The Bride He Hates

Chapter 139: The Ball

The ballroom glittered with vampire wealth and power. Nobles from every major house were present in the hall; their combined power made the air electric.

Lyanna stood near the dais in a midnight blue dress that Azrael had chosen for her. She looked like a perfect vampire queen, yet completely out of place.

Around her, nobles made polite conversation, trying to avoid mentioning the real reason for the ball. The spring equinox was a traditional excuse, but everyone knew the true purpose was a public courtship performance. The king had to dance with potential future mothers of his heirs while his current wife watched.

Azrael stood across the room, surrounded by nobles paying their respects, looking striking in formal black. They looked at each other across the distance and he reassured through his eyes.

Then the music began, indicating the start of the formal dance. The host, a young male vampire, made an announcement.

"His Majesty King Azrael will now honour the courtship candidates with the traditional dances. First, Lady Lucia of House Blackwood."

Lucia stepped forward. Azrael took her hand with formal courtesy, led her to the centre of the ballroom, and began to dance with her.

Lyanna watched them with a neutral expression. But watching Azrael dance with another woman, seeing him hold her, move with her, hurt her so much that she could feel it despite her lack of emotions.

How can I feel the hurt? The jealousy? How’s that possible???

"Calm down. Calm down." She whispered to herself. "This is just performance."

"Beautiful, aren’t they?" Someone said beside her.

Lyanna turned to find Lord Cassius, watching the dance, looking satisfied.

"They look so perfectly matched together."

"They’re just dancing." Lyanna replied.

"For now." Cassius said. "But six months is a long time. It is long enough for His Majesty to understand what he has been missing."

"He’s missing nothing."

Cassius smiled.

"If you say so, Your Majesty. Though your grip on that wine glass suggests otherwise." Cassius said, before leaving.

Lyanna looked down and saw she was gripping her glass so tightly that it could crack. She forced her hands to relax and tried to maintain a neutral expression.

The dance ended. Azrael bowed to Lucia and stepped back. He walked towards Lyanna but before she could say anything, the host began speaking again.

"Now, Lady Bella of House Nightshade."

The dance with Bella was different from Lucia. Bella maintained the appropriate distance, dancing without any interest. It was too mechanical.

It should have been easier for Lyanna to watch their dance, but it still hurt her and she didn’t know why.

The dance ended. Bella bowed, thanked him and stepped away.

"Now, for the final dance of the night, we have Lady Eve of House Silverwood." The host announced.

Eve approached Azrael hesitantly, looking nervous and uncomfortable. When she reached Azrael, she stumbled slightly but Azrael caught her before she could embarrass herself.

"Sorry." Eve said. "I’m not very good at formal dancing. I only learned recently."

"It’s fine."Azrael replied. "Just follow my lead. I’ll guide you."

They began to dance. Lyanna watched as Azrael’s expression changed. He looked less formal with her; more gentle and protective.

Eve followed his lead with difficulty, occasionally missing steps and looking embarrassed each time. And every time, Azrael reassured her quietly and adjusted their movements to accommodate her inexperience, making it easier for her.

He was just being kind towards someone who was struggling. But it looked like genuine care, like some connection despite the contract’s restrictions.

Nobles watched them with interest. Some nodding in approval at the king’s gentleness while others exchanged glances, understanding what was happening.

The dance continued. Eve said something and Azrael responded. Then she looked up at him with such gratitude, shy appreciation, and vulnerable sweetness that Lyanna felt something break in her heart.

How am I feeling emotions??

She couldn’t hear what they were saying, couldn’t even see Azrael’s full expression from her position, but she could see Eve looking at him like he was her saviour.

The jealousy that had been manageable with Lucia and Bella suddenly became overwhelming because Eve looked so vulnerable that Azrael had to be protective towards her.

When the dance was almost over, Eve stumbled again and actually fell on Azrael’s chest. He caught her immediately, wrapping his arms around her to prevent her from falling.

"I’m so sorry." Eve gasped, with tears already in her eyes. "I’m ruining everything. I’m so clumsy and useless."

"It’s okay." Azrael said, still holding her. "It’s just a dance."

"Everyone is watching." Eve whispered. "They’re judging me, thinking I’m inappropriate for this, that I don’t belong..."

"You’re doing fine. Ignore them and just breathe."

He then guided her carefully off the dance floor, away from the watching nobles.

Lyanna watched them disappear through a side door. Azrael was taking Eve somewhere private where she could calm herself. It was exactly what a decent person would do for someone having a breakdown.

Lyanna wanted to follow them and to interrupt whatever consolation Azrael was offering to her, to remind both of them that he was married and this arrangement was just a performance.

But she couldn’t. She knew that walking over would make her look jealous and insecure and would give Cassius and his faction a reason to say the queen was unfit to handle courtship arrangements.

Lord Cassius came to her again, smiling.

"Interesting development. The king seems quite protective of young Lady Eve."

"He’s just being kind to someone distressed."

"Is that how you see it?" Cassius asked. "But it looked like a genuine emotional connection to me."

"Get away from me." Lyanna said.

"Of course, Your Majesty." Cassius said, bowing mockingly. "Enjoy watching your husband comfort another woman. I’m sure it will happen many more times over the next six months."

He then disappeared into the crowd, leaving Lyanna standing alone, staring at the door Azrael and Eve had disappeared through.

In a private alcove off the ballroom, Azrael helped Eve sit on a chair.

"Are you okay?" He asked. "Do you need water, or...?"

"I’m fine." Eve said, wiping tears from her eyes with shaking hands. "I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed. I ruined the dance, made a scene in front of everyone..."

"You didn’t ruin anything." Azrael assured her. "You just stumbled. It happens. Nobody is judging you."

"They are. I could feel them watching and evaluating me." She looked up at him with teary eyes. "I don’t want to be here. I never wanted this courtship. And now I’m failing at it publicly. I should withdraw and tell my family the political benefits aren’t worth this humiliation."

"Don’t withdraw because of one difficult moment. You’re doing better than you think you are."

Eve looked at him with gratitude. Azreal wanted to help her, wanted to make this easier for her somehow. But...

"I should return to the ballroom." He said, stepping back. "And you should take a few minutes to calm yourself. There’s no rush."

"Thank you...for being so kind."

Azrael nodded and returned to the ballroom.