Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 104: Consequences (1)

"Lord Hastings, might I know why you invited me to sit with these two fools?" Asked Norman Penrose, a family friend of the Hastings family.

"Didn’t you hear that I was attacked in my chamber when I was in the palace?" Dante asked, falling back to speak to Norman alone.

"So I heard," Norman answered.

"You didn’t think to check on my well-being?"

"You went to visit the king by the time the news reached me, and if you allowed intruders to kill you, you deserved it. You were raised to take on such small attacks. Why should I have been concerned about it?’ Norman asked, uninterested in a small fight.

Dante chuckled. "Only you would be angry with me for letting an intruder kill me. I invited you here because those two have betrayed me, and I wanted you to meet my wife. It is thanks to her that I discovered those two met with Joel to celebrate."

Norman placed his hands behind his back. "You know what you must do. Kill them before they share what they know about your land and army. You cannot take any risk. I won’t have you fall like your father."

"I am going to kill them," Dante said, keeping a close eye on Ophelia. "I am sure there are more leaning over to Joel’s side."

"Let them go there. They will come running back to you one day, and when they do, kill them. How is married life treating you? I objected to the proposition of you marrying a Valthorn girl. Keep your secret safe," said Norman.

"I am in luck since they sent the right woman. You don’t need to worry about Ophelia. You will like her once you get to know her.’

Norman wasn’t interested. "She is not for me to like. All that matters is that you enjoy her company. It was risky for you to take part in the event. As lovely as she might be, think with your head and not other parts of your body."

"I am well aware. You have taught me well. Excuse me, I must go forward before they upset her," Dante said, leaving Norman’s side to go back to Ophelia.

"I hear that you have a younger brother, Lady Hastings. Why isn’t he seen around the palace?"

Ophelia took a deep breath. It was question after question, and she didn’t enjoy any of them.

"Ophelia," Dante said, snaking his arm around her waist. "I will take it from here."

"You must before I lose my mind," Ophelia muttered.

’We were only getting to know your wife," said Francis Crane. "We have heard plenty about her."

"From who?" Ophelia inquired, dreading hearing the king’s name.

"We had a moment to speak to your mother," Francis answered.

"Sit," Dante instructed the guests. "Have a drink."

"Is there bad news you want to share with us, Lord Hastings?" Harold asked as he took his seat. "Is there a new threat to your land?"

"Why would there be a threat?" Dante replied.

Harold looked to Francis for support. "I do not know. I simply think this gathering was rather abrupt. You did not speak to us while we were in the palace. I thought there was a danger we needed to be alerted to."

"The danger was my husband and I being attacked in the palace. Did you not hear of it?" Ophelia asked, her gaze fixed on Harold.

Harold smiled. He tapped his fingers on the table to keep his annoyance at bay. "Lady Hastings, there is plenty of work we need to do in the palace. Once we heard that Lord Hastings was well, we did not think to bother him. He can take care of himself."

"I believe this is a topic we shouldn’t discuss before your wife. After all, others suspect it could have been the work of a Valthorn. Until we know for certain, we shouldn’t speak of this-"

"But the morning after my attack, you would meet with Lord Valthorn? How often did you two frequent him in private?" Dante asked, standing still behind where Ophelia sat.

Harold felt an uneasiness in the air. The reason for the invitation was now evident.

"You are mistaken. We have never spoken to Lord Valthorn. Who spoke of such lies?" Harold asked, looking at Ophelia as the culprit. "We all know to be careful, even though your marriage means peace."

"I have seen you before in the Valthorn castle. It was some time before my wedding. Perhaps a month before. You had a cane then," Ophelia said, noticing the panic in Harold’s eyes. "Were you there on behalf of my husband to speak about peace?"

"I don’t need to answer to a woman-"

"I believe you do," Ophelia spoke before Dante could respond. "Your life depends on your answers to me. My husband is silent whilst I am speaking. Why haven’t you stopped to think about your position and mine? I will speak, and you shall listen as well as answer me."

"I will ask again. What was your reason for visiting the Valthorn castle and not speaking of it to Lord Hastings when you were considered his ally?" Ophelia asked.

"Were?" Francis picked up on Ophelia’s choice of words.

"Were is correct," Ophelia answered.

"Lord Hastings, I assure you that I only ever think of your best interest. It is possible that your wife saw another man who bears a resemblance to me. I would never meet with Lord Valthorn without informing you of it. My loyalty lies with you just as it once was with your father," Harold promised.

Harold looked to Norman and found him to be calm.

"I know what I saw, and you know what you did. There is a small chance you may keep your head if you admit to what you did. I am giving you the chance to explain why you met with Lord Valthorn, and why you celebrated that Lord Hastings could have been killed in the palace," Ophelia said, unwilling to give the two men time to come up with a lie.

"Speak!" Ophelia ordered the two men.

"It is a misunderstanding. We were unaware of your attack and were invited to speak to the other men. We expected you would be there since all the other men-"

"Yet when you did not see Lord Hastings present, you did not question it and thought to leave? It upsets me that you think I couldn’t handle this conversation when you two cannot come up with a decent lie. If you have switched sides, simply admit it," Ophelia advised the two men.

"We wouldn’t need to torture it out of you if you were honest. Dante," Ophelia said, looking to her right. "Give them a bit of motivation."