Ever since Leonor could take care of herself as a mage, she hated when people pitied her.
A few times when she was betrothed to Desmond, she witnessed people's pity when they thought she was marrying a monster. Another time was when she was first Desmond's bride and everyone in the church followed her with eyes full of emotion.
She hated it then and she hated it in that moment when everyone in the King's Study around her was eyeing her with forlorn looks.
The way she responded to her family was one thing she could not hide. They sent a stake into her that was so hard to remove. A minor interaction would stay with her for ages after.
She felt powerless when it came to von Burien.