Spoilers for the novel kinds
I think it's inferred but not explicitly stated in the novel that yes, she abused him this way. I think it's in a flashback scene... and never mentioned again (as far as I've read chp41 of the novel)
that's what I've been feeling too especially with the sexual abuse stuff since she seems obsessive
Oh no...
Also thinking back on it, a lot of Garon's bedroom habits and how he doesn't form emotional attachments with women makes a lot of sense, too, if you consider the possibility of him being sexually abused as a child.
He never stood a chance as an adult that was expected and groomed to be the leader of a nation.
When Naro ((I think that's his name??)) retelling how the previous empress acted around Garon my heart sank 'cause my first thought was "his own mother sexually abused him growing up."
There's a high possibility of this being canon and it makes a lot of things make sense for me at least.
Yeah I believe he was sexually abused by his mother. She was always with him and wouldn't let anyone else close.
Let's see how this one plays out.
Also, I'm probably over-thinking again, and I really hope I am, but the story about Garon's mother and how she was stuck to him 24/7 and wouldn't let anyone else near him-- not even the people hired to take care of him-- makes me feel icky.
It's either one of three things in my head; she was either a really horrible helicopter parent, she physically abused him due to a grudge she held against her husband OR she had a sick obsession with Garon and potentially sexually abused him in some way.
The third option would explain why she never picked out a wife for him and why she felt the need to never let anyone near him.
I'm really hoping it's a bad case of helicopter parent and nothing more, tho. Like, kids being sexually abused by a parent or family member hits way too fucking close to home for me and I'd end up sympathizing with Garon to a certain degree.