Let me start by saying, I'm glad my request for this story finally got added to the MAL database since I just came across it randomly not too long ago. There's a lot that needs to be addressed about this story; both good and bad parts, which is why I added the spoiler tag. As crazy as the first chapter is and how we quickly learn about the 2 main character's long history, my attention was captured with how things would progress from there. It fascinated me how the MC has strategically avoided raising too much suspicion from anyone, especially the ML. I found the artto be a little jarring with how the characters were designed specifically, but it doesn't take away from the context of the story.

Unfortunately, this is where I must draw the line for any further praises considering the awkward and concerning flow of the story from this point forward.

The ML, the Emperor and even the Empress all know that the MC is actually a woman crossdressing as a man since there were no boys in the MC’s family. Now, I find it hard to fully understand why the Emperor throws inkstones and paperweights at people whenever he’s angry, including at the MC that causes her to blackout for a moment. Not only that, but when his daughter spread extremely false rumors about her and the MC being together, the Emperor left it up to the MC to solve the claim before it got out of hand. Another thing I find so unsettling is how the Emperor has interest in the MC but not as an in-law, which is just weird considering he accepted the proposal from the Empress to have the MC and ML engaged. This was one of the things that sent me over the edge of being livid.

Now let’s discuss the horrible mistreatment coming from other characters towards the MC. It baffles me how much other characters practically bully and use the MC against her free will. I understand that this may also be bad karma from offing the ML 49 times in different timelines, but she only appears to remember the last one where she was killed first. I tried to press on past this mistreatment, but she even gets flack coming from her younger sister, Yo Rinhwa.

Look, I’m a younger sister to my older brother and sister, but I would never be such a nuisance for them or my parents like how Yo Rinhwa has been so far. This has to be the worst sibling interaction in a historical story like this that I have ever seen in the past 6 years since I started reading manhwa, etc. The amount of eavesdropping that this girl has done is just ridiculous, and then she has the nerve to get mad when her family is planning a way to save face. Honestly, half of the MC’s conflicts so far are split between Yo Rinhwa and the Emperor with his crazy family.

Some people might state that the ML is cold or whatever but let’s not forget that he has a perfectly good reason as to why that is. He’s probably the only somewhat normal character right along with the MC’s best friend, even though he has a crazy family himself.

All in all, this story is unique in many ways so it’s up for you to decide if something like this is worth your time investing in. My rating is 5.