The empress isn't locked up, she locked herself in because she lost all the people she cared about and because she secretly possessed an item of great significance (that statue). Plus, she doesn't have many supporters because the emperor has killed them and even her household is infested with his spies. The emperor killed her family and anyone whom he considered a threat to his position (including Cedrick's parents)because he himself was an illegitimate child like Lawrence. Soon after, the emperor lost all the children he had with the empress due to a disease. The empress's most trusted lady in waiting who was also her children's nanny committed suicide with her husband in order to take responsibility for the death of the imperial children. That's why Lawrence, Duke Roygar, and now Cedric are competing for the throne. The crystal holds great significance because the empress's family territory was famous for that crystal. The territory that the emperor has taken control of. Gifting the crystal was a way of saying that Artizia will give back what has been robbed from the empress.
Ahhhh thank you so much for clearing it up.
Thank you for clearing up! That emperor is a douche!
Im at chapter 34 and im confused with the whole empress situation. Why is she locked up? Who killed her kids and why. Whats the viscounty thing they talked about and why was the salt crystal so significant