#just the same way Helene is overprotective of Lyla but doesn’t stop Lyla from loving Fian

[shidoukanae]

One thing about TME’s manhwa that I like is you can tell the artist listened to people’s criticisms of the original story and created a story that actively addressed all those flaws, therefore creating a story that’s much better than the work that inspired it

Lyla isn’t constantly bemoaning her situation or taking actions that seem dumb, such as insisting on the idea the royal family should just magically print money after just being scolded for that exact line of thinking because of the effects of inflation (whereas in the manhwa Lyla’s like “oh shit that’s illegal to do? My bad” just as the narrative calls her out for being the leading cause of inflation). 

Lyla’s obsession with Fian also (thankfully) gets mellowed out and more focus is put on her relationship with other people - including characters like Phillip, Rosalyn, Odelia, etc - rather than her overdependence on Fian for happiness (siiiiiiiiiiighs). The only thing I miss is that this means she doesn’t get as many interactions with Paris which was one of the relationships I actually really liked more in the novel than in the manhwa. 

The Emperor and Empress are still shitty people, but it’s hard to truly hate either of them in the manhwa when you can tell where they’re coming from whereas in the light novel they’re honestly not redeemable and I’m glad Lyla took vengeance on them. Characters like Angelina and Odelia are also fleshed out more in the manhwa, though Tyrone is more fleshed out in the light novel.

The inclusion of Daniel/Ellie, Rosalyn/Phillip and Paris/Helene in the main plot is actually so welcomed and clever. The fact none of these relationships are canon to the original story yet have so much chemistry is bamboozling, especially because it’s Helene’s playfully hostile relationship with Paris that made me drawn to this story in the first place. 

I also like that Phillip was lent more staying power in the manhwa narrative and that he became intertwined with Fian in seeking Lyla’s affections, so much so that for once I like that a second male lead with no chance exists and he feels like a character that isn’t a waste of time to the plot. Light novel him in comparison felt underwhelming, though him teaming up with Helene in reforming Belliana was a dynamic I enjoyed

Also the manhwa plot is is very well crafted because it takes the same events that happen in the LN - from Odelia and Helene’s fight over the hunting festival’s rewards to Lyla’s savior hood of Phillip and Ellie - and threads them into a much more cleverly cohesive narrative, with every addition made to the story - such as Fian’s accompaniment to Lyla during the runaway arc or Helene “randomly” seeking Lyla out to have tea with her - enhancing the story’s experience as a whole.

I think the only thing the manhwa has done better is showing how certain characters think and operate. Also Paris is, imo, written a bit better in the LN, if only because he’s genuinely understandable and sympathetic and his interactions with Lyla felt meaningful and it sucks he got stripped of his time with her (though on the other hand him getting more moments with Helene more than makes up for it lmao).

Also I kind of liked the politics and engagement of modern values in a more conservative world in the LN and while it went a bit over my head, seeing stuff happen like Helene becoming the Chairwoman of a cabinet of advisors that helps doing stuff like distribute territory seized post-coup was just,,,, wow,,, I really think it was interesting to see Helene dismantle the empire she grew up in out of disgust for its outdated and harmful practices and I’m curious if manhwa!Helene will do the same since the manhwa eliminates a huge portion of her motives to break up the Belliana Empire (I.e the practice of polygamy and how such a practice basically fucked up her life and Lyla’s as well as the Belliana traditions that lead to ostracism and generational trauma).