The Bride He Hates-Chapter 101: Growing Alone

THREE WEEKS LATER

Lyanna stood in the town hall of Millbrook, watching the mixed vampire-human council sign their newly drafted cooperation agreement.

"Your Majesty." The vampire elder said. Lyanna had asked them to stop using that title but that hadn’t stopped them. "We cannot thank you enough. Without your guidance, there would have been violence in the territory."

"It’s you who did all the hard work. I just helped with a conversation you were already ready to have."

She had succeeded once again. She felt satisfied, but instead of happiness, there was emptiness.

When she returned to her temporary lodgings that evening, she found Roland waiting for her.

"Two more requests came in today." He said, showing her the letters.

"That’s good." Lyanna said, though her tone didn’t match her words.

"You don’t sound happy about it."

"I am happy." Lyanna replied. "This is exactly what I wanted. I should be thrilled. But..."

"But?"

"It’s been more than a month since I left Thornfield. I keep expecting to feel lighter and happier. But I just feel tired."

"You’re doing a lot of work. Of course you’re tired."

"It’s not that kind of tired." Lyanna replied.

She pulled out Azrael’s last letter, the one about the Crimson Cross negotiations. She had read it a dozen times but still hadn’t responded.

"He’s trying. I sometimes think maybe we should try again. But then I wonder if I’m brave enough to risk everything again. I know I can’t avoid it forever. At some point, I’ll have to make a choice. And I’m not sure whether I should chose me heart or my mind."

Roland looked a little unhappy but he immediately hid his emotions.

"Take your time. I’m sure you’ll make the right choice when the time comes."

Meanwhile, in Thornfield Sienna, surprisingly, had become one of his strongest supporters in implementing reforms. Cassius and his faction still argued that mercy was weakness. But Azrael didn’t budge.

Lyanna walked through Millbrook’s town square at sunset, watching vampire and human children playing together. This scene would have been impossible six months ago. Her efforts had made this possible.

It should have felt like victory. But she felt lonely. She missed having someone to share her successes with. Someone who understood the complexities of what she was building. She missed having a partner.

She longed for physical intimacy and emotional connection. But more than that, she missed having someone to create something with her.

Roland was a wonderful person. He was supportive, encouraging, and always available when she needed to talk. But he was support staff, not a true partner.

At Thornfield, despite all the problems, she’d had that with Azrael. When they worked together, they were extraordinary. They complemented each other’s strengths and covered each other’s weaknesses.

Azrael stood in the throne room, reviewing the day’s justice decisions. Each case had been carefully considered. All parties were satisfied with the decision. But no one understood what these small victories meant to him.

The council members who supported his reforms did so for political reasons. The ones who disapproved only wanted him to go back to being cruel. No one was there for him. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

He missed Lyanna. He knew she would have seen his effort, appreciated his growth, and celebrated his small victories while pushing him towards even better solutions.

That night, hundreds of miles apart, both Lyanna and Azrael sat down to write letters to each other that they would never send.

Azrael,

I miss you. I miss you so much. I’m proud of who you’re becoming but I’m also sad I’m not there to see it.

Lyanna,

I’m becoming the man you wanted me to be. The one who chooses compassion, who finds creative solutions, and who values partnership over control. But I’m doing it alone, and it’s so much more difficult without you. Every good decision makes me miss you more because I know you’d appreciate it. I wish you were here to see it.

One week later, Victor brought Azrael the monthly intelligence report, which included updates on Lyanna’s activities.

"She had finished her work at Millbrook." Victor reported. "She successfully implemented a cooperation framework. Both communities are satisfied. She is moving to her next assignment, Oakbridge, apparently. It has territorial dispute between vampire and human landowners."

"She is good at this work." Azrael said.

"And she is becoming famous for it." Victor replied. "Many territories are requesting for her specifically. Some are even offering substantial payment. She can even start a real consulting business now, if she wants."

"She should." Azrael said.

Victor fell silent for a moment.

"Your Majesty, at what point do we accept that she is not coming back? Is this separation permanent?"

Azrael looked up angrily.

"Why? Is the council pushing for annulment again?"

"Not openly." Victor replied. "But quiet discussions are happening about the future. They are discussing about the succession, about whether you should consider remarrying, and about the political consequences of an indefinitely absent queen."

"Tell them to stop discussing it." Azrael said. "My marriage status is not up for council debate."

"For how long?" Victor asked. "She’s been gone for more than a month now. She’s building an independent career. There is no sign that she is even considering to come back. At some point, Your Majesty, you’ll need to accept that she has moved on."

"She hasn’t moved on." Azrael said. "She is just moving forward."

"Is there a difference?" Victor asked.

"She is doing something meaningful, something she is passionate about. It doesn’t mean she has given up on our marriage. She is just living her life, as she should be."

"And you?" Victor asked. "Are you living yours? Or are you just waiting?"

"I’m growing, trying to be better."

"Because you want to win her back?"

"Because it makes me worthy of her, even if I never get her back." Azrael replied.

That evening, Azrael wrote a letter to his council.

The queen will always be queen, my wife. There should be no annulment discussions, no consideration of remarriage, and no succession planning without her. She is doing important work in the territories. I’m doing important work here. Both are necessary and valuable.

When and if she chooses to return, it will be to a partnership of equals. Until then, we will wait.