I mean...
We've never met HER mother so maybe her.
Also... I feel like it's a family grudge (on the mother's side) and I NEED to know why/how she got like this.
I hope when it finally goes south for her we get some back story on her~
Tbh, she isn't that rotten bro (✿❛◡❛) She is a manipulative woman, yes. But idk, for me, she isn't that intimidating. If she is that rotten, the second prince won't even survive before meeting Tia. Remember that even in the past, the second prince still gets the throne? And about the father, maybe she blackmailed him with something only her and her father knows? Well, I wish we could see her past though so it won't be just speculation over speculation.
idk, i think she is THAT rotten. the first prince had dozens of half siblings. perez is the only one who survived she murked all the kings other lovers and wives too, and they said he had plenty. she starved perez in a basement for years and poisoned him daily. thats why she hates him so much, bc he survived under the radar for so long and was picked up by the lombardis, gained political influence and personal strength, and is now very hard to kill. but she been trying! the second prince killed her in the og timeline too because he hated her for how horrible she was, and i feel like he had a much rougher time that incarnation than this one. he only survived for the plot lolol otherwise he woulda been smoked.
But how in the HELL did the empress become that rotten?!! Like even her father was scared of her?!!! Was she raised by fucking devils or some monsters cause wtf?!!