Phew — originally I'd planned to keep up three updates a day, but I've had some new ideas about where the story is heading and I'm considering an alternative line of development, so today there are only two updates.
Over the past couple of days I've been writing romance scenes, and I've genuinely enjoyed it — roughly ninety percent of readers have left glowing praise, and that means a lot to me, both as validation of my work and as affirmation of this particular storyline.
Now, I've never thought my romance writing was bad, but regardless, receiving that kind of recognition is something to be proud of. Some might argue that the way Lucian and Natasha's relationship develops feels unnatural, but honestly, that sense of awkwardness is exactly what I was going for.
A bookworm with virtually no romantic experience, and an outgoing girl who's attracted to women — the feelings between them are inevitably going to be awkward, halting, and gradual. Beneath all that unnaturalness, countless small moments pave the way until everything falls into place naturally. The result is sweet without being cloying, sincere without being melodramatic, and the subtle contrast in their personalities makes you both laugh and feel warmly inside.
I think I've succeeded in conveying that feeling to all of you.
For me, the most important element in any romance arc is character. Over the course of more than 1.8 million words, I've been building Lucian and Natasha's personalities bit by bit, and in these recent scenes — after the collision and transformation of their dynamic — everything has fused and elevated, making their characters feel more vivid and full than ever before.
So if Natasha, after being set straight by Camille, were to hesitate and waver for ages, she simply wouldn't be Natasha anymore. She wouldn't be the decisive, rational, brave, and unyielding Natasha who charges forward and never gives up, who defeats her enemies head-on. She might be the heroine of a romance novel or a yuri story, but she wouldn't be *our* Natasha — the Natasha that Lucian fell in love with.
That's why, after the mutual confession, the scene where things progress physically — some of you who are more reserved and modest might feel it happened too fast, perhaps even find it hard to accept — but I believe this is the only choice Queen Natasha would make. Given who she is, when she likes someone, she takes initiative. She expresses her feelings wholeheartedly and holds nothing back.
And so, over these past few chapters, the scenes I enjoyed writing the most were: Natasha's brief moment of inner conflict followed by her bold declaration of conquest; Lucian pulling out pen and paper to draft a date plan; Natasha standing outside the Elemental Paradise, recalling eight years of memories before turning around with a smile; the two of them catching glimpses of each other's mirrored mannerisms while looking in the mirror, eating candy, and tidying their clothes; Lucian nervously rehearsing his plan; Natasha walking straight up to him and kissing him forcefully, asking if he liked his birthday present; and Natasha, her voice hoarse, saying she couldn't wait to "taste" Lucian.
These scenes showcase both their personalities in full force. If their earlier depictions ever felt imposed or thin, in these moments their characters are so rich and alive that they almost seem to have lives of their own. Writing them made me genuinely happy.
What makes me even happier is that the overwhelming majority of you expressed your love and approval. As for the handful of people who skim through in three or five seconds and declare it poorly written, or the few who simply don't care for this particular setting — don't bother arguing with them. Just smile and move on.
Thank you for your love. Thank you for your affirmation. I'm truly, sincerely happy.