I solemnly swear that the first I heard of the marriage proposal of my beloved daughter was the moment it was announced in front of the Magnaura.

I think you can all understand the reason why I may have over-reacted.

Nodding to Apionnas, Methodios goes on.

While I'm willing to understand that a precedent existed, our law is not set in stone and should not always be followed blindly.

Just because generations of our daughters have been throw unwillingly into the arms of men they would not have chosen, for no other justification but the "good" of the Empire, is no reason to go on...

I would have thought you more willing to understand, Ioannis, having seen your own sister torn between her duty and her desire...

I hate to throw oil on the fire, Senator Apionnas, but I truly believe that this marraige idea was only considered as a way to prod me into "rebelling" against Ioannis' authority, casting me in the role of the villain. Had I not "rebelled",
I think Ioannis hoped to gain control over my actions, having gained a hostage in my daughter, as a warranty of my good behaviour... Hence the lack of consultation...