The Empty Manor
Let it be never said that Alexander did not give the Margraves any chance to redeem themselves.
If the old Margraves bureaucrats had declared Lady Miranda as the head, even if only as a token figurehead, then all of them would have been better for it.
Because then, at the given time, they would have been able to put a much more unified response to Alexander's 'land grabbing' efforts.
However, the old men appeared too myopic and short sighted, wanting to relegate themselves to mere observers, yet hoping to gain everything without risking anything.
What they said might have been indeed true- their words carried little weight now, and whatever happened next really depended on the result of the next battle, not what title one lady had or not.
But even then political legitimacy was still a very useful thing to have.
However, it seemed they were not even willing to do that.