I'd dare to say that a part of me wants to think that Aria held a little emotional connection with Oscar? I really think she simply did her best to keep her head cool and control herself, and u know what? I love it. I really like Aria, it's not easy to suppress whatever is happening inside u due to external situations (while feeling everything so vividly), and then transform that that could have caused turmoil into a weapon, but she does it and all the time! She knows what her goal is and never forgets it, her mind is hella strong despite her emotions and that's why I truly respect her.
Ofc, she's a villainess but she's constantly reminding us that she's a human first, she has a super strong and valid reason to act and fight in the way she's doing and I'm really cheering on her! I kinda pity Oscar tbh (I do understand him but the coward or the heroic honorable coward *lol* won't ever get the prize) but I loved it when she threw the brooch, it was really cool! >u<
Edit: Asher is honestly one of the few princes characters that I truly like; he really has recognized her before judging, and he's become her admirer even before anything else, Aria really needed that change of perception, even in that sea full of piranhas there's someone who truly believes in her, trusts her and is wishing her the best from the distance (not pressing her in any way, just respecting her and caring for her). His flowers remembered how she's not the same girl she was and I'm giggling by how cute that was, lol.
Tnks for the chapters <3