"Future wife" - wow so cool of him to say it just like that. That line might seem a bit posessive to use irl though, right? Probably.
I also like the villainess here, but I've still got little idea what the whole deal is between the Emperor and the Marchioness.
The Marchioness seems to be a "mistress", which I would've thought has bad connotations, like comiting adultery. But, Lawrence is respected?
Meanwhile, per the early chapters, Artezia is from a different father?
Also, that part about the sapphire mine being given to Marchioness's father, and in return he gave the Emperor his daughter - this implies this is more of a concubine situation rather than straight up adultery? (In that, it's a political or arranged marriage)
I am very confused about this whole situation. Is the Marchioness truly a mistress that seduced the Emperor, or is she his concubine (in the proper, legal, sense - where it's all understood she has a proper and recognised place in the court)?
And, is Artezia truly from a different father or is that just a rumor because she looks so different? If so, then is the Emperor just that nice to take a mistress/concubine/second wife who already has a daughter?