#kingsmaker

and vica versa of course

The similar elements

M/M romance + "struggle for the throne" plot

Plot has well written characters & is dense with intellectual warfare like CAPRI (yes really.)

Creep "Regent" in this story too yes.

Both are completed stories with a focus on story first, romance second

political intrigue, horsies!, CSA (implied not explicit), mature content, mental illness, includes fantasy elements (which are not in capri)

Both characters are NOT royalty, only one of them is (just a warning since that is a significant dissimilarity from CAPRI)

With respect to romance i think the similarities run deeper than the basic "sunshine x cold" troupe in the best way

Just like Damen, Wolfgang is initially naive to the workings of the court, all he knows is that he can put his trust in Soohyuk and that loyalty and fierce urge to protect the other comes as naturally as breathing.

Just like Laurent, Soohyuk is intensely complicated and at times self sacrificing (especially where Wolfgang is involved). His plans to annihilate the enemies of the throne make the story amazing.

I think Laurent's love for his kingdom and wanting peace for his people is what he shares with Soohyuk. They're larger than life characters, even more so then Damen/ Wolfgang (The designated himbos - forgive my umbrella term-ing them).

once the fight ended, their boss, Fil, came to us to give us a reward, and to talk about their accomplishment (read: take credit for our work)

a kobold soldier: my lord Fil, how would you name our great nation?

Fil: what would you think of Koboldland, my dear trusted friend?

There are a lot of love stories out there, some known to us, a lot are yet to be discovered.

I, myself, am not a big fan of romance and the complete cliche of love at first sight and every little quirky thing in between.

But there WILL ALWAYS BE THAT ONE EXCEPTION THAT THE UNIVERSE WILL SEND IN ALL IT'S UNDENIABLY TWISTED HUMOR.

I came across the tidbits of this masterpiece through Tiktok and I don't really know why this is found in my algorithm. But again, maybe it was some external supernatural prankster out there that wanted me to get over the initial cringe of reading anything that spells the word ROMANCE in bold and capital letters.

It's gripping my phone at around 3 AM and telling myself that I just have one chapter because my poor little unaccustomed to romance heart couldn't take the suspense and tension each chapter opens up to. I had endured an all nighter reading and finishing everything and screaming into my defenseless and unsuspecting pillow the overwhelming feeling of watching the pining miscommunicating complicated borderline idiotic main characters.

You all have to read and witness how smart and clever and perfect, emotional denial and workaholic tendencies aside, Shin Soohyuk is. You all have to bear the idiocy and adorable clumsiness, undying loyalty, ever-selfless love and wit Wolfgang Goldenleonard has to offer. AND DON"T GET ME STARTED WITH THE BEST WINGMAN/SHIP FANCLUB PRESIDENT AND COLLECTOR OF EVERYTHING I MAM NOT SUPPOSED TO MENTION TO KEEP THIS POST FAMILY FRIENDLY, OUR DUKE SYS!!!!!! HANDS DOWN BEST CHARACTER EVER.