The Bride He Hates

Chapter 138: Decisions And Surprises

"What is it?" Azrael asked, noticing her expression as he came out after dressing up.

Lyanna looked up at him, trying to understand what she had just read and what it meant. She wondered if she could even think about this possibility.

"I found something." She said. "A ritual that might restore my fertility. But Azrael... it’s...."

"Show me." He said immediately, moving to her side.

She handed him the book and watched as his expressions changed from curiosity to confusion to horror.

"No. Absolutely not."

"It’s the only solution that might actually work for someone with my level of damage."

"It requires you to bond intimately with multiple vampires." Azrael said angrily. "You’ll need to share blood with them, and potentially sleep with them. It’s not a solution. It’s a nightmare."

"I know." Lyanna said quietly. "But if it’s the only way to conceive..."

"Then don’t conceive." Azrael cut her off. "We’ll choose an heir through adoption or designation like we’ve been planning. We won’t sacrifice our relationship just to have a biological child."

Lyanna took the book back from him and reread the passage.

"Let me think about it." She said.

"There’s nothing to think about." Azrael replied. "The answer is no. I’m already being forced to court other women. I won’t watch you be intimate with other vampires too. I can’t. That’s where I draw the line."

He left the room before she could respond, too angry and hurt to continue the conversation.

Lyanna sat alone with the book and wondered if he was right to refuse. She should have been horrified at the thought of being intimate with other vampires. But all she felt was... curiosity.

She was assessing whether this solution was viable.

"Your Majesty?"

Lyanna looked up to find Clara standing at the door, looking worried.

"I heard raised voices." Clara said. "Is everything okay?"

"No." Lyanna replied. "Nothing is okay. But that seems to be our normal lately."

Clara stepped closer, her eyes falling on the open book.

"You found the Bloodline Restoration ritual?"

"You know about it?"

"I’ve heard of it." Clara replied. "It’s ancient, rarely attempted, and... very controversial even by vampire standards. It requires an intimate blood bond that most married vampires would consider betrayal."

"But does it work?"

"Apparently, yes. But Your Majesty, the cost..."

"I know the cost. Azrael made that very clear."

"Did he?" Clara asked. "In vampire law, for fertility rituals that involve intimate contact with others, the spouse does have veto power because these rituals affect both partners.

But Your Majesty, is this what you really want? Or are you considering it because you think you should have a biological heir? Because the court wants it?"

"I don’t know." She replied. "I know that having an heir would solve political problems and the ritual might work when everything else has failed. But whether I genuinely want to do it or I just feel obligated to do it... I’m not sure."

"If you’re not sure, then maybe you shouldn’t pursue it."

After Clara left, Lyanna remained seated there, staring at the ritual text. She knew Clara and Azrael were right. But she also knew that the lack of an heir was actively threatening everything Azrael had built.

In the evening when Azrael returned, he looked calmer.

"Have you been here all day?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Still thinking about the ritual?"

"Yes."

Azrael sat down across from her, and they looked at each other.

"I can’t do it." Lyanna said finally. "Not because you forbid it, but because I’m not sure whether I want to or I just think I should."

"Thank you." Azrael sighed in relief.

"But we need to find another solution. The courtship isn’t enough. It’s buying us time but not actually addressing the problem."

"Agreed. We’ll pursue adoption more seriously." He reached across the table, holding her hand. "I know the political situation is serious but there have to be lines we won’t cross. Things we won’t sacrifice no matter how important they are."

Lyanna nodded in agreement.

"By the way, I just got to know, I have to go to dinner tonight with the three of them before the ball."

"Oh! Well...have fun, I guess."

"Sure." He replied sarcastically. "I’ll be back soon." He kissed her forehead and walked out.

When Azrael entered the dining room, he saw all three of them already sitting on the table. He walked towards them and sat at the head of the table with Lucia, Eve, and Bella around him. The atmosphere was tense and formal.

"Thank you all for attending." Azrael said, and immediately pulled out the modified contract. "Lady Bella suggested we set clear boundaries for these courtship arrangements. Queen Lyanna and I have reviewed her suggestions and made some additions."

He handed copies to each of them.

"These terms apply to all three courtships, not just Bella’s."

Bella read the document thoroughly.

"I’m okay with this." She replied.

Eve read it slowly.

"This is perfect. The boundaries about private meetings, the requirements for transparency make this feel less invasive."

Lucia, however, had frozen.

"This is unacceptable." She said, putting down the contract.

"Which parts?" Azrael asked.

"All of it." Lucia replied. "If you want this, then why bother with courtship at all? Why waste our time? Why insult our houses by pretending to court us while forbidding everything that might actually lead somewhere? Just refuse the council’s demand instead of this degrading charade!"

"I told you earlier also and I’m repeating it again. I’m doing this only because of politics. I have no interest in courting any of you for real."

Lucia stood up abruptly.

"I won’t sign this."

"Then withdraw from this arrangement." Azrael said. "But if you want to stay, you’ll have to sign the contract."

She threw the contract on the table.

"I won’t sign this. But I also won’t withdraw. My family has invested too much in this arrangement for me to quit. So I’ll proceed without the contract."

"Then I’ll refuse to continue courting you."Azrael said. "That means House Blackwood will get no political benefit from your participation and you’ll be publicly rejected by the king. Is that what you prefer to signing a contract that protects everyone’s interests?"

Lucia’s jaw tightened, her whole body radiating anger. Finally, she sat back down.

"Fine." She said through gritted teeth. "I’ll sign your degrading contract. But don’t expect me to be grateful for the privilege of being treated like a liability instead of a legitimate option."

"I don’t want gratitude." Azrael replied. "I only want compliance with agreed terms."

After her, Bella and Eve also signed the contract. When they were done, he stood up, thanked them and left.

In another part of the castle, Eve returned to her chambers with a satisfied smile. She pulled out a small mirror and spoke to herself.

"First phase complete. He made everyone sign the contract thinking it would protect his marriage. But he has no idea that it actually gave me exactly what I need."