beta
I have mixed feelings about the dad (present emperor). Because he is very much a victim of rape that had to stay married to his abuser under coercion, but he also left a kid with that same person. I understand not wanting to be involved with a child conceived from your violation, but sadly in this situation he was the only one with any power or inclination to protect Etienne at least a little bit from the empress, and he choose not to. I don't think the emperor could take him away from her completely due to his lack of familial connections on the maternal side, but he could've reduced the damage significantly and take him in after she dropped Etienne for being discovered as an omega. It is a bit cruel to pin responsibility on the emperor, because again he was raped, but there was literally no one who could've done more than him, and he just acted like the person who was capable of threatening someone's life while violating them would be above hurting her own child