The MC has the few description of a male who looks effeminate (girly). And it’s said he is bold or at least not weak, but it is barely shown at all. Even his background as an agricultural student doesn’t really have a place. There’s only 3 times it is used, but it’s only in a couple sentences : royal garden, agricultural development in Casper, and the Wisteria. The ML is also poorly described. He is known to be aloof but the author makes him seem that it is only a forced title. I can’t seem to see any traits of his or his actions are forced because of the situation. His traits are just a little bit above the other characters, and nearly as good as the MC. It would be more acceptable if the side characters were low in development, but the MC and ML are also less developed. Maybe it’s just me, and they in fact are developed and I’m just blind to this.

From the description of the novel, you would expect the MC to be lively or at least be a bit more. But no. In fact, the MC is dull. Well, dull is a bit harsh. He’s just a little bland. His reactions and how he says things are too polite. Polite is nice, but he doesn’t get informal very much. Maybe it’s because of his upbringing, but that doesn’t get brought up much either. In fact, none of the characters ever truly break away from speaking formally. Occasionally there would be a character that will be casual (the emperor the most) but none of them are really informal. It’s needed because the main characters are high people or people who need to speak formally, but I thought, at least when the couples are alone, will they speak a bit more informally; but no. And there’s also the title. The MC is supposed to be cold, and maybe that will explain his formality, but honesty, if we look at it. He’s not acting. He has always been formal. If being cold means not smiling, then he’s doing a great job. But other than that, he is not cold. He even treats the concubines neutrally even though they bullied him. Honestly felt a little fooled.

There are some parts of the story where you just want more details. For example, any more detail on Urie’s thought of the MC? I mean, don’t lie, if you read until the end, you sort of shipped Urie x MC too. Even the citizens. Another thing, the citizens thoughts aren’t put into effect. There’s a small snipet that explain what the citizens thinks, but afterwards no more? And we also don’t know what happened after the assassination attempt. I want to know the after results. Not your after s**! And does MC ever get more info on the first prime minister from Squire Butler boy? MC gets all of his information directly from the ML at the end, but that’s not really climatic. And what about getting back to his old world. No missing? He doesn’t have any emotions about it. Maybe he accepted it, but honestly, there’s not a lot of description on that.

In the entire story, the moment there is a problem to cross, the problem is as small as a rock. That’s how easy the MC bypasses it. When he needs to get engaged. No need for a couple days to decide. No need to contemplate whether I can even do it. No need to consider marrying a dude and leaving my now home! It’s like, “I’m willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good. Like right now”. And the thing is, this part doesn’t make him seem weak or make us sympathize, it just there to make him seem strong. What it makes me feel is frustrated. I mean, who doesn’t think for a couple days on a decision they will probably never escape from. Next one, the concubine’s bullying. There is only one instance of bullying and that is the bugs. No more. Then the tea party comes, and there is no face slapping. The bullying stops right afterwards. And then they are all friendly. Next: the visit of the rumored lover. So this is a couple tit for tat thing. ML gets jealous, MC feels lonely, yadda yadda. Dance comes, and there’s affection in the air for a brief moment. Urie comes, ML gets jealous. And then at night, feelings are shown and now they are officially a couple. Eh. Could be worse, could be better... Next one! The assassination. So the MC becomes the hero[ine] that saves the country from possibly another war, and the ML about to go ballistic. But you know what, it comes out fine. (this is like the only issue I didn’t mind turned out find, except I wanted to know what happened to the other country) During the MC recovery, the truth about his hair and eyes are discovered. There is no setbacks. No nothing. Just acceptance, and some recovery from our MC.