Mintfu's manga / #Drama(94)

I know I said I was tired of the clearly evil 2nd ML vs kind ML trope in love triangles, but this one does a better job at making the 2nd ML more likeable, even if he’s a little vain and selfish lmao. He still cares about the MC and his family members that I feel like in a different manhwa he’d be the ML. Does he disregard the MC’s feelings and is obsessive? Ofc, but a lot of another manga excuse that lmao. Also his dynamic with the ML is actually pretty natural and comedic, so I feel like they’d be able to coexist in another world too. The MC is the “previously naive to the ways of the world but gets a crushing reality check” trope and it was excuted really nicely, partially thanks to the historical era I think.

Egoistic, controlling, obsessive mafia ML actually reflects on his actions and regrets the power dynamic and savior complex he held over the MC’s head?!? He comforts him and tries to boost his self-esteem after realizing he contributed a lot to the development of the MC’s negative self-talk . Like…in-gaslighting him. A rare occurrence indeed. I also really liked how you could feel the hopelessness of the MC and his single caretaker lifestyle for his younger brother. Some works don’t do as good of a job showing how poor the MC’s state of mind is when they’re a single parent/caretaker. Even though ML acts like a sleaze in the beginning, you can tell he only has eyes for the MC and wants to take care of him (even though he doesn’t know how) and the MC deservingly is skeptical of his behavior and tells him off when he should. The miscommunication could be annoying but I thought it added a nice drama feel to the story LMAO.

The MC was so mistreated by the world and so mentally ill it was so pitiful ️ Like I understood the early 1900s wasn't the most accommodating era to live in but dear god the trauma the MC goes through was actually so overlooked even by the ML. The ML and MC separate because of the war and the MC's crime, and when they reunite it's a Count of Monte Cristo moment where the ML has been completely hardened and jaded and the MC has to put up with the mistreatment to rekindle and rebuild the relationship . It's hard to watch but omg the drama is so interesting.

The devotion and royal setting is always fun, but for some reason this felt incomplete and it had a lot of potential with the characters. I liked the main servant girl her design was so cute. It was weird how the ML is so young for like half the manga tho like I don’t understand why they decided to do that. The MC was elegant and strong-willed, and his design was so pretty.