Yeah, the core of the problem here is that Cass is, if not explicitly, at least implicitly denounced.If the kind was to put some measure of importance on her being his firstborn child and daughter, which he never does, things would be different. Which is one more point in the case, heh, that he's not playing an alliance game.
In fact, the king's own motives are quite unclear to me as of now.
He is clearly not after a stable realm, or at least isn't taking every opportunity to stabilize the rule of his children for the future. Something is missing here.
Because I would assume a ruler that is said to be as pragmatic as he is, would have some understanding that the elves would play a long game with him and his family, so the best way is to set up a long game to counter that.
And that's before we consider the trouble in the west that the death of his wife would have caused.
So it's between stupid and the unknown.
In fact, the king's own motives are quite unclear to me as of now.
He is clearly not after a stable realm, or at least isn't taking every opportunity to stabilize the rule of his children for the future. Something is missing here.
Because I would assume a ruler that is said to be as pragmatic as he is, would have some understanding that the elves would play a long game with him and his family, so the best way is to set up a long game to counter that.
And that's before we consider the trouble in the west that the death of his wife would have caused.
So it's between stupid and the unknown.