Chapter 25 Separation Hearing
The council chamber filled within the hour. Twelve councilors arranged in judgment. Adrian and Celeste at opposite ends of the long table. Scribes recording every word. Witnesses waiting to testify.
Lila stood in the back, allowed to observe but not participate. Through the bond, she felt Adrian's carefully controlled rage mixed with resignation. He'd already lost. The moment Celeste made this public, he'd lost.
Councilor Thorne called the session to order. "Queen Celeste, you petition for legal separation from King Adrian on what grounds?"
"Divided loyalties." Celeste stood, her voice clear and strong. "My husband's heart belongs to another. His attention, his care, his concern are given to someone else while I am ignored and neglected."
Murmurs rippled through the council. Thorne frowned. "These are serious accusations. Do you claim adultery?"
"No." Celeste's answer was careful. "I claim emotional abandonment. A violation of marriage vows that is perhaps more painful than physical betrayal."
She presented her evidence methodically. Guard logs showing Adrian visited the nursery every evening when Lila was there. Servant testimony about how long he stayed, how he looked at Lila, how comfortable they were together. Records of council meetings where Adrian had fought to keep Lila in the palace despite recommendations to send her away.
"My husband has been faithful to his marriage in body." Celeste's voice carried pain that wasn't entirely feigned. "But his spirit, his heart, his devotion belong to my sister. And I will not continue in a marriage where I am second choice."
"Lady Lila is your sister." Councilor Margaret spoke up. "His care for her could be familial concern."
"Then why does he fight so hard to keep her close?" Celeste gestured to the documents. "When the council recommended sending her to an estate or back to her family, the King refused. When I requested she be confined to her chambers, the King ensured she had freedom to move about. When she nearly died, the King abandoned me to save her." Her voice broke. "My own difficult childbirth came after, and still his first concern was ensuring my sister had recovered."
The evidence painted a damning picture. Not of adultery or impropriety, but of a king whose priorities lay with someone other than his wife. Of a marriage that existed in name only while emotional bonds lay elsewhere.
Adrian sat in silence, his face carved from ice. He didn't defend himself. Didn't argue. Through the bond, Lila felt why. Everything Celeste said was true. He did care more about Lila than his wife. He had fought to keep her close. His heart belonged elsewhere.
Defending himself meant lying, and he was done lying.
"Your Majesty." Thorne addressed Adrian. "What say you to these accusations?"
"I say my wife deserves happiness." Adrian's voice was hollow. "If she believes separation will bring her peace, I will not stand in her way."
"You don't deny her claims?"
"I deny nothing and admit nothing. I say only that Celeste has suffered enough in a marriage neither of us wanted. If she wishes to leave, I won't force her to stay."
The words were as close to confession as he could give without revealing the mate bond. The council absorbed them with varying expressions of shock, sympathy, and judgment.
"There is the matter of Prince Theo." Thorne continued. "The heir must be considered in any separation."
"Theo stays with me." Celeste's voice turned hard. "I am his mother. I carried him, birthed him, nearly died bringing him into this world. He is mine."
"He is also the heir to the kingdom." Councilor Devon protested. "The King must have access to his son."
"The King may visit. Under supervision. At my discretion." Celeste's smile was cold. "But Theo lives with me. In separate quarters. Away from inappropriate influences."
The last words were aimed at Lila. The council heard them clearly. If separation was granted, Lila would be cut off from Theo completely. The pack bond would be severed by physical distance and Celeste's refusal to allow contact.
"This is acceptable?" Thorne asked Adrian.
No. Through the bond, Lila felt Adrian's absolute refusal. Felt his wolf howling at the thought of being separated from both his mate and his son. Felt his barely controlled rage at Celeste's manipulation.
But his voice remained steady. "If that is what the Queen demands, yes."
The council deliberated for two hours. Lila stood frozen in the back of the chamber, watching her world fall apart. This was her fault. If she'd never existed, never been Adrian's mate, Celeste wouldn't be doing this. The marriage might have been loveless but functional. Theo would have both parents.
Finally, Thorne announced their decision. "The council grants temporary separation. Queen Celeste may establish separate residence in the south wing. She retains custody of Prince Theo with visitation rights for His Majesty to be determined. Assets and settlements to be calculated." He paused. "This separation is temporary, lasting one year. At year's end, the council will reconvene to determine if reconciliation is possible or if permanent dissolution is warranted."
One year. Twelve months of this strange half-marriage, half-divorce state. Twelve months of Celeste raising Theo alone while Adrian ruled hollow and broken.
Celeste curtsied to the council. "Thank you. I will begin moving my household immediately." She swept toward the exit, her ladies following.
As she passed Lila, Celeste paused. Her voice dropped to a whisper only Lila could hear.
"He's mine now. And you'll never see him again."