User blog comment:B214/Volume 23 discussion blog/@comment-2804:D41:4A9B:E500:1D4F:A397:BB70:B3C2-20170726041337/@comment-10330822-20170728094817

Except it was clear they weren't upset because of the conversion Zeoticus had with Lord Phenex after the duel was over. Zeoticus reflected that he hadn't be considerate of his daughter's feelings, and apologized to Lord Phenex for the break-up of the engagement.

You'd think if Zeoticus was so enlightened by that point he would have just broken off the engagement by himself, was the round-about cause of Sirzechs using the duel as an excuse and then possibly lending the griffen to help Issei should he need it something that needed to be done if Sirzechs and Zeoticus had already come to an agreement to end the engagement?

Seems a bit contrived. I would think rather Sirzechs learned of Rias's opposition via Grayfia or other associates and decided to simply give Issei a chance. It just seemed to be a bit more spontaneous than you might think. I feel the main thing here is that Zeoticus was surprised by ultimately just accepted the result as Sirzechs judgement. That is why I feel the situation implies Sirzechs has a high level of influence over the clan that we don't see often.