I Got Married to a Yandere Queen-Chapter 45 - 44 - A Bride Stolen at Dusk

Ashtoria peeked from the shadows of a building, her eyes following the figures of Riven and Mira as they walked farther away. A small sense of relief settled in her chest when she saw that the man was conscious. Her gaze shifted to the woman slung over her shoulder like a lifeless sack. The woman’s face was beautiful, adorned with flawless makeup, but beneath that beauty, there was a clear look of fear.

She wore a long, layered white gown that nearly brushed the floor, cinched at the waist with a belt. The inner tunic, a chemise made of linen, clung gently to her skin.

Ashtoria glanced back at the woman’s face—frightened, but forcing a nod of obedience. For a moment, Ashtoria lowered her head, holding her breath, then spoke in a sharp, cold tone.

"Looks like I don’t need you anymore."

The woman froze, seemingly unable to believe what she had just heard. Her expression, once tense, now twisted into visible panic.

"Your Majesty... please don’t kill me..." she stammered, her voice trembling, nearly in tears. "Today is my wedding day... I—"

Ashtoria, clearly growing irritated with the whining, let out a long sigh and dropped the woman roughly to the ground. Her movements were decisive, her gaze sharp as a blade.

"Return," she said, cold and without compromise.

The woman stared at her, stunned, not believing it at first. But the certainty in Ashtoria’s eyes made her step back. After a few seconds, she lowered her head deeply, whispering her thanks again and again in a trembling voice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty... thank you..."

She turned and hurried away, pausing only once to bow again in gratitude before disappearing down the street.

Ashtoria spared only a glance at her retreating figure. Then, silently and with purposeful steps, she began to follow Riven and Mira from a distance. Her gaze was sharp, nothing would stand in her way.

The real reason she had left Riven wasn’t because their business was over. Far from it. Despite the healer’s assurance that Riven’s wounds had healed, he had still not regained consciousness. And that gnawed at her.

She couldn’t sit still. She had to act. She needed to find a mage, someone who could access the soul’s depths and repair damage to the mind.

So, after ensuring Riven was safe and Mira slept soundly beside him, Ashtoria slipped out of the hospital and made her way to the city hall in secret.

With her hooded cloak and swift steps, she moved through the corridors until she reached the room she was looking for. Without pleasantries, she asked:

"Does this city have a mage with soul affinity?"

The officials fell silent, glancing at each other nervously. Ashtoria’s identity hadn’t been announced, but anyone with sense could feel it—the noble aura, the chilling authority that clung to her like shadow. None of the guards dared to stop her as she moved through the halls like she owned them. They didn’t know who she was, but they knew this woman could kill them without hesitation.

After some pressing, one senior official finally answered with a respectful tone:

"Lord Valderacht is currently not present, Miss. He is attending his son’s wedding at his estate right now. And if you’re seeking a mage with soul affinity... Lady Brigitta, the bride, is the one you’re looking for."

Ashtoria nodded slowly, storing the information away. But just as she turned to leave, her path was blocked by someone entering the corridor.

A tall man in his forties stood in the doorway, wearing the formal cloak of the Royal Army, a golden belt across his waist and Belmore’s crest on his chest. He stood with straight posture and sharp eyes filled with respect.

"Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly, eyes widening in surprise at seeing her here.

"I’ve finally found you," he added.

Ashtoria studied him in silence for a moment, then sighed.

"Commander Havel," she replied curtly. "You always have the worst timing."

Realizing he had something important to report, the two of them entered a private office within the city hall. They talked for quite a while—discussing critical matters: the sudden attacks from the Arkham Kingdom, news from the eastern territories, the piles of beast corpses in the western forests, troop movements in Belmore, and the loyalties of remaining noble families. There were also papers to sign and orders to confirm.

Time passed swiftly as the two high-ranking figures buried themselves in unavoidable duties.

Only when everything was settled, and Commander Havel prepared to return to the capital, did Ashtoria rise from her seat, lower her hood, and step outside. The sun was already beginning to set.

With a sharp gaze and steady pace, she made her way to the wedding hall at the noble estate of Dorthlam’s ruling family—uninvited, unannounced. She simply walked in, bold and calm, into a wedding ceremony full of nobles and guests.

All heads turned.

But no one dared to stop her.

And there she saw the woman—dressed in a flowing white gown, her face radiant with expertly applied makeup. She was smiling politely, shaking hands with the guests.

Ashtoria said nothing. She simply walked forward, grabbed the bride by the arm—

And slung her over her shoulder like a sack.

Cries and gasps filled the hall. The groom tried to resist, but a single glance from Ashtoria made him shrink back in silence.

No one chased her.

And from that moment, the woman was taken away—without explanation, without choice. Because she possessed what Ashtoria needed. Because she was the only hope to awaken Riven soon.

.

.

.

In a lively yet modest tavern, the smoky aroma of grilled meat filled the air, mingling with bursts of laughter and the clinking of cutlery. Riven and Mira sat in a corner by an open window overlooking the street. Before them were two large plates of steaming white rice and thick slices of grilled beef—charred at the edges, sweet, salty, and dripping with fat.

Mira was eating with gusto. Her round cheeks puffed like a squirrel’s, and her hands moved swiftly between plate and mouth.

Riven was no slower. He ate while exhaling contentedly, each bite a reward for the trials they had survived. "This... is incredible," he muttered as he scooped more rice. "I might cry."

Mira only nodded eagerly, mouth too full to speak.

Suddenly, the sound of a chair being quietly pulled back came from beside them. Both Riven and Mira froze. Before they could turn to see who had joined them...

A familiar flat voice rang out.

"You’re eating without inviting me?"

Riven stiffened. His spoon stopped halfway. Mira, still chewing, slowly turned toward the voice—her eyes widening.

And there... standing calmly beside the table, was the woman who had just vanished from their lives, now appearing without warning at their side.

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