Hohenfels

“Any suggestions on where to go from here?” Arne asked, trying to bait out whatever schemes she had cooked up.

“I think you should make a public statement as soon as possible,” Katharina explained. “If you denounce Princess Klara right now and blame everything on her bad temper, public opinion will turn against Eisengrund, which should dissuade them from any heavy-handed actions.” Calculation. Guilt. Panic.

Arne stared at her in disbelief. “That would be ridiculously dishonorable.”

“Maybe, but I believe it is necessary if you wish to end this uncertainty.”

“And what if the other houses simply think of it as a childish tantrum? My reputation would take a nosedive as well,” he said skeptically.

“A risk worth taking, if the alternative is open conflict,” she warned, though her aura betrayed her inner turmoil. “I can handle the proclamation in your name, if you’d prefer to stay off the stage.”

So she wanted to formalize their ties, under the guise of sparing him the stress of a public appearance. Eisengrund was just collateral damage.

Arne vividly remembered Katharina’s burning ambition when she spoke of establishing herself as a diplomat, but now she was throwing it all away. Had she already written the Princess off? Just how bad was her state?

Even so, her plan was harebrained. The Western aristocrats would simply nod along, but Falkenstein and Greifenau would not look kindly upon such weaselly behavior, something Hohenfels really could not afford right now. Banking on House Eisenberg faltering in the face of political opposition was a stretch as well, given their indomitable sense of honor.