@EminaDigiCC0306 iirc
middle aged elias the count was asked to breed or cultivate a purple flower that the emperor wanted to dedicate to the wife/consort?/queen? who was the crown prince’s mother (aka shuli look-alike). this next part is my presumption, but when the shuli look-alike died, the emperor ordered all specimens of the purple flower be destroyed, probably as a result of his/the imperial family’s grief. the count is frustrated bc it’s an entirely unique breed of flowers and doesn’t wanna destroy it. apparently johannes was someone who has a lot of power in the palace and yet was similarly unable to persuade the emperor to change his mind.
(again this is my speculation) it seems like johannes had some deep feelings for the late queen, hence the count recalled being confused as to why johannes continued to stare at the shuli look-alike’s portrait for such a long time.