I'm probably dropping it soon if this trajectory of the story continues. Rant time!
I'm specially annoyed at the "puppy ML" being entirely in tune with the FL feelings and mood YET can't seem to see that she's uncomfortable and doesn't want to be there or around him. He could've still filed the paperwork for the annulment but didn't cause he likes her. He doesn't seem to care or wants to know if she actually likes him back. So long as she smiles at him, he takes that as positive, nevermind he's the kingdom's hero and much like the empress she HAS to be nice to him.
ML: Forces her to work at the capital and forces her to be constantly in contact with him. He claims to want to protect her and that he cares for her YET fails to actually take her into account. Not to mention the reason she's now in danger is BECAUSE she's still his fiance, and BECAUSE he insisted on her working at the palace. Never once does it seem that he cared to even think if this is something she wanted. Not asked just had his sister call her to the capital.
No one but herself seems to give a damn on what she wants, needs, and cares about. ML? Nope, only concerns himself with his wants. Even trying to control who speaks/ interacts with her, example: His aide gets punished for offering to help her.
The MC worked so hard to put distance between herself, her family, and the ML. Yet what does he do? Forces her back (by making the Empress ask for her services = FL can't refuse) into the capital where inevitably her family will be around. Super selfish and uncaring.
The story is basically developing as the FL continues to lose her independence, energy, and drive. Author's please don't sacrifice your FL/ML independence, dreams, wants and needs for the sake of "he/she is handsome" or behaves like a puppy because "he/she smiled". Ugh... Let FL choose her own path and her love interest.
Ok, rant over.
ETA: Also only the people she worked with in the beginning and her aide call her Doctor. So everyone else is being so disrespectful, specially since she made it clear with her actions, she wants nothing to do with nobility. Yet they all insist on calling her Lady. 😡