beta
What I think most people forget is that despite Ilia and Khalid being in a political marriage, that didn't mean that they would exactly be expected to be a couple. Like I'm sure Khalid was expected to take other concubines/consorts before/if the civil war hadn't happened. So my thoughts are that Ilia might have been seen as a messenger from god but for those more interested in controlling politics, they wouldn't care about who Khalid would love or that Ilia was the first consort, just that Khalid should eventually take other brides.
Who knows if Khalid might have had other political marriages if the civi war hadn't happened. I'm sure there would have been at least a few cunning individuals who may have wanted to throw their younger daughters towards Khalid, as their closer ages might have lead to something more and eventually marriage - specifically because Ilia was older, a foreigner, and had a very cold attitude.