Imagine you are a child, the sister you admire the most was just revealed to you as QII granddaughter, how are you supposed to handle that information. Are you going to be scared that she's going to leave you and live a better life without you. That's Riel's reaction, she changes in a way, where she desperately tries to tie Irene to her so she won't leave her, even if that means treating her badly, bc Irene is the only person who ever supports her. Chase parents are fake af ((another spoiler about Irene: they're also scared af of the emperor after the whole annihilation of the princess' clan. That's why they need to conceal Irene's identity, and they hugely resent her, bc now they have to take care of someone they don't even want to, just to protect Irene's aunt's identity as linked with the former empress.) The maids ignore her, only Irene is there for her. Inferiority + fear + immaturity + envy. If she didn't have a big reaction, THEN it would be unrealistic.

The plot gets soooo much more developed after their wedding (Vol 2). Because of the length of this novel, you actually gain insight slowly, and you see the progression and development step by step of the characters, and the setting. It's a fantasy novel so there's magic, and it's so fun to read about their missions! Seriously, Irene's character growth, Noel's character growth, Grandpa's too. We stan development. I really appreciate how there's many supporting characters Noel's friends, and the people involved with the duchy and imperial palace. You will see that the characters much later in the novel, are the real villains, not Riel atm.

Also, this story is sooooo sweet?? Big spoilers ahead

Yes there are flaws in the novel. But overall, there's a reason why this novel was so popular it got serialized. Because, it makes you feel good. It makes you feel happy, it makes you laugh, it tugs at your heart strings. There are very 'human' and realistic moments, and there are times when you see the characters aren't perfect, and you can relate to them, but there's also moments that remind you, yes this is a fantasy novel, and it's found that balance.

Irene is not a daughter of the family at all. She's royalty. The family knew and decided to raise her as Riel's caregiver and family successor because s*upidity? Riel found out prior to the start of the story. And went nuts with "How dare she be better than ME!!!"

As an illegitimate child, he is cast aside by society so he proved himself through hard work. You'd expect him to be the cold CEO type but he's actually pretty sensitive. He knows how to perceive his surroundings and understand others.

. I like how he defended the FL when he came to her mansion for the first time. He's super sweet and in the promotional manhwa he looked so damn fine-

. Ok I was talking with someone about this novel and they said they didn't like the FL because she was weak and was always crying? (Which she wasn't) She's been through a a lot for so long and for people to say she's weak just cuz she cries after holding it in for so long is just s*upid.

The FL turned out to be of royal descent??? how?? why?? I thought she was just some illegitimate child or something. Like either from a maid, or her mother fricked her husband's brother or something, or she was adopted from her aunt?? idk. So this made the actions her parents take much more confusing, cuz, hello? why not just curry for her favor just in case she is acknowledged by the royal family.... the only reason I can see that happening is for her to be an illegitimate child of the royal (which is looked down upon so she has no chance of becoming a royal) and the count and countess having this huge complex where they enjoy having the blood of the royal working for them, especially under their beloved daughter.

I will say that I think at times the FL's family feels a little one-dimensional because all they care about is Riel, but, since I think their "favoritism" comes from Riel's sickness and their neglect of Irene has become so habitual from this desire to give Riel all the things they can because of the limitations she has, I'll give the story a little bit of a pass on this because truthfully it's more complex than some of the other stories I've read. Plus, I think Riel's sickness makes an interesting combination with this greed she has to take everything from her sister. It makes her a little more understandable than a villianess who is simply fighting for the ML or a simple greed character who wants to have everything. Her greed comes from somewhere and that makes her a lot more interesting than many other characters I've encountered.