The thing is, for Darem, his family and his people, this might be a high stakes situation.

It’s a change in leadership model, with a young new monarch. It should have more weight — especially as we and Jay-Den learn that they have some advanced Ionian-level portal technology. So, they seem the legacy of an advanced species with a highly structured society.

But the feel of the event was more like a resort destination wedding than a constitutional event.

The Khionians clearly a society hiding behind masks, and Darem excels at that.

BUT in the end, Darem’s long time betrothed expresses betrayal that Darem had been wearing a kind of mask with her, never showing his true self.

So, she sees only the ultimatum of an abdication an annulment as a solution.

Being creative and allowing Darem to continue with Starfleet so he could grow and become more comfortable and confident in his own identity, was beyond her ability to imagine.