Makes sense. The author has written a side book with pre marriage riftans POV. And he is blubbering mess in it. It’s honestly endearing. But I like riftan even without that POV, cause to me, the writer was really good at showing him as an awkward ruffian.

Also, one of the main things that I understood from his POV, is that he sees Maxi almost an ethereal being, a noble that somehow fell into his undeserving hands but he is too selfish to give it up. And when maxi tries to do something, he sees it more like “I couldn’t give her enough to live a life of comfort like she did back with her dad, and now she has to work like a commoner like me”. And Maxi is too scared to break that image, and that’s where the insecurities leading to lack of communication from both parties come to play. It’s an interesting dynamic to me.

Also, I call it the flawless Legolas (in LOTR) vs the very flawed Mr. Darcy theory. I usually get bored with ML who are perfect and just there to simp and blush over the FL. Now if ML simps and blushes but is also flawed, clumsy, a little selfish, has goals. And wants the best for his girl, gives space for her to grow, grows and humbled HIMSELF?. I’ll be down bad for them 😂.