Hey I'm all for an essay on the og bastard Trash Man vezian! I love me some sinful trash to go with my masochistic naive Mc!
i actually had most of this written a long time ago, just changed and added some stuff :D please enjoy my 800 word essay as to why vezian is the worst bastard trashman and has no chance of redemption in my eyes, ft. valentin and tuko’er as his direct comparisons
What makes a trashman better than another? In my opinion, it lies entirely within three points -- trauma, upbringing, and the treatment of their love interest. What shaped a trashman in his past? Why is the trashman the way he is today? Is there any love or affection within his cold bastard trashman heart?
Valentin and Tuko'er are both trash -- but both of them can trace it back to an unaddressed trauma, an untouched wound which has been left to fester. Valentin's comes from his objectively horrible childhood, his lack of a stable and safe home environment, and the feelings of inadequacy that society has never allowed for him to forget. Tuko'er grew up in another broken household, with a father and half-brother who sought to torment him relentlessly, and for the one person he truly loved felt loved back to have been killed unceremoniously before he could ever make good on any promises he made.
Vezian cannot claim either. While yes, his status is murky at best since he is a legitimized bastard, that was the only disadvantage he had, one which was far outweighed by everything else. His parents doted on and cherished him, save for his stepmother the Empress, who understandably was incredibly displeased with his arrival in court, but never outwardly harmed him. His siblings were mostly civil to him, if a bit distant, and any ill-will is wholly because of his repeated actions. While the court may not love him to the same extent as his half-siblings, they still must revere him as the Emperor greatly favours him. He was always favoured over his half-brother, and at every turn, his half-brother yielded to him.
It cannot be said that the fault lies in his parents, though his father does hold some of the blame for his constant indulgence in Vezian. While there were some sneers and snide remarks regarding Vezian's mother, there was little else, no real action taken, and even those who sought to marry her daughter, yet Vezian took every one of their insults as though they were challenges for a duel. He is quick to anger, and quick to provoke others, and the worst part is, he is able to make good on his threats.
Another which sets Vezian apart from the other two is the treatment of their respective MCs. Both Valentin and Tuko'er can and probably will grow to regret how they treat them. For them, the issue lies with them projecting insecurities, pent-up emotions, and genuine fear, as well as the past they share, whether it is familial or direct. They will, if played correctly, cease to see their MC as a pawn, as a figment of the past, and see them for the present.
Vezian, on the other hand, can claim none of these again. He's left a trail of broken hearts and ruined girls, and he hasn't a care in the world. He's willing to force a marriage with the Nalaantai Princess because her family will be forced to back him, and even more so, he's willing to do whatever he must to produce an heir with her because that's the only guarantee he has that he will sit atop as the Emperor. It only gets a little more personal when he sees her in person, but that's only because he's enchanted by her appearance and thinks she looks 'exotic'. He will never grow past the Nalaantai Princess being a pretty face and his ticket to becoming the Emperor. He only treasures her for those reasons, and once he gains the crown, he doesn't need to appease her or her family any longer.
In my opinion, Valentin and Tuko'er use their MCs as emotional crutches, as a catalyst to let go of their hurt and trauma. Valentin knows that something is wrong with him, but refuses to deal with it while he still has his life mission ahead. Tuko'er will deny any weakness, any flaw within him until his dying breath, but deep down, he does acknowledge their existence. Vezian however, doesn't see any flaws in himself. He thinks himself infallible, and you cannot help someone who refuses to be helped.
Now, this isn't a straight up rejection of character growth on Vezian's part, but honestly, for the many years I've written the different iterations of his character, he is the one who consistently displays character regression. Even when he was written as a protagonist, he was the only one who could never conquer his flaws because he didn't want to. It isn't that he is incapable of introspection, but rather, he will be able to spin any flaw of his into a virtue, a truly admirable quality but in the least admirable man. He was never a good man, but in this case, he is a true example of absolute power corrupts absolutely.