There is not a single example of an underage marriage in the entire story. Arranged engagements yes, but not a single noble pair married, before their graduation + coming of age. In fact we have been outright told that it’s exceptionally rare for Detlinde to already marry just a single year after her gradation, when those plans were still on, due to just a single year of engagement being considered a rather rushed affair. That would have put her at 17, meaning that most nobles only marry at 18 or later. As in 18 their calender, which would be well 19 years old in a 365 day system.
I’m not sure that means much either way. The zent has significant leeway to do whatever they want. Even if no underage marriage has ever happened, the Zent can still approve it, because the Zent’s word is law.
In this particular case, I think there is a strong argument that could squash any icky feelings from nobles not close to Rozemyne: “when the divine avatar of Mestionora went to meet with the gods, they altered the flow of time and matured her into an adult”.
This has the benefit of being almost entirely true. And anyone with a functioning intelligence network should be able to pick up on the implausibly fast growthspirt she underwent shortly before bestowing the G-book on the Zent.
Plus they should also be aware of the pragmatics of “well, there is not much we can do about her being an underage aub; she did conquer the duchy and repell foreign invaders. So I guess she needs a spouse to help with archducal duties. Maybe give her a few winters off of snow shoveling though”
There is not a single example of an underage marriage in the entire story. Arranged engagements yes, but not a single noble pair married, before their graduation + coming of age. In fact we have been outright told that it’s exceptionally rare for Detlinde to already marry just a single year after her gradation, when those plans were still on, due to just a single year of engagement being considered a rather rushed affair. That would have put her at 17, meaning that most nobles only marry at 18 or later. As in 18 their calender, which would be well 19 years old in a 365 day system.
Eglantine and Anastasius implied that underage marriage would be possible with the Zent’s explicit approval
I’m not sure that means much either way. The zent has significant leeway to do whatever they want. Even if no underage marriage has ever happened, the Zent can still approve it, because the Zent’s word is law.
In this particular case, I think there is a strong argument that could squash any icky feelings from nobles not close to Rozemyne: “when the divine avatar of Mestionora went to meet with the gods, they altered the flow of time and matured her into an adult”.
This has the benefit of being almost entirely true. And anyone with a functioning intelligence network should be able to pick up on the implausibly fast growthspirt she underwent shortly before bestowing the G-book on the Zent.
Plus they should also be aware of the pragmatics of “well, there is not much we can do about her being an underage aub; she did conquer the duchy and repell foreign invaders. So I guess she needs a spouse to help with archducal duties. Maybe give her a few winters off of snow shoveling though”