Well, as an idea, maybe marrying a commoner (or a middle class- but during this time there wasn't one) and thus the family loses "points". But, as a random event, a royal historian found out that the wife/husband's ancestors were former Dukes/Duchesses of Suchandsuch. Not only would it give extra points later on, but relations between the current ruling family of the Duchy of Suchandsuch improves slightly.