Hi people,
Have any of you watched Saiunkoku Monogatari? The first season, not the second one, mind you.
I particularly liked the romance of the story about the peach haired villian (what's his name again?) who tried to rape her. Ironically, Shurin seems to fall for him as well, even though she will not get involved into a relationship as that will mean giving up her dream.
That's one of the sadest and realistic romance I have seen. There is no pretense of being manly or what not; there is no premise of happiness. Quite the contrary, lust, jealousy, hatred, angst, power, all mixed in one called "romance", but I wouldn't want to spoil the story of people who haven't watch it.
But then again, am I being sadistic?