ayo? you're right lol
Maybe the empress position is not one of such authority that she can openly defy the emperor, like it's a step below. If it's so, Etienne becoming emperor rather than empress would give her the possibility to wield the power of an emperor through her son, since the latter is supposedly subjected to her.
idk i still don't think that makes sense bc she clearly does openly defy the emperor and has always been doing so. the emperor doesn't approve of any of her actions. if she couldn't act differently to the emperor's wishes, basically the entire conflict between them wouldn't exist
one thing i'm confused about is like if dominant omegas are not allowed to become emperors why tf are they allowed to become empresses like huh- they end up w basically the same amt of a power as an emperor so why is it that that is fine but not the other.
leona is clearly an example of a batshit crazy dominant omega who shouldn't have that power but somehow it's lawful for her to become an empress but not etienne