Chapters 1-30: Navier is a punching bag, the ML arrives. Everyone hopes that Sovieshu dies a dog's death, what an a**hole.

Chapter 30: Rashta's old s*ave owner blackmails her and she begins to participate in politics with a friend (?) advising.

Chapter 45 (ish) : Rashta becomes pregnant. It's made clear to her that the child will not be a part of the royal family, and she starts getting desperate. An attempt is made on her baby's life and people start really investigating her background.

Chapter 65 (ish) : Sovieshu figures out Rashta's secret and who tried to have the baby killed, and comes up with a very (very) s*upid plan to legitimize it that involves divorcing his current wife, raising Rashta to become empress until she gives birth, and then marrying Navier again. Everyone hopes that Sovieshu dies a dog's death, what an a**hole.

Navier learns of the part of Sovieshu's plan where she's being divorced, triggering the actions that eventually lead to the scene in chapter 1, which I believe actually happens around chapter 80-something or so.

Surprisingly, I find myself really sympathizing with Rashta the more I learn about her. She's not a shallow white lotus villainness who does malicious things for petty reasons, but instead a character who behaves like what her background has molded her into. Habits that served her well as a s*ave don't do her much good as a concubine (aside from evoking pity). She doesn't mind using her body and beauty, which she probably learnt as a s*ave, but she has dreams of being loved and is starving for affection and attention. She's incredibly protective over her children and only really trusts herself with them. It's still unknown if she's hiding more malicious intents, but so far she seems to be more or less what she says she is.

Soviet is actually not all that blind, he knows everything about Rasta being a s*ave and a bit*h and is just covering it up because he needs the baby, which leads to his downfall because he wanted a successor more than his wife (but tbh it was a tough decision because there is no one else to succeed the throne). He keeps complaining that Navier is infertile (I'm guessing it's not true I think the marquis asking repeatedly "how are you sure (she's infertile) " is a foreshadowing, but he is convinced that he/she/both are infertile because they ate abortion cookies when they were kids (which Navier almost ate everything)) but like maybe they just haven't been doing it enough? Seriously he hasn't touched her once except that time on her birthday (which didn't follow thru because Navier got disgusted and he was sick), and he didn't even wonder or care about Rasta being a non virgin (does he even know the difference)... and Navier wouldn't be that shy seeing a naked man's body when she sleeps together with Soviet but she's like a virgin lady (or Heinley is just too hot). But yeah things wouldn't have escalated so far if Soviet and Navier were just honest with each other, the whole point of the divorce is to make the baby a legitimate heir, also because he feels threatened because Naviers brother used abortion pills so he thinks Navier and her family will hurt the baby. Soviet actually planned out a lot, he wanted to reinstate Navier to empress after a year, he never planned on letting her go, he kept all the dirty shady evidence against Rasta to divorce her after a year but he didn't tell Navier anything and didn't know how deep her relationship with Heinley was. It's Soviet's loss in thinking he can keep her as an abandoned empress. Navier thinks that Soviet is head over heels in love with Rasta and is doing everything (false charges against her brother) to divorce her, so she gets panicked and asks for Heinley's help. But sadly Navier doesn't love Heinley yet, she just kinda asked for his help as a friend (which hurts because he is whipped). At this point, it's still possible for Soviet to win her back and remarry her (since she admits to loving Soviet, but hasn't told anyone yet, and yes Soviet loves her and doesn't actually love Rasta)... but ofc I am rooting for the bird king... though Heinley has more chances with Navier in his bird form tbh XD archduke is also a tremendous cutie pie who needs a girl XD

But in this case a bird hahaha

What a dick! I mean I understand some sentiment that she is in love with Sovieshu but all he keeps on doing is pushing her away! I mean you have to beg the question " when is enough enough?" And this is enough. She is too good for him, she is basically the perfect empress the least he could do is thank her for her hard work?

I like heinley because he is straightforward and nice to her. If sovieshu actually just f*cking talk to her like a normal person then maybe their relationship might work! Sovieshu is just a stuck up little prince, never experiencing life outside of his comfort. He never thinks for those around him because he think he is above them and self reliant. Well news flash little dick, she doesn't want a colleague as well.

Another argument raised is when Sovieshu gifts her jewelry as a symbol of love or whatevs. In these era jewelry is a common gift among nobels, it shows status and wealth. Even husbands needs to gift their wife expensive stuff to show that they are not lacking and business is good as usual. What I mean by all of this, you have to beg the question "Has he, the person whom knows her best, ever thought about what she likes? "

They were bestfriend since childhood he should know her like the back of his hands. Butter her up as*hole she ain't no hoe who's going to do everything you want.

He can't argue with me that because tr*shta loves his jewelry that Navier would love them too.

Seriously if you love without communicating it then what's the point? The other person won't feel you unless you tell them with conviction. She is not a mind reader and Sovieshu needs to wake up to that reality, that not every woman would cater to his desires.

The female villain is supposed to be hated because she's a former s*ave rising above her station? It's not as if she isn't manipulative, but the warped moral compass and double standards that permeate the poor writing make it hard to care for anyone. Why should I decry Sovieshu and Rashta when the protagonist isn't any different? In fact, one of the villain characters in the story is a s*ave owner and the only reason he is considered a villain is not because he owns s*aves (that would make him a hero in the MC's eyes), but because he chooses to help a former s*ave.