Because of their situations, they consider each other enemies. They shouldn't fall in love. But they do. The ultimate ending for this series is "Rupert and Lariette obtain happiness". Both of our leads have complicated traumatic pasts. Both are distrustful of the other and are enemies at first. But over time, they fall in love with each other naturally, not by misunderstandings or for shallow reasons, but rather because they fall in love with each other's "true self", despite the masks they wear in public and the secrets they desperately hide.

Both Rupert and Lariette are flawed humans, and make mistakes and suffer the consequences. In this series, some allies turn into enemies, and some enemies turn into allies. You don't know until the last moment. In this world, Lariette is betrayed many times, and her faith in what she thought was true is tested.

Lariette, our FL is not a generically nice, self-insert OP chara, even as the regressed character. She has her own headstrong yet timid personality that readers may not agree with. Lariette is a very sweet, lovely character who radiates warmth and comfort. She hides her trauma and hatred from the past deep in her heart, as she suffers greatly when those memories surface... and they do surface and are exposed in a very cruel way.

Rupert is rough around the edges. He is fundamentally a kind, gentle person who acts very rude. His first meeting with Lariette was very bad, and he had threatened her many times at the start, because he had 0 sense. His goal is to survive and become Emperor, and he learns what it means to be a "human" with Lariette's influence. As much as he cherishes her, his world doesn't only revolve around her.

but there was actually a valid reason once you get into it!