@mrf
I dont like the ship between Estelle and Emiel too, even though it can be accepted, but ... and here we have the BIG BUT: like others stated it isnt natural anymore. Yes there was buildup since Estelle was small and so on, but then instead of letting it develope naturally, they did a timeskip. There is where the problems starts with their relationship.
I understand that you would have had problems with plotpoints anyway and that it wont end up boring without timeskip. Even then it also gives the feeling that it was done to rush the romance between Emiel and Estelle.
They had their really sweet moments together before the timeskip, but if I see them act now it more feels like that the Author feared one certain thing: Estelle would have maybe outgrown Emiel.
If we look how smooth the actions, smoothness and so on between them both was before the timeskip, these bumps now feel too obvious. Maybe it is just that the Athor was better at these subtle things than the getting together part, but it still feels like the Author did one of the biggest taboo you can do to your characters. Dont force them or change them to fit your story. If you write a character and you get really into their heads yourself, it more often than not happens, that they wont do things you want them to do and would rather do things you didnt planned for.
THIS is exactly how it feels right now and this makes me disliking the ship.
I can even clearly picture in my head another boy coming into Estelle her life and that she can get together with him even though the poor boy would need to get through her father and brother. All the while Emiel stands beside her and watching over her. So that you would have the line of Emiel beeing Estelle's first love but the other character her true love/OTP.
I dont understand anyway why the Authors of such stories ALWAYS go for the ONE FIRST AND TRUE love. They are not forced to do so, to be a great story. It would be even something fresh and would help them to stand out.
btw sry for the wall of text.