The Bride He Hates

Chapter 141: The Unmasking

"I don’t want to talk here. Let’s go to our chambers." Lyanna said.

They walked to their chambers in silence.

"Tell me the reason for accusing her?" Azrael asked once they were inside their chambers.

"You’re not going to argue that I’m overreacting?" Lyanna asked, surprised.

"No." Azrael replied. "Because I felt something off too. The way she ran to me felt...weird." He sat down. "I held her because she threw herself at me and refusing would have caused a scene. But everything felt strange. I just couldn’t put my finger on it until you said it out loud."

Lyanna felt relieved.

"When you promised her you would return," Lyanna said, "her expression changed for a second. She was still crying, but underneath, there was a satisfied smile."

Azrael stood up and began pacing.

"We need proof." He said.

"Victor is investigating the attackers." Lyanna replied. "If they don’t exist or if her story falls apart..."

"But that will take time. Eve has created a situation where I’m expected to provide extra protection and give her personal attention."

"Everything the contract was meant to prevent." Lyanna said bitterly.

A knock at the door interrupted them. It was Victor.

"Your Majesties. I’ve completed the initial investigation of the attack site. There are inconsistencies." He said.

"Explain."

"The blood at the scene belongs to Lady Eve only. There are no traces of her attackers, despite the violent struggle she described. The silver wounds on her arms are non-lethal, meant to maximize visible damage while avoiding serious injury." He paused.

"I’ve seen combat wounds for centuries. Multiple attackers wouldn’t inflict these wounds in a chaotic fight. They were carefully placed by someone who knew how to create convincing injuries without real damage."

"Self-inflicted?" Lyanna asked.

"Possibly." Victor replied. "Or inflicted by an accomplice."

"So the entire attack was fabricated." Azrael said angrily.

"It appears so, Your Majesty," Victor replied. "But to prove Lady Eve’s direct involvement, we’ll need more evidence."

"Continue the investigation quietly." Azrael ordered. "Find the accomplice, if there is one. Build a case we can actually present to the council."

Victor bowed and left.

"And in the meantime?" Lyanna asked.

"I need to maintain an appropriate distance from her. I’ll assign guards to all three candidates so it won’t look like special treatment. And we need to watch Eve closely to see what she does next."

A letter arrived the next morning, addressed to Azreal from Eve.

Your Majesty,

I know I shouldn’t ask this, but I’m terrified to be alone. The attack has left me unable to sleep, and jumping at every sound. Would it be possible for you to visit me today? I know it’s inappropriate to request private meetings, but I have no one else I trust here.

Please,

Eve.

Lyanna read the letter over Azrael’s shoulder, feeling her anger spike.

"She’s testing how far she can manipulate the situation."

Azreal wrote a response immediately.

Lady Eve,

I understand your concern. I’ve assigned my most trusted guards to protect all courtship candidates. If you have specific security concerns, please direct them to Victor, who handles safety matters.

King Azrael.

Eve’s response came an hour later. She mentioned that she was very grateful for the additional security, though she was disappointed that she couldn’t speak with the king personally about her fears.

The manipulation was pretty clear now.

In the afternoon, the healer who was treating Eve, came to talk to Lyanna in her chambers.

"Your Majesty, I need to discuss something important about Lady Eve."

"Please."

"I’ve been treating vampire injuries for decades. The wounds I saw on her body yesterday were...strange. They looked very serious, but in reality, they were just normal bruises. It seems someone with medical knowledge created those injuries."

"Could she have done it herself?" Lyanna asked.

"It’s possible. Though, it would require a high pain tolerance and steady hands." The healer said. "I think someone helped her." She then pulled out a small vial.

"I also found traces of this in her blood. It’s a mild sedative that causes physical shaking, dilates pupils, and an increased heart rate."

"She drugged herself to look more frightened?"

"Very much possible."

"Thank you for the information. And please don’t share it with anyone else until the investigation is over." Lyanna requested.

"Of course, Your Majesty." The healer bowed and left.

When Azrael returned from the council meetings in the evening, he saw that Lyanna had gathered all the evidence in their chambers.

"We have enough to know she’s manipulating the situation." Lyanna said. "But not enough to prove it publicly without looking paranoid."

"Agreed." Azrael replied, examining the evidence. "So we need to give her what she wants."

"What?" Lyanna asked.

"I’ll agree to a private meeting with her and will create a situation where Eve feels safe revealing her true intentions."

"You want to trap her into exposing herself?"

"Yes." Azrael replied. "She thinks she has successfully manipulated me. We will let her believe that it is working. We will give her the confidence to push further and wait for a hint about what she has been actually planning. People make mistakes when they think they’re winning."

The next morning, Azrael sent a carefully worded letter to Eve.

Lady Eve,

I’ve reconsidered your request. If you’re struggling with fear since the attack, I can meet with you briefly tomorrow afternoon to discuss additional security measures.

This is a one-time exception given the circumstances.

King Azrael.

Her response came back within a few minutes.

Your Majesty,

Thank you so much for understanding. Your kindness means more than you know.

Gratefully,

Eve.

"I want to go with you. I want to see everything she does, and hear everything she says." Lyanna said.

"If you’d rather not..."

"I want to." Lyanna cut him off. "I need to see what she’s really like when she thinks she’s alone with you."

"Okay. Fine. But you’ll stay hidden where she can’t see you. And you will stay with the guards. I can’t trust her with you. If she can stage an attack on herself, who knows what she could do to you?"