Suji Kim
So many people saying why can't she be like the old Maxi and not be so stubborn...I find it a little problematic. She has been coming into herself and her growth is of course going to be at odds with Riftan's idealized perception of her as a thing to protect/shield from the world. She was docile back then bc it was a literal trauma response. She's the one that's been moving the needle to them being equals and I for one am here for it. They both have trauma and the slow burn growth is realistic and masterfully written.
Peops slaying maxi in comments to this chapter are cruel⊠Like you wonât act like her were youâve been in her stead⊠with the life she has with the trauma and everything⊠At least be grateful sheâs realising some things about her relationship with riftan⊠but itâs hard to mend a relationship when you donât know how the other one feel et perceive their relationship issues⊠They need time together alone to be able to communicate (verbally and physically) and mend things⊠but they gonna have to wait after this war. So I hope maxi gonna give her string to riftan and let him know she care and wanna patch things upâŠ
I feel bad for Maxi thinking she hasn't shown her devotion to the man. Maxi, honey, you threw yourself into the duties of a Lady of the estate, started learning healing and magic to make yourself even more useful, and then saved him from losing his land by going to Nornui. It's not your fault, Maxi, that he's a man of his time and sees a wife as little more than a pet/sex partner. He's the one who needs to learn to love you as the capable woman you are, not some feeble woman who needs to be kept safely in the bedchamber till he has time for you.
Why didnât she tell him right then and there that she knew deep down that things would always be okay with them if she did leave?! Ugh this is so frustrating! She should have told him that she knew he did not mean it when he said he will not wait! There is no way she would have left if she thought for a second he would have not waited. Also, Riftan needs to understand if she believed him why would she keep writing him letters? Like wth dude! She has been trying to mend the rift between them this whole time! Get it together people!
Oh Maxi girl, you really been digging your own grave on this one. He has showered you with affection, sacrifice, love... But all you've really done was doubt it and throw âI'm not a childâ or âI can do things own my ownâ fits. If he wasn't a man of honor thereâd be baby Calypses EVERYWHERE. But he loves you; hope you snap out of it and you start being the old Maxi he loved.
I do enjoy the whole narration of the impending war. It makes this story more alive. But at the same time, I do wish more narratives be given to have Riftan and Maxi to work things out between them. But I guess, the writer wants us to immerse in the big picture of seeing how the two of them are as individuals and then, only then to understand why the other person is behaving and approach things in such a way from their perspectives. These though...made me pull hairs in frustration on how bad Riftan and Maxi is communicating with each other đ« You're good at this, dear Suji..for playing with my emotion while I'm reading this