The Bride He Hates-Chapter 124: Suspicions

The next morning, Lyanna went to the council chamber for the morning briefing. Azrael hadn’t slept in their chambers the previous night. After their argument, he had gone to his study and never returned. Lyanna didn’t try to talk to him; instead, she thought it was better to give him space.

She was on her way when Victor approached her.

"Your Majesty. The Millhaven situation has complicated things."

"How?" Lyanna asked.

"News of us burning a village has spread everywhere."

"Don’t worry. We’ll issue statements clarifying the situation." She replied. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Your Majesty, this isn’t just politics. People are genuinely disturbed."

"Then schedule meetings. I’ll explain our decision personally to everyone who needs an explanation."

Viktor looked at her strangely.

"Your Majesty, three innocent children died in the operation. Don’t you feel... anything about it?"

"It’s unfortunate, obviously." Lyanna said. "But the alternative was worse. Moreover, feeling guilty about it won’t bring them back."

"You’ve changed a lot, Your Majesty." He said after a moment.

"I’m just doing what is expected of a queen. This version of me is better for Thornfield, trust me."

"If you think so." Victor said before leaving

Lyanna didn’t think much about the conversation and continued walking. The council had gathered to discuss the Millhaven situation.

The council members were sitting in factions, when she entered the chambers. Those who supported the decision were on one side while those who opposed it sat on the other.

Azrael arrived last, looking like he hadn’t slept at all. He didn’t even look at Lyanna as he took his seat.

"We need to address the situation." Lady Morgana said. "The Millhaven decision has created a crisis. Our own citizens are questioning our leadership. We need damage control."

"The decision was strategically right. We just need to communicate that effectively." Cassius replied.

"Queen Lyanna made a monstrous decision and now we’re all complicit in it." Another council member said.

"You voted for it." Lyanna joined the conversation. "Eleven of you voted in favour of my decision. So why the double standards now?"

"Because you presented it as the only option!" The council member replied.

"It was indeed the only option that guaranteed success." Lyanna replied. "You all knew that before the vote."

"You didn’t explain that children would be tied up in their homes!" Lady Morgana said angrily. "That families wouldn’t be able to evacuate even with a warning! That we’d be killing hostages!"

"We didn’t know those details in advance." Lyanna replied. "But as I said earlier, the math is the same regardless of the circumstances."

"People are not numbers!" Lady Morgana snapped. "How can you talk about them like they’re data points?"

"Because that’s how strategic thinking works. Emotions influence the judgment and I made the decision based on facts, not feelings."

"That’s what tyrants do." Lady Morgana said coldly.

Suddenly, the room erupted in chaos. Less than half the council now defended her decision, while the others condemned it.

"Enough." Azrael finally spoke.

Everyone fell silent.

"Queen Lyanna’s decision saved Thornfield." Azrael said.

Lady Morgana was about to say something, but Azrael raised his hand to stop her.

"However, the way the decision was made concerns me and many of you." He finally looked at Lyanna. "My wife has changed a lot since the attack. She has become more strategic, ruthless, and more willing to make brutal decisions without hesitation. Some of you see this as growth while others see it as a loss of humanity."

"What do you see it as?" Lady Morgana asked.

Azrael fell silent for a moment.

"I don’t know yet. I’m trying to understand what happened to the woman who risked everything to save one sick child, who made decisions with her heart." He sighed. "Anyway, we need to decide if this is the kind of leadership Thornfield wants."

"Do you want to remove Queen Lyanna from decision-making authority? We just reinstated her to alliance work." Cassius asked.

"I want to know what happened to her that she has changed so much. I want to know whether this is just a trauma response or something more."

"Nothing happened." Lyanna said. "I nearly lost you. The trauma has just changed my priorities. That’s all."

"Really?" Lady Morgana asked skeptically. "As far as I know, trauma usually makes people more emotional. You’ve become the opposite."

"Maybe I’m handling trauma differently than others."

"Or maybe something else is going on."

"That’s enough." Azreal said. "We need a break. Lady Morgana and Victor, start writing to the territories explaining the situation in detail."

"As you say, Your Majesty." Victor replied.

"The council is adjourned." Azrael announced.

After everyone left, Azrael asked Lyanna to meet him privately in his study. Lyanna nodded, ready for the confrontation.

"Tell me the truth." Azrael said as soon as she entered and closed the door. "What happened to you when I was dying?"

"I already told you..."

"I want the truth," Azrael cut her off. "Not the explanation you’ve been giving everyone. Lyanna, I know you. People don’t change this fast without a reason. Please tell me what happened?"

Lyanna thought about Mara’s warning. She couldn’t tell him the truth or he would die.

"I watched you die, Azrael. I sat beside your bed for hours thinking you wouldn’t survive. It has changed me as a person."

"Then you should be clinging to me, grateful I survived, terrified of losing me again. Instead, you’re cold and distant. You didn’t even care when I didn’t come to our chambers last night."

"I was giving you space."

"Lyanna, the woman I loved would have been devastated when I didn’t come to bed. She would have come looking for me, tried to talk, tried to fix things between us. You just accepted it as if it didn’t matter."

"It matters." Lyanna said.

I don’t think so. Because these days the only matters to you is the strategy. You ordered a village burned and felt nothing. I’m sleeping in another room and you feel nothing. Do you feel anything, Lyanna?"

"I feel..." Lyanna struggled for words. "I know that you’re upset, and I should fix that..."

"Should?" Azrael repeated. "Not want to?"

Lyanna wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to explain about the blood magic, and her sacrifice but she couldn’t. Instead, she turned to leave.

"Don’t walk away from me." Azrael said.

Lyanna stopped.

"We’re done talking. There’s nothing more to say."

"You haven’t said anything." Azrael replied. "Our marriage is in trouble again because you’ve become someone different completely. And that is worth discussing!"

"Our marriage is fine." Lyanna said. "You’re just uncomfortable with my growth. Give it time. You’ll adjust."

"I don’t want to adjust to this!" Azrael said. "I want my wife back! The woman who cared about people, who balanced compassion with strategy, not just cold calculations!"

"I’m sorry but that woman is no more. You’ll have to live with this version of me now."

She left him standing in his study, devastated.

The next morning, Victor came to Lyanna with disturbing news.

"Your Majesty, we have a problem. A delegation from Riverwatch is here. They’re asking to speak with you about Millhaven."

"About what?"

"They’re saying the Millhaven decision proves you were responsible for the original Riverwatch murders." Victor said. "That your carelessness was intentional. They want a formal investigation."

"That’s absurd." Lyanna said. "The Riverwatch situation was completely different."

"Well... they want a trial." Victor said. "A formal trial investigating both Riverwatch and Millhaven murders to determine whether you’re fit to be a queen and half the council supports this idea."

"Let them investigate." Lyanna replied. "They’ll find nothing wrong. Schedule the trial. I’m not afraid of anyone."