Chapter 192
When Denial Meets Reality

When people in positions of authority face information that threatens their worldview, they don't just deny it—they often become cruel to those around them while their mental faculties visibly deteriorate. The old prince shows us this devastating pattern: a once-sharp leader now sleeping in different rooms each night, forgetting what he just read, and punishing his daughter for problems he created. This happens because authority figures often build their identity around being right and in control. When reality challenges that identity, their brain chooses psychological protection over accuracy. The prince can't accept that his military knowledge is obsolete, so he literally cannot process his son's warnings about French advancement. Meanwhile, the stress of maintaining this denial creates a feedback loop—the more threatened he feels, the more confused he becomes, and the more he lashes out at safe targets like Princess Mary. You see this exact pattern everywhere today. The department supervisor who can't admit the new software system works better, so she sabotages training and blames her staff for 'not trying hard enough.' The family patriarch who refuses to acknowledge his driving isn't safe anymore, becoming increasingly hostile toward anyone who suggests alternatives. The charge nurse who built her reputation on outdated protocols, now writing up younger nurses who follow evidence-based practices. The small business owner who can't accept that customer preferences have changed, becoming increasingly bitter toward employees who suggest adaptations. When you spot this pattern, protect yourself first. Don't try to force awareness on someone in cognitive collapse—it only makes them more dangerous. Document everything if you're in their chain of command. Find allies who see the situation clearly. Most importantly, don't internalize their blame. Their cruelty isn't about your failures; it's about their terror of irrelevance. Create distance when possible, and remember that their authority is already crumbling whether they admit it or not. When you can name the pattern, predict where it leads, and navigate it successfully—that's amplified intelligence.