How could I express it better, this was a quite an okay story. It has tropes, surely, but it is also dynamic. Because of two main characters there is no drama bordering on ragedy.
The FMC is a strong-willed noble lady who has a lot of good qualities about her and with the situation she finds herself in she doesn't mop around but takes action. I like such strong characters instead of the usual situation that is so prevelent where she loves him and he doesn't reciprocate feelings, but then she leaves and he chases her. Here is the opposite situation, MMC loved FMC for years since the first time he saw her and saved her in an accident, but his act of kindness was appropriated by a second prince. FMC misplaced her affection on unworthy person and for years she tried to uphold his dignity, he didn't really do anything bad, but he wasn't that good either before the events where we start this book take place, when he pronounces that he breaks the engagement with her for the sake of another woman. It all sounds so cliche, but I honestly liked the development from here. Even if the royalty in this story will annoy the f out of you by being vile and also kinda stupid.
So the second prince asks to break the engagement, while she is a heir and a daughter of a Duke who supported his sorry ass, he doesn't realize the consequences for himself, but also doesn't care for what happens to her, since she loses prospects of marriage.
And all for the daughter of the baron, the basic ambitious lady who plays innocent image with her looks but aims high, but she totally doesn't realize the intricate workings of society, not to mention imperial family.
At this moment the MMC omes into the picture, I don't mention names because they're a mouthful. MMC's goal is simple - contract marriage for three years. But he actually does it so he can win her heart within that time period. She agrees because it is the best option for her. She can't become the one talked about even if she was the victim of the situation. Good thing the story relies heavily on status and doesn't just pounce around. I mean in her situation even she became the sole heir to the Duchy but the event of the broken engagement would hinder her, but the situation doesn't end there because imperial family is truly horrible and they were going to propose to her becoming a consort to the crown prince (the second wife basically) which tbh is humiliating i itself, especially when her father holds such a high rank and they helped the imperial family for so long, greed doesn't know boundries.
This is why going North as the Grand Duchess is the best option. And so they do. The marriage and everything happen in the story pretty quickly. But also involves a bit of intrigue, because the sitation in the North is a bit peculiar.
Here is where FMC can fully shine, Lina (will use her shortened name, even if she dislikes it) actually been handling a lot of internal afairs in her own duchy, she also has a good eye for business, thus she introduces her own merchant branch to the North. She sees how North nobility is divided between her own husband who actually does things and his aunt who just sits around and preaches that she's an elder. But she is just a vain woman with inferiority complex who was involved in the death of the previous duke and she planned to usurp the Northern Grand Duchy. Of course that plan failed completely. I could appreciate that knowing the can't just drag her out of her lair and accuse her they presented the whole thing in front of the nobles when she rushed to the castle the next second she heard the news. You might think how this woman who never repelled anyone with her own hands can lead anyone, and I would admit to it, that she doesn't realize her shortcomings, eventually her reign would be short. First of all she betrayed the North by uniting and killing the previous Duke, next even if the knights are loyal to a fault to person having the Speraum name (oh, I even can remember it), but her head which is filled with vanity won't be able to function properly, people who think they're good at scheming might be good at somethig of this petty level and backstabbing. her fate was sealed when she came to the castle only to find that Tartenon, MMC, is alive and waited for her arrival. he used this chance to justifiably illiminate his aunt he never cared for, even loathed for the death of his father.
the final act of the story is the finale to the struggle between North and the imperial family, it doesn't involve any battling and such, instead it was resolved with plans that played out in their own favor. It is good to see how people strategize and get ready to possible outcomes. So the final scene of confrontation wasn't some one-sided play, but it was more of a true confrontation between those "who is better with words".
Although it was more like tell instead of show when it came to what happened in the background I didn't mind.
The scene was as follows.
SPOILERS~
During the banquet held by the princess (now allied with FMC), Emperor and Crown Prince said that the baron's daughter (the one who stole the second prince) accused FMC of directing her to kill the second prince (priorly, the second prince being pressured started venting his anger on her since she brought him nothing and he woke up from his illusions of love, she was angered by him in the end and stabbed him, which wasn't fatal), because she hated FMC so much and just wanted to ruin her life. It was all heresay anyway. But they also tried to pull in the fact that FMC's father started second trading company which is illegal. But Tartenon deflected that North is behind the scenes. They tried to pull both families down when Tartenon asked why it's such a big deal, imperial family is not supporting the North which protects their lives from inavsion instead they accuse them etc. This is why I say it's good it's not some one-sided accusation, you can't just get away with it, Tartenon was ready to confront if it led to this, but they played it well eventually. Supposedly dead second prince ppeared as a witnes against his own brother, which was a change in character in a way, which made Crown Prince take action, although what would come out of it. tartenon only got rid of the knights that were disloyal and the Emperor killed his own son in rage (for holding him hostage and trying to kill him for the throne). In a critical moment princess pushed the Crown Prince away thus saved the situation. Which is very favorable for our characters since when Princess will inherit the throne she will be on their side. This part of the story is left there. And our characters move back to the North.
The romance is also the good part of the story, it doesn't dwell and there is no stupid questions of - why my heart is beating - hate those. She knows she falls for her husband, for accepting her for who she is. She actually has a lively personality but only after some time spent in north she realized how stiffled she felt being the center of attention. She held a position called Stella, which is basically a recognized person who is the most outstanding among noble ladies, for this she spent a lot of time among nobility. But she had to act appropriately and be elegant etc. in the north her real temperament showed up and she didn't hold back.
Instead of dwelling the confront their feelings readily, though Lina doesn't reciprocate at once. Of course after all through thick and thin they've been through it was easier to tell him that she loved him and while their contract is over they can now start living a true married life. Honestly, this story could survive without those r-18 chapters but whatever, it's nothing really, at least isn't describing it in a way that would be really too much.
Good point is that it was really easy to read, the story moved fast, everything was fast-paced. Sure it has such a cringe and tropey start, but to me the strong personality of Lina won me over. I love power couples.
Some might think it lacks depth, and it's not that deep honestly, so it's perfect for those who prefer such stories.
RATE: 4/5.
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