It is pretty sad how many main characters usually have dead or neglectful parents.
And now we have the main character being the neglectful parent. I don't condone the FL actions on her neglect, but she didn't physically abuse her son nor emotionally degrade him. She just distanced herself from the catalyst of her depression which she sadly made her son. The FL wasn't emotionally strong enough to create her own identity and eventually succumbed to her depression. It was that way until her deathbed. I think that it is nice that she is trying her hardest to right her only regret which was to be a better mother. She also has a personality which is always a +. An extremely common personality that does not make her unique at all but a personality and a solid one.
It is not like the ML did any better in that respect, not like he was as bad as the FL. The ML is the Duke, so he has many responsibilities. A lot more responsibilities than the FL. Based on how I see him, he must prioritize his work more than his family and he desired to raise his son to have those same priorities. A classic case of paying more attention to what he wants his son to be more than who his son actually is and doing everything in his power to cultivate that potential. Based on the amount of work he gave his son to study, he would go as far as to sacrifice his son's emotional needs. He doesn't physically or mentally abuse their child, but neglect him just the same. Not like he was good with emotions anyway. The ML most likely raised his son like how his father raised him.
The FL isn't evil and neither is the ML. I have read comments stating that the terrible things that happen to the FL are all the ML fault which is far from the case. The ML doesn't have that much power over the FL life. He never forced her into doing anything. They are ultimately products of their environment and their identities never became more than what they were born into and labeled as by others.
The son is emotionally neglected and it is worse due to having his father's temperament. He has the ML vegetable temperament. Little to no personality.
I think authors in this don't know how to write men in depth. All of them seem to be black or blond haired blank canvases for the reader to imagine their personality based on their actions.
Overall 6/10. It has a nice solid story, but with the usual characters.
I might get really sad if the spoiler about the FL and ML
That is the perfect way to further emotionally damage a child.
;-;
I am going to continue reading to see what happens. Keep up the good work, scanlators! You all are amazing at what you do!
Thank you for the work that you do!