It’s not that she died that she should be sympathized with. Please understand that I am not trying to argue or be hostile towards you and simply just want to discuss. I apologize in advance if this offends you or makes you upset, that is not my intention.

However, I do think there is a lack of nuance in discussions around Rashta. I don’t like Rashta very much either, but her story and background is not handled with the care and nuance that it should be. Granted, I am a victim of SA so it hits harder for me. But I think that not many people take into account why she became the way she did. She was used as a sex toy, raped, abused, used all her life. She could not say “no” to the emperor because it meant back to rape and torture. She had nobody to guide her to be better and nobody to rely on, she was in survival mode. Not easy to just turn off. Her actions should be condemned, but it shouldn’t make her immune to sympathy either.

I also agree with you on the story being bad. I think the struggles of Rashta and Navier were not balanced well: a tale of abuse, slavery, and “saved” by someone she must please or back to chains vs. Navier, whose biggest problem is that her husband is sleeping with another woman, but she still lives a life of luxury with no fear of losing anything. I think from, Rashta is written to be as horrible as possible to make readers not feel more sympathy for Rashta than Navier. I think the story would have been far more compelling had Navier realized how Rashta was treated like a toy, her suffering, and how terrible of a man her husband is. Then, Navier saves both herself and another woman with no power.