There is only one aspect of her grandmother that Anna does not aspire to: Dalassene is illiterate. Anna knows that illiteracy places Dalassene in a vulnerable position since she relies on others to read sensitive documents for her, and therefore, Anna begins to focus more intently on Simon’s literature and grammar lessons. By contrast, John refuses to learn to read and throws violent tantrums when he is required to attend Simon’s class. Irene Doukaina, the empress, is distraught over John’s inability to read, and Simon thinks that this inability may be permanent (a learning disability is implied but not specifically articulated). John stops going to lessons altogether.

During one of her lessons for Anna, Dalassene begins to speak maliciously about Irene. She looks down upon the Doukas family, particularly Doukas women, and reveals that she discouraged Alexios from naming Irene as empress when he first usurped the Doukas family from the throne. Irene overhears this conversation and storms in, reprimanding Dalassene for glorifying war and for lying to Anna. Irene is resolute in her belief that an empress should rule with morality always in mind, while Dalassene believes that an empress should rule without mercy.