Second Male Lead Syndrome

I had second male lead syndrome for the majority of this very good drama. The main lead was engaging, attractive, but enigmatic Scholar Kim Yoon-Sung (Jinyoung) captured my heart. His persistent, unwavering  heart kept me keen, and it was in anticipation of scenes with him that I kept tuning in for.

This Drama played out as I needed it to, on the surface.

If we were to dive a little deeper..

In this Drama the supporting roles captured my heart, by that I mean the roles of the Maid and Assassin Moo Suk and Bi Yeon. The completely unexpected , yet beautiful love that developed between a scarred maid and a assassin sent to clear the path to the throne. I kept watching this show for these stolen moments in time, between them and their unlikely romance.

For once I had second lead syndrome for the King of the drama.
Loving royalty never ends well, it's misery, endless suspicion and death.
But this one time, I found the King to be my leading man.

This Drama got so hard to get through!
The leads had no chemistry and it was very annoying.

I was ready to toss in the towel, then Woon opened my eyes by shining so brightly.
He became my leading man, my first experience with loving the second lead above the leading man.

Chun (Leader of Assassins) and Ga Ok/Ji - what an utterly heartbreaking dance, the best supporting role couple of that year.

This one's gonna be unpopular, since it's probably bizarre to most.
I couldn't stop shipping Prince Nanan with Wei-Young. I just found him so appealing, maybe my Vanness Wu crush is showing. I'm a suucker for ''bad boys'' who would try to ''do better'' for that one person. Ultimately a much more compelling character than the leading man.

I recognize I have a sickness.

However, I remain ever unmedicated!

There was just this dirty unresolved sexual tension between the  older brother King and the leading lady, I shipped that dirty secret HARD.

The trope that dictates ''she'' falls for the first man who's kind to her, is prevalent.
The audience of course fell for the man who grew as a human being, with her and who never sought to hold her back, or coddle her. 

Fuca Faheng,

It's very difficult not to love her Protector.

This is a story about abusive relationships, no male lead is any better than the other, but the second male lead spends 30 episodes  repenting, humbled by his own mistakes, completely unbeknown to her and he keeps it that way.
His burdens are his own.

Although I'm invested in the main cple, it's the story of Green Snake and her Demon Hunter, that ultimately grips the heart, and SQUESES.