
This king is kind of trash :(

I thought so too initially but then seeing the Queen's personality no wonder he doesn't like her.
Also, so far we don't know if the King ever took in a lover. However based on what's shown currently, apparently the King had someone he liked but couldn't be with (most likely politics). Doesn't seem like he physically cheated on the Queen, and didn't seem to have any concubines or any other children (considering FL is 2nd in line to throne after the prince). Also we don't know if both of them were forced into the marriage, or if the Queen forced him into it (an assumption based on the Queen's current obsession level). We don't even know if the King already let her know before marriage that this would be a no love marriage.
Honestly so far, the Queen seems worse to me. The only positive we've seen/heard of about the Queen is from her cousin (2nd ML) who implied the Queen changed after marriage because of love. But The age gap between the Queen and cousin probs means he was a kid before the marriage. (I'm thinking of an age gap because cousin seems around FL's age and the Queen is FL's aunt). Kids may not always see things as they were. The Queen could also have hidden her "bad" side in front of her cute little cousin. Of course, it could also be true that the Queen was truly good before marriage.
One of the biggest fault of the Queen imo is that she looks down on and belittles the commoners and those who are not nobles or are weaker nobles. and it's very obvious. Also she manipulates and uses people and then discards them without a second thought. Plus she seems to mess with FL only because the King favors her. There's literally no other reason (shown so far).
While the King is not a good husband, at least he's a better person and ruler than the Queen.
(Also did the Queen do something to the person the King loved? I was thinking of this based on the way she said "I got rid of one and another came" when she heard the ML's aunt was playing chess with the King)

All I can say is, Villains aren't born, they are made. Even if there's inconsistency in her cousin's statement of her changed because of love, doesn't mean it is not true. I believe the guy is about the same age of the ML not the FL.
Women when they fall in love can do anything but when got hurt will also do anything. Love and Hatred are two sides of the same coin.
I honestly believe if only the Emperor gave the Empress a proper closure. I didn't think they would end up like that. But it seems the Empress is ambitious or his father maybe, that's why the Emperor is wary of her.
I can't blame the Emperor if he can't handle her. It's a skill issue. He should have been careful if he can't even stop her. He should at least didn't provoke her. But him saying she should get a lover too is dumb. I don't know if the Emperor knows she loves him or just didn't care or bother at all. If it's the latter, then he's totally a trash.
If ever, I just wish she gave up on her love with the Emperor so she can finally heal, find peace or have time to love herself. She shouldn't need to beg for trash.
Emperor might be good to those he FAVORS but that doesn't mean he's a good man.
Isn’t her mum the one his dad had an affair with? Is that why he is forced to stick with her? Am I just being delusional or am I on to something … either way flip off (╯°Д °)╯╧╧
There is a theory that they might be half siblings..