DNF'ing this after making it to chapter... 80-something? But I just checked 110 and it's clear the problems are not going away.
It was, like so many webtoons, good until it wasn't. I loved Ariadne as twisted and complicit, but eager to undo the mistakes of her past. I was looking forward to a situation where she would first scheme for Alphonso, but eventually fall in love with him, and then have to deal with the moral quandary of whether or not she deserved a truly good man she had outright murdered in a past life.
And then, suddenly... Ceasare was so much more interesting? Al was just wet, so wet, naive and boring and effortlessly good and perfect, and Ceasare had so many more scene with Ariadne. He treated her badly, just as in the first life, but then... better? And when they talked it felt real, and honest, unlike the posturing Ariadne had to put on with Al. I wondered: was I actually in for an UNORTHODOX take on this wonderfully silly and self-indulgent trope that I adore beyond reason?
Nope. The writer is just draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaging this story out as long as possible. The difference between the amount of story covered in early chapters versus later ones is staggering, and Ariadne has also, uh, acquired magical powers? Because living through these events twice wasn't enough of a cheat code? Alphonso just gets wetter with each chapter, Ceasare gets more interesting in contrast (despite being a bastard, and I haaaaate that I have to admit he's more interesting! but he is!) while Ariadne has become something of a noble martyr instead of the twisted, bitter, and again, more interesting character we began the story with.
I hate this! I hate the politics of "likeable" characters! They don't have to be good and deserving, THEY HAVE TO BE FUN TO READ ABOUT.
Pah.
Also the writer just doesn't know how to write grand political drama, the backbiting and gossiping of the court and the marriage market was so much more well done. It feels like this series bit off five more mouthfuls than it can actually chew, and is now scrambling for identity and focus.
So, yeah. I'm throwing in the towel. :(