The Fontaine family were mortified by Helen's words. Victor was a distinguished guest who travelled to the other side of the continent to visit them and yet the matriarch of the family is showing such disrespect.
Helen paid no mind to the shocked faces of her family while on the other hand, Harrison was giggling away finding this whole situation amusing. Victor and Marshal Bessières could only awkwardly stand still, they did not want to risk making the situation worse.
Helen remaining ever so bitter elaborated further. "Why should I be forced to sit at the same table as a man who controls my homeland? He is nothing more than a lucky upstart, if he was smart he should be begging us for an alliance and handing back Kreighelm as compensation."
Simeon looked utterly destroyed. A relationship with the Grand Duchy of Luxenberg was crucial, in the event of a massive war against the Maldenbergs, the Luxenberg army would tip the scales of either faction. Although Simeon did not know how Victor felt about the Maldenberg family, he was sure that he would favour them after such a blatant insult.
The room was now spiralling into a whirlwind of emotions. Victor had to try and keep Bessières calm for he would not dare stand idle while his lord was being insulted, Dahlia and Stetson remained visibly shocked while Harrison was bawling with laughter.
Unable to restrain Marshal Bessières anymore, Victor could only watch as his marshal tore into the grand duchess.
"Grand Dukes, forgive me for my rudeness but this is beyond unacceptable. We have been on the road for multiple months on end, and to be treated so disrespectfully by the matriarch of this family is unforgivable. We tried to let the small slights and disgusting glances go, due to wanting to have a favourable relationship between our territories but if this is how you would treat my lord, then we will not stand for this."
As much as Victor wanted to discipline his friend for such an outburst, he could not bring himself to do so. There were no lies or exaggerations in Bessières's words. Victor probably would have done the same if the grand duchess persisted any further.
Simeon was frantically trying to find the words to deescalate the situation but with Marshal Bessières's outburst, Helen could not hold back her anger. In a loud and authoritative voice, Grand Duchess Fontaine began to lay into the marshal.
"How dare you speak to me as an equal. You are nothing more than a mutt that serves its master. It is a privilege for you Southerners to be invited by us. You may hold the same rank as us, but you are not one of us Victor Luxenberg, if you were, you would not have some lowly unknown cur speak on your behalf."
Victor could not believe the audacity of Grand Duchess Fontaine. To insult him, his marshal and his territory sent a clear message to Victor. By the words of Helen, it was obvious how she felt about him and their meeting solidified her hatred for him. Simeon who was a more timid person continued to struggle to find the right words to calm everyone down.
Simeon was a pacifist at heart, he believed that words could overcome any issue but the scene playing out before him could not be carelessly jumped into. If he had any hopes of restoring some amicable relations with the Luxenbergs, he had to be careful.
Victor accepted the fact that he could not have friendly relations with these people. The multiple insults and the overall treatment by the grand duchess had deterred Victor from trying to salvage this.
"Grand Duke Fontaine, how am I supposed to take this? I was invited here on the premise that we would look to further improve our relationship with one another but your wife seems to think differently. I will not stand for this insult, I do not wish for us to go to war over this, but any talks of furthering our territories relationship is over." Victor said in a composed tone.
Victor then turned to Helen and began to talk back to her, not taking any more disrespect from her. "Grand Duchess, I put up with your earlier rudeness out of respect for your husband who invited us as distinguished guests, but you have said too much. We shall be leaving tomorrow, so you will not have to deal with us any further. Also, the only way you will be getting Kreighelm is if you conquer it, otherwise you will not step foot in my lands."
Stetson, Harrison and Dahlia could only watch the drama unfold before them, they dared not interrupt. Simeon looked defeated, his plans had been ruined by his arrogant wife. Having nothing more to say Victor and Marshal Bessières stormed out of the room. Victor ordered that his marshal find his men and get them to prepare to leave the next morning.
With the pair out of the room, Simeon who had been bottling his anger snapped at his wife. "What is your problem WOMAN?! Do you realise what you have done? We needed to be on friendly terms with Victor Luxenberg and territory. The Maldenberg Family is growing ever more ambitious, if Victor Luxenberg by some means becomes their ally we will be conquered in no time."
Simeon was red with rage. His children and daughter-in-law stayed silent, they had never seen Simeon so worked up, and even Helen was taken aback a little bit. Her husband was usually a well-mannered and kind man. Although he remained a tiny bit mysterious in his dealings he was still a good man overall.
Helen who hated being yelled at fired back at her husband. "You have no right to yell at me. You dare bring the man who owns my home into our palace and force me to sit at the same table as him. He is a young and lucky brat who should be bowing at our feet. His adjutant should have his tongue cut out for such disrespect but you are too weak."
"Weak? Weak! We are in a weak position now due to arrogance. The Grand Duchy of Luxenberg has a reason to go to war with us if they so desire. We cannot defend against them if the Grand Duchy of Maldenberg moves to support them. You have ruined any hope of using him and his army as a deterrent for our biggest rival."
Helen began to fluster, her husband was not wrong in his assessment of the political landscape. However, Helen was a prideful woman and would not admit any fault. Knowing that she would only get yelled at some more she stormed off while Simeon continued to scream at her.
Simeon sat back in his chair, plotting how he would recover from tonight's disaster. The remaining members of his family slowly began to creep out while he was lost in thought. Simeon knew that there was no redeeming the actions of his wife. Compensation was of little use as it would probably enrage Victor. Simeon could only lament at the ruined opportunity.
'Why did it have to go so horribly.'