Its kind of disappointing seeing how much of a 2-bit villain the sister is.
She's even so stupid to the point where she's recalling the lesson about manipulating people without realising the exact same thing was done to her by the dowager. There's no tension-- or sense of danger at all for what she's planning. We all know Leslie will overcome it easily.
She's turning out to be a fine little villainess! Hopefully she becomes smarter and more cunning so that we can have a real battle of wits between her and Leslie. I have high hopes for this first priest selection..
@KuroInfinity If this was another series, I might think the former marquess's expression in his last panel, where Eli tells him that she's going to be the empress, is one of bafflement, that is, not understanding how Eli can be so gullible. However, I reckon he actually believes her. The villains have been so super simple so far. Even the dowager is relatively simple as a villain, but since the current emperor is so weak, the dowager can do whatever she wants, with nobody trying to stop her. Although that being said, maybe the current emperor's weakness is also thanks to the dowager. That would make her plans cross generations, and thus her apparent simplicity would actually be just taking it easy because she can.
I am a bit disappointed the father showed RIGHT BACK UP in the story. Author could have focused on other aspects for at least a single arc and been fine. But apparently not. Ah well.