Around ch 50

they drugged MC, who came to a ball with ML to their house, took her to a warehouse, held her down bringing a mid wife to check her v**ginity if she slept with ML her husband they forced her to marry, while the step sis and her mother told her how her mother pissed herself in that same warehouse when she cut her tounge, and they practically popped her cherry then threw her in the garden while party still ongoing

While useless ML was just waiting knowing they will scare her, even though MC made him promise to stay near her as she was afraid of them

Then gets fooled by the half sis towaste time if not for second male lead

And he simply gets a piece of land from them after threatening them and gives it to MC

The novel paints a stark difference between the two leads' position in an aristocratic/noble society. Although the ML is justified in feeling betrayed and tricked by the Emperor (a classic tale for the ages) many a reader may hate him for his haughty indifference, especially towards the FL. Seeing as I can only read up to chapter 15 due to lack of coins, it doesn't stick out to me as 'abusive' per say, nor is it really an indication of the ML's character in my opinion.

Due to the time period and society that they live in, the ML's indifference is a refreshing gulp of water in the age of arrogant MLs. He certainly is a far cry from winning any Best Male Lead awards though, with his lack of care towards his newfound wife, but he makes his intentions clear and I would take indifference over 'you are my wife! I shall force you to do XXX with me!' any day. He is very much a reluctant participant in an unwanted marriage and he makes that clear as day.

The FL is starkly aware of her position of essentially being a commoner wearing the ill-fitting role of the duchess and does not push the ML to like her; in a way, she is a very realistic depiction of a commoner turned noble overnight. Sure, she could be headstrong and demand respect as a duchess, but she plays it safe as she is aware of how her society works. I hope this is a sign that she has more than one card up her sleeve, and judging by her commitment to 'make the ML at least shed one tear' when she dies, I believe through simple perseverance, she will become every bit of a duchess that she so rightfully deserves.

I do believe that we'll have turbulent times ahead, though with the introduction of an antagonist obsessed with the ML, our dear FL will have to make it through many unpleasant noble gatherings using her wits and relying on her knowledge of etiquette from her previous life as a duchess, no doubt using her position in an interesting way due to the ML's insistence on her not being his duchess, she'll have to play it differently in social gatherings in order to circumvent that.