/comes in with popcorn knowing how people who have never read the novel will think based off the first few chapters.
As an fan of the work, YES what Freed does is super sketch of looked outside of the usual "fall in love at first sight so now you're mine" trope, a trope that won't always sit well with people. But like Ushiokaze has explained, there are legitimate reasons as to why things are the way they are for Freed. It might not make certain actions agreeable, but it's not because of dubious character morality like it is in some works.
But yeah, not surprised if some people don't like the forceful nature. Everything works because it's Lidi and Freed, but it could have had a very different development. I won't say more, I just wanted to comment to help encourage those who are feeling repulsed by Freed's action to at least wait until they explain his family's heritage.
Also, the whole masquerade wasn't Freed's idea. Last chapter it was already explained he hated it and was basically doing it for survival. Those who are flippantly saying he's attending them have apparently forgotten that key fact: he DOESN'T like it, and this was going to be his last attendance regardless if he had met Lidi or not.