Reminds me of the 80% and 20% article I saw before.
A man who has a partner who offered 80%. Then he met someone who offered him the 20% that his partner can't give to him. So he thought the 20% is better than 80% that he currently has.
The emperor and empress might not have that 20% which is attraction towards each other, getting along since childhood might make them siblings instead. They could have get along well if there was no political marriage. Too bad :/
Ok I am off to peek at the novel haha