@Krobelus Typically, in this genre, tragedy refers to the past ending.
@starred1 idk. It just doesn't read as purposeful as that? From her train of thought she's resisting and from the way the other side is viewing things, she turned down an opportunity that would have bettered her life for no particular reason (the sponsored social debut). No way she could have foreseen the concubine trap.
It's an interesting intro to the story, but there's kind of the problem of her seeming not quite as simple as the first timeline. Of course she knew they would have her no matter what. Of course she bought herself time to prep and spend with her family. It's just the shift in image she gives off? Especially combined with helping her parents escape? It's a little too wise and lucky for the hapless puppet.
They don't know who she is right now, so why wouldn't all of that ring alarm bells when taken together. Lebrec seems to only consider the family escape as worthy of skepticism