that he threw away an incredibly important mission over a harmless animal. It was such a ridiculous and irrational decision that it made him look less like a competent antagonist and more like a fool. I genuinely could not take him seriously after that.
• Emperor Xuan Yuanyun. I would say he is Yuanyu's second biggest adversary. The Emperor hates him because he is jealous of him and feels deeply inferior to him, and everyone is well aware of it.
He is the sort of character who only seems to learn through harsh lessons. I am not even saying that as a joke. Whenever Yuanyu tells him to do something in the nicest and most reasonable way possible, he ignores him completely. Then the moment Yuanyu threatens him or gives him a well deserved beating, the Emperor suddenly remembers how to listen.
At this point, it almost feels like kindness simply does not work on him. Every attempt at patience is wasted, while a firm hand gets immediate results. It is both frustrating and strangely amusing to watch. I'm glad to see that it's mentioned in the latest chapters that he's very ill.
• Crown Prince Bai Muyue of the Eastern Country.
I'm not sure whether he can really be considered Yuanyus romantic rival, since although he's attracted to the female lead, it doesn't seem to be in a romantic sense. He's indeed Yuanyu's number one adversary.
At first, I thought he was going to be a villain who wanted to kill her, but he later became fascinated by her because of her beauty and powers.
He doesn't deserve a redemption arc. He's murdered children and elderly people simply because they didn't possess what he was looking for. The only good thing about him is that he's an excellent actor.
I honestly think he would be a perfect match for Shiyu, because, frankly, he is dreadful as a romantic interest. He allows any woman who approaches him to flirt with him and touch him, which makes it pretty clear that he'd be 99.9% likely to be unfaithful to Qingyi.
On top of that, just like Shiyu, he is deeply attracted to power. Another issue is that his romantic feelings for the female lead seem to appear out of nowhere in the later chapters. The development feels forced and unconvincing, making it difficult to become invested in this aspect of his character.
• Yan Shiyu is indirectly Qingyi’s enemy simply because she is Yuanyu’s partner. However, her true adversary is actually Yuanyu himself. At first, she appeared to be “in love” with the Emperor, but in reality, what she truly loves is power. That is why she has now also become interested in Bai Muyue.
• Heart-Eating Demon. He is not a villain to the main protagonists, but he is certainly a villain to an entire village. I found his story incredibly tragic. What makes it even more unfortunate is that he was originally a divine beast with a genuinely kind heart, someone who wanted to help others and do good.
Sadly, the cruel and inhumane actions of a group of evil people pushed him down a darker path and ultimately turned him into a villain. It is difficult not to sympathise with him, even knowing the terrible things he later did. It is a shame that he could not resist his desire for revenge and ended up hurting innocent people who had nothing to do with the suffering he endured.
His downfall is understandable, but that does not excuse the harm he caused. That is what makes his character so tragic. He was neither born evil nor destined to become a monster. He became one because of the hatred he carried. At least, by the end of his story, he was finally able to escape the hell that had consumed him for so long.
• Mysterious Wanderer. I'd say he's likely to become a future enemy of Qingyi, although very little is known about him. What has been shown so far is that he worships a Nine-Tailed Fox.
• Danjin. A traitor from the Southern Country and an ally of Muyue. There isn't much to say about him because very little is known about him. The only thing that is clear is that he's a treacherous rat who refuses to accept a woman as a ruler.
Can a fox successfully cultivate to get her human form back? And can she bring this handsome prince ...
- Author: 有鱼互鱼
- Genres: Fantasy / Historical / Romance / Webtoons
The protagonist isn't perfect; she has her strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, her flaws far outweigh her virtues. I find her rather ungrateful, somewhat foolish, and incredibly rash. She never seems to think before acting. That's why I've decided to stop reading altogether. I simply can't stand her any more.
I can only say that I absolutely loved the ending and the story.
Happy endings always make me cry; I don’t know why.
?Heartless and Ruthless Queen Seme X Insane Loyalty Dog Uke??ABO?”Shen Yuan, there are still other...
- Author: Meiwha
- Genres: Webtoons / Yaoi / Drama / Romance
To be honest, I’m so used to reading Chinese manhua with male protagonists in the ‘shou’ role—who usually have docile, naive personalities and are unable to stand up for themselves—that Yichen’s actions really took me by surprise.
For me, he’s one of the best ‘shou’ characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I hope more authors create ‘shou’ characters with a personality similar to his.