Chapter 27 Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Chapter 27
Lucien
Abel stepped into my office without hesitation, closing the door behind him. His expression was serious, the kind that usually meant more trouble.
“What do we do about the council?” he asked as he approached my desk. “They have sent another letter. It’s the same as the last one. They are asking why you haven’t responded.”
I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms across my chest. “What exactly are they expecting from me?” I asked, my tone edged with irritation.
Abel stopped in front of me. “They want a clear answer. Either you agree to take a wife, or you meet with them and explain why you refuse. If you don’t, they’ll push for you to step down and let your brother take the throne.”
A cold anger settled in my chest. “That will never happen,” I said firmly. “I’m not giving up my throne because of their pressure.”
The thought alone made my jaw tighten. I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “And as for taking a wife, I can’t just choose any woman. It’s pointless, nothing will come of it.”
My mind drifted briefly to my visit to Janice, the memory irritated me even more. I shouldn’t have wasted my time going to see her. The thought alone irritated me. She had done nothing but fill my head with nonsense talking about a “true mate” and making that absurd claim about pregnancy.
It made no sense, her kind is the reason everything was already complicated and I am in this dilemma.
Abel cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “I understand your doubts,” he said carefully, “but what if she wasn’t lying?”
I frowned at him. “What if your mate is actually out there?” he continued. “Instead of ignoring it completely, maybe we should try to find her. At least then you will know the truth, and it might solve more than one problem.”
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh, shaking my head. “Find her with what, Abel? We have nothing. No name, no face, no clue where to even begin. I don’t know this woman, I don’t know what she looks like.” I leaned forward, my voice hard. “And if I had truly met my mate—if I had been close enough to her to get her pregnant, do you really think I would forget something like that?”
Abel didn’t argue immediately. He just sighed, the weight of the situation clear on his face. “Then what do we do?” he asked quietly. “Time is not on your side. The council has made up their mind. In one year, they will force you to step down if nothing changes. And you know they already favor your brother. If we sit back and do nothing, he will be king.”
His words settled heavily in the room. I turned away from him, my mind racing. He was right—we couldn’t afford to wait. Doing nothing wasn’t an option anymore. There had to be a way to delay the council, to keep my throne.
An idea slowly formed, and I stopped pacing. “What if…” I began, then turned back to him. “What if I choose a woman, marry her, and present her as my mate? If the council believes I’ve settled down, it might buy us time.”
Abel’s brows drew together as he considered it. I continued, thinking it through aloud. “It doesn’t have to be real. Just convincing enough to satisfy them for now.”
I paused, then exhaled sharply. “But that still leaves the problem of a child. They won’t be satisfied with a marriage alone. They will want proof—an heir. They’ll expect confirmation that the child is mine.”
I started pacing again, tension building in my chest.
Abel stepped closer, his voice more urgent now. “Then we handle one problem at a time. First, find a woman. That alone might ease the pressure for now. Once the council backs off, even a little, we can focus on the rest. We’ll search for answers, speak to whoever we must, do whatever it takes. But right now, we need to act.”
I stopped, staring ahead as his words sank in. The real problem wasn’t the council or their demands, it was the thought of binding myself to someone I didn’t want.
I clenched my jaw slightly, I could face enemies, fight battles, even challenge the council if needed. But this? Living with a woman as my wife, pretending, enduring something I had no desire for. That was a different kind of challenge entirely.
“How about we choose from your mistresses? Anyone you prefer… or we can search for someone new,” Abel suggested.
I shook my head slowly. “You already know I don’t have a preference,” I said, my tone flat. “It doesn’t matter how much time I spend with any of them. I won’t remember. Anyone will do.”
Abel’s face lit up at that. “Then I will handle it,” he said quickly. “I’ll find someone suitable. Someone worthy to stand beside you.”
I gave a small nod and lowered myself into my chair, trying to focus. But the moment I sat down, my thoughts betrayed me.
Those eyes, the same blue eyes I had been painting for months without understanding why. They filled my mind again, clear and haunting. They looked similar to hers, every time I paint, I think about her.
Even now, I couldn’t remember anything about the night I had fucked her, not even the conversation before it yet she lingered in my thoughts in a way no one else ever had.
It had been three days since I ordered her locked in the dark room and I hadn’t gone back. Still, she was the only one I could think about, I exhaled slowly, my decision forming before I could question it. “I think I know who to choose,” I said.
Abel looked at me, curious. “Who?”
I hesitated for a brief moment, then spoke. “Release her from the dark room first. After that, we will proceed with the marriage arrangement.”
Shock spread across Abel’s face. “Her?” he said, disbelief thick in his voice. “That’s a traitor, she is meant to be executed. You cannot possibly choose her as your mate.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Have you forgotten? She’s carrying another man’s child.”
I leaned forward slightly, resting my arms on the desk. “Abel,” I said calmly, “don’t you think it’s a bit hypocritical to call her a traitor?”
He frowned.
“We went to see a witch ourselves just nights ago,” I continued. “The only difference is that no one knows about it. If they did, how do you think they would reach?”
Abel opened his mouth, but no words came out, I watched him for a moment before leaning back again.
“She’s not even from this kingdom,” he said finally, trying another angle. “The people won’t accept her. Not after everything and certainly not if they hear about the witch. You need someone they can respect. Someone who strengthens your image, not destroys it.”
I held his gaze, unshaken. “Then tell me the truth,” I said quietly. “What is your personal issue with her?”
Abel stiffened.
“Because whether you approve or not,” I continued, my voice firm now, “I’ve made my decision and I don’t intend to change it.”