Responses
Usually authoritarian leader will get rid of some or all of the people that helped them win the "war". She probably did it so she can keep all of the power herself; redirecting the control of the business to her instead of Pablo.
The problem is she didn’t really “get rid of” Pablo. He’s still alive, he’s still able to do business except this time he doesn’t want to give her any benefits if he can help it. If the empress had left him alone, Pablo would still be doing things for her benefit.
The empress/heroine is definitely not a good person, but I don’t understand why she went out of her way to ruin Pablo’s business if he was an ally. Why make an enemy out of someone whose skill you’ve acknowledged?
Maybe that reason is part of why she’s also targeting the Halo county. Money seems to be a large factor in the empress’s game, though I’m sure the politics is also significant.