I think my biggest issue honestly, is how the baddie has absolute carte blanche to do whatever... She has prisoners based on her and her son's claims, a private mercenary group enforcing her will, and no clapback at all due to a fear of politics...
Even allowing for the standard "nobles running wild" routine, nobody stopped her from kidnapping a girl? I'm not even concerned with shite friend girl right now. I know they explained that head chef is like grand vizier in this place, but even still - nothing is slightly opposing her?
And now the easily winning villain, is letting her kid go assault (implied rape) the girl... Just to remind us - the readers - that the villain is a bad.
Also that red-head gal is a complete bag of garbage.
Can't wait for this to end, and the story to be fun again.