It’s also frustrating that Eli has so little agency. Everything falls into place because of the prince. Her choices and actions aren’t really presented until after the fact, like they’re asides, even though this is supposedly her story—isn’t she the MC?
And Eli WAS a child when the engagement began, and only apparently became an adult recently by this culture’s standards, so all this manipulation happened while she was a kid. It’s greasy. The power imbalance is too big.
This is a Bad Romance.