Prince Julius is creepy

That's probably because right now he doesn't really seem to see her as a love interest, but more like a treasure that relieves his boredom. I do actually adore personalities like his because they're fun, but he definitely isn't acting like a love interest yet. I don't think they're really going overboard with making it seem like it's supposed to be cute - we get to see Scarlet be pissed about it every time and that's kind of a cue for how we should see it. She wasn't pissed during the one time she thought he was serious (until after learning he wasn't), so I don't think she'll react the same when he's being genuine down the road, which will be the switch into actual chemistry beyond a comedy duo.

@amentet I think it's pretty clear that he's teasing her because he likes her, but obviously it is too soon for either to be in love, etc. The real problem is that she is too passive whenever he touches her face or grabs her hand etc. in some arrogant/protective display. I can sense that the author is trying to strike a balance between her as an unstoppable force, and a woman who is vulnerable, but it's very uneven so far. Like, in the carriage she just lets him hold his hand to her face, even while casually looking out of the window, just waiting for him to get bored or something, it's weird. Maybe the LN would provide needed context here, but I want some playful banter, or maybe she affectionately embraces his hand with her own, before revealing a threat to break all of his fingers, etc. just give me anything to work with here. This feels like the kind of setup where it only works if he (comically) gets his ass kicked every now and then.

Why are snowflakes now getting offended by Julius😭😭

Yeah he is annoying and that's the point. He supposed to balance out Scarlett and their back and forth is great and it needs to stay this way.

Unlike the prince from that Stockholm Syndrome-type anime (which we both agreed was terrible), Scarlet is written as a strong character who doesn’t seem traumatized or powerless in the same way. She pushes back, so the dynamic doesn’t feel as one-sided.

Also, if you've finished watching Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, it's weird if you couldn't notice how creepy Jinshi was toward Maomao x

@WaterMage What back and forth? She gets annoyed by things he says, but then behaves passively whenever he invades her personal space.

I think they do have chemistry, but I get what you mean about him being a bit creepy. But I like that about him, normally the princes in these stories are always pretty straight laced and on the level, so it's nice to have a character that at least seems to have a bit of a sinister side to him.

I personally think he teases her on purpose to get her to admit that she likes him first, something like that at least.
I doubt he would spent a lot of time with her if he wasn't actually interested in her.

But who else could be the love interest? Leo is her brother (okay, that's not stopping anyrhing I suppose...) and what other male characters are there even?

@LostSpectre if she was that annoyed and hated it she could have easily avoided him entirely. Even he was Prince. But she plays along with it.

I like how people presume "this charcter must be hating it" when they actually don't.

I get what you mean, but the way I see it the tough woman persona she displays is also just a front she puts on and her actual persona is probably much closer to a normal girl/woman and hence I don't really have a problem with her being flustered when the prince shows her affection in that way.

I also think that she acts the way she does towards the prince because she wants to keep her distance to him, precisely because she knows that she does or at least could feel affection for the prince and she does want to stay somewhat professional towards him. And him acting like he is in love with her breaks that down momentarily.

Of course this is all knowing that this is a romance anime and that I want them to be together, so my opinion is biased, but that's how I see it anyway.

@LostSpectre ok Mr. Media literate how come you are judging a medival story from your 21st century perspective. And when tf I said Scarlett have to be a toy to be good. Putting words in others word is A way to win arguments.

"A semi rotten" people without him

- She would treated as slave
- Executed for beating up prince and nobles
- killed multiple times

All he does is "tease" him (scarlett's word as she describes it to Diana). If people have problem with these that's their narrow mind. I and many doesn't have that sort of mindset. Ofc I wouldn't mind if he gets punched for it.

And she gets flustered becz obviously she probably has hidden feelings for him. And so does Julius for her, he's just being a troll becz he is gets flustered probably. And that's why they still accompany each other after all his remarks.

But obviously it MAN problem as everything is to nowadays..

@LostSpectre Yeah, this is a better explanation why it just feels so off to me. She crumbles when he creepily strokes her face, it feels overly vulnerable for a character they are trying to convince us is badass (especially for someone the story is going out of its way to say she isn't in a relationship with yet).

it's literally a common trope in media targeted towards women

you guys are snowflakes