Villainess comics, man. Phew.
Villainess comics have convinced me that:
Fluffy romances are cute and all, but the best love stories imo are ones where romance is a journey rather than the destination. Idc for roller coaster dramas of two-timers and silly misunderstandings. GIVE ME STRATEGY & INTRIGUE.
Male-oriented isekai got nothing on villainess genre (which are typically isekai) because suffering irl and then being reborn as a character hated by everyone (amplified by misogyny) who is 99% of the time fated to die at least 1 horrible death is the standard lol
The best kinds of reverse harems are ones where the female MC actually doesn't fancy/love any of the prospects (i.e. could be enemies, frenemies, contract whatever). Because lbr, if you're in survival mode, any kind of attachment cannot be true love. At best, it's a coping mechanism. At worst, it's co-dependence.
The only saving grace for most villainesses is pretty privillege, because being reborn into a wealthy family can be a double-edged sword.
The nobility/imperial system is so messed up because the amount of wealth they control and the power they have (+abuse) is unfathomable.
I would almost always choose knights. Gender doesn't matter. They might not have much authority but if they're sworn to you they are steadfast, reliable, responsible, & strong (esp. useful if you need to elope lol) 👍🏽
Koreans are great at villainess genre. Maybe it's the 4B movement doing its magic lol. The FMCs cannot catch a break, but they're no damsel in distress.
There needs to be a study on why villainess genre is even a thing & why it hits different.
Anyway if you like/agree with the above, I recommend the Villains are Destined to Die. It's ongoing, but there are 4 seasons out so have fun.