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Todos los capítulos de FAKE BRIDE OF THE ALPHA KING : Capítulo 91 - Capítulo 100

119 Capítulos

89

Briar's POV Azrael let out a sigh and his hand shifted from my hair to rest at my back instead.“I created the asylum to lock up the enemies I conquered during wars. Then the mines started to expand, and we needed more hands to extract silver and gold.”I sat up properly now, resting my weight on my hip while facing him. “So I imprisoned anybody that could be imprisoned to get more workers.”The silence between us stretched. Then I inhaled slowly. “I went through the asylum records earlier today,” I told him. “And I realized that a lot of those prisoners shouldn't even be there.”His eyes darkened slightly. “You went through the files?”“Yes.” I held his gaze. “And I plan to release the less guilty ones. The ones who were imprisoned without real cause. The ones who were imprisoned just because they lost their wolves, like me. And we'll compensate them properly.”He frowned faintly. “And the mines?”“The mines will still work,” I said. “We’ll just introduce paid job opportunities fo

90

Briar's POV The following day, the release of the inmates was implemented.Azrael left early in the morning to oversee it personally, and by the time he returned in the afternoon, the news channels were already broadcasting it. We were sitting on the couch in his room, watching one of the channels.They showed footage from inside the asylum gates. Groups of inmates were escorted out free.“A historic reform under King Azrael’s administration,” the news anchor said. “People are also wondering if Queen Briar must have played a significant role in influencing this huge decision.”Another segment showed interviews with families. A woman clutched her brother and sobbed into his shoulder. A man spoke into a microphone, saying he had waited three years, hoping this day would come. Most praised and thanked Azrael, and some mentioned my name.“It seems the public response is overwhelmingly positive,” another reporter said. “Many are calling this a turning point for the kingdom.”I nudged him

91

91Third person.The inmates had been released, but only the ones who were considered less guilty. The hardened criminals and Azrael’s mortal enemies remained behind the asylum walls, heavily guarded and untouched by the reform. But the elders weren't pleased with this reform.Rathore stood in the center of his living room, his hands clasped behind his back as the elders were seated on the leather chairs. The room was dimly lit, with the firelight from the large hearth reflecting off the polished wood and casting restless shadows across their faces.“This is not good,” Cedric muttered as he leaned back, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully.Rathore’s jaw tightened, and he began pacing slowly in front of the hearth.“It’s worse than not good,” Edmund said, his voice low.Then he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his fingers interlocked. “The people are praising Azrael,” he said, glancing briefly at the others before looking back at Rathore.Rathore stopped pacing and turned to

92

92Briar's POV In the evening, I decided to go to the asylum.I didn't make any announcement to the asylum ahead of time. I did not want preparations or staged tours. I wanted to see the place as it truly was.The car ride there was quiet. The sky was dimming into early evening, streaks of orange fading into gray. When the asylum gates came into view, my chest tightened slightly. The building looked exactly as I remembered it. As we rolled toward the gates, the heavy gates creaked open, and we drove through.The car slowed before coming to a smooth stop. My bodyguard seated in the front passenger seat stepped out immediately and opened the door.I stepped down from the car, and the guards at the entrance froze when they saw me. Shock flashed across their faces before they hurried forward and bowed.“Your Majesty,” one of them said quickly. “We were not informed of your visit.”“Well, here I am now,” I replied calmly and walked past them and into the building with the two bodyguards

93

93Briar's POV I studied her properly. She could not have been more than a few years younger than me. Her wrists still had faint red marks where the guards had gripped her earlier. “Why do you have nowhere to go?” I asked gently.She swallowed before answering. “My village was ravaged by slavers,” she said. Her voice sounded steady, but I could see the effort it took. “They came at night. They burned all the houses. Most people were killed, and the rest were sold into different territories. I ran. I don't even know how I survived.”My chest tightened.“There is no home for me to return to,” she continued. “There is no one waiting for me anywhere.”For a moment, I did not speak. The evening breeze moved lightly around us, but she stood still like she had nowhere in the world to lean.“You survived,” I said quietly. “That means something.”She gave a small, almost bitter smile. “Surviving is not the same as living, Your Majesty.”That hit deeper than she probably realized.I looked

94

94Azrael's POVI left the palace earlier than usual that morning for the land inspection. The proposed site for the new mining offices was about an hour out, closer to the expanding shafts but far enough from the main city traffic. If we were going to scale operations properly, we needed administrative buildings closer to the source. Going to the site was actually Briar’s idea. It was part of her agenda to get the people to see me in a better light. A more involved king.I didn't want to go. Why would I? When I had those who I could delegate to inspect the site. And they knew better than to cross me or give fake reports. I only went for things like that whenever I decided to.But Briar insisted. She was determined about it, and she did not back down easily. And in the end, she gave me very good persuasion before I agreed.The drive there was long and dusty, and by the time we arrived, the sun was high and harsh. The land stretched wide and uneven, patches of dry grass and hard ear

95

95Azrael's POVFor a second, I just looked at her in silence. With the only sound in the room being the low hum of the air conditioner. “Why?” She shrugged slightly, but there was nothing careless about it. “I just decided to go.”“You just decided?” I repeated. “You went there alone? Why didn’t you tell me?”Her eyes sharpened a little at my time. “Azrael, you can’t be with me all the time. And I don’t have to tell you wherever I’m going all the time.”My jaw ticked. I looked away for a second, exhaling through my nose, then back at her.“And before you ask. I took my bodyguards with me. Now listen to what I want to say.”I ran a hand over my face slowly, dragging it down to my jaw before letting it drop, and letting out a controlled breath. “Go on.”She looked down at her hands for a second before continuing.“I walked in on two guards trying to molest a girl. The girl you saw with me earlier today. And as I saw that, it reminded me of when I was almost molested by that guard.”

96

Briar's POV Bella settled into the palace faster than I expected. Within days, it felt natural having her around. She was soft spoken but attentive, always noticing the small things before I did. She never complained or dragged her feet. Angel warmed up to her too, especially after seeing how eager she was to learn. I realized quickly that she was genuinely kind, and always ready to help. And before long, the both of us had fallen into an easy rhythm. She was a sweetheart, really.The day of the Moonlight Ball arrived. Weeks of preparation had led to that evening. The palace ballroom had been transformed. Deep blue drapes framed the archways, and crystal installations hung from the ballroom ceiling like suspended stars.I was in my room with Bella and Angel while they helped me get ready. My dress was a perfect fit. The fabric shimmered subtly under the light, hugging my waist before flowing down smoothly to the floor. It was elegant without being too loud. Just like I wanted.Bel

97

Briar's POV For a second, I just stared at him as that word hung in the air between us.Pregnant. “What?” I breathed out, barely audible.“The doctor and the healer confirmed it after they examined you.”I blinked at him, my fingers tightening in the blanket. Pregnant.My lips parted but no sound came out at first. I looked down at myself instinctively, at my stomach, like I expected to see something different. It looked the same. I felt the same. Except I didn’t.“We’re…” I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “We’re going to be parents?”Azrael gave a slow nod. Just once. His jaw was tight, but his eyes… his eyes were softer than I had ever seen them.I leaned back into the headboard again, staring ahead as my heart started to race, not from fear, not exactly, but from the weight of it all crashing down at once. A baby. Our baby.My hands moved on their own, hovering over my stomach before resting there gently, almost cautiously, like I was afraid to press too hard.“This is real?

98

Briar's POV Azrael never stopped watching me like I might disappear.His eyes would linger on me a second too long. His hand would rest on my stomach absentmindedly, like he needed to feel for reassurance. His jaw would even tighten if I shifted suddenly in my seat.And there was something in his gaze. Something I had never seen before.It was fear. He was afraid.That morning, we were alone in my room having breakfast. He had insisted on eating with me instead of the dining room. The curtains were half drawn, letting in soft sunlight that warmed the room. A tray of fruit, toasted bread, eggs, and tea sat between us on the low table by the window.Azrael hadn’t really touched his food in the last few minutes. His fingers were loosely wrapped around his coffee cup, and his gaze was distant, fixed somewhere past my shoulder.I watched him carefully. And the vulnerability was clearer now. His shoulders were relaxed, but his eyes were not. They carried that same quiet tension.“What’s go

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