The Bride He Hates-Chapter 40: Mortality?

Elise’s voice was filled with malice, but she wasn’t done yet.

"I came to Thornfield to celebrate an alliance." Elise addressed the crowd as she turned away from Azrael. "But I’m leaving deeply disappointed. What I’ve seen here is not strength or unity. Instead, it’s a king swayed by human influence, allowing his mortal wife to make decisions regarding the Order’s attacks."

Lyanna noticed doubt flickering on some faces.

Was Elise right? Had Azrael’s decision to let her manage the refugees been a sign of weakness rather than strategy?

"The resettlement program, and the resources given to human refugees, along with our soft response to Order aggression, all is due to one human woman whispering in the king’s ear.

Crimson Dawn cannot support weak leadership. We cannot ally ourselves with a court that favours humans over vampires."

Elise wasn’t just insulting Azrael; she was questioning his ability to rule, suggesting that his marriage had weakened his judgment.

Azrael’s face remained expressionless, but Lyanna could feel the anger radiating from his body. This was exactly what Elise wanted, to provoke an emotional reaction that would prove her point about him being weak.

"You’re talking as if human influence is a sin." Azrael replied in his calm and controlled voice. "You seem to think that adaptation and strategic thinking are weaknesses instead of survival skills. That’s a narrow view, Elise."

Before he could continue, King Damien stepped forward.

"Queen Elise, you talk about weakness, but I see strategy. The human refugees trust Queen Lyanna far more than any vampire. That trust gives us intelligence about Order.

Queen Lyanna’s work has already provided intelligence that my forces are using to protect our border territories. She has proven to be an asset to vampires. That’s not weakness, Queen Elise."

Several vampires who looked unsure before, now agreed with him.

"Since when do we judge a king’s strength by his wife’s influence? Are you saying that women can’t contribute to governance, Elise?" Lord Richard joined the conversation.

"That is old-fashioned thinking for someone who claims to represent the forefront of vampire politics."

The subtle insult landed perfectly. Several vampires laughed and smirked. Elise’s face was flushed with anger, and her hands were clenched at her sides. Still, she was too politically savvy to lose her composure in front of so many nobles.

"I only want to maintain vampire superiority. We are predators, not caretakers of inferior species. But clearly, Thornfield has chosen its path. I hope it doesn’t lead to disaster when the Order escalates their attacks." She took a step closer to Azrael and Lyanna.

"I wish you luck with your experiment in vampire-human cooperation. But history shows that humans always betray vampires in the end. I hope you’re prepared for that disappointment."

Then Elise turned to face Lyanna for the first time since entering the hall.

"Enjoy your position while it lasts, little queen. Enjoy being young and beautiful, and the object of His Majesty’s attention. Enjoy feeling special and important.

But remember humans age. He’ll stay young and beautiful forever while you’ll wither and decay. How long before he looks at you and sees only mortality and weakness?"

The words hit at Lyanna’s deepest fears.

"How long before he finds someone eternal to share his bed and his throne? Someone who won’t grow old, sick and eventually die, leaving him alone again? Someone who can actually be his equal instead of a temporary companion?" Elise leaned in closer.

"I’ll still be beautiful, powerful and available centuries from now, while you’ll be just dust in a grave. He’ll come back to me eventually. Because eternity is a long time, and vampires know what it’s like to be with their own kind."

Lyanna took a deep breath before speaking.

"Perhaps I will age and die. Perhaps my mortality will create problems that we’ll have to face. Maybe everything you’ve said is true." Lyanna said. "Or perhaps my husband will decide to grant me immortality when the time is right. Maybe he’ll realize that what we’ve built together is worth preserving. Perhaps he values partnership over physical compatibility with his own kind.

Either way, I’ll face that future as his queen, standing beside him as his partner and wife. Not looking at him from a distance like a vulture hoping he’ll notice me again, not desperately offering myself as a backup option in case his current relationship fails."

Several vampires laughed. Elise’s face turned pale with anger, and her hands trembled slightly. She had been outsmarted by a young human girl. The humiliation was visible in every part of her body.

"This audience is over, Queen Elise." Azrael said. "You’ve made your position clear. Crimson Dawn’s withdrawal of support is noted and will be remembered. Safe travels back to your territory. May Crimson Dawn prosper under your leadership without Thornfield’s alliance."

Azrael cut political ties with Crimson Dawn in front of nobles from every major court, and he had done it so casually as if her kingdom was irrelevant to him.

Elise stood there for a long time, struggling to find a response that would salvage this disaster. But there was nothing to say. She turned on her heel and walked out of the hall. The remaining vampires in the hall started murmuring.

"...handled that perfectly."

"...didn’t expect the human to have that much spine."

King Damien looked at Azrael and nodded in approval. Lord Richard smiled as well. Even vampires who were initially on Elise’s side were now supporting Azrael.

"The gathering will resume soon. Tonight, please rest and recover from travels. Thornfield’s hospitality is at your disposal." Azrael addressed the crowd.

He then led Lyanna out of the hall. When they closed the chamber door, they just stood there in silence. Lyanna felt the adrenaline draining from her body, leaving her shaky and exhausted.

Suddenly, Azrael pulled her into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her protectively.

"You were good. You made me look strong instead of influenced. That was impressive."

He said and Lyanna relaxed slightly in his embrace.

"She’ll be an enemy now, a powerful enemy who’ll spend centuries planning revenge." Lyanna said.

"She was already an enemy. I’m glad it’s public knowledge now." He was quiet for a moment. "But... she’s right...you know...about your mortality."

"Are you saying you’ll abandon me when I’m no longer young enough to be decorative? That this marriage is temporary until I start showing my age?" Lyanna was actually scared.

"No." He answered immediately. "I’ve never cared enough about a human to consider this question before." His arms tightened around her slightly.

"You’re my wife, my queen. Your mortality will become a problem. Do I watch you grow old and die? Do I offer you immortality, knowing it will change who completely? Do I put you aside before the aging becomes too obvious, before nobles start questioning my choice to keep a mortal queen?"

Lyanna pulled back enough to look at him.

"What do you want?"

"I don’t know which means I care enough for the answer to matter. Caring about someone’s life, caring enough that their mortality becomes my problem, is dangerous. That’s weakness I swore I’d never feel again." He touched her face gently.

"I don’t know what to do either. I don’t know if I want to become a vampire. I don’t know if I want to stay mortal and die in a few decades. But right now, I’m glad you rejected Elise’s kiss. I’m glad you stood beside me, and I’m glad you care enough that my mortality is important to you."