The Bride He Hates-Chapter 23: Obedience Lessons

The consequences Azrael promised arrived with the morning sun. The morning after the alliance negotiations, Clara arrived with Lyanna’s breakfast. Her smile was strained, failing to hide the pity written all over her face.

"His Majesty has ordered that you stay in your chambers until further orders." Clara said, putting the tray on the table. "You’re not allowed to attend court functions, meals in the dining hall, council meetings, or leave this chamber without his permission."

He was isolating her again. But this time it was worse because Lyanna knew exactly what she was missing. The walks in the garden, even the dinners and meetings where she had to perform as queen were better than this, at least she was doing something then.

"’ll bring your meals daily. Is there anything else you need?"

What Lyanna needed was her freedom, her dignity. But those things weren’t available, so she just shook her head.

On the first day, she paced the chambers like a caged animal, counting her steps until her legs ached, trying to exhaust herself to sleep.

On the second day, Clara brought meals and some information.

"The court is asking about you, my lady." Clara murmured during the dinner.

"What?"

"Some think you’re ill, a few are actually concerned for your health. Others are saying that you’re being punished because you displeased His Majesty during the Eclipse negotiations. And some are whispering that the marriage is already failing."

The humiliation affected Lyanna more than the isolation. She could endure being alone but knowing that the entire court was discussing her absence, making weird assumptions and rumours about her was a different kind of torture.

By the third day, Lyanna had read all the books in her chambers.

Azrael visited her every evening at sunset. He didn’t speak to her or acknowledge her. He just sat at his desk and worked in silence.

On the first evening, Lyanna had tried to maintain her dignity, curling up by the window with her book, pretending his presence didn’t affect her.

On the second evening, she tried talking to him but he ignored her.

By the third evening, the silence became suffocating. Finally, unable to bear it anymore, she broke the silence.

"How long will this continue?"

He didn’t look up from the document he was reading, ignoring her.

"Azrael, I’m asking you a question. How long are you planning to keep me locked in here?"

He still didn’t reply. He was making it clear that she didn’t even deserve the courtesy of a response.

Lyanna’s hands tightened around the book in her lap. She wanted to throw it at him, to scream, to do something that would force him to acknowledge her. But that would be giving him exactly what he wanted. So, she calmed herself before speaking again.

"I know you think I overstepped. If you have something to say, say it. If you want an apology, tell me for what you want me to apologize for. This pretending that I don’t exist is childish."

He finally smiled. But still didn’t speak or look at her. He continued working.

Hours passed. Lyanna had forgotten the book in her lap. She just watched him work. Finally, as midnight approached and Azrael began organizing his documents, Lyanna tried one more time.

"How long will this continue?" She asked again in her tired voice.

This time, he replied but without looking up.

"Until you understand that you can’t speak for me, until you realize that you can’t make decisions on my behalf. When you finally accept that you’re my possession, then we can discuss your schedule."

Each word landed like a blow. Something inside her cracked. She felt tears burning at the corners of her eyes. She turned away quickly, facing the window so he wouldn’t see them fall. But she’d forgotten about his hearing capacity.

"Crying?" He asked with cruel satisfaction. "Finally. I was beginning to think you were incapable of it."

The mockery in his tone transformed her sorrow into fury. She wiped her eyes angrily and turned to face him.

"I’m not crying because you’ve hurt me. You haven’t. You can’t."

He raised his eyebrow skeptically.

"I’m crying because I’m trapped with someone who will never see me as anything but a thing to break. That’s exhausting, not painful.

Pain would mean I still had hope that you might change. But you feel exhausted when you finally accept that hope is futile."

He put down his quill, and turned in his chair to look at her.

"Then what are you, Lyanna? Enlighten me. Tell me what you think you are that makes you valuable?"

She stood up and stopped in front of him.

"I’m a woman who made one terrible mistake when she was eighteen only because she followed her mother’s orders. I didn’t understand what I was doing. Yes, that was wrong, yes, I hurt you, but I was manipulated.

I’m someone who lost her family, home, safety, and identity in a single night. I’m a survivor who chose to live even when death would have been easier. I could have refused your marriage offer. But I chose to survive and fight. That requires strength, Azrael. Maybe not the kind of strength you value but it’s strength nonetheless."

Her hands were shaking, but she didn’t stop.

"I’m your wife who performs her duty as a queen publicly. But I’m also a person with feelings." She took a shaky breath. "So yes, I’m more than just a thing to break. I’m someone who deserves basic dignity and respect."

The speech exhausted her. Lyanna felt empty, like she’d poured every last bit of her energy into those words.

Azrael sat completely still, with an unreadable expression. Then he stood up from his chair, and stopped just inches away from Lyanna. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"You want me to see you as a person. But people are complex, Lyanna. They can be both good and evil. They’re unpredictable, dangerous, and can even hurt you."

His hand rose slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted but she didn’t. His fingers traced the line of her jaw gently.

"If I see you as a person, that would mean acknowledging you’re capable of betrayal. It means admitting you could hurt me." He leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"The version I have of you now is safer for both of us. I can’t be hurt by a thing, can’t be betrayed by property." His hand moved from her face to the back of her neck, holding her.

"So choose, wife? Would you rather be a person I might someday genuinely hate? Or a thing I can discard without guilt, and pain?"

Before Lyanna could answer, his mouth crashed down on hers.

This kiss was different. There was desperation under the dominance. His lips moved against hers, his hand tightened on her neck like he was afraid she might disappear if he didn’t hold her tight enough.

When he pulled back, both were breathless. He stepped back immediately.

"Sleep. I’ll be back tomorrow evening to continue your education in obedience."