If you don't want empty lordships to be decided by elections, then why do you have elections? We have been saying for *years*, as long as I can remember, that whoever wins an election is the "rightful" holder of that position. If you don't want them to be elected, then don't hold elections.
If you've been doing this for years, then you've been doing it wrong for years. The Titan's don't actively police realms, searching for rules violations. They only act on things that are reported to them. Apparently someone has taken offense to the practice, and reported it. So, adjust and move on. If that requires your realm to change, then change. You're not doing it to "please" anyone. You're doing it to comply with the rules of the game.
