The Bride He Hates-Chapter 64: The Letter

Eclipse Court’s entourage reached Thornfield three days before the wedding. During the formal welcome ceremony, Lord Richard bowed to Azrael and greeted him with perfect courtesy.

"King Azrael, thank you for hosting Eclipse Court. We’re honoured to celebrate this alliance through the union of our courts."

"Lord Richard, welcome to Thornfield. Your presence honours us."

Then Richard turned to Lyanna.

"Queen Lyanna. You look beautiful. Vampire life suits you." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Thank you, Lord Richard. I hope your journey was comfortable."

"Quite comfortable." He smiled. "I look forward to seeing how you’ve planned the wedding." There was amusement and curiosity in his tone.

Behind Richard, Sylvia was looking breathtakingly beautiful as always. Her eyes were still fixed on Azrael, making Lyanna jealous.

"Your Majesty, it’s been so long. You look amazing like always." She walked towards him, and it looked like she wanted to hug him.

But before she could reach him, Azrael stepped to the side, and slid his arm around Lyanna’s waist, pulling her close.

"Lady Sylvia, welcome to Thornfield. Meet my queen and wife."

"Of course. Your Majesty." Sylvia forced a fake smile. "Congratulations on being a vampire. How are you adjusting to immortality?"

"Quite well, thank you." Lyanna replied.

When the formal greetings ended, everyone walked to the dining hall for the welcome feast. The seating had been arranged according to traditional vampire protocol; the host king sat at the head of the table, and honoured guests were seated close to him based on ranks and importance, which meant Sylvia, as the bride and daughter of Eclipse Court’s leader, was supposed to sit on Azrael’s right.

As Sylvia was about to sit on her chair, Azrael stopped her.

"Lady Sylvia, you’re to sit there." He gestured to a seat three places away from his own.

Sylvia paused, confusion visible on her face.

"Your Majesty? Traditionally, the bride sits..."

"My wife’s place is at my side." Azrael pulled out the chair and looked at Lyanna who was waiting for Sylvia to sit first. "Lyanna, come, take your seat."

The entire dining hall went silent. Azrael had made a public statement about priorities and hierarchy. Lyanna felt every eye on her as she walked towards her seat. Lord Richard watched this exchange with interest, then smiled slightly and nodded. Sylvia looked clearly frustrated while beside her, Adrian gave a defeated smile.

Midway through the meal, Lord Cedric started telling stories from his youth.

"Your Majesty, do you remember the Siege of Blackwater? You fought alone against thirty enemy vampires. You were so young and reckless then." He laughed.

Azrael ignored his words and sipped his wine.

"It’s true that His Majesty was different then. Some of us were fortunate enough to know him during his youth, when he was more alive and open." Sylvia continued the conversation, looking at Azrael. "I often think about our conversations about immortality, the ethics of vampires, and so much more."

Several vampires looked at Lyanna to see her reaction. She opened her mouth to respond, though she had no idea what to say that wouldn’t sound defensive or petty. But before she could say anything, Azrael spoke up.

"Lord Cedric, Lady Sylvia, I appreciate your nostalgia for my youth, but you’re wrong. I wasn’t more alive or more open back then. I was just less disciplined, and less careful about choosing what truly mattered."

He then looked at Sylvia.

"And while I enjoyed our conversations about philosophy and immortality, I found them hollow."

Then he turned to look at Lyanna, and his voice and expression softened.

"My wife and I discuss strategy, politics, how to protect our people and build something that will last forever. And I find these conversations infinitely more valuable than philosophical debates that lead nowhere."

He then looked back at everyone.

"My past is my past. I’m only interested in discussing the future Queen Lyanna and I are building, not reminiscing about who I was centuries ago. If anyone finds that disappointing, I suggest they keep it to themselves."

Several vampires suddenly found their wine glasses very interesting. Cedric looked embarrassed, and Sylvia’s smile turned bitter.

The conversation moved on to other topics, but the dynamic at the table had changed. Everyone understood that Lyanna wasn’t just a young queen who had been forced into the marriage anymore, she in every sense was the queen of Thornfield now, and insulting or targeting her would mean targeting the most powerful vampire king. And no one was ready to take that risk.

After dinner ended and guests went to their chambers, Lyanna went to the library. The day had been overwhelming for her. She needed some time alone to process everything. After a few minutes, the door opened, and Sylvia entered inside.

"Queen Lyanna. I hoped I’d find you here. I wanted to speak with you privately. May I?"

Lyanna wanted to say no. But she knew refusing would make her look weak and rude, and she couldn’t afford that.

"Of course, Lady Sylvia. Please, sit."

Sylvia sat opposite her and stared at her for a moment before speaking.

"You know he wanted me first, don’t you?"

Lyanna was seriously tired of her bullshit but she remained calm.

"I’m aware you and His Majesty had a relationship in the past."

"A relationship?" Sylvia laughed. "We had a real connection. He was passionate, engaged, and alive when he was with me. You may be his wife, but you’ll never see that side of him, the version of him that only I knew.

I’m not saying this to be cruel. I’m saying it because I think you deserve honesty. He doesn’t love you. He can never have that deep intellectual and emotional connection we shared, with you." She stood up and walked towards the door but paused and looked back.

"I tried to take him from you. I’ll probably try again because old habits die hard. But even if I fail, even if he stays married to you, remember that you’ll always be his second choice."

Then she left, leaving Lyanna alone with her poisonous words. Lyanna didn’t tell Azrael about her conversation with Sylvia. She didn’t want to look weak or jealous or like she couldn’t handle basic political manipulation. She tried to forget Sylvia’s words because she trusted Azrael. She knew his feelings for her were real.

Three days later, when she woke up, she found a sealed envelope on her pillow. She opened it and found a handwritten letter inside it.

Lyanna,

I know what Sylvia said to you in the library three days ago. Victor informed me that he has eyes everywhere, and when someone like Sylvia talks to you alone, he makes sure I know.

I didn’t bring it up because I wanted you to decide if it was important enough to discuss. But still, I want you to know that everything she said was wrong.

You’re not my second choice. You’re the woman I chose, despite our broken beginning.

I wanted her first? Maybe chronologically. But I never wanted her the way I want you. I never felt for her what I feel for you. I never cared if she lived or died the way your survival has become important for my existence.

She’s my past. You’re my everything. There’s something I need to show you tomorrow. Meet me in the south garden at dawn.

-A

Lyanna read the letter three times.

He knew what Sylvia had said, and instead of being angry that I didn’t tell him, instead of demanding that I should trust him more, he was justifying himself?

Meet me in the south garden at dawn.

What is he planning to show me?