Responses
Yea the story become idk
She wants Etty to become King so that House Herace (she and her family) will have the power. The power is divided between the imperial party (the current king and his supporters) and House Herace. So if Etty because the king then imperial party and house Herace would be controlled by him, hence giving more power to the current queen. She is just after the power.
I haven’t read the novel yet, but I saw the differences from the original plot in the comments, and I just don’t get it. Why make Etienne a naive, easily flustered prince if he’s supposed to be a brilliant strategist? Why make Richard such an annoying bastard who never listens or does the right thing if he’s supposed to be a supportive green flag? Why was Ben hurt so badly if it has zero impact on the dramatic tone and we basically never see him again? And where’s the emperor? Where are Etienne’s health issues?
I’ve even forgotten what the empress’s goals were, and I don’t understand her plan anymore. Why not use Richard’s love for Etienne to control him now that she knows about it, like "give me an alpha grandson with Etienne, or let him have a child with Theodore, and I’ll leave you both alone so you can live happily ever after somewhere forgotten" instead of marrying him off to Antoine? Or at least just gaslight them even more for her own advantage? Why does the plot keep going in circles like this?? Why does the empress seem way less organized, and Etienne and his allies so much dumber or useless or just... not there anymore???