Yeah, it really felt like an author self insert comment just straight up saying "I can't figure out a way for the characters to move in the diretction I want the plot to go in, so here's a plot device to force it"
Woohoo it's finally back!
btw, @EpicMatt, what's the term being tranlsated as "outland count" for rudolvon's title? I think margrave/marquess might actually be more accurate.
I'm like 90% sure higashi already knows about the whole yakuza thing, no way he looked at that guy and went "yep, totally a sibling from her normal family that's not involved in anything shady"
as soon as he said he couldn't see his face I knew it would be him
Also, about how he said he'd challenge any other suitor to a duel, remember that in a previous chapter it was stated that he killed everyone he's duelled
Huh, usually this gender misunderstanding gets solved before anyone starts leaning into "spicy comments section" questions, and it's definitely not often I see a main character straight up turn and say "yes, loving someone of the same gender is ok" (which I always found odd, there's so many...
indeed, she then proceeded to test for his knowledge on processing a freshly caught wild animal into food to prove he was in fact a hunter as he claimed to be, as well as his willingness to share his food which indicates he has enough to spare (showing that there is no famine or destitution that...
Love how it set up their first encounter to mirror the original just to turn it on it's head
fully expecting next chapters to go the "iruma was actually the hero and ameri the princess all along" route
also, big "cat going to the vet" energy from opera
"you're trying to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut"
counterargument: the correct course of action here is to grab a sledgehammer and crack franz's nuts
if you read the Kalego spin-off it looks like students are pretty much free in how they want to wear the uniform, both kalego and opera are shown with mixed pieces of the boys and girls uniforms