It's very impressive how you managed to weave two related narratives into one. There's a definite sense of a larger world of academic politics & warfare here, and I wish I had just a little more context behind it all. But alas, the word limit. And what you did deliver was excellent. Very enjoyable to read! Very fitting for the Duchies.
Theme wasn't clear until the very, very end but it was definitely there, & pretty satisfying. Very well done!