FL - Weak/pathetic/passive/selfish/naive. PRIME example of wilful ignorance/inaction. If you want a good FL, this is NOT the novel for you. She is the BIGGEST woe-is-me/victim mentality character I have ever encountered. Everyone is "out to get her" while she sits around and DOES NOTHING to save herself or anyone else apparently. Summed up: this selfish character was: "take/take/take" from everyone and "whine/whine/whine" about why her life never gets better. She twists her "sacrifices" into sainthood (until you find out the REAL reason why she acts how she does). She withholds info/misleads readers in her beginning POV to TWIST blame onto Igor "the villain". [She will only be honest/give more info as you progress through the novel. THE WORLD'S BIGGEST VICTIM.] She will NEVER think critically unless someone (and yes, that includes actual villains) knocks some sense into her. She ASSUMES everything is Igor's fault/responsibility. DOES NOTHING. NEVER TALKS. NO BRAINS. TWICE. The novel was a cautionary tale about the dangers of WILLFUL miscommunication/ignorance/selfishness. If she was a real person, Rhia would be the bigger menace to society out of the two leads. Rhia CANNOT FOREVER be a victim - at some point, the misery she inflicts on herself & others is her own fault. She was so selfish to SO MANY GOOD people that I wouldn't even know WHO I want to inflict Rhia on. The others in the beginning were right - she truly is like a pretty doll. Alluring on the outside, only to be empty on the inside.

ML - The ONLY reason this novel gets a decent rating. He isn't perfect, but he shows unconditional love AND has an understandable reason for ALL his actions (even if I can understand why others don't agree with him). His reasons make sense in context, moreso than via spoilers, but most are missing the author's point of this novel by jumping to conclusions/reading spoilers. I read this novel chronologically without spoilers, so I just kept an open-mind and waited for his POV. I had NO QUALMS with his "misdeeds", even on my first reading, since I knew Mrs. Unreliable Narrator has a knack of retreating into her victimhood while missing the big picture (I was right). This dude was carrying both the couple and the novel on his back. His chapters are responsible for conveying the message of this novel. At least he puts in SOME effort... both times. He adequately suffers and rightfully gets punished for his willful ignorance and miscommunication, unlike "I'm never to blame" Rhia.

Objectively... their first marriage:

Minor spoiler about the ML and his "faults".

My grievances with the FL and how she behaves (if you want to know what you are signing yourself up for with the FL) :

No doubt that this couple is frustrating. Both had moments that were unlikeable, but Rhia was responsible for 80% of my frustration since she KEEPS WHINING but DOES NOTHING to improve her life (I mean, besides deflect blame onto Igor and telepathically expecting him to clean up after her).

I can even 100% understand why people who FINISHED would disagree with the ML (but most of the hate here is BLIND hate...), but I have a hard time defending the FL and her attitude as ok behavior in relationships. BOTH are at fault for their crap lives, but frankly, it should be a 75% Rhia's fault-25% Igor's fault split. Rhia's performance in the 2nd life definitely tipped the scale in her favor for being the bigger mess. At least Igor improves dramatically in the 2nd life; Rhia is still over there stumbling and harming herself/others with ignorance and inaction.

After this novel, I felt that doing nothing was WORSE than doing wrong. Since you can improve/learn from your failed attempts. Whereas nothing but further/repeated harm results from inaction and ignorance.

WHOSE MISTAKES ARE EVEN GETTING "WHITEWASHED" IN THIS NOVEL?

Personal rambling (so skip it) about the hypocrisy Rhia promotes in people:

Rhia's "deserving-ness" (Both the primary plot driving force and the primary plot hole)

She really didn't deserve any better; she deserved WORSE/NOTHING. She was tr*sh for 85% of this novel (I checked my progress bar on my ereader. That was how long it took for her to get her sh*t together). It is unfortunate that the release is serialization because if someone sat down to read this novel from in one go, their opinion of Rhia would PLUMMET. The author deliberately wrote most of this novel with a biased, unreliable narrator, otherwise people would realize EARLY that Rhia is a walking joke.

As much as I want to drop my rating because of Rhia, I can't ding the author on it. Rhia perfectly presents victim mentality - it is always other people's fault, never the "victim's." And if evidence is to the contrary? Shove her head back in the ground. Rhia's steadfast resistance to mutual effort and understanding was the deliberate force that drove the lesson of the story, so why would I penalize the author when she told it so perfectly? If I rated this book only on my enjoyment of Rhia as a human or character? Zero stars.

I need to stop reading miscommunication/misunderstanding novels. 99% of them is the main narrator being unreliable and having SEVERE victim mentality, whereas the other lead is TRYING (but FAILING because they suck equally at communication OR the main narrator refuses to give them a chance). I prefer WHICHEVER lead is NOT the main narrator just because I don't have to listen to endless do-nothing but woe-is-me drivel. Passive whining is NOT entertaining to read, and it doesn't advance the plot. A double negative against Rhia being the main narrator. WTF are these relationships?!? ONLY reason I could stomach this was because of Igor's herculean efforts to make this work & enough "cute" moments of them being back in love.

You may ask, why did I re-read? Because I am a masochist like Igor. I got so desensitized to the woe-is-me that Rhia became background noise to the actual story, which was carried by other characters. The author dropped many early hints about Rhia's unreliability upon re-reading. I did skip most of Rhia's solo parts on subsequent readings since they added nothing to the plot besides more droning on about "I am scared/mad/sad." Otherwise, story was well done.

Early readers are misunderstanding WHY he says "it's all my fault" in his pov.

He is not blameless, but he is not above redemption. Few think he was justified to act how he did back then. If he repeated what he did back then in his second chance, readers would shoot him. Very few would say he had a malicious or abusive intent to exert control over FL at any point - worst he did was not pick the a better course of action back then, but even that was driven by his selfless (but still wrong) rationale. Very few (there probably is still some) would call him a habitual rapist or ab*ser for the sh*ts and giggles of torturing FL. For sure, r*pe happens once (after Dimitri's visit). I'm not going to deny a fact. I can also see why people would think the uninformed FL sleeping with him in second life can be considered r*pe/non-consensual. But with how it ended, I see no one up in arms about this issue.

Most think he went above and beyond in relation to his sins. I'd argue that a fair number think he was too good for FL in first and second marriage. Unlike someone, he doesn't play the blame game and doesn't want pity from FL or audience. He seemingly picks a sh*t method to "win" FL... but his deliberate actions result in boons for his enemy. He didn't go through all this trouble to "assuage his own guilt". He isn't out to "force" his love onto FL. He gives choices to FL. He doesn't think FL "owes" him anything. He literally wants nothing but the FL to be happy... and it shows in all of his selflessness spread THROUGHOUT the entire novel (not just empty platitudes and pseudo-sacrifices that FL likes to paint herself with). He is not immune to criticism; he had incredibly problematic qualities too. But most readers were satisfied that ML worked hard for both to be happy. I read the most neg comments for the complete NOVEL (not serial) edition on primary webpg (so those who bought + finished the everything, instead of DNFing before 20%). The number of readers who still hate ML are a minority. More dislike the FL at the end.

I don't want to convince or force anybody to read or like this. I'm just saying it for what it is, and how the trajectory of the story goes. Understandably, many quit before the end. There is every right to hate and dislike this novel. LOTS of irksome things about it. This book deserves more neg constructive criticism... for reasons deeper than "ML is an ab*ser" (hair-pulling narrative being the most common hate). It's perfectly expected to not agree with my review or any of those conclusions from the other comp. readers. It mostly bothers me that many incomplete reviews are misleading speculations that aren't reflective of the final product. Some feel like downright guilt-trip and offensive to the author or translator for allowing this book to be written or translated since it has an "abusive" ML and oppresses a "victim" FL. If this book isn't for you, it isn't for you.

ML deserved a second chance since he reflects and uses it to be a better human being and fictional character. He made everyone's life (not just FL) better, even people he had no responsibility over. FL did not deserve a second chance since she chooses to repeat her same failings (irresponsible, self-centered, ignorant) without consideration for others. Her initial perception is very misleading. She has many chances to ask and evidence that challenges her "all-knowing" knowledge but she is so smug about what she knows that she refuses to think deeply because it would be like confronting her own failures. Even when you look back, the ML always told her the truth (in a really roundabout way) when she asks, but she DOESN'T TRUST him. She blackens his goodwill and believes everything to be the worst, but she doesn't want to ask for more clarification. ML has a believable (selfless, but still wrong) reason for his unspeakable position in both lives. Most importantly, SHE LIKES TO 'STAY IN THE DARK' in both lives. She isn't "forced" into it by the ML. FL sucks more than ML at communicating.

He tries SO hard to change her mind when they interact in both lives. Keeps giving her chances. Keeps helping her out in both lives... but she doesn't appreciate any of it nor does she think that he might actually be a good guy worthy of at least an explanation. He keeps asking for any sign that she is ready to talk. He was always planning on telling her the truth in both lives. He keeps dropping obvious hints.

The main reason people have problems with her is in the last 1/3 of the novel. A wishy-washy character. Cries when he is around. Cries when she pushes him away. Cries when he finally takes the hint and stops bothering her. Cries when he "doesn't love her" anymore. Just keeps crying and pitying herself instead of doing anything... the EXACT same as how she was in their first marriage. She loved to play mind games with herself. For every "bad" thing that happens in her life, she MUST spin it as "it is ML's fault" in order to maintain this defense mechanism as a "helpless victim to fate"... but as seen in other perspectives, SHE CREATED/INTRODUCED THE PROBLEM. NONE of the other characters besides ML understand why FL acts so emotionally unstable... and then he tries to talk, he is SHUT DOWN because FL doesn't want to relinquish her "faultless victim" facade. Indecisive as hell.

She became unbearable when all the "truths" she knew was starting to crumble as more gets revealed with important events and/or outsider info... then ML was like "can we talk?" and she is still like "no." This convo happened 2-3 separate times. Unreal. She keeps rejecting his attempts so that she can keep using the ML as a reason to dismiss her own failings, even in events unrelated to him. Keeps repeating "what is the point of asking, I know better, I am scared to know." But she doesn't even like her own answer because now, the ML respects her wishes and backs away instead of showering her with undeserving affection. So back to the pity party? One of the most common criticisms that I saw was that you could have shortened this novel by 1/3 because nothing but crying happens in her perspective. Story padding was at the mercy of her emotional victimization.

To put in perspective HOW obvious these hints are and how much the FL already knows (info that she reveals from her first life)... FL deduces the entire truth by herself with no additional aid from ML at the end except for finally opening her ears and hearing him say "I didn't do it."

It is bad enough that she doesn't reflect on obvious mistakes (Ex. maybe she should help ML out with his mother, instead of always dismissing his problems and putting him down as a "bad" son. She does this twice.)... she doesn't even want to use the knowledge she readily has access to.

FL did great in exerting her right to ignorance. Never seen someone wave the flag of ignorance so proudly and shamelessly. She stood her ground and defended her beliefs (even if they were selfish and wrong). She didn't let the ML or anybody push her around or try to enlighten her, so maybe that new assertiveness can be her character growth. Stubbornness to validate her dumb actions. ML was also a huge pushover for FL. FL didn't need to do much convincing to make him comply with her. An absurd couple.

But wait... it doesn't even stop there. After the truth comes out and her admitting that the ML is not the villain she thought he was... FL makes ANOTHER cowardly, bad choice... which she cries over. Does she even care about her OWN happiness?

I can't help someone who can't even wake up and realize that she needs to WANT to help herself first. I'm not even going to go into how she hurts her loved ones with her choices because that is a given with this selfish character. FL is not obliged to return ML's affections, but if FL wants rewards for herself (who cares about others, amirite?) , she has to work for it to happen herself. Is that not the rock bottom condition for most?

FL was actually delusional. Any reader can tell what she really wanted, but she kept shooting herself in the foot because she refused to work for it. Then she cries because she wants her happiness to be someone else's responsibility? This entire story this woman doesn't use her mouth to say what she wants unless someone else offers it first (even then, she often turns down their offers and advice, facepalm). The bar is SO LOW for the FL (she just has to use her mouth)... but she still can't reach it. Is her mouth just a decoration? After a certain point, her actions don't even make anymore logical sense because she ADMITS that she wants xxxx... BUT she is SO stubborn that she would rather go down with her sinking ship to maintain this facade of being "right" than "risk" putting effort in and being rejected. That doesn't stop her from being sad. Now, she is crying and accusing ML for not doing more/leaving her/not reading her mind after her outright dismissal of his efforts. Wow.

Story isn't too bad if you just shut your brain off to the persistent victimizing. I can even accept a weak-willed, damsel-in-distress FL... what I could NOT accept is when she likes to paint herself to be a martyr with "pseudo-sacrifices" that all have ulterior motives for personal benefit. Where did she even sacrifice? If she didn't want to compromise, she just expected ML to sacrifice. Such hypocrisy. Even when given two attempts at life, she not only manages to do the bare minimum to help herself... she also manages to hurt every good person along the way while pushing the repercussions of her self-sabotage onto fate or ML "to fix" on her behalf.

It's not like us readers are "too dumb/insensitive" to understand the "nuances/complexities" of her PTSD/depression... however:

Who cares if she is "weak-willed"? That is NOT an justifiable excuse to KEEP hurting people. I understand why she makes bad decisions but I DO NOT CONDONE them after she keeps making them. What is the point of a second chance at life if all you do is be sad and pity those same mistakes? If she wants to make weak and bad decisions, face the consequences of her actions instead of always complaining about why other people or fate doesn't treat her better and "magically" fix her mistakes. She was a victim to her own actions. Instead of giving constant excuses to stay weak... she should be encouraged to become stronger. Only reason readers are acting like this is because FL is a TOP-TIER weak doormat who frames her biased perspective to maximize pity points for herself. So thankful that even though ML's abusive childhood also s**ked, he isn't nearly as weak and pathetic. You can have a bad past and still rise above it... unless you are this FL. Then, all you get are excuses as readers encourage this perpetual pity party of one. I sympathize but I don't act as if FL is justified... over and over again when she herself cries over her own mistakes without realizing that she keeps making them.

Also, this is a novel, having poor character development is a legitimate criticism that isn't just because readers are unsympathetic jerks. If by 80% of the novel, the FL acts the same as she was on page 1... then that is poor pacing for character development, especially since the FL chooses to be like this, NOT because she doesn't have access to the appropriate resources to change.

It is like going back in time after multiple chances... and DOUBLING DOWN on bad decisions because you think if you re-do them, the outcome will change? This is what happens for people who like to play the blame game = doesn't take responsibility and reflect = no learning = cannot improve = selfishly continues to hurt herself & others.

Say what you want about the ML... but THIS is why people criticize the FL. NOT because the readers are woman-hating/"ab*ser"-loving people who are dismissive to mental illness. I can only overlook so much.

There are a great deal of criticisms about this novel, but people are calling the author or completed readers dumb, insensitive, woman-haters for promoting a "romantic ab*se" story where we "victim blame" our poor victim princess into being with "scum" ab*ser WITHOUT FINISHING the story. Me? I applaud the author. She made me experience how toxic people like Rhia can be. I've never wanted to go into a novel and smack a character as much as her, and I've read my fair share of crap FLs.

True character assassination and "victim blaming" (ML was a victim to FL's decision, his own decisions, and 90% external circumstance) is what victim mentality FL does to ML at the start. Thankfully, ML never plays the victim, or I'd bury him too because he isn't some faultless victim either (like FL sees herself). He takes ownership of his, hers, and the villain's mistakes.

I wouldn't want to be her friend... let alone her partner. I question whether critics of the ML could have performed much better than him if they were in his shoes since he was working with a brick who refuses to listen or care about anyone besides herself.

Thankfully, she is only a fictional character. But the people that her excuses and personality "empowers" are dangerous. A criticism that the author is trying to convey. The author did NOT "jump the shark" and make the FL awful to "justify" ML... FL had this problem on page 1. There were no plot inconsistencies between FL's initial povs and ML's later povs. The author KNEW what she was doing because she wanted to show readers that it is dangerous to act like the FL (biased, self-involved in their own victimized mindset, keep giving excuses for repeated mistakes)... The author used multiple examples and OTHER characters to call out the FL for being so ignorant, passive, and non-verbal. Even the author didn't think FL was a good person, but everyone will literally go to such lengths to paint FL as such.

First marriage failed because of both of them, not just ML. Neither can express themselves, but FL has more underlying issues that came from her trauma.

Can't even consider it r*pe because both leads were under tremendous external pressure because of their roles to have an heir. It wasn't like the FL didn't know when she signed up as his queen. ML wasn't even the one pressuring her... she just spins it that way. ML's perspectives show that he was equally reluctant... but he is treated as "an ab*ser" because "he has more power" (jokes, he doesn't because FL keeps sabotaging him with his mom)... People are applying modern standards to a historical context... someone like the FL would NOT have made it very far as queen since the only thing that queens needed to do was produce an heir. It wasn't like FL brought great political boons to the country or the ML. This argument was always groundless because even the FL agrees to her duties to the real big bad... but not in her initial perspective (of course... because how else can she spin this as ML = ab*ser?). She wanted their first kid and their marriage to succeed too... She just put in no effort.

So many things critics blame ML for can also be blamed onto FL but only the ML is criticized extra harshly while the FL is always excused because she is "weak." I don't promote "weak" characters like her, so I'm not going to applaud staying weak + refusing to grow up + minimal growth as desirable traits in my fictional stories. Doesn't want to fight for what she doesn't want, doesn't want to fight for what she DOES want. Keeps running away & crying. I'm mostly frustrated because she gives up on herself before even giving a worthwhile attempt... and this passiveness doesn't change for most of the novel. Instead, she blames ML and pats herself on the back for a hard days work.

I have much more respect for the ML, who had a stronger mental resilience despite equally difficult hardships, and went to such extreme and selfless efforts to correct his mistakes for HER sake... when he could have just given up like FL does on day 1 of both lives. He doesn't even expect anything in return besides hoping that she is happy. Which... if you care to read until the last page... you see how much happiness FL achieved from reaping his efforts. Without him, FL would never have worked for her own happiness. Before, she was alive but not living.

She should thank the heavens that ML has endless patience and love for her because I do not. All FL knew how to do was stomp on his feelings, belittle him, and push him away. He is only human. No one can take continuous rejection and betrayal well... unless you are this lovesick ML. You know an author writes a good redemption when you end the novel feeling like the "victim" is undeserving and/or should be the one who begs for forgiveness... since the "bad guy" already paid his dues. But do I want another thirty-some chapters of FL? Maybe not. So let's just write it off with the happy ending.

Rhia - represents a toxic person that I would hate irl. A self-victimizing person who never takes responsibility and does not improve, even when given the freedom of numerous opportunities. Even if she doesn't realize it herself, subconsciously, she had a very high expectation of what others need to do for her in return for the non-existent little effort she offers them. Paints herself to be flawless and all-knowing because she is scared to acknowledge her own role in her downfall. My dislike is only heightened after seeing those who will coddle and dismiss any wrongdoings this character does. Felt like this character jumped off the pages into reality, so it was too much and too prolonged of realism for my escapist fiction. This character promoted an unhealthy adult attitude and expectations of platonic and romantic servitude "love." People who keep bringing up her trauma just encourages bad decision making - just because your life sucks doesn't mean you get a free pass to do harm and get away scott free. This is what incomplete reviews accuse the ML of... when it was the FL who ultimately acted like that. So is it excusable now because she is a woman? Guaranteed female readers would get the pitchforks out if FL was male. A laughably absurd character... only exacerbated by her advocates. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch... if she wants to reap the rewards... work for it. A vacuous character, filled with hot air of her self-righteous goodness and efforts, with no meritable input or results, conducted on her part, to show for.

Igor - In comparison, he was decent, if not arguably braindead and lovesick for tiresome FL. This type of unwavering dedication should only exist in fiction because it would otherwise be a toxic romanticization of the selflessness/desperation/sacrifices needed to be "worthy" of "love." Otherwise, he was a fine character since he actually developed properly. HE was the one who should have more self-respect and do better than a selfish woman who only cared about helping herself. He had his issues too... but they were peanuts compared to FL because he corrects all his mistakes early on in the second life. At least he KNOWS how to repent and reflect. Doesn't need an external party to grow some awareness and improve. Much greater empathy, seeing beyond his personal misery than FL.

Everyone is so "obsessed" with him "starting a war"... when:

1. It is later explained in detail that there was more to the Igor's "war" and his "rule." Even villains will say ML was a good king to Arundell but readers need to scrounge and distort any reason to continue to hate on ML and his "tyrannical war." He didn't just do it for FL... he did it to BETTER HIS COUNTRY, just like he says he would in the first life... (even the "ab*sed" FL AGREED with his actions AS KING since it made HIS COUNTRY prosper). Plus, with his actions, he knowingly saved HIS ENEMY COUNTRY from many worse outcomes (his actions made his opponents a better country too by the end)... He isn't out to terrorize her home country. Meanwhile... our FL...

2. FL was ok in allowing more people die by waiting for the plague to happen to save herself... for NO understandable reason? She already had a end date for their contract... but still has no will to help her only friend or her family avoid an inevitable plague and war that decimates her home country to ruins because she was a coward and needed some help in 1 year (idk why when the contract already ends?). How can I say this was wrong? Because even FL knew it was. She wanted to confess for 6 years, but her doubts evaporated when she prioritized revenge on Crichton's royal family (... Helena's family) and her rescue by Dimitri. All she had to do to solve this potential problem was speak up but she just does nothing. When she finally has an "epiphany" (waits until it is almost too late to intervene...) that a plague + war = bad idea... ML saved her country already.

You should call out ML's war... but you should ALSO CALL OUT the FL's selfish actions. She had the HIGHEST potential kill count in the second run... and it was her own people she was abandoning. ML was a king going after the enemy that he has no personal ties to (which is not that unrealistic or abnormal in history). FL? She valued herself over the people who loved her unconditionally for 6 years (a reoccurring theme with FL). Both are morally wrong, but which sounds worse?

People will excuse FL for "not being a mind reader or having reader omniscience." But FL never talks, so ML also has none of that info in the entire first life... and for a portion of the second life since FL likes to CREATE new problems by playing self-sabotaging mind games with herself. They were on an even playing ground in reasons for sucking at communicating and misunderstanding. It's hypocritical to blame ML for "not doing better" when FL should also be held to the same level. Not just that, every single character, villains AND side, tells the FL to smarten up, but she likes to turn the lights out in her brain, so she can retreat back into her imaginary safe space of "ML is responsible for all my problems." It's not even about "ML knowing more in the second life = he can improve."... it is "ML cares enough about FL to LEARN more and improve... while the FL CONTINUES to REFUSE to open her eyes and ears to reality... even if it is to improve HER OWN LIFE."

If I was the ML, I wouldn't even want to help out a weak-willed FL who keeps betraying me to the enemy. (There is multiple examples of when ML helps FL in the first life hidden in many other perspectives that is not the FL's because the FL will never interpret the ML and his goodwill.) If the FL wants help so bad... why doesn't she just ask the person she trusts the most (her godmom) instead of expecting the ML to pick up the slack? Better yet, why doesn't she go after what she wants and help him first? Or just speak up and ask for help? She just has to give him SOME signal that she cares... but she doesn't. Now she is complaining that he couldn't read her mind after her umpteenth time of hurting him. If both had average human reactions in reality, this political marriage would've just deteriorated into a cold avoid-each-other-as-much-as-possible marriage. But nope... despite all this unwarranted paranoia, ML is still toiling in the background to make FL happy and stop her from creating even more problems for herself.

While the misunderstanding theme was well maintained, I think the author made a mistake with the direction of FL's growth. Their dynamic left me feeling bitter at the toxic portrayal of a "true love." While superficially "happy, " if you really think deeply about their actions, the FL was very self-involved throughout and unworthy of the ML. I needed more selfless effort from the FL. For me, ML was better off alone or dead than being with someone who could only "be brave" if the ML paves the way for her first. Maturity in personal growth and in relationships should come from realization of mistakes instead of being reliant on someone else to fix everything for you, absolving yourself of any culpability... only for you to continue to take from them. Because of how generous ML was, FL was not made to be responsible for much beyond her own happiness... and even that she had difficulty in achieving without wanting more of his sacrifices. FL wasn't intentionally malicious... but her obliviousness and perpetual irresponsibility over her thoughtless actions made her not a very pleasant person either. People who unconditionally excuse her as a "pitiful victim"... I question whether anyone would want to put in the colossal effort to "help" her irl, unless they want to be a do-all s*ave to a "pure" white lotus who does nothing but take advantage of others since she refuses to care about the consequences of her actions or inaction.

Everything that led to her downfall... began with her choices. (Obviously, FL is not at total fault since the villains exploited the circumstances that she helped arrange. ML did a sh*t job too, but he smartens up on his second attempt, so I don't have to see a RE-RUN of dumb choices). She was miserable in Arundell in the first life and plagued by nightmares in Crichton in the second life. Incessant helplessness while this woman chooses to suffer in passive silence, over and over again. Her life keeps spiralling out of control from her own complacency and lack of motivation for self-improvement. This stagnancy is embraced (even actively encouraged) because ML her past is the catch-all reason to not ask for help or face her fears or change... ever. What "triggering" factor is supposed to kickstart her life? Because she's been waiting for it for a while.

Her mental illness may be understandable, but it CANNOT be the catch-all excuse for her numerous horrible decisions. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that her input was much less than the output she wanted from her friends ("oblivious to the truth" isn't a good excuse... she was more REFUSAL to think or empathize to avoid the possibility of feeling culpable). She had glaring flaws... not things to be proud of, no matter her reason for it.

Don't mistake my dislike for the FL as a "pro-ML" or "excusing" a "great" ML. I didn't like them together. My reasons for disliking FL is in isolation of who she was as a person, who was given a repeat at life, in conjunction to many minor hints and chances that she refuses to seize because she thinks herself to be "infallible and justified."

1. Dismisses any responsibility and refuses to consider her actions against others

2. Does nothing for anyone else's benefits asides her own in both lives, even disregarding her actions against the ML

3. Makes pseudo-sacrifices out of fear or personal gain but plays it off as selfless virtuousness

4. Is too resistant to facing consequences for too long. The person she ends up hurting the most is herself... but she keeps doing it with no introspection.

5. Perpetually unhappy... She is miserable because her life sucks but she doesn't do anything herself to change her circumstances, expecting others to do it. But when someone else tries to... she is unhappy because it is not HOW she wants it changed... so she complains some more. She also refuses to speak up about what she truly wants. It was an unending cycle of unhappiness and passiveness. Then, she accuses someone else for her unhappiness...

How DO you win with someone this stubborn and immobile? Keep giving so she feels compensated for her 'efforts' when she reaps their rewards?

None of the above applies to the ML in either lives. Just because someone was a victim, doesn't mean they aren't responsible for their wrong choices. If she doesn't want to reflect and continues to make bad choices... face the consequences of her actions, instead of complaining that others should fix it and dismissing blame when harm befalls you or others. There were so many things they could have done better in the first life. This is my rule for both leads, but only the ML has the empathy to care to learn in the second. Any potential second leads dodged a bullet with this garbage FL. Frustratingly dumb doesn't even begin to describe her.

I never comprehended why this woman was "so great" or "worthy" because I thought the ML was braindead, unless the only explanation is "her childhood sucks" or "she never intended to hurt anyone." I don't subscribe to the idea that "no intent to hurt or purposeful inaction = no wrong done." She was the bystander to a crime who walks away after doing nothing, feeling justified... sometimes acting victimized by being inconvenienced by what occurred before her person and as per her request. Even dumber when she finally STOPS doing nothing... she just hurts others with more selfishness. I didn't even know what I wanted from her because she s**ked at both doing nothing and doing something.

FL is not the worst character written. It is the opposite. It's just too much realism, y'know? Author did good at showing how childhood ab*se can manifest a victim mentality (her willful ignorance). I can even forgive that... until it became that in combo with her inherent temperament that she had on day 1 of childhood (selfishly craves but passively expects love from newcomers who have never even hurt her). She never wants to earn anything from newcomers; they were just expected to throw themselves at her feet (which is what all her real friends do to gain her friendship). Everyone had to come TO her, offering some olive branch. (ex. all the times the Duchess had to come crawling with an apology or explanation since FL always mistrusts at the slightest sign of "disloyalty." I only wish she had that paranoia in the first life with that traitor maid. No questions were ever asked by FL about that blatant disrespect or the person who assigned the maid. But every thing ML does? Unending paranoia). Second life FL's ire to ML was expected. I felt more for how hard Basil + Duchess beg repeatedly, when neither ever did anything wrong. They took the beating for those who wronged her in her past life.

That's FL's MO. Dad hurts her. Takes it out on ML because she thinks he will be the same deadbeat husband. Disapproves of mom's resolute clinginess to sh*t marriage leading to her unhappy childhood. FL does the same with ML marriage but solely blames the lack of involvement on ML. She repeats the same mistakes of forcing a one-sided marriage as her parents that caused her unhappy childhood. But it is always just ML's fault. Leticia and ML hurts her. Takes it out on 2nd life seemingly "clueless" ML and punishes him for "his future". Court life (godmom, ML) hurts her. Takes it out on ML (but never accuses the godmom for not protecting her). She suffered and died once. Takes it out on her friends in Crichton because she doesn't want to suffer again. At the heart of it, in both lives, she doesn't want to initiate or even engage in any meaningful communication or effort. Ever.

FL takes forever to realize that her above actions were wrong. Then, when she gives a pathetic apology and shows sign of "growth"... none of it seems sincere since she follows it up with repeating those same problematic traits. There was no winning with her. Insane levels of external effort was needed to heal FL.

One of those people who will treat others like dirt if things don't go her way (and it is already an uphill battle to earn her attention). FL only respects others when she is surrounded by everything she wants. Is it truly kindness if she needed the stipulation of being privileged enough to afford to be kind? The "kindness" she shows is something anyone could achieve. Anyone can be kind when they are showered by the efforts of others. True kindness is shown during how people act during the tough times.

This underlying problem is never addressed by FL herself because she excuses it as weakness and emotional trauma. The solution the book gives is for the ML to come crawling with her, begging for her to accept "the happy ending" so that she can finally be a 'good' person. So she does grow up... but the reason behind the growth? Tragic.

She didn't commit any irreversible wrongs, so NOT the worst FL. I just dislike fake-nice white lotuses, who gets everything from the tenacious effort of others. She was a bonafide hypocrite because every misery she accuses of others, she also enacts on someone she cares about (but will often not recognize). "Why does Helena not help me?" She never even thinks what she did to Helena was wrong (she only regrets not helping Dimitri). "Why doesn't ML help me?" She doesn't help ML. "Why does my dad not love me?" She would deny her child a father to protect her feelings. "Why does it feel like I'm getting abandoned in the 2nd life?" She doesn't let ML explain. "Why does ML not want to visit me in the 1st life?" She gives him the cold shoulder every time he does. Their miscommunication was dreadful. ML only takes her actions and words at face value. FL doesn't even know what she wants with her mixed signals.

She doesn't do this on purpose. She was just forever lost in her own world of high expectations that others should do for her. But when ML stops to care about his feelings after getting constantly denied, that is him being selfish? He doesn't even do that. Everything he did ended up for her benefit or what he thought she wanted. Whatever she wants, she gets. So ML also angered me for encouraging that toxicity with his pushover, limitless love.

An overexposure of grating character decision. Only advice I have is to stop thinking and accept the plot for what it dictates must happen next. This story is a step-by-step guide of everything not to do in a relationship.

Unlike ML, I would never redo this because I am not up for round two of this romance couple's therapy. That was the real tragedy. ML's IQ points and growth suffered as they fell into the gutters to force him on the same emotional playing field as FL. He got dumber each time he tried to appease her. His whole self-esteem is hinged on the happiness FL gets from taking advantage and stepping over him, without a single glance at herself or back at his difficult position. An imbalanced give-take relationship for MOST of this novel. Why does anyone like to be stepped over so much? What was there to like about the FL that needed this much sacrifice and selflessness? When I as a reader cannot understand this, it is hard to buy the absurd drama of this 'romance'. A exploration of how unaddressed mental illnesses can result in toxic relationships? Sure. A healthy romance I should see out in the real world? Yeah right. No one should take the beating for the fallout of someone else's mental illness (problem with both... one just keeps this act going for much longer because she has very little desire to self-reflect). Play s*upid games, win s*upid prizes.

Doesn't matter if they are depressed, real people (oblivious to the past) would hate to be a part of the the trouble and harm depressed FL or ML caused. But only ML has this belief. He tackled his problems and her problems. Everyone wants me to condemn ML (and expect him to grovel more) but keep "understanding" when FL doesn't change and doesn't empathize as her depression is free rein on bad selfish decisions? If I don't offer this enabling "sympathy", I'm callous to a female/lead's mental state (forget male or villains mental state, amirite...) ? The female exclusive halo around the pure FL was absurd in the book and the readers. Book showcased the toxic consequences of being a 'caring' person who 'supports' a depressed person with enabling excuses. It creates spiralling self inflicted unhappiness when the problem (themselves) is never acknowledged. FL could never be happy because no one had the balls to tell her that she is her own greatest enemy (she did not have the self-awareness or willingness to think herself so constant reliance on external parties to smarten her up). But will pro-FL readers see what the author was showcasing with the overuse of FL's self absorbed victim mentality povs? FL had more off putting traits than ML, whose mistake was being so in love that he became dumb and desperate (made him SO dumb to exaggerate the "romanticism" of his efforts).

FL was an abusive person who TOOK until she felt secure enough to be nice enough to return the gesture. And her happy ending suggests that ONLY HER (exclusive) mental-illness-is-a-GOOD-catch-all-excuse-for-self-centeredness since FL lucked out and coasted off the numerous gestures from lovesick ML (more grovelling required to 'be worthy' of the 'holy grail' FL.). Got everything for her nothing. If she GAVE more than her vacuous words, I wouldn't disapprove of the message she stood for in this romance (how to succeed as a selfish partner = enchant a lovesick idiot who has less self respect than the ground the FL walks on).

So frustrated with the unproductiveness of this character and the toxicity of this person. If FL doesn't endear me at either... what is LEFT for me as the reader?

kicked out her bastard father and his equally demonic daughter the moment they stepped foot inside her house. That was so satisfying.

Ruve's actions were caused by his enemies drugging him and causing his delusions, while Igor's actions were caused by his own ignorance and his inability to believe in his own wife. They're both a**holes.

according to the synopsis, Rhia chooses to be Igor's queen again and falls in love with him. Again.

EDIT: I stand corrected. Rhia didn't choose to be Igor's queen, she was forced to by Igor (because he's a selfish prick who doesn't care about anyone but himself) and Chrichton's prince (because he wants to protect his sister). Anyway, this just adds on to my point that Igor is a b*tch.

From what I understood in the story, Igor also got rebirthed and the way he's behaving certainly suggests a change in his character but THAT DOESN'T JUSTIFY HIS WRONGDOINGS. He did all of those things consciously and purposefully. What's worse is despite all the shitty things he did, he still insists on getting Rhiannan back. Like, how arrogant and insensitive can this dude be?

And so, I don't get how Rhia can forgive and love Igor despite everything he did when she immediately kicked Leticia (her evil half-sister) to the curb the first chance she got? Why can Igor get a second chance while Leticia doesn't? Don't be mistaken, I'm not siding with Leticia, I hate that bit*h as much as the next person, but my point is: they both caused her immense pain and suffering, so why can't they get the same treatment? I just don't understand the double standards when it comes to lead characters and villains. It's so hard to sympathize with the ML when I know that the villain can just as easily gain redemption if given the chance. I hope my point gets across.

Three spoilers. He dind't cheat on Rhia. If you continue to read the novel you would understand what happened in reality, and if he dind't visit her after she lost their baby, there is a very important reason for that. At the time she fell from the stairs he fell it too, and was unconscious from that time on. When he woke up, he dind't have the time to go and see Rhia because Leticia had already killed her, and because he went to see his mother (the queen) and ask why she had accused Rhia of something she haven't done

Summarizing:

1. He didn't cheat, and never did with any other woman.
2. The queen is the one who accused Rhia (the queen is totally crazy, she is the villain of the novel)
3. He didn't visit Rhia because he was unconscious in bed, and didn't know she was in jail obviously.
   
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Actually, you can just read this part to understand. Go make your own opinions. In my opinion on the wedding night they had to have s*x (though I didn't like it), it was expected of them. The other parts, it's been awhile since I read this (I happened to find it randomly when it was coming out, and I had to read it through google translate) so I'm a little blurred on what happened lol. Just go read it, I guess?

nothing I say will eclipse you going and actually reading what happened. Sorry, even I don'tget this lol. I will say that from my limited understanding of Google translate, they didn't actually have s*x, it just seemed like it???

when he was in a coma

come on... you made me stress for how many chapters cuz you didn't want him to explain??? Are you serious? Like, I get her pain, but couldn't she have at least sat down and listened to him????

after chapter 242-ish, yes over 200 parts later

she almost killed herslef angain and repeated another tragedy because of her misconceptions

•about the r*pe: ML knew FL didn't enjoy doing it. He wanted to love her properly. But FL was so traumatized by her mother's marriage that she was very distant. He is very impulsive and childish he thought that FL was on his mother's side and was jealous of her cousin. I can't tolerate r*pe like literally but I also understand the setting of this novel. They had immense pressure from everyone to create a heir. And well this is kinda expected from the way political marriages work. But he does properly love her in second Life. He makes it up to her and she enjoys it. (I'll be honest it was initially a bit difficult to read their snu snu having pure hatred for the ML but it gradually changed for me.)

•about cheating: ML didn't do the deed with Leticia. There's a mistake in English translation. There's no mention of him putting his thing inside her in the original novel. FL saw it wrong. Leticia is really f*cked you'll see when you read further. ML only kissed her to get information out of her. They were planning to kill rhia

ML even lets her go in the end. She gets cured of her PTSD. She becomes pregnant and he's like you can go wherever you want as long as you're happy I'm fine with it. I'll be happy with the warm memories that we've shared. The letter that he writes to her is so emotional.

the title is actually about the male lead. That's what I found really interesting about this story.

This uselessly selfish MC wants it all done and still thinks she deserves more than him. If he actually had self love, ML would have kicked her off that high pedestal he and she placed herself on. MC only allowed ML to be happy if she STOLE happiness from him. Generous of the thief to return and graciously give the pathetic chaser the chance to share the happiness. Did she sacrifice one singular thing for ML, besides like the others say, her repeated survival? Rihannan Alessin, ladies and gentlemen, the kindest and most deserving MC. /S. The blend of her general bull**** and his pathetic devotion leave me seething b/c this is advertised as a natural, even romantic, resolution.

Being a mentally weak character and being an insensitive, useless, selfish person are separate criticisms. I hated the latter. She does not help others, so she deserves her unfulfilling outcomes. Although it makes for a boring story, she can be the weak princess who needs her knight. Wouldn’t be the first, nor the last female in this genre. Writers need to get with the times; so many females have a victim or princess complex (some eat this nonsense up since people wanted MC to be spoiled even more princess like b/c of how sad she was) ? MC could cry 24/7, but it doesn’t change the fact that she get what she puts in, so why is she upset at her subpar outcomes when she does zilch to reach them... ? If she doesn’t want to be better, she doesn’t deserve better. She used two lives and still failed to do something constructive with her reset button (to avoid dealing with her trauma, she ran to Chrichton to find the next suckers who cared for her. She purposely made them clueless so they keep their positive outlook of her and would work hard to spoil her).

Hallelujah to the antagonists. Thanks for ending my hate read and making the MC STFU and listen like a proper adult instead of the haughty child she was. Should’ve killed the ML while they were at it to reward the MC more (might as well since we were on a roll in handing MC what she verbally says she wants) – she will finally earn freedom away from her ‘ab*ser’ or what she tells herself to sleep at night. Her obnoxious “I want more as payment for living and sitting here” is why I seethe at an ending that DID drop out of the sky into her lap for reasons unknown to me. I wanted antagonists to win and kill ML b/c death sounds better than the artificial happiness he got from this love affair with MC. MC should live to cry alone on her mountain of selfish choices trapping her in that situation. This book distorts realistic outcomes of what would have happened to ML and MC from their efforts to rewards so that it can be sold as a romance. MC’s arc made me want to throw my ipad at its unfairness. By herself, she is a write off that I will scrub from my mind. But for my own pride as a female, I seethe at what her personality and outcomes symbolize when sold as acceptable conduct from a character, by virtue of being a female character. It is romanticised as a beautiful, justified chase. The epilogue was unsatisfactory to undo my hatred. If it weren’t for how innocent their daughter was, I would re-imagine that ML died like the simp he was. Unlike her useless and selfish mother, I feel too guilty to rob Maia of her father.

Can’t trust accusations from one eyewitness – not every victim is a victim if their retelling feels devoid of self reflection. MC sees what she wants to see. She narrates her ‘facts’ with self assured certainty, without fact checking. The writer fooled readers in the first twenty chapters (stroke of genius). Hats off to the writer – she wrote a f*cking relatable MC that exposes the same problems as those who also make the same premature conclusions off one side of the story. Maybe MC had the right attitude: ‘ignorance is bliss.’ The less you know, the more freedom you have to point fingers. Stop reading when she leaves for Chrichton (like reviews hating on ML) if the book you want is ML to remain an evil ab*ser since the rest is exposing MC and her selfish uselessness (the fact that you’ll never see how useless and selfish MC was to her husband from her side shows what sort of wife she was. She doesn’t believe she has any fault. Her mistakes are only shown from others. It’s not like she wasn’t physically there during those events... she was there, did her part in fueling the misunderstanding, then leaves crying victim). And then, girls get upset b/c the author sullied the angelic female lead. The writer was doomed b/c girls are never wrong.

The one thing that was done appropriately was writing a shared responsibility. I do not think their actions would have been conducive to maintaining a good first marriage after seeing how both acted in it. MC could not open herself up with anyone in her second life either...

The writer could have cut me some slack and made MC not so useless, but I did come out a stronger woman. Now I relate to how guys feel when girls act hot n cold – it’s an insufferable ploy to stroke one’s ego and makes the chaser feel like garbage about their self worth.

Moral of the story is to not act like MC or ML. Nobody should be as unreasonably selfless as ML. Nothing is wrong with selfishly looking out for yourself but be useful and smart about it (did this really need to be a isekai if MC does nothing both times?!!??!). Don’t be the obstinate MC who sat uselessly to self righteously stroke her own ego and wounds, especially when the people with solutions keeps banging on your f*cking door. You can’t be useless in finding a solution and selfish in waiting for one out of nowhere at the cost of others. That’s too much. Choices have consequences. Their faults make them perfect for one another. I hope MC exploits and uses him for all he is worth, all the way to his grave, since that is all this dumbass does well. When she says to jump, he asks how high. GET A GRIP, MY MAN. Is he pitiful or mindless? Unconditional love should not be advertised as the be all, end all – relationships require effort from all participants. You can’t build something when your only skill is being alive and in love (MC in a nutshell). Actions speak louder than words. What actions or words came from MC during this soap opera? That ending... F*CK. Book ended weak b/c MC’s little to no growth overturned the growth of the only character who bothered to change. Everyone barring Igor was a static character, but that makes sense for antagonist cannon fodder, makes no sense for leads like Rhia.

Incredibly abusive previous life with the Male lead. Ab*se, neglect, r*pe, cheating with sister which then causes miscarriage after which its neglect, imprisonment and then indirect mu*der. Then both the MC and the ML are reincarnated.

[/To] To those saying that the ML is a bastard read through the whole story and you all will eat your words, ML is the most selfless character here in the story. He give everything, and did everything just for the fl.

FL is a villain in disguised, he always victimize herself and sell herself as the poor little girl who have been cheated and has been traumatized. She is the most toxic person/ character in the story, always just taking and not giving, a typical person who uses their weakness to as a reason for their behavior and blame others, she is Selfish: she always think of herself she never ask the ML and just presumes things and mostly the cause of their feud.

She is irresponsible, she never care of her responsibilities as Queen, " she was made a hostage queen" (okay yes)

"she's only a contract queen" (okay fine) however she is still queen, she thinks lightly of her role and does always want to leave, and always says hate the place, don't like their but for pete sake she is the mother of the country she is not just the individual but a representation of a nation. She even want to abandoned her child, she knows thinking too much will affect the baby but she doesn't care all she wants was to leave the palace. She never tried to understand the ML all she just care about is her own pain, (how about the pain of the others?)

She always reject the things people say about the ML because she only believe what she believed and is always contradict every good things they say about ML, and all those actions the ML does she always think negatively.

She loves her Trauma: It's not easy to recover from trauma, however if you already knew you have those fears why take at least any small actions to heal yourself, she is afraid of things will turn same thing as the first timeline however she hast done anything. The only thing she did was Run, Run and Run.

She is ungreatful: even though the ML did everything for her past and present, even those side characters cared for her, she didn't bat an eye to leave them and pursue her own selfishness. Then she will still keep asking herself why someone doesn't care for her, why people leave her, or even betray her, I mean their are people who clearly care for her but since she is selfish and s*upid she always reject those people who are genuine with her.

She always complains and blame her husband but never her faults, she knew she need to do something to prevent her demise but she did nothing, all she think was escape and then everything is over, but take note after six year of running away she is still suffering from her trauma, she thought if she escape it will help but clearly not.

She is the typical childish person who only wants the guy to do the move first, always want's to be pampered and spoiled, and she will just do nothing but she will cry if the guy misunderstand her. (He is not a mind reader)

[/All]All in all this a great novel which has great resemblance from what is really happening in reality, that relationship are not all cuddles and romance and being a hero, this depicts what if couple doesn't have communication.

what happens if problems are all unresolved and just jumping to conclusions without knowing the other parties explanation before judging. The author did a good job in making all the ugliness and biases of the world into her novel, people really believed easily that who is at fault is the ML based on what the Narrator says, and judge the character and the story poorly. In our society it is always like that people easily believed women because they are fragile and they are women, whereas men are judge automatically with unreasonable doubt. If the characters have switch people will less care because it was the man and he deserved it without even some evidence that he really is evil. Honestly I feel bad for the ML, even his readers judge and blame him at the end he really did not totally cope up with his trauma. Which I think the author purposefully write it that way. He also deserved to be happy as like everyone else no matter what gender.

everything is going on 1TL, both are reason.. u can't clap by one hand it's take two.. ML tried so herd to protect the marriage but MC didn't.. she can't stand up or herself and that's bad.. Both are hungry for for love and loved the wrong people.. So read patiently then review.. u will understand what I'm saying...