
I want to believe in duke Ergy(the guy who told Rashta to become Empress, and the western Emperor's, who is ML, BFF). So far we see that Duke Ergy has been in Rashtas side but is still pretty shady, and besides he's meant to be really good friends with Heinley and had supported him.
Thus, I think Duke Ergy is actually doing the long con and getting insider info from Rashtas side, coz when the Western duo came to the Eastern nation (Navier's kingdom) Rashta was the Emperor fav and Navier was losing StupidShu's interest, and coz Heinley in first few chaps was shown to lack interest in ladies IIRC and Ergy was a Ladies man, Ergy went to Rashta as the more 'charismatic' of the duo.
In conclusion! I want to believe in Duke Ergy(๑•ㅂ•)و✧ no matter how shady and against our Empress advice he gives, coz I hope he'll help our Main Couple in the future(/TДT)/

I kinda like the red head in the sense that he's a breath of fresh air in the realm of 'main' antagonist/Love rival whether in BL or Shoujo.
Somehow Authors are just afraid of making a gold digger through and through as the rival, and the rival HAS to be in crazy love with either one of the protagonists.
If in love with MC, they change their stance in villainy and supports the main couple and helps them in a tsundere way, "Rival:Just coz I helped once don't expect me to do it again! I only did this coz of them! If you make them cry, I'll make you pay Dearly/take them away!!!", "ML: *a quiet/provoking smile* heh, now I can't let that happen now can I"
If in love with ML, rival goes batshit insane coz their petty nefarious traps backfired and ML rejected them, and they think everything is the MCs fault, so they try to kill them...
Plus he's made it clear that he doesn't like either romantically, just their cash. Where as a lot of other rivals may have started with no feelings for either in the main couple and only want to get together with them for different selfish reasons, but later on they get hit with the feels, and it's just IMO tragic...
Holy heck I can't believe I stuck around from the 20s chapter to 192 and didn't get bored not a single time! I never thought that I wanted an arc to end quicker(or even end at all lmao). This is how you know a manhwa/webtoon has fricking amazing story, story telling ability, MC, mascot etc... I just LOVE this so so so so much(*´ω`*)
Ikr samee