
The art in this is so hecking cool. Like the scenes are so perfectly laid out and exceptionally detailed when necessary to give a bigger picture. I might just be looking into this tok much cause I find the scenes to be hecking coolლ(´ڡ`ლ)

Nope, you're dead on. I consider myself pretty critical. I can't read mediocre writing. Even among good writing, this manga (and the LN) are pretty great. It's exceptionally well written, with a well thought out plot and few (if any) plot holes, and even with the high bar that the writing sets, the illustration certainly does it full justice. This is really just a fantastic piece of fantasy.

I feel like the prince is letting both girls do all the hard work so that he doesn't need to think about who to choose.

As the prince, He can't just merely side with either. It isn't a matter of not wanting to chose, It's a matter of Irene has dirt that can ruin the whole empire. He can't show favoritism towards either Regina because it's a fair fight. Irene has been using the dirt on him constantly to try and force him yet, Sadie is the one he loves so he's pushing away from Irene. It isn't like he doesn't need to think about how to chose. It has to be as fair as possible. All of what's happening so far are all of the competitions. Like the hunting, The trips, The territory management contest, And so on. These are all things that they do to prove themselves as worthy to be Empress. I don't understand why you'd think he is letting them do all the work. He literally can't get involved. Sure, He can comfort them from the shadows but he can't publicly show his support for either one or the empress will consider it an unfair fight and accuse Sadie of seducing him or such. His job is to make his judgement all throughout the competitions. And, He isn't even the one deciding. Whoever completes and wins the more challenges will be Empress. It's as simple as that.

If the emperor still hooks up to that Red headed wench after this I'll be real salty

As Elx3 mentioned, luckily Lucio stops sleeping with Rose after this. He's still courteous to her bc he feels guilty and pity towards her, but after this incident, he starts to realize he doesn't love her anymore. That it hasn't been love for a long time. He's only nice to her bc of her past and bc she knows his past.
I want the green boi. None of this would have happened had he been here. He would have clocked that poison before sis even tried it. But ig thats the point of him not being there
the dude was obsessed as fuck. as much as i loved his moments with tia, his feelings for her were dangerous