For me the sad part is this fool of an emperor would've never looked at the cold palace if not for him hearing her thoughts and also the actual 18th prince or the og princess died because of his incompetence and also her mother and her brother all of them were innocent and even her mother's side of family was banished because he can't investigate properly and is biased. If I were to be her mother I would've never looked at this man again in any kind of affectionate way at all. He don't deserve it.