Not to mention, neither Joshua nor Val were in the wrong in this matter.
The instigator of the whole dispute was Seraphim. In a bid to impress a woman already betrothed to another, he challenged someone whose true capabilities he underestimated. He not only failed to win over the woman, but also suffered a resounding defeat, getting his ass handed to him in public.
It was nothing less than a self-inflicted humiliation!
And then there was Caelum, a mere servant who dared to plot the assassination of a noble's son. But his ill-conceived scheme backfired, and he paid the ultimate price.
Basically, they reaped what they sowed, facing the consequences of their misguided actions.
If the Strouds were audacious enough to target the Whitemores over these incidents, they would have to confront the stern judgment of the Queen, a judgment that could be as deadly as the executioner's blade!