The first 30 chapters or so are quite typical - Lalit gets away from Seraphina (original female lead, fake friend, white lotus) and Gregory (now ex-fiance who has always been in love with Sera). Then she became friends with Eva, gets acquainted with Eva's brother Dietrich, and their relationship continues to grow. In between there's a little minor Seraphina and Gregory messes, but all's fluff and good and the world is peaceful.

THEN. GREGORY REGISTERED HIS AND LALIT'S MARRIAGE. ALL ON HIS OWN. The temple (well, mostly Priest Evans who is also Marquis Evans who is also Dietrich's uncle. did I mention he wanted to help Dietrich run the duchy until he is of age but Dietrich rejected him? I think you guys can see where this is going) accepted it.

Is the entire empire's society idiots? How can everybody (except Dietrich and Eva) think this is acceptable and normal? How can the temple not allow Lalit to see the marriage registration "because she came alone" when Gregory can submit the marriage himself? Okay, he has Lalit's seal, but COME ON PEOPLE.

The only saving grace is that this nonsense arc lasted only about 10-15 chapters. I cannot fully remember how this thing is resolved, I just know that the Dietrich did most of the work.

After this is when the author starts aggressively pushing the main villain into the story. The main villain, who... *drumrolls* is Priest Evans aka Marquis Evans aka Dietrich's uncle who wanted to manage the duchy in his place when his parents died from an "accident". I can't remember his first name... But yeah this Evans guy started using Seraphina, and they poisoned the empress and tried pinning it on Eva.

The showdown against Evans is not terrible if I think back, but during the time of reading, it's just long, repetitive, draggy. And the little romantic or cute moments in between aren't enough to quell the frustration.