User blog comment:DYBAD/Character Sheet/@comment-26322734-20161130044819/@comment-5265497-20161202075104

Well, when I say exist, it's more like "whether or not he actually is an actual figure in the empire and not some ideal or abstraction created to oppress the people. Virtually nobody has actually viewed his presence hence his "hollow, symbolic figurehead, instrument of oppression, etc.". He cares about them so much he allows them to decide whether he truly exists or not.