Spoilers:
The emperor used a curse/magic poison to ruin the earth and attract monsters to ruin the east ( soil so nothing grows there and people suffer from famine and financially leading to the ruin of the duchy), this was an act of vengeance against the current duke grandfather who “stole” his love. The emperor forced engagement of a girl from a fallen noble family yet he was ashamed of her status. She didn’t love him and fell for the duke, after everything and they decided to get married, he pulled this vengeance plot. He always had an inferiority complex with the grandfather duke and this fuelled his hate. He blackmailed the magic tower top magician to create the poison.
( ps: the emperor age maybe in the 60’s, as nobles get married very early on , it makes sense that his beef was with the current duke grandfather)
can someone pls tell me why east become so desolate, when infact it was a very beautiful place before.. did someone poisoned the land, some part of a scheme, or what??