livlbivl

OK, let's talk about it. The rape. First of all, if you are someone who is uncomfortable with the topic of rape in any capacity, please, please, please be safe and do not read a story like this where it is not only discussed but also shown happening to one of the main characters. Your safety and mental well-being come first and foremost, so I want to make it clear that rape IS a part of this story, so beware if that is a trigger.

Now that anyone who doesn't want to read a story with any kind of rape is clear on that, for everyone else, I think a few things should be made clear, so that you can make your own decisions on if you would like to read. For one, the main rape situation that people are talking about is between the mc and the main villain of the story. There is, however (as far as I remember it since it's been a while) dubcon that the ml is kind of the instigator of with the mc? Please correct me if I'm wrong on that, anyone who had read this. Also, I think it's fair to say that the rape between the mc and the villain is not romanticized. It's a horrible situation and both the mc and ml are thoroughly traumatized by it. This isn't one of those situations where the author just ignores the incredibly upsetting thing that just happened and moves on from it because everything is alright as long as they have each other. However, healing is still happening at the end of the side stories, so don't expect everything wrapped up perfectly at the end, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you see it.

And here's the thing that I think some might disagree with (you do you). I don't think the rape was "unnecessary" or out of nowhere. (Here is where I get into more spoiler-y specifics if you don't want to see that). The villain has been obsessed with the ml since he was a kid, basically. He wants to overpower him. So when he gets his hands on the ml's man (the mc), he does what he can--he gets to the ml by trying to destroy the mc in every way he can. It's horrible. It's disgusting. And unfortunately, it makes sense for the world they are in and the characters that they are. It also facilitates the ml really coming to terms with the situation his family has put him in, and which he's dragged the mc into. For everyone who hates random rape in stories, I soooo get it. I hate it when it feels like it comes out of nowhere, doesn't change anything about the characters, their actions, and their emotions, and is never addressed. That isn't the case here. It serves a purpose narratively.

But like I said, at the end of the day, everyone has to decide for themselves what they are and aren't comfortable with. There's no shame in deciding that this kind of story isn't your thing and passing on it.

Honestly, this manhwa has some of the best representations of a mature relationship overcoming hurdles that I think I've ever seen. The mc and ml are certainly not perfect, but once they make the decision to date officially, they mean it. They love each other so softly and deeply, it's truly beautiful. I'm not even one for fluff, but I couldn't help smiling at the way they treated each other. I went into this story thinking it might be angsty or upsetting because of a few comments I saw, but honestly, I just felt comforted. Somehow, these two people who have been through so much on their own managed to find each other--once, before they were ready to share their scars, and finally again when they were prepared to. Their sublte growth and love is something I hope I find one day.