Īt the same time, Melcendre kidnapped Ser Michel to get him away from the empress and interrogated him for information to use against Celene, discovering that not only was his noble status falsified, but he was also elf-blooded, which would cause a massive scandal and humiliate Celene. However, she let him go, realizing that, if she were to imprison him, the opposition would be inflamed and civil war would erupt. Upon rejoining the other nobles in their party, Celene considered raising the alarm, predicting that even Gaspard's allies would be appalled at his blatant assassination attempt. Gaspard drew his sword on her, only for the Empress to slash his sword arm with a hidden dagger. While she realized such a match could unite Orlais and avert civil war, Celene declined. While accompanying Celene on a hunting trip, Gaspard proposed marriage to her. However, some members of the nobility were offended by such a comical use of the chevalier's symbol, most notably Duke Remache of Lydes. Celene managed to resolve the situation by having her champion, Ser Michel, challenge Teagan to a duel on Orlais' behalf and ordering them to fight with feathers, which happened to be the yellow feather the chevalier wore on their masks. This was an effort to enrage Teagan and sour relations with Ferelden to provoke another war. ĭuring a royal ball, in which Bann Teagan Guerrin, Ferelden's ambassador, was present, Gaspard had his bard Melcendre sing a song pertaining to Meghren's miserable stewardship of Orlais' former province, before flaunting a sword taken from Moira Theirin, the Rebel Queen, mockingly claiming that it was used by the servants to kill rats. Nevertheless, Gaspard's supporters believe Gaspard can lead Orlais back to the glory of Drakon's expansion years. With Celene having no successor, the next in line to the throne would be Gaspard, who has made few friends in the Council of Heralds. Although Empress Celene is a renowned diplomat and reformer that strives to secure peace for the Orlesian Empire, some Orlesians are disgruntled by her policies and also feel that the future of the Empire could be in jeopardy since she has yet to name an heir.
Gaspard is well loved by the Orlesian military and has the support of many Chevaliers, who see Celene as antimilitary. Empress Celene has tried to improve relations with Ferelden and Nevarra but some Orlesians see this as complacency. Empress Celene's reign in the Orlesian Empire had been met with criticism in some quarters, to the point where the Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons was plotting to overthrow her.