Lyanna went to the guest chambers that night. She had ordered Clara to pack her belongings. She lay in the bed staring at the window. Every sound in the corridor made her tense.
Was Azrael coming to apologize? To stop ?
But he never ca.
At dawn, Clara entered the room.
"Everything is ready, Your Majesty. Two guards are saddling the horses. The courier returned from Valdris an hour ago. Ambassador Roland is expecting you."
"Thank you, Clara." Lyanna stood up, dressed in simple travel clothes. "Did you leave the letter on his pillow?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. But are you sure about this? Once you leave, it will be very difficult to co back."
"I’m sure." Lyanna replied. "I can’t stay here, Clara. I can’t keep being told I’m too emotional and too human. I can’t watch him choose Sienna over every day. I can’t live like this anymore."
Clara nodded sympathetically.
"Then let’s leave before the castle wakes."
They walked through the quiet corridors towards the stables. Two guards, Troy and Geoffrey, had volunteered to escort her after Clara told them she was leaving.
"Your Majesty, horses are ready." Troy said.
Lyanna mounted her horse. The reality of what she was doing; walking away from her marriage, made her heart ache. She looked back at the castle one last ti.
Azrael was probably in his study, working, not even thinking that his wife was leaving.
"Your Majesty?" Clara said. "We should go."
Lyanna nodded and started riding. As they passed through the main gates, the guards on duty looked surprised to see the queen leaving so early, but they opened the gates without question.
Lyanna was finally free, but heartbroken.
"Your Majesty, we have about eight hours of riding before we reach the first inn. We can rest in between if you want." Geoffrey said.
"I’m fine." Lyanna lied. "Let’s keep riding. I want to put as much distance as possible between us and Thornfield."
Because she was afraid she might turn back if they stopped.
Azrael spent the night in his study. He told himself he needed space to think, to process, to figure out how to handle the political consequences. But in reality, he was too afraid to face her after what he had said. He decided he would speak to Lyanna in the morning, when they had both cooled down. He hadn’t even taken her ntion of going to Valdris seriously, thinking she had said it in the heat of the mont.
When he returned to their chambers to apologize, he found it empty. Her belongings were gone.
Where is she?
Then he saw a sealed letter lying on his pillow.
He tore it open with shaking hands.
Azrael,
By the ti you read this, I’ll be gone. As I told you yesterday, I’m going to Valdris.
I saved Emma’s life tonight, and I’d do it again. If that makes too emotional, too human, and inadequate to be your queen, then you’re right. I am inadequate for you.
You are free to choose soone more suitable.
I wish you happiness,always.
Lyanna.
Azrael read it multiple tis.
Gone. She is gone? And she actually thought I wanted soone else instead of her.
"No. This can’t happen."
He imdiately ran through the corridors towards the stables.
She couldn’t have gone far. I can stop her and bring her back. I’ll explain that she had misunderstood.
He burst into the stables and saw the stable master working.
"When did the queen leave?"
"Your Majesty, I thought you knew. Her Majesty left five hours ago. She took Clara, two guards, and minimal baggage."
"Saddle my horse." Azrael ordered. "I’m going after her."
"Your Majesty!" Adrian called from behind. "A word before you leave?"
"Not now, Adrian..."
"You need to speak with before you make this worse."
Azrael turned around.
"Worse? My wife just left ! How could this possibly be worse?"
"Your wife left because you’ve been destroying your marriage for weeks." Adrian replied. "If you go after her in anger and drag her back to Thornfield, the situation will beco far worse."
"I’m not going to drag her anywhere..."
"Then what are you going to do?" Adrian asked. "Go to Valdris and demand she co back? Tell her she’s being emotional again?""
"I need to explain..."
"What? That you didn’t an it when you called her too emotional and too human? Your Majesty, your actions these past few weeks can’t justify any explanation."
"I know I’ve made mistakes." Azrael admitted. "I was stressed about the Crimson Cross; I let Sienna get close, and I took Lyanna for granted. But I never wanted her to leave. I never wanted to lose her!"
"Then you should have acted like it. But you didn’t."
"So I just let her go?"
"For now, yes. She needs space."
"Then what do I do?" Azrael’s voice broke.
"You give her that space, fix yourself, and the situation here. And then you fight for her properly. By proving you’re worthy of her."
"And if she doesn’t co back?"
"Then you have to live with the consequences of your actions. But if you ride after her now, demanding explanations, you’ll lose her forever."
Azrael wanted to argue with him. He wanted to chase after her and force her to listen. But he knew Adrian was right.
"Fine, I’ll wait. But Adrian, if Roland tries anything...
"Roland is a gentleman. He won’t take advantage of her."
That should have been reassured him. Instead, only made Azrael’s chest tighten with jealousy and fear. Because Lyanna would experience what it felt like to be with a man who was easier than him. And she might not want to return to the difficulty of being his wife.
By midday, the entire castle knew Lyanna had left for Valdris. Azrael sat in an ergency council session where nobles expressed shock, concern, and so even satisfaction.
"Perhaps this is for the best." Lord Cassius said. "The queen has been struggling with her role. So ti away might help her think rationally."
"Or perhaps the problem isn’t that the queen struggled with her role, but that she received no support." Lady Morgana said.
"How can you..." Cassius said.
"We all saw how Lady Sienna was positioning herself as His Majesty’s primary advisor while the queen was sidelined."
Several nobles looked uncomfortable, while others nodded in agreent. The court was divided, and Lyanna’s departure forced everyone to choose sides.
"Where is Lady Sienna?" Morgana asked suddenly.
"I sent her to the outer guest wing this morning. I don’t want to see her or hear from her until I’ve decided how to handle this situation."
"What situation?" Cassius frowned. "Your Majesty, are you saying that Lady Sienna was responsible..."
"I prioritized comfortable work relationships over my marriage. I took my wife for granted, and now I’m facing the consequences."
Several council mbers looked shocked that he was taking responsibility rather than blaming Lyanna’s emotional instability.
"The question is what we do now. The queen is gone. The cooperation initiative we were developing is damaged. Allied courts will question our stability." One of the nobles asked.
"We can send an official delegation to Valdris." Lord Cedric suggested. "We won’t ask her to return, but to maintain diplomatic contact."
"And will assess whether she’s planning to return or staying there permanently." Cassius said.
"Permanent?" Morgana’s eyes widened. "I’m sure she’ll return once she’s cald down."
"To be honest, I’m not sure." Azrael said. "But right now, she is angry and hurt and needs space. So, I’ll do everything to fix what I broke."
"And how will you do that from here?" Morgana asked.
"I don’t know yet." Azrael replied. "But I’ll figure it out."
The council didn’t look convinced, but they nodded in agreent.
Azreal returned to his empty chambers that night. The silence was suffocating. There were no sounds of Lyanna walking around, getting ready for bed, or reading.
He sat on the edge of the bed and noticed sothing tucked under her pillow. It was a letter. He pulled it out and started reading.
Azrael,
I don’t know if I’ll ever give you this, but I need to write it down.
I’m losing myself. Every day, I watch you light up around Sienna in ways you never do around anymore, and I wonder what’s wrong with .
I tried everything. I learned strategy, studied vampire politics, even helped in identifying traitors, and offered suggestions that worked. But it was not enough.
I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t even know if it can be fixed. I just know that I can’t keep living like this. I’m so tired of fighting. I think that maybe the only way to win is to stop playing.
Azrael read it three tis, tears streaming down his face.
She had been feeling this way for weeks, and I had been so focused on the Crimson Cross that I chose to ignore it. I had noticed her pulling away, growing quieter. I told myself it was temporary and she was being oversensitive, and once the crisis will pass, we will reconnect.
But I was wrong, and now she was gone. And I’ve had no idea how to win her back.
Reviews
All reviews (0)