@doradora I think it's because Eli can be easily discarded and nobody would make a fuss. She's in disgrace, her noble house is no more, her mother left, father missing.
Her only connection is her engagement which clearly doesn't matter since the prince did not visit for 4 years.
It's stranger that the engagement is still on going but there's probably a reason for that since I doubt the prince is an idiot.
But the dowager is clearly using the nuclear option here.
A weapon of absolute power which would destroy everything if it got out so even good people will obey you since they don't want innocents to be harmed.
Add in a permanent fear of death which works on everybody and you might feel invincible.
I wonder how Leslie's powers are doing since the dead kids kinda got revenge with House Sperado now gone.