Yes, all relevant societies in this novel appear to be primarily monogamous

[conuly]

Main Character: I have two wonderful platonic friends, life is looking up! It's a pity they can't stand each other for REASONS, but it's great to have platonic friends!

Bestie: Yo, those dudes are totally into you, which would be great but they're nowhere near your social status and you're gonna ruin your marriage prospects. I'm telling you this as a friend, stop slumming.

MC: What are you talking about? They're wonderful individuals, despite our rigid social hierarchy, and surely have no interest in me whatsoever except as a friend! We all could use more friends!

Meanwhile....

Love interest one: Alas, she will never see me as more than a friend. Plus, she's clearly deeply interested in my rival, whom I dislike for a number of very valid reasons. Sure, superficially I'm more at her social rank, but nobody here knows that. And I'm secretly at war with her people. It'll never work. I'll never be able to end this futile conflict.

Dad: My daughter hasn't made up her mind yet! You're an old and and dear friend of mine. I'm sure if you pursue your suit, you may be successful! Don't give up hope!

Love interest two: Alas, she will never see me as a friend. Plus, she's clearly deeply interested in my rival, who I know for a fact is the leader of our enemy army. And it might seem that their relationship is wildly inappropriate, and it is, but nobody could ever have anything to do with me because of REASONS.

Dad: My daughter hasn't made up her mind yet! You're a good man, and she likes and trusts you. I'm sure if you pursue your suit, you may be successful! Don't give up hope!

Me: Did you... did you just tell both these dudes to woo your daughter? Are you a matchmaker or just a shitstirrer!?

Comments

[landofnowhere]

Maybe it's like the Jew of Malta and the father is hoping they'll both kill each other in a duel?

[conuly]

Doesn't seem that way.

[bibliofile]

And why is the dad talking to the suitors and not the daughter? Huh.

[rebelsheart]

I'm guessing Aladdin scenario - the father's approval is "more important". On the other hand, he's deferring to his daughter's decision. Maybe they want advice

[conuly]

No, he just went up to them while they were individually moping and started meddling.

[conuly]

One of them kissed her and she's still not sure of his intentions, much less the other one's.

[chez_jae]

Is she really his daughter? Ha ha! I mean, aren't most dads like, 'Stay away from my daughter! Rawr!'?

[conuly]

If he told these guys to stay away from his daughter, they would.

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

So... clearly she's not interested 'that way' in either of her two wonderful platonic friends, and (being an ignorant virgin) doesn't grok that young men are invariably interested 'that way' (unless they're gay.) Time for Love Interest #3 to make their appearance: the one she is interested in 'that way'.

Dad sounds like he's just eager to get her married off and out of the house, and he doesn't really care who she picks, just so she picks someone before she's past her shelf date. Two acceptable suitors wooing her, sure, why not? Having a rival will spur each of them on to more impassioned and persuasive wooing than they'd do if they had no competition, especially if each believes he's the favored suitor.

LOL, I'll take Door #3 please, and I hope there's a stunningly gorgeous lesbian princess behind it.

[conuly]

Oh, she is, once one of them kisses her and the other gives her flowers. She's just not 100% sure of their intentions. It's one of those books, and yes, the two boys ought to hook up with each other while she continues her pleasantly solitary life. (With lots of platonic friends.)