Spoiler
The Duke looks sus now but he will help Heinley later on.
I think the duke is gaining information on the inside, and using rashta like about her child and the blackmail, and the more he helps her the more she trusts him.. He can probably gain a lot of information about her and other people on the inside even the emperor. I think they are not together so that the emperor wouldn't be on guard with the Duke, cuz for some reason he just doesn't like prince heinley. I think the empress is the only one who hears about the bad things they say against eachother. Shes the only one who knows heinley invited the Duke. That's my guess tho I don't know if its actually true ╮(￣▽￣)╭
Genuinely so confused on duke E___ (forgot his name lol) like he’s best friends w the prince who also told him to come to the palace and they’ve been sending letters to each other but why are they never together and always talk shit about one another??? Is the duke genuinely friends w trashta or is he a spy/going to betray her?? ALSO ARCHDUKE HOTTEST GUY HERE PLSS LET ME GIVE U THE GAWK GAWK