I’m still really conflicted about the emperor. He’s undeniably a massive red flag, and I’m not trying to excuse his actions at all. What he does is wrong - that doesn’t change.
But I think part of why we see him that way is because we’re viewing him through a modern lens, just like the MC. We come from a society shaped by democracy and human rights, while in his world, extreme punishment and death seem almost normalized.
He also didn’t seem to have healthy influences during the most formative stages of his life, which probably shaped how he understands power and control. That “is it too much?” moment made me wonder if he was ever taught to question his own actions.
Again, this doesn’t justify him. But I’m trying to understand how someone becomes like that while still holding him accountable.
Don't curse at me, I'll bite (I'm going to cry).
