@allamaland
Seems like a good enough point in time to me. Claude is bedridden and Anastacius knows best how bad it really is, so he knows Athy's options are limited. I guess originally (in the glimpses Athy saw from the alternate reality/ novel world after her death) he put his daughter in place and only revealed himself properly after Claude's death, but in this time line it goes a little different. It would probably be not good for him if Athy proved to be capable and gain the varsalls trust, so stirring a commotion seems good. Sowing doubts about Claude who can't intervene himself currently and showing himself as an alternative, seems like a good way to go. Definitely not without risks, but I guess he has a lot to gain...
Stiiiill, everything is so tense currently, I can't wait for the next chapters! Thank you to the translators as well!
Edit: also props to Athy for doing so well until Anastacius escalated the situation even further...