Don't forget that Ella has a permanent stain on her "relationship" with the emperor because he mistakenly thought she had killing intentions toward him. The only reason she can participate in this farce of a competition is because Rosalyn stepped in and prevented Kahir from beheading her right there and then. Of course, if Ella had revealed that her killing intent was actually aimed at Rosalyn, I don't think any amount of intercession would have stopped him from killing her. And what does this woman do to the person who saved her life? Of course she would treat her with hostility. I'm really questioning how she could even step foot in the palace again even with the empress dowager's support.