Ok, so from the most recent chapter we learn that Jitae’s biological mom is not Suryeon, but someone named Park So-eun (assuming bio mom because they look so much alike) and the neighbors whispered that it was rumored that she was the daughter of a rich family. Last season, we learned that it was Suryeon was the one that hired Mi-eum’s dad to kill Jitae. We also learned the head of the Baek family, grandfather, favors Jitae and wants him to inherit the company.
So I think So-eun is the biological daughter of the Baek family but ran away from her oppressive family and later gave birth to Jitae. I think Suryeon is the adoptive daughter of the Baek family and the biological mom of Jian (which is why Jian is considered illegitimate because his mother is not biologically tied to the Baek family), she seems older than So-eun so she was probably adopted first because the Baek family thought they couldn’t have kids but was later able to conceive So-eun. This also explains why Suryeon killed So-eun and attempted to kill Jitae, because she wanted to ensure her son’s and her own inheritance and So-eun and Jitae stood in her way in the line of succession.
The only thing that doesn’t make sense is their surnames. So-eun’s surname is Park and Suryeon’s surname is Yeon while Jitae and Jian are both Baek. Maybe So-eun changed her name after running away and maybe the Baek family never changed Suryeon’s surname after they adopted her. Who knows ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭ This is just my theory so far.
It’s in Bara Boom S2 Anthology, you can find the full story here in ch 5-7:
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/9733_s2/
I don’t think either Rishar or Étienne want to be emperor, they just want to be free from expectations and happy together. Neither of them have shown an interest/passion for leading the country and improving the lives of commoners. So I vote for them plan a revolution and dethrone both the empress (and punish for her crimes) and emperor and establish a democracy, so that whoever wants to rule can campaign for it. Rishar and Étienne can just live a quiet life in the forest together.
Something about MC’s hyung is sus especially the condition that the MC be free from debt if he completes the delivery. I suspect that he hired those guys to beat MC up so MC couldn’t complete the task and would continue to be indebted to him.