How do you guys feel about "The Villainess Turns the Hourglass"? [Spoilers for the first 5 chapters]
I started reading it and I'm currently 5 chapters in the Manwha
So there could still be a massive twist later on, but right now I'm so confused because Aria is definitely not the type of protagonist I'd root for. Props to her for being a proper villainess, but I can't really get behind her acts and it feels more like I'm just watching a bully being a bully and getting away with it.
Aria is doing a lot of things that I'd consider petty and unfair to Mielle who hasn't even done anything yet, and her goal of eventually getting Mielle killed struck me as really wrong. But the story isn't presenting her as a bad character, or even just a character doing something bad- there are rose filters whenever she does something like thank god she can finally screw over Mielle, which makes it seem like the story is actively encouraging and justifying her actions.
Also I feel so bad for Mielle.
I'm starting to think this is a story written as a power fantasy or wish fulfilments of sorts where the MC can get back at the people who wronged them with zero consequences for some of their actions that are also clearly not good.
Am I supposed to feel this way? Am I experiencing this story wrong?
A lot of this is definitely subject to change. Afterall, I'm only 5 chapters in a 125 chapter story and there's a lot that can happen (even a giant subversion or twist), but I'm confused if I'm already approaching this story with the wrong mindset this early on or if I'm right to doubt and feel conflicted.