The Bride He Hates-Chapter 123: Ruthless Queen

Lyanna had been preparing for the eastern territories negotiations for a week when Victor burst into the council chamber with urgent news.

"Your Majesties, we have a critical situation."

Azrael immediately stood up.

"What situation?"

"A small farming territory, Millhaven, with approximately two hundred civilians has been occupied by extremist forces who are using it as a shield for a weapons cache."

"What kind of weapons?" Lyanna asked.

"Explosives. Our intelligence suggests they’ll be deployed within three to five days."

"Evacuate the civilians and secure the weapons." Azrael said immediately.

"The extremists anticipated that." Victor said. "They’ve hidden the weapons throughout the village. To extract them we’d need to go door to door. It would take days."

"Then let’s negotiate." Lady Morgana suggested. "We’ll offer them safe passage in exchange for the weapons."

"They won’t take it. They’re willing to die to attack at Thornfield. Negotiation will only delay us."

"What are our military options?" Azrael asked.

Adrian stepped forward with maps.

"We have a few options, but none of them looks good. In all scenarios, civilians lives there and Thornfield would be at risk ."

"There has to be another way." Azrael said.

Lyanna studied the maps on the table.

"Let’s burn it." Lyanna said.

The room went silent.

"What?" Lady Morgana asked.

"We need to burn the village." Lyanna repeated. "We’ll give them two hours warning to evacuate. After that, we’ll burn it."

"You’re saying we should kill two hundred civilians?" Lady Morgana said in horror.

"No. We’ll send evacuation notices beforehand. Most civilians will leave but extremists will stay to protect their weapons."

"And the ones who don’t leave in time?" Azrael asked.

"They die along with the extremists and the weapons." Lyanna replied. "It’s the only safe option."

"This is insane." Another council member said. "We can’t massacre a village!"

"But we also can’t allow weapons that can kill thousands to reach Thornfield." Lyanna said. "A siege will take too long and a surgical strike has a high chance of failure."

"At the cost of civilian lives?" Lady Morgana asked.

"I’ve done the math. Two hundred maximum casualties versus potentially ten thousand. The logical choice is obvious." Lyanna replied.

"Since when do you think about people as numbers?" Cassius asked with amusement,

"Since the alternative is worse."

Azrael stood up abruptly.

"We need to discuss this privately. Council is dismissed. We’ll reconvene in one hour."

When everyone left, Azrael turned to Lyanna.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Making the right choice."

"You’re talking about burning a village!" Azrael said. "Killing civilians!"

"But it is necessary." Lyanna said. "Azrael, if those weapons reach Thornfield, they’ll kill thousands. We have only three to five days. No other option is feasible."

"I’m not willing to massacre two hundred people!"

"Then you’re choosing to risk thousands of people instead."

"Lyanna, there are children in that village, innocent people who have nothing to do with the extremists."

"There are children in Thornfield too. Moreover you taught me this. You told me that being queen means making impossible choices. That sometimes there are no good options. Were you only comfortable with that philosophy when you were the one making those choices?"

Azrael stared at her.

"This isn’t you. The Lyanna I know would never..."

"The Lyanna you know got three people killed through carelessness at Riverwatch. Maybe that Lyanna wasn’t suited for this role and this version is better."

"This version is scary."

"Azrael, I understand this is difficult. But we can’t be emotional right now."

Azrael looked at her like he didn’t know her.

"What happened to you? After the attack, you’ve been different. And now you’re ordering a village to be burned like it’s nothing. Who are you?"

"I’m the queen who’s willing to make the hard choices. Isn’t that what Thornfield needs?"

"Not at the cost of your soul."

"My soul is still the same. It’s just my priorities have shifted."

"Lyanna! Tell me the truth. Is something bothering you?" Azrael was concerned now.

"We’re wasting time, Azreal." She said. "Will you support me on this or choose another plan?"

"I need time to think."

"We don’t have time. Every hour we delay..."

"I know!" Azrael shouted. "I know the timeline! I know the stakes! I just need a moment to process that my wife is calmly ordering the death of two hundred people like she’s deciding what to have for dinner!"

Lyanna didn’t even flinch.

"Take your time. But know this is the right decision."

When the council reconvened, tension filled the room.

"We’ve discussed the options." Azrael said. "But I want the council’s input before making a decision."

"I support Queen Lyanna’s plan." Cassius said immediately. "It’s ruthless but effective."

"I oppose it." Lady Morgana said. "We can’t burn villages with civilians. That makes us no better than the extremists."

"I agree with Queen Lyanna." Adrian said. "From a military perspective, this is the only plan that guarantees success. Every other option has a failure risk."

"I can’t support this." Another council member said. "Other territories will see us as murderers."

Azrael, who had been silent throughout the debate, finally spoke.

"Vote. All in favour of Queen Lyanna’s plan?"

Total eleven hands rose.

"Opposed?"

Eight votes.

"Eleven to eight." Azrael said. "The motion passes."

Lady Morgana stood up in anger.

"This is wrong. History will judge us for this."

"History will judge us for protecting our people." Lyanna replied.

After Morgana and the opposing faction left, Azrael turned to Lyanna.

"You got what you wanted. Now be ready to live with its consequences."

"I’m ready." She replied.

Within two hours, riders were sent to Millhaven with evacuation notices. Panic erupted in the village.

After two hours, there were approximately thirty-five civilians and twenty extremists remained in the village.

Adrian got the message and looked to Lyanna.

"Your Majesty. Orders?"

Azrael was standing beside her.

"Lyanna, there’s still time. We could send in forces..."

"And risk them deploying the weapons during extraction?" Lyanna said. "No. We’ll proceed as planned."

"There are still civilians in there."

"Fifty-five people versus ten thousand. The math is still the same." Lyanna turned to Adrian. "Go ahead."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He sent the message. Soon reports began arriving at the command centre. The weapons were destroyed and everyone in the village died.

That evening, Azrael didn’t come to their chambers. Lyanna went to find him in his study.

"We succeeded. Thornfield is safe but you don’t look happy." She said.

"Thirty five innocent people are dead including children." Azrael said. "Because of an order you gave."

"It’s war, Azrael. You’ve also made similar decisions."

"But its different!" Azrael shouted. "Those were enemies! These were civilians! I never thought you’d take it this far."

"How far did you think I should take it?" Lyanna asked. "Where is the line, Azrael?"

"When you stop feeling anything about it!" Azrael replied. "When you can order the death of children and feel nothing! That’s when it becomes murder! There’s no guilt and grief in your eyes. You look satisfied instead."

Lyanna didn’t reply.

"What happened to you?" Azrael asked. "After the attack, what happened that changed you this much?"

"I grew up." She replied. "I stopped being soft."

"No." Azrael said. "You stopped being human. Lyanna. The Lyanna I know would be crying over those children’s deaths even while knowing it was necessary. But you feel nothing."

He sighed.

"I’m sorry...but I feel like I don’t know you anymore. And I’m not sure whether you’re the same woman I married and loved!"