When the old mistress mentioned that the pendant was pure gold, I kinda knew that it might be the ring.
Just to join the discussion about MC...
I read plenty across genres that I met a plenty of trashes, MC is merely just an addition to the list. I won't justify their actions or what, that's part of their characterization. What I would like to point is, look for the theme of the story instead of jumping and seeing something you can't stomach.
After reading a few chapters, obviously being a tyrant was treated as an acceptable way up to the throne, as her people fear and worship her power. So yeah, her actions are acceptable and matched the settings. Also, there's plenty of hints that the ML, while submissive and passive, wasn't anywhere near sane as well. He's obsessing over the MC in a different way. He's displaying a low self esteem hidden away by being humble and agreeable. Preparing a love nest might seem romantic, but him investing everything on it while also thinking they're impossible is a good recipe for someone to develop delusional tendencies. So from the start, the story wasn't spring flowers blooming. Even the title says so. That's why despite having r@pe and abuse in the story, it's acceptable for me. Cause I know what I sign up for, it's on the freaking genre! Tho the most important part was that the main cast are all tainted. The theme was an R-18 dark for some reason, ok.
Look, it's the same way wherein it's acceptable in survival genres to have some selfish, cunning, etc kind of Main leads while a gullible and innocent character will be hated. I don't mind those, heck I cheer for them to dug pits for others. But fvk I will freak if I'm reading a light genre and there's some harasser/tyrant character that suddenly grabs people and abuse them. I'll be so disgusted I might drop the story. Anyway, I hope I'm getting across my point.