The Bride He Hates-Chapter 86: Broken Promises

Lyanna spent the rest of that day not sulking in gardens, but doing exactly what she told Azrael she wanted to do. She went to meet Victor in his study.

"Your Majesty. He greeted, surprised. "How can I help you?"

"I want to review the intelligence that’s been coming from Sienna’s sources. I want to compare it with your own network’s findings."

"May I ask why?"

"Because my husband keeps excluding me from strategic planning sessions. I’m tired of it, so I’m including myself."

"Very well, Your Majesty." Victor smiled. "Though I should warn you, there’s quite a lot to review."

"Apparently, I have nothing but time." Lyanna replied with a sad smile.

She spent the afternoon immersed in intelligence reports and noticed something interesting. Sienna’s intelligence was accurate, but Victor’s network had confirmed most of it independently, usually within hours of Sienna’s urgent reports.

"Victor, this intelligence about the south border movements. Sienna brought it to Azrael yesterday morning but according to your reports, your scouts had already reported the same movements the night before."

"That’s correct, Your Majesty."

"So it wasn’t actually time sensitive. We already knew. Sienna was just presenting existing intelligence as if she had discovered it exclusively?"

"It seems so." Victor replied. "Though she may not know about it."

"Or she’s deliberately presenting information as more urgent than it actually is. Creating opportunities to spend time with my husband."

Victor didn’t reply.

When Lyanna returned to her chambers that evening, she found Azrael and Sienna, standing at the doorway. She was talking to him about moving to closer chambers for security reasons because apparently, Crimson Cross was targeting defectors.

"That’s an interesting concern." Lyanna said, stepping forward. "Have there been any specific threats against intelligence sources? Any evidence that Crimson Cross even knows you’ve defected?"

"It’s more about precaution." Sienna glanced at Azrael.

"Then we can provide additional guards in the guest wing." Lyanna said. "Moving you three doors from the royal chambers seems excessive unless there’s actual danger. We’ll assign four guards to the guest wing instead of two."

Your Majesty, I really would feel safer closer to..."

"Azrael, unless you have intelligence that Sienna is in danger, I think adding guards in the guest wing is the right decision."

"You’re right." Azrael said. "Sienna, we’ll assign additional guards to your wing for the time being."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Sienna replied and left.

After she left, Azrael turned to Lyanna.

"That was..."

"Strategic thinking." Lyanna finished for him.

The next morning, when Lyanna found another note about Azrael being in an urgent briefing with Sienna, she went to the war room and walked in without knocking.

"I’m joining this briefing." Lyanna said, walking towards the table.

"But my sources..."

"They aren’t here. This is an analysis of intelligence that’s already been received. There’s no reason I can’t be part of it. Unless you have one, Sienna ?"

"Of course not, Your Majesty." She replied. "The three locations where they’re building forces..."

"I know." Lyanna said. "I spent yesterday afternoon with Victor reviewing all the intelligence. And I came to know that his scouts confirmed these positions six hours before you brought them."

"Your Majesty, I wasn’t aware Victor’s network had already..."

"You told Azrael yesterday morning that we might have days, maybe less to act. Victor’s assessment is that we have at least a week. So is it hours, days, or a week?"

"Sienna, is this true? Azreal asked.

"I’ve been cautious." Sienna replied. "It’s better to overestimate urgency than underestimate..."

"It’s better to be accurate." Lyanna cut her off. "Overestimating urgency creates false pressure and leads to rushed decisions."

"Lyanna has a point." Azrael agreed.

"I see. So rather than being grateful for the intelligence I’m risking my life to provide, you’re saying I’m manipulating information. What exactly do you think I’m gaining from this, Your Majesty?"

"Private access to my husband." Lyanna replied.

"That’s absurd. Everything I’ve done is to protect Thornfield..."

"Then you should have no objection to new protocols." Lyanna said. "All intelligence from your sources will go to Victor first. He will verify it. If it’s genuinely time sensitive, there will be an immediate briefing with both Azrael and me. If not, then it’ll go to full council."

Sienna was stunned.

"Sienna, I appreciate everything you’ve provided, but Lyanna is right. We should verify the intelligence through multiple channels." Azrael said.

"So the queen’s jealousy is now dictating intelligence protocols."

"Excuse me?" Lyanna’s tone turned dangerous.

"You can’t tolerate your husband working closely with another woman, so you’re trying to insert yourself into our work. I’m sorry, but it’s pathetic."

"You will not speak to my wife that way." Azrael warned her.

"I’m just stating facts. And let’s be honest, she doesn’t have the required experience or knowledge to contribute to the discussions."

"I noticed the linguistic patterns that identified Lady Vera when you didn’t. I caught the timing discrepancies in your reports that you claimed were urgent."

"One lucky observation doesn’t make you a strategist."

"And seven centuries don’t make you indispensable." Lyanna replied. "You’re just a source, Sienna."

Sienna looked at Azrael, expecting him to defend her.

"We’ll follow the new protocol." He said. "If you can’t accept the terms, we can make other arrangements for your asylum."

"I risk my life to bring you intelligence, and this is how I’m being treated." Sienna laughed bitterly. "I’ll adjust to your new protocols. I’m sure everything will work out perfectly under the queen’s new system. Though I do wonder, when the next attack comes, and our response is slow, will you still feel your protocols were worth the lives lost?" She left before either could respond,

"She’s going to make this difficult." Azrael said.

"She has already been making this difficult. I just finally called her on it." Lyanna replied. "Azrael, you see what she was doing, right?"

"I see it. But Lyanna, she also has a point. We’ll have to be quick sometimes..."

"Wow! You just set new protocols and you’re already thinking about the downsides."

"What do you want from me?" Azrael asked in frustration.

"I want you to stick to the boundary we just set."

"Fine. I’ll do it." Azrael held her hands and smiled. "Now, come, let’s go for dinner." Azrael said as he led her to the dining hall with his hand on her waist.

Lyanna felt hopeful. But that hope lasted until dinner. The table was set, food prepared. They had just sat down when a knock interrupted them.

"Your Majesties!" A servant said. "Lady Sienna wants to see you. She says it’s urgent."

Lyanna and Azrael looked at each other.

"It hasn’t even been fifteen minutes since we set the new protocol." Lyanna said. "She’s testing you."

"Send Lady Sienna to Victor’s office." Azrael replied.

The servant left and Lyanna felt relieved. But ten minutes later, Victor came personally.

"Your Majesties, I apologize for the interruption. Lady Sienna’s intelligence does appear to be urgent. She has received information that the Crimson Cross is planning an attack within the next twelve hours."

Azrael stood up.

"Let’s go." He said to Lyanna.

In the war room, Sienna was waiting with several military commanders.

"I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner but when a source risks everything to give me information, I can’t just wait for it to get verified."

Azrael ignoring her words, started reviewing the maps and intelligence Sienna had provided. Lyanna stood at the edge of the table, watching them analyze together, and wondered if anything had actually changed at all.