I might be the only one, but I'm baffled by the 8.7 rating this show has received. I'd generously give it an 8, but even that feels too lenient. Initially promising, I'm now on episode 38 and finding it increasingly unreasonable and frustratingly dumb. The once-intelligent and capable female lead seems to have lost her discernment, openly criticizing the king despite knowing the risks involved. Considering her past experiences with both her family's downfall and her ex-fiancee's family trouble, one would expect her to exercise caution, especially with such an incompetent and manipulative ruler. I mean ...while honesty is commendable when confronted with an evil and irrational king, it's prudent for those who are smart to seek alternative approaches.

Similarly, the male lead, initially portrayed as competent, now appears to be nothing more than a tool, failing to take meaningful action despite realizing his insignificance.

As for the king, his erratic behavior swings between unreasonableness and outright evil, yet when directly challenged, he inexplicably retreats into passivity when the male lead directly disobeys his command to help the female lead... It's utterly bewildering and frustrating to witness this decline in quality and coherence.

There are just a few episodes remaining, and I might stick it out to see if it improves. While undeniably entertaining, this show falls short of being a masterpiece. The acting is passable, with nothing particularly remarkable about the performances of the male and female leads. Additionally, their outward appearances are rather ordinary. Though the story showed promise initially, it has become increasingly ludicrous. I've found myself fast-forwarding through numerous scenes as a result. DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO REWATCH THIS!