Otome men giving me "choices" 🤣
I just finished Gilbert von Obsidian's route in Ikemen Prince (Beauty and Her Beast), and I love his little (questionable) character trait of saying, "Either you do it, or I make you do it." It made me notice a trend in many Otome games, where the male lead gives the MC either no choice in doing something or a fake choice, like Gilbert.
What I find interesting is that throughout the story, this character flaw doesn't change whatsoever, even at the end of the male lead's character arc. The male leads still talk the same way to the MC even after they become a couple.
I like that they don't change it. I prefer micro-changes to characters - not a transformation into a totally new person - while still keeping a questionable habit or two. This is more realistic in romance, and shows the male characters are developed individuals and not the whims of female fantasy.
Falling in love changes pieces of you, but it doesn't change the core of who you are, both good and bad. Keeping a bit of bad (or unfavorable) qualities is great storytelling because it shows an understanding of how people work, even in relationships that generally change them for the better.