Honestly, I feel like the character dynamics are what make 'Even If I Regret It Now' so fascinating, rather than a simple protagonist-antagonist setup. Aria, the lead, stands out because her motivations are rooted in survival and a twisted form of loyalty after her regression, not pure revenge. Her emotional distance is palpable. On the other side, Duke Kaelen is a complex puzzle; his cruelty in her past life seems at odds with his current actions, making you question what truly drives him. The supporting cast, like the mage Elric and Aria's few allies, aren't just plot devices—they each pull her in different directions, forcing choices that reveal more about her fractured psyche than any monologue could.
I've seen some readers get frustrated with Aria's calculated coldness, wishing she'd just explode, but that's the point. Her key trait is suppression, and the tension comes from wondering when that dam will break. Kaelen's enigmatic presence looms over every chapter, and the slow drip of his backstory feels intentional, like the manhwa is teaching you to read between the lines of his dialogue and subtle gestures. It's less about who's 'key' in a traditional sense and more about which characters function as mirrors for Aria's trauma and growth.