Grooming happens between a full grown adult and a child they raised. This isn't grooming. This is two kids: one cunning; as he should be since he's heir to the throne, and one naive; loved, cherished and sheltered by his family.
You mentioned one is 'cunning' and the other 'naive' that is exactly why it is grooming. Grooming relies entirely on a severe power imbalance and psychological manipulation, which older teens can absolutely inflict on young children.Saying they are "just kids" completely deflects from the abuse. A 13-year-old kidnapping a 7-year-old is something no child should be doing. Kiel then intentionally demoted Aisha to completely isolate him, preventing him from marrying anyone else while hunting down the tablet to legally trap him. By taking advantage of Aisha's innocence, Kiel conditioned him over years so this control would feel normal. Using abduction, isolation, and forced legal dependency to exploit a child you raised is textbook grooming regardless of the perpetrator's age.









The chapters lately feels like I'm getting stabbed then healed, stabbed then healed, over and over. I'm sad and hurt one panel then feel fluffy and happy the next. Yet I'm still happily reading. TvT