The protagonist must balance her desire for freedom (the divorce) with the reality that only the Prince can protect her from the Empress. Where to Read
Imagine: You prepare your speech. You brace for a fight. You have a lawyer (or a court mage) on retainer. You hand over the papers, and he says, "Okay." i thought a villainess- divorce would be easy
In those stories, the keyword "I thought a villainess divorce would be easy" takes on a bitter, hollow taste. It wasn't hard because he fought you. It was hard because he didn't. The protagonist must balance her desire for freedom