
ok this story just makes no sense. Why is the castle's (read the King's) head maid deferring to that Sabrina bitch all the time? Why are either of them still around after it was proven what they did? Someone is discovered in possession of poison and they just gingerly talk about it? the Queen is supposed to be the King's guard? (I mean i could go along with this as it makes the queen a badass, but not how it's handled here)

Hmm... I think they aren't reporting the poison yet because they would like to catch as many people possible co-conspiring in the act. Just 'cause poison was found in someone's room doesn't mean they are the ones who got it or are planning to use it at all thus they can't convict the culprit. At most they can confiscate the poison and arrest whichever maid was ordered to get it but not their mistress as they would probably just deny the claim.
Further, I don't think they were teaching Feria to be the kings guard but rather basic self defense and how to stay out of the king's way in the even of an attack. It was after that she said she should also fight on par with the king not just get out of his way.
As for why the head maid is constantly sucking up to Sabrina, its to curry favor with who she thinks is gonna be queen.

lol Yup it was a far stretch, I agree. Guess I was tryin to come up with excuses for the plot holes so I ca keep reading the story cause tbh I really like how proactive the MC is in showing everyone that she's boss. Most other shoujo FMCs bend over backwards to appear good and please everyone around them. Or else they need to be reincarnated/sent back in time to learn their lesson.

...this is my theory. Charlotte defeated the Devil, but before disappearing he managed to make it so he could revive to get back at her in a love/hate kind of way... was born as a human boy, unaware of his past (Evan). He's got tons of magic so Charlotte takes him in as a disciple, who's immediately obsessed with her because love/hate from past, but since he's a child the love part wins out. He's mischievous from the start because, hello? Devil!! When Charlotte "dies" (she couldn't die as she was too powerful or the Devil had cursed her to be reborn... many theories on that one) he can't accept it and goes looking for her or ways to bring her back, in that process he awakens the Devil inside him who starts taking over his intentions. With the Devil he manages to find her. He needs more power to awaken so he starts all these weird processed using humans to do his bidding and with the help of demons that recognize him as the Devil. However he cannot let them harm Charlotte whom he's obsessed with even more than before because Evan's feeling have developed quite strong. - Endgame I think is they will have to cancel each other out. Charlotte will have to take out the Demon along with herself. Kicker is the Archduke, though injured and weak will still be alive so ppl will wonder if she's really dead or pulled off a rebirth again. the end ... I'm most likely off but that's what I think.
So Heinley planted Ergi near Rashta so he could influence her and control her, and now he told him to drive Rashta to push for Sovietsu to divorce the Empress so he can marry her. so Devious Heinley, but Sovietsu deserves it, he's going to get himself an idiot empress and be the laghing stock of the Empire. But when he realizes it, it will be too late, and the Western Empire will also open trade with Luipt (Duke Kaufman) and become super wealthy... that's my view... I'm likely wrong... in parts but not in all I think.