Writing is still a 10/10 for me. Thank you for your story.
So I played through 4/5 routes and I have almost seen every option on the altruistic side of things, and even though I didn't think I was going to be able to stomach him, Lotar, ?somehow? has given me the softness. But the ultimate squishy here is MAL. ASDFGHJ. Why on earth am I leaning towards the two morally problematic characters? No clue. My two favorite tropes are enemies to lovers (bonus points if they turn soft and putty like with MC; gold star if they find themselves changing for the better whether it's intentional or not) and friends to lovers. So like kinda the vibes I'm picking up on here as far as these two are concerned? Just the feral protection and sweetness for MC that Mal has is... *chef's kiss* therefore I forgive him for being a big ole brat and down right jerk to others.
And while I'd like to strangle Lotar with his dumb ponytail for being a personal vexation and a buttwipe, the scene before getting Notre? T-T Especially because even though brief, I read that part in horror. I am often around family and picturing child harm is low key a mild trigger for me. I can read a death or misfortune but we start bringing small people into the equation and I gotta dip. Even if it's in just the passing by it's a feels bad, I wanna cry/throw up/panic/shut down all at once moment.
Mirren, is an enigma that I really want to start trying to poke at and figure out. Like, uh, sir?
And I think least of all, no matter what Saltire's route brings, Rez will be at the bottom of my list. Point blank. I vibe with the guys whole personality in the flashbacks and at the keep, but absolutely not. Not just no, but HELL NO.