@DreyDrey I don't know where this "end" is from but the novel is still very much ongoing. I'm assuming you mean where the novel unofficial english translation stopped and even then, they had to stop on such a cliffhanger idk how you thought it was the end. Her being cold to Heinley is understandable because he's the highly anticipated next king of the Western Kingdom... aka their
rival. Navier also is not quite in touch with expressing her emotions or understanding them well. Her position as empress further suppresses it, I feel. She's a workaholic tbh and literally just want to do her job as empress.
And Trashta does start losing favor from the stupid emperor. It's honestly about to start showing in a few chapters. And again, it's a slow build up of losing that favor. On the other hand, yeah she doesn't put Trashta in her place because why does she need to exert herself for that. She needs to protect herself, her people, and her life job because trashy emperor actually holds power over her and has clearly shown time and time again that he'll side with the concubine for anything. Also, the chapter just explained why. She literally only knows this job. She will keep doing it despite the fact he loves Trashta and she's constantly being burned by him. But she wouldn't know what to do with herself if she loses her life purpose. If her putting Trashta in her place ends up with her being divorced and removed from the only purpose she knows, then yeah it's reasonable she doesn't do it.
Honestly this is very much a slow burn + build up with circumstances that can't just be dropped in the name of love. Well, unless you're a dumbass emperor who thinks that is possible! Anyways, yeah the series can make your blood boil but, for me, it's because of the trashy emperor. (Though I do agree her talking in third person is just 🙄 it also proves the point of her lacking education / plays into her favor of using her innocence...).