Behind Her Highness' Smile - Ch. 7

[MangaDex]

 

[Ann2004]

Hmmm.... Would I go to jail for this?

 

[nueee]

Hmmm.... Would I go to jail for this?

yesnt

 

[Dirt_Lord]

oh ew, they're really romanticizing wanting to fuck someone with the mind of a child.

 

[KamikoAki]

oh ew, they're really romanticizing wanting to fuck someone with the mind of a child.

The way I see it (atleast at the moment and only based on my current interpretation) it’s not too messed up to me.

I think it’s normal to feel a attraction to a grown persons body, and I think he’s imagining/projecting some of her actions onto his visualization of her body and how she could’ve been if she was fully mentally there. He (to my understanding) is not attracted to the part of her that is not mentally there, which I think would’ve been weird if so, rather he just sees a grown women do something which would normally be a bit sexualized, and has to tell himself to disconnect viewing her based on how she may’ve been if things were different based on her body’s appearance.

I do think the manhwa could’ve portrayed it a bit better if it is how I understand it, as the emphasized blush at the end is a bit much if so, but it’s a common visual indicator rather then necessarily being him massively blushing.

While this may not be the case and may change as I read more, they’ve also shown a few instances of her on her own after something happens where it is semi implied that she understands some more then she lets on (atleast I think that’s what one of the lip bite images after he left the room a chapter or two ago was trying to imply). Not that he could know this, but I think taking the series in as a whole, while right now it may be weird that the author included any level of romantic feelings, it could be moreso something that comes into play later if she is shown to understand more.

I’m unsure the normal view of it, but while she isn’t fully there, it’s not as if she is a child, she can’t consent but she has lived for 20 years regardless of everything else, I think she still is allowed to be loved, if it’s not weird / forcing something on her. Romantic feelings != sexual feelings.

 

[zephyrnepres]

oh ew, they're really romanticizing wanting to fuck someone with the mind of a child.

how it is depicted by the artist? maybe? personally i don't think the visuals felt that exploitative, though i would understand if you did think that way

how the ml is reacting to her? absolutely not. he's actively trying to avoid seeing her in a different light and wants to take care of her without attraction, but it's not like he can manually turn it off whenever he wants. i think it's a very realistic worry for him to have, living and sleeping in close proximity to a pretty girl his age even if she were mentally ill. it's an issue that would have to be addressed at some point unless he were a sage with completely control over his thoughts and feelings

regardless of what he thinks, she's almost definitely aware and faking to avoid harsher abuse at the hands of her father, brother and the palace staff. by acting mentally ill she can be seen as useless and not worth the effort, it takes off the target on her back. the fact that the palace maids seem merely lazy and neglectful and not outright physically abusive when it's clear she's been living in a traumatic situation for some time is an indicator that things could be worse than they currently are. i think it's a defense mechanism

it's possible she is actually ill and just having moments of full cognizance but i sort of doubt that