I don't understand why the ML is the ML...

Soo what?? It's true the ogfl was also weak

You're right and guess what? Does that mean that the Duke has to die too? His sentenced to death and maybe plot armor will save him but we don't know that. What if he dies because of her? He's sitting in the cell suffering and he probably was tortured. Did she not think about this? That Duke doesn't deserve a death sentence

You r ryt. But IT WASN'T LIKE HE NEVER PROMISED HER ABOUT IT? HE DID. It was his promise that landed him their.
She must have thought that such a prominent Political figure would never suffer unnecessarily for her sake.
I do not really blame anyone here .
The emperor is doing the ryt thing here.
The Duke is just following his promise.
And she's enjoying her limited freedom.
You want an emperor that has suffered from all types of threats and assassination to become lovey dovey with a really invisible weakling.
She (ogfl) was not capable of protecting herself from the inner palace Politics so how can she handle all those nobles , aristocrats,and specifically the temple itself?
How could the emperor go close to such a person ? It was obvious that if he were to go near her(ogfl) ,things would have turned out more dangerous for her coz Ultimately she won't be able to protect herself and the emperor is no God himself. He is also wary of the temple .
That chick got temple's support and she knows how to manipulate the social circles . It was ultimately beneficial for the emperor. And, moreover the emperor actually saved the ogfl until now by not giving her attention or limelight else she would have died more horrendously

You are right. She had to save herself I just didn't think that the Duke would be tortured. I feel so bad for him. Totally agree with you on your points. I totally would have thought he would have been spared to torture or the death sentence. But then again I keep remembering what he had done to the other Nobles, especially that young guy that was foolish enough to speak up against her and ended up having his tongue cut out? Yeah, you got a point there, I bet she thought that the Duke would have been protected because she didn't think that her husband would risk going to war with the North in order to get her back. Also why is the brunette lady panicking? I mean like, yeah she's not a good person but at the same time, I don't think she wanted to be a murderer. I would feel sort of bad for her if she hadn't asked for all this herself but then again, it looks like she was pressured into it. Anyway I felt really sorry for the Duke and I do feel sorry for the emperor because look how he is spiraling. He was such a strong confident and even arrogant figure and now he's drinking and he's just spiraling and self-destruction. I mean like, she left a mess behind but it shouldn't be her job to fix everything

For now if she has a sense of friendship left anywhere in her heart and she understands that due to her not-so acceptable wish the Duke has fallen into this misery ,she would definitely return.
For that so-called saintess , I would say "Greed engulfs even the mightiest". Her reasoning is understandable but she kept crossing her borders . And she wasn't ignorant . She knew very well what the church or temple is actually capable of. Still she shook hands .
I agree with you she deserves what's befallen upon her. Actually it us close to reality coz such people are easily scared and confused. Thus , murder like things are abit too much for them.
And let's be honest this is a medieval era set-up. Where class distinction was prominent. She is in the most higher position. If the emperor were to let this go! The greedy crocodiles (aka the nobles) would seize this opportunity thinking the emperor is weak-willed.
In the medieval era or even in modern times, your kindness will only be exploited.
So, instill fear when necessary. Or be eaten.
Even today in this modern class distinction is very much visible . Won't you agree? It is much bloodier in places where people like ours couldn't meet .
We are in the lowest of class or in middle may be ,but we are still no match to the upper class. Their world is completely different than ours. And I don't really care.