3. Jacinta D'Orlon

- Jacinta is Alenor's cousin that appeared mostly in the third book. She has such a fiesty personality and that 2000's main female lead persona that also exists solely to become the love interest. She's fine as a character but she's also not giving much I'm sorry 😭

- she and Dirk kissed at the final part of the book and it was fine, but I just felt like the whole book hadn't much romantic tension between them because it focused more on the plot and although they spend some time together, there is nothing intimate about those moments. But I just knew that Jacinta is gonna wind up as a love interest by the end with the way she was written.

- I felt like they're not gonna last long. They're gonna be together for at most six months or even a year before they will break up, I just can't imagine what they could have in common/ what affection that they have other than attraction. So yeah... Honestly, I don't think Dirk should even be with anyone at the end of the book. The boy is traumatized and needs healing and therapy before he can go into a relationship .

2. Tia Neris

- this relationship is the definition of messy.

- I don't like Tia, there I put it plainly. She is immature, a wannabe badass and a pure hater. From the first book, I want to smack her in the mouth every time she talks shit about Dirk even though she didn't even know him. She was so infuriating omg.

- BUT she did grow on me on the third book bc she got her character development then (and thank fucking god for that).

- her relationship with Dirk... They're pure enemies to lovers and again, they're messy af. Tia loathed Dirk, Dirk couldn't give a damn and their forced proximity is just them trying to throttle each other to death. But somewhere along the way they grow on each other and they do get to know each other better, which allows us to know them as well. They've been through quite a lot together too in a way that is emotionally vulnerable to both of them.

- Tia slowly unravels her hate for Dirk and at the same time is vulnerable around him for the first time. I give credit that their relationship is developed well and realistic enough. They decided to fuck their hatred off which result in an unknown relationship that is low-key really cute.

- BUT come on, when in the book does it ever allow happiness for any of the characters? Tia fell for Dirk and she even imagined their future at one point however, Dirk said plainly in his pov that he didn't love Tia. That he might care for her but he didn't love her.

- Add to the fact that he practically betrayed her by the end of the book (it was for her own good and he had a plan in mind but it NEEDS to look like a betrayal 😭). So Tia is back hating him more than ever. So that ship clearly had sailed.

- their potential is very powerful though. The what-if is strong but the tragedy is stronger. But there is such deep mistrust between them that will always overshadow their relationship.

- in the end, Tia ended up with Misha, which is kind of a healthier match for her. She was a less bitch to him and obviously cared more about him (also she bagged a future king so yeah, respect).

1. Alenor D'Orlon

- Alenor is princess of Dhevlen. She's kind, kind of naive, and generally good girl but with an underlying sadness over character. She is engaged to and madly in love with Kirsh who in return don't really give a fuck about her.

- in the first book, Alenor, Kirsh and Dirk are a very close trio and they spend a lot of time together. Dirk developed a crush on Alenor when he was 16 and let me tell you they are so stinking cute. Even as friends, their relationship is so pure and genuine (and this is also of course, before shit hits the fan and they still have some youthful innocence left).

- Dirk basically made himself Alenor's #1 protector through the series. If anyone so much as breathed wrongly in her direction, Dirk would bite their heads off. Even when he knew that Alenor was in love with Kirsh, he was still unwaveringly loyal to her. Their dance scene was adorable af.

- But he did find out they were cousins by the end of the first book and shit hit the fan and everything so his romantic feeling did waned. But he's still the president of Alenor's protection squad.

- Honestly, I LOVE their relationship whether platonic or romantic because these two have each other's back the whole goddamn time. Dirk said that he can never afford to love anyone but his love for Alenor was so distinct it's plain to everyone. Literally, everyone knew they are bestie. Tia and Kirsh both described Dirk and Alenor's through their separation of two years as "like missing lovers" or "embraced like lovers".

- when Dirk is planning the antagonist downfall, the one thing he always mentions is the way these people hurt Alenor. Marqel, for almost killing Alenor and causing her miscarriage and Kirsh for breaking her heart and cheating on her. He always stood in business when it came to Alenor lol.

- while Alenor is probably the only one to trust Dirk through everything, even when the whole world is against him and believe he was evil. And she gave her trust unwaveringly because she knew him better than anyone. Dirk once said that it didn't matter if no one trusted him if she did.

- their cheek kiss is once again, adorable. They will always greet each other like that it's cute.

He berated Kirsh multiple times when he hurt her feelings, he wanted to be her guard the way Kirsh will be, he walked with her and was there for her when Kirsh broke her heart, his only wish for that one night was to dance with her, he bring her kitten to play at her bed when she miscarriages, prioritise and protect her when there was an attack and one of the thing he asked Kirsh when he and to war with him is to divorce her so she can be happy and literally so much more.

He loves Alenor so much and in return Alenor supports him and trust him through his worst. She's the only one that believes in him after everything because she knew him. Their bond is literally so precious to me.

Dirk: shut up

Alenor: It was me.

Antonov: ... be forgiven because everyone deserves a second chance.

Dirk:

Dirk: yeah, and I did that

Dirk: Make a plan.

Dirk: Execute the plan.

Dirk: Expect the plan to go horribly wrong.