Mail redirect never works (Big Sur and several previous OSs)

I do NOT have exchange account in Mail, so this is not the issue..

only iCloud and few gmails

whenever I attempt to redirect I get a popup saying 'Cannot send message using the server iCloud. the server response was: from address is not one of your addresses' - EVEN THOUGH I do send it from one of iCloud accounts.

when I select 'iCloud' server from the list below and hit 'Send' again, new popup error tells me that I did not specify any recipients.

I go back and reenter recipients address and it goes in circles.

if I open 'Edit SMTP Server list' it's blank and doesn't show any servers..

** the only workaround this issue is to select 'Try Later' and 'save' it as a draft.

then from 'Drafts' open it, re-enter recipient address and then it works!!

screenshots attached..

thanks