someone remind me

Theyre like relatives but also considered a candidate for fiance

No i think shes just a girl people think he will marry or cousin? I can't remember.

exactly as i said and both. theyre relatives (idk if cousins or distant relatives but theyr from the same fam) but as someone closest to the emperor, she is also often his partner in social gathering, so ppl assumed and think shes future empress (the emperor uses her to stop ppl from targeting him thru marriage but he dont see her romantically) one thing that bothers me is the audacity of her to sit beside him in the throne

She’s delusional is what she is. He chooses her to be his partner because she is his cousin and he is probably comfortable with her because he probably sees her as a younger sister. But she doesn’t think the same and thinks she “special” to him.

Its probably the artists’ fault, but im very bothered by the fact that she isnt the empress but is seated in the same chair and elevation as the emeperor. I just think its her fault tho i dont dislike her as much…. For now.

She’s in charge of helping with palace affairs. Usually it would be the empress dowager or the empress that would handle palace’s internal matters like holding a ball or budget for the fl’s party. But it appears the empress dowager lives in seclusion. She doesn’t participate in social gatherings either. So it’s up to the next female kin to handle these matters. It’s quite possible that she herself placed that chair for her since she attended the ball as emperor’s “partner”. Because she’s delusional she already acts like the empress in a lot of matters that’s why others also believe she will be the empress. I’d say the ml is at fault here. He’s so adamant not to repeat what happened to his mother so he should make it clear to this lady he isn’t interested. But I am guessing he is too dense to realise what she is doing.