Comment by Taylah swifcht on Blossoms of the White Night - Chapter 22

@Taylah swifcht I understand where your uneasiness comes from. I never felt this way though, because Tei never developed attraction towards Shuraka in the past. He always acted as a protector, and as an older brother/dad, in the way he cared about Shuraka - hugging him to offer safety during the night, telling him stories to help him fall asleep, teaching him how to use a sword, being loyal - he deeply cared for Shuraka, and his feelings were pure. He was convinced that Shuraka would, one day, take a woman as a bride, so his behaviour was truly selfless. Shuraka, on the contrary, developed deep attachment, but he considered Tei as his own bride, since their first meeting. This is not strange at that age - 9-10 years is enought to have a girlfriend, according to my nephew 😃 - The author here walked a treacherous path showing this pure, mutual love, but he did it beautifully because he portraied what the two characters felt, based on their age and expectations, never crossing the line. Now that Shuraka is an adult, of course the dynamics shifted from pure to physical, but since they are both fully grown adults, I feel pretty comfortable in their romantic relationship.

@Chlorine It's fair that you believe it is alright now that they are both consenting adults, but the attachment Shuraka had towards Tei was unlike one would have towards a partner. He was supposed to be his 'bride' but he had always been a guardian and parental figure and he was one of the only people in Shuraka's life playing that role. So, in my head it's awkward that he is now being shown as a romantic figure despite the fact that Shuraka's attachment towards him is still pre-adolescent and he acts as though he is a child again whenever he is around Tei.

@Taylah swifcht I really understand your discomfort, because It seems you believe Shuraka sees Tei only as a parental figure. And this is where we disagree the most. While it is true that Tei was for him like a parent, or an older brother, he was not simply that. In more panels, Shuraka - the child- says that Tei is fair and beautiful - when he compares him to pear blossoms, when he flatters him during the engagement ceremony - so he is attracted by Tei's beauty, and he admires his strenght as a warrior. He has a childlike crush, basically. When he meets Tei again as an adult, he seeks in him the relationship they had before: protection, care, physical proximity, but now he wants it in an adult way. He wants everything from Tei, basically. And for him it is easy, because Tei is exactly the same as he remembers, while Tei is facing a young man he almost does not know, who drastically transformed over the years from a sweet, innocent child, to the absolute ruler we all see. I also noticed that this manhua Is built with multiple layers, and it is easy to miss pieces because of the language and the art, that often implies meanings without stating them out loud.

@Chlorine my gosh. I love your perspective and understanding of this manhwa. Also how you frame your sentences. And that inference you stated at the end is absolutely correct. Gah it's like you're the actual author disguised as a common person

@Strawberry Ahahah! 😃 I can assure you, I am just a humble reader 😊 I am actually obsessed with this story, and it is a problem because I keep comparing all the other webtoons I was reading to this one, and of course they do not stand a chance. I normally prefer reading dark stories, and I actually picked this one because I was impressed by the cover- Shuraka's hand holding Tei by his throat - . It was the best pick I had in many years, I would say.