This meeting was doomed from the start. Given her position and society's rigid expectations of aristocrats, Queen Isolde certainly should have known better. As she disregarded all manners and propriety, it was almost agonizing to see, as if she was pleading for some sort of misfortune to befall her. Selene sat silently and thought back to all the historical plays, books, and manga she had ever read. She muttered, "This is a train wreck."
First, Isolde should have written a visiting letter a week or two in advance, so the hosts, the Duke and Duchess, could make preparations regarding guests and show respect and hospitality due to her rank. By showing up unannounced, Isolde had already committed a serious faux pas. This was a breach of etiquette that really should have been her first clue the whole thing wasn't going to go her way.
Secondly, the fact that the Duke and Duchess did not greet her at the front door upon her arrival should have raised immediate red flags. When expecting a guest of higher rank, especially royalty, noble families traditionally receive them at the entrance and invite them in as a sign of respect. The Duke and Duchess not doing so was a clear message, one that Isolde either ignored or failed to recognize. The atmosphere was already hostile.
Thirdly, when Isolde approached the gazebo, the proper protocol would have required everyone, Duke, Duchess, Damion, and even Selene, to stand and greet her before waiting for her to sit down. She was walking into a hostile environment, as evidenced by the fact that none of them bothered to get up. More and more, it seemed like the Duke didn't care about her status.
Fourthly, a rule of thumb, which every married noblewoman knows, is that whatever action or decision to be done or taken that might cause an impact on the family should first be discussed with her husband. Any such acts shall have to be approved by him in order not to undermine the husband's authority as a head of the household. Isolde's judgment would also depict to dismiss her husband in front of everyone if she visits the Ravencrofts without king's consultation. Should this ever reach him, the consequences on her could be disastrous: the king could have her punished for this, and with her already precarious state, she could not afford to make a mistake like this one.
Finally, one has to realize that in the circles of a noble society, authority and power are two entirely different things. Authority rests with the royalty, whereas power is a whole different matter altogether. The royal family rules the kingdom, but that is not to say that they hold all the power within that kingdom. Selene knew this all too well from historical knowledge. One such example was the Ravencroft family, which represented a perfect example of a noble house with more power than even the royal family could boast.
Whereas the royal family usually tries to eliminate any noble family once it is in a position to threaten the royal family, however, the Ravencrofts have survived and prospered for over four hundred years. Their influence runs so deep within the kingdom that attempting to uproot them would lead to catastrophe. Their members have branched off into other kingdoms, embedding themselves in critical sectors, and the family commands an army three times the size of the royal family's forces. They are untouchable, and everyone knows it.
Even the queen herself knows this, but for pride, desperation, or simple arrogance, she had badly misjudged the situation. Not only was she disregarding protocol, but she dared to challenge a family much stronger than her own.
She glanced at Aldric, who seemed adorably bemused by events unfolding. Maybe, this was one of those incidents that helped him learn how to identify capability in the future as well as the difference between power and authority. Well, whatever the case, I don't care. I wonder how the queen would try to get out of this situation.
The Duke's voice cut through the tension-laden silence in the air. "Why would Your Majesty want to break off the engagement?" he asked. Cold, firm, and with no beating around the bush, the tone was.
Queen Isolde's lips arced into a tight, forced smile. "Oh, Duke Ravencroft, the dear Selene means much to me. She is just about as dear as any daughter I might have," she began, her tone honey-sweet with its pretense of closeness. "But you do understand, I am a mother. I have to think of Aldric's future."
The Duchess let her eyes roll expressively at the obvious act, but it was wasted on Isolde. The interest that Selene showed in what was going on was mild, as she studied the exchange and tried to garner what was happening.
The queen's tone heightened, her voice dropping to a more muted tone. "Selene's. unfortunate awakening as a dark priestess could ruin Aldric's chances of ascending the throne. You know how it is in the court. A class like that… it carries a stigma. And," she went on, making a conscious pause, "these things can be inherited.
Isolde now turned to Selene, whose patience was wearing thin at this spurious display of concern. "I do not want my grandchildren to be cast into the same fates. Imagine their humiliation, when at their own awakening ceremonies. it would destroy them."
The Duke's face did not reveal his feelings, and his sharp eyes stayed fixed on Isolde. Then he looked at Selene, weighing the queen's words in his mind, it seemed. The silence grew thick and everybody present could feel the rising tension.
Finally, he spoke. "I will discuss this with the king."
Isolde's face noticeably whitened; the false smile faltered. "With the king?" she repeated, her voice breaking slightly. It was not what she had expected. She swallowed in a try for composure regained. "I don't think that's necessary, Duke."
"And why not?" he returned, even while slicing. "The king gave his approval to this engagement. If there is to be a change, then he should be consulted. Do you not agree, Your Majesty?
The polite veneer finally started to crack for Isolde. "I-I… I just thought it best if this matter were taken care of in a quiet manner. Aldric's future could be in jeopardy if rumors get out that we are having second thoughts. You know how the nobles are. They talk about everything."
The Duke sat back and never took his eyes off the queen. "Are you suggesting we go behind the king's back?
"N-no, of course not!" Isolde stammered. "I just- well, I thought it would be easier this way. Less fuss."
The Duchess snorted. "Less fuss? You rode onto our lands unannounced, demanding the breaking of the engagement. Where is the discreetness in that?
Isolde's cheeks colored in embarrassment. "I was only acting in my son's best interest, Duchess," she snapped, immediately realizing her tone had grown too sharp. She smoothed herself over, forcing another smile. "Surely, as a mother, you understand."
The Duchess' eyes narrowed. "Oh, I understand perfectly. You're trying to cover your tracks because you didn't think this through. And now you want us to clean up the mess."
Selene bit her lip, fighting the urge to laugh. She's right, she thought. This woman is in way over her head.
Poor Isolde looked like she was about to choke and turned back to the Duke, still trying to rectify what was left of the conversation. "Duke, please. Let's handle this ourselves. There's no need to involve the king."
The Duke raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You came here without consulting him, didn't you?
Isolde's eyes jerked wide, but she made an almost immediate attempt to mask her fear. "N-no, of course I—"
The Duke cut her off, his voice sharpening. "You didn't. And now you're trying to convince me to go behind his back with you."
"That's not what I meant," Isolde protested, a catch in her voice. "I just. I thought it would be better this way."
The Duke's eyes went flinty. "Better for whom? You? Or your son?
Isolde's hands knotted into fists. She was running out of options, and she knew it. "For the kingdom," she said, the words strained.
The Duchess rolled her eyes again. "Don't play that card, Isolde. This has nothing to do with the kingdom. You're just scared.
The queen's polite mask finally cracked. "Of course, I'm scared!" she snapped, her voice heavy with exasperation. "You don't understand the pressure I'm under! The nobles question my position already, and now with Selene's class-"
Once more, the Duke cut into her words, his voice cool, yet commanding. "If the king were to find out you're trying to break this engagement behind his back, I wonder what he would think of your position then."
Isolde froze. Completely drained of blood, reality struck her full force. She had moved too fast, been too careless. Now she was trapped.
Selene watched the queen panic with equal fascination and pity. She really didn't think this one through, did she?
Lips quivering in her search for a saving Grace, Isolde pleaded, "Please… Duke, you must understand. I'm only trying to protect my family."
The Duke's face was expressionless as he replied. "I understand, Your Majesty. But this is not how we conduct business in noble society. I will speak with the king, and we will decide what is best for our families. Until then, the engagement stands."
Isolde stared at him, speechless. She had lost. There was no way out now.
She turned to Aldric, who looked just as bewildered as she was as to just how this had spiraled so fast. Well, I guess that settles it, she thought. The engagement isn't ending anytime soon.