- #1
Cons: Delusional, tad misogynistic, more narcissistic than attractive, and way too jealous at the beginning aka he'll only get worse. He is showing emotionally-problematic controlling tendencies in her clothing, friendships, and males around her. It's only going to get deeper and more suffocating while he becomes more attached to her. Partners like that will not loosen up or relax, he will only get used to MC bending and going his way.
Explanation:
- ML seems to believe the rumors around MC, that she is a hoe and has no elegance, and disregards her because of it.
- That will change as the story progresses I'm sure (no ML could stay with those thoughts).
- I don't like that he treats the men around MC like cheating partners, it's an insecurity showing up ugly.
- This will not change. Plenty of MLs continue this way.
- ML is proud of MC's one-sided pouring affections, he expects compliments on each date and even urges MC when she forgets.
- ...
tell me you're an attention who*e without telling mejk however it's a turn-off for me. Like, mister? Is MC your babysitter? This is an adult relationship. MC is giving effort and you are accepting her effort like your 'effort' is to accept her praise? Please stop.
- ...
- Upset when MC stops her daily letters that he doesn't respond too.
- HE. DOES. NOT. RESPOND. Are we forgetting that? This isn't mutual communication, this is MC sending "Please meet me, your hair glitters like gold" and ML placing it in a drawer and waiting for the next day's letter to arrive. Someone, tell me how that's romantic.
- ML thinking, "Why do I have to apologize, we will be married anyway, it was an arranged marriage from the start" after he verbally hurt MC after his misunderstanding.
- He said, "you are just like the rumors and cannot change", after misunderstanding a situation where MC helped ML's sister... ML put off apologizing and did not contact MC for days. It was MC's contact that they finally met and ML squeezed out a "I regret acting that way". I expected more from the man who sent MC a tailored dress, asked to escort her, 24/7 thinks of MC, is hung up on her smile and winks, and feels giddy being around her.
I still get disgusted reading that. Taken for granted. Burning time instead of making amends. It was a cowardly thought and thankfully he used MC's invitation to apologize, but if MC had not approached first this man, without a doubt, would've waited out time until the wedding. And for a Male Lead, that behavior is not my type.
Of course others may believe otherwise, or even kindly think "Everyone is scared of rejection, especially when it's on a subject important to them" so maybe thinking of fleeing is simply human, standing up to that feeling and facing the fear is also human. Here's the thing though, this man is delulu in his POVs as well.
[collapse]Male Leads Delulu POVSSpoilerReading his POVs was like realizing my generous benefit of the doubt, was too generously laid THICK.
Every moment in the story where ML should've stood up for MC I thought, "maybe his mind was elsewhere". His POV said, "Nope, ML heard every dig at MC and chose to get slightly annoyed"... Ok so you heard that man call MC cheap tr*sh and did nothing, and you heard MC's siblings call her an illiterate hoe... thanks man.
How many digs at MC does it take for ML to react? I lost count at 10. He did fight a woman at the party who said, "MC stole my dress and hurled insults at me" which was a straight lie since ML bought the dress. But like, it was the least he could do since he was directly involved.
When ML was in the carriage with MC and bumped his knees on hers and teasingly pushed her knees further to which MC glared and ML smirked... His POV said, "Oh my god, did she hit my knee? How bold, lets increase contact a little more... Oh look at that fiery passion shes staring at me with, she really loves me too hotly"... I KID YOU NOT. I JOKE NOT. Delulu-man's breaking his attraction with every thought revealed.
I came to this novel expecting a villain, a teasing, smirking, taunting, cold yet logical and reasonable man. The Duke. I expected an Adult Duke... Is ML a teenager? No no no he graduated from the military academy and is the most eligible bachelor, that title would not be on a teenager. But why? Why does he act so mid-puberty hormonal? Don't call it love. His sudden change is like taking drugs.
[collapse]Ok listen. A weak male lead is okay to me. Not every man needs to be the strongest, tallest, most successful, and most confident. It's unrealistic, that's not the standard I compare this man to. I love when a male lead shows his emotions, insecurities, or innocence. They feel human and like a good partner. This guy is kinda gross in my opinion. It's like the author wanted to make him an 'obsessive to his woman, cold to others' type and failed. They failed, and he's getting gross and creepy. If he does change for the better, then good. But the only future I see and saw (the opening scene) was him becoming more obsessive, possessive, and controlling.If you read another novel with a 3rd point of view on this situation, the Male lead would be classified as enchanted and needing saving. He became a mess for MC way too fast for an Adult. Cold. Duke.If he had an attractive personality... this would still be a turn off. Why did ML become like that.Oh sorry, let me mention one more thing. MC only read the introduction/summary/first page of the original novel. MC DID NOT EVEN READ THE NOVEL. So why was she sooooooo certain ML was the serial killer after revealing her law background and aspiring detective career? Because she's also annoying. The saving grace was the man who socked a noble and MC took as an assistant. That man needs all the good things in that world. He kept me going, but I soon couldn't continue because I saw too much Bullsh*t from the two main characters.