#robellia

[vanisagi27]

Redrawing in my style of this Lobellia panel from episode 1 of Divorcing My Tyrant Husband

I love coloring red hair 💖

I tried to use the novel art as a reference for her hair

[vanisagi27]

Redrawing in my style or Lobellia/Robellia's dress from episode 7 of Divorcing My Tyrant Husband

[blunder-bat]

Rant: about divorcing my tyrant husband

I am so pissed at this one. When I was starting this one, I had high, high hopes.

This story was such a breath of fresh air. It had toxicity, unhealthy relationships, marriage of convenience, AND gradual character developement to change from all this.

Alexandros was a piece of shit, he was a scum, and he was detached to his wife to the point where he had treated her like an employee for three whole years and taken a consort aside her for diplomatic purposes (he did not have interest in this one either).

Then Robellia wakes up with an assertive personality one day and he starts noticing her.

And its not in a "You don't want me anymore so I want you now" way but moreso in a "you are showing a personality now instead of being a wallflower so I'm finally seeing the kind of person you truly are" way.

She asks for a divorce, fed up by him while he refuses, not caring for her feelings but her efficiency as an empress.

Robellia is pissed at three years worth of neglect while Alexandros, who has no regret of that because he saw everyone in his life as tools, upon seeing her be herself for the first time starts struggling. He's torn between his "use or be used" mindset and realising that Robellia is someone for whom people mean more than tools, and starts wishing she can love him that way.

And this is supposed to be a starting point for both their growths! Robellia starts voicing her issues that Alexandros never knew of and being assertive, and Alexandros starts realising that the relationship of husband and wife should mean much more than political convinience.

And the comedy that ensues!! In the foreground of these growths is the tussle of seeking a divorce and admancy in keeping a perfect partner to yourself. The way Robellia reveals her bold, fearless personality is exactly how Alexandros needs his co-ruler to be: a tyrant like him who rules with an Iron fist.

Robellia is straight up a master manipulator, but Alexandros shows that he isn't an usurpor for nothing by constantly one upping her. The tension between them, despite the theme, is absolutely non-serious.

She buys shady stuff from an illegal market publically to worsen her reputation, in retaliation he calls a press comferemce to tell everyone that he owns the street and asked her to conduct checks 😭😭 her clothes budget starts competing eith defence budget and he replies by sending her an even more expensive dress. THIS FELLA–

And the chemistry!! Despite wanting to divorce, Robellia is attracted to Alexandros like anything while him, finally finding out what her personality is like, starts wanting her right back.

There are scenes when despite putting up a brave face, Robellia is melting under his gaze. And this man is so down bad he'd make baby tyrants RIGHT AWAY if she'd just stop embarrassment-slapping him for trying to initiate anything.😭

But the reason I was looking forward to this one because of how there was no attempt to sugarcoat OR overvillianise the Male lead. I loved Alexandros because he was supposed to be complex.

He went from being absolutely apathetic to a man torn between love and goals. Even when he starts loving Robellia, he doesn't immediately become a good man. Instead, he swears in name of God that he'll never leave her on his own when rejected (yikes). And right after that, he starts realising that that is not a good way to earn her love that he so desperately wants.

And THIS was the point that was most well written to me. He's a tyrant, he's used to getting what he wants. Even when changing to finally start yearning for another person's affection, he acts as a tyrant would: giving her a mandate of what he wants. And then, having opened up enough in his heart, realising immediately after that he may have fucked up.

All throughout the season, through his actions, his monologues, his going out of his way to look out for Robellia showing that he's starting to care, this is where it comes to a head. This point is when the tyrant finally emerges in his full might, and then starts to decline to the husband within.

I liked this so much because Robellia had no role in tutoring him on changing, she wasn't fixing him at all: HE was fixing HIMSELF.

He was the one realising, all on his own, that he can't treat her like a tool if her personhood is of any importance to him.

This man was ABOUT to pull a Killian Rudwick.

ABOUT.

But then, the second season happened and changed from this complex romcom to a generic Romance two male leads Manhwa and I–

I am so, soooo mad.