The Bride He Hates

Chapter 136: The First Courtship

As they left the dining hall to return to their chambers, they spotted Lady Eve waiting in the corridor. She looked nervous, twisting her hands together. They could tell she had mustered a lot of courage to approach them.

"Your Majesties," She said. "I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t stop you like this, but I needed to say I’m sorry about being part of this arrangement."

"You didn’t want to be here?" Azrael asked.

"My family wanted me to be here." Eve replied. "House Silverwood needs political connections after some difficulties. Being selected as a courtship candidate for the king was too advantageous to refuse. But I don’t want to replace anyone and cause problems between you."

She looked at Lyanna.

"I think what you and the king have is very beautiful. I don’t want to destroy that. So if there’s anything I can do to make this easier, or if you want me to withdraw, I will."

The offer was genuine, honest, and unexpected. She was offering to sacrifice her family’s political advantage to protect a marriage she believed in.

"Thank you." Lyanna said. "But withdrawing now would just create more problems. The council would question why, and your family would pay the political price."

"So I need to stay." Eve said, looking both relieved and disappointed.

"You should stay." Azrael said. "But I appreciate the offer."

Eve nodded and retreated, leaving them alone again.

"Well," Lyanna said as they finally reached their chambers. "At least one of them isn’t terrible."

"And that makes this worse." Azrael replied.

The next morning arrived, bringing with it the first individual courtship meeting. Azrael was scheduled to meet with Lady Lucia at midday for a walk in Thornfield’s gardens.

"Your Majesty, Lady Lucia is waiting in the east garden." A servant said, knocking at the door.

Azrael closed his eyes to gather himself. He then gave Lyanna a quick peck and left to court another woman.

Lady Lucia was standing beside a fountain, wearing a beautiful flowing silver gown. She smiled warmly when she saw Azrael approaching.

"Your Majesty," She greeted, curtseying with more grace than necessary. "Thank you for agreeing to this meeting."

"Lady Lucia, shall we walk?"

They walked along the garden paths, maintaining the appropriate distance between them. Lucia began speaking immediately.

"I wanted to apologize for my behaviour at dinner last night. I was very blunt in expressing certain views. It was inappropriate given the circumstances."

"You called my wife a prey to her face while I was supposed to be courting you."

"I called humans prey, which is objectively true from a vampire perspective. Your wife is a vampire now. I’m sure she understands vampire nature well enough by now to recognize the difference."

"She understands vampire nature very well." Azrael said. "But don’t forget she’s my wife, and queen. Insulting her is insulting me. If you want this courtship to continue, you need to grasp this reality."

Lucia was quiet for a moment, then she smiled.

"You actually love her. Very unexpected."

"Why is that unexpected?"

"Because you’re powerful and sophisticated while she’s a child playing at being a vampire. You should have outgrown her by now."

"I didn’t outgrow her." He smiled. "I grew towards her. She made me better than I was. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me."

Lucia laughed with genuine amusement.

"And yet here you are, courting other women because your great love can’t give you an heir. Doesn’t that mean only love isn’t enough?"

"It means that politics sometimes requires compromise. It doesn’t change my love for her."

"If you say so." Lucia said, unconvinced. "But Your Majesty, can I be honest with you?"

"Go ahead."

"You and I are intellectually matched in ways you’ll never be with her. I understand vampire politics, history, and philosophy perfectly." She moved slightly closer, narrowing the distance between them.

"This courtship could be real. I’m offering you an intellectual partnership with someone who actually understands what you are."

Azrael stopped walking and turned to face her.

"Lady Lucia, I will be very clear. This courtship is purely political. It will never be anything more. I will attend the necessary events, maintain appropriate courtesy, and do the bare minimum to satisfy the council’s demands regarding succession. But I will never be interested in you.

I will never prefer your ancient wisdom to my wife’s humanity. I will never choose you over her. If you’re participating in this courtship hoping it will become real, you’re wasting both our time."

Lucia’s expression become colder and calculating.

"That’s disappointing." She replied. "If this is just a performance, let’s establish ground rules. I’ll attend the necessary events, maintain the public image of courtship, and treat your wife with appropriate courtesy. In exchange, you have to ensure House Blackwood receives favourable trade agreements and political recognition that makes my family’s participation worthwhile."

"Done."

"Perfect." She turned to leave, then stopped. "Your Majesty, let me tell you, you’re making a mistake. Love is temporary, even for immortals. Political alliances and intellectual compatibility last. You’re choosing fleeting feelings over a lasting partnership."

"I’ve had lasting partnerships for centuries which felt empty. I would choose fleeting feelings that make my existence meaningful over permanent emptiness any day."

Lucia shook her head in pity.

"We’ll see how you feel about that choice in another century or two. Enjoy your walk back."

She then disappeared into the gardens before he could respond. Azrael stood alone there, feeling exhausted despite the meeting lasting less than an hour.

He returned to the castle and found Lyanna in the library trying to find the solution to their problem. She looked up when he entered.

"How was it?"

"Lucia is exactly as terrible as expected." Azrael replied, moving to sit beside her. "Condescending, contemptuous of you, convinced that she and I are intellectually matched."

Lyanna turned to face him.

"Did she try to seduce you?"

The blunt question surprised him.

"Not physically but intellectually, maybe. She made it clear she thinks we’d be better matched than you and I are."

"Are you?" Lyanna asked.

"No." Azrael replied immediately. "Absolutely not. She’s intelligent but hollow. I’d rather have one genuine conversation with you than a century of philosophical debates with her."

Lyanna smiled.

"I’m glad your date with her is over."

"So am I." Azrael said. "Though I have to meet with Eve tomorrow, and Bella the day after. This is going to be the pattern for six months."

"Don’t worry. We’ll survive this. We’ve survived worse."

"How about you? Did you find anything?" He asked.

"Not yet. But I will. Trust me."

The next morning, Lyanna woke to find Azrael already gone, leaving a note on his pillow.

Meeting with Eve at dawn. She requested to meet early to avoid other nobles watching. Will return by midday. I love you.

Lyanna held the note, trying to feel something beyond the acknowledgement that her husband was courting another woman before she had even woken up.

She was still holding it when Clara arrived with breakfast and news.

"Your Majesty, you have a visitor. Lady Bella wants to have a private meeting with you. She said it’s regarding the courtship arrangements and you’ll be interested in what she has to say."

Lyanna’s mind raced through possibilities. Bella was the most politically savvy of all the candidates.

What would she want to discuss privately with me?

"Tell her I’ll meet with her in an hour."

As Clara left to deliver the message, Lyanna stood up and walked to the window, watching the gardens where Azrael was currently walking with Eve.

She wondered what they were talking about, whether Eve was being as genuinely apologetic in private as she had seemed in public, and whether Azrael found her sweetness refreshing after Lucia’s contempt.