Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 109: Late night visitor (3)

In the dead of the night, Dante remained seated on his chair, listening to Ophelia’s soft snores. She had drifted off to sleep in the midst of their conversation, and he was worried about moving her too soon.

Only when Ophelia shifted in the chair and groaned as though she was uncomfortable did Dante stand up to lift her.

"I’ll apologise in the morning," Dante said as he slipped his hand under her thighs.

Dante carefully lifted Ophelia and took his time carrying her to his bed so he wouldn’t wake her.

Now that she rested in his arms, Dante took notice of how small she was. Ophelia ate well at dinner, but she had more to go to be at what Dante considered to be a healthy weight. He thought of having her seen by a doctor, but Ophelia would surely protest. All she would think about now was her brother.

Dante set Ophelia down towards the centre of the bed and sat down at the edge to watch her. He waited for a moment to see if she would wake. Since she now had his bed, he had to take the floor.

Seeing that she was sound asleep, Dante no longer had to stay awake to watch over her.

Dante leaned forward, reaching his left hand toward Ophelia’s face to move her hair out of her face, but he stopped himself. That was going too far.

Dante moved his hand back and palmed his face. ’What am I doing?’ He muttered.

Dante was the one to welcome Ophelia to his chamber, but now he was acting like a fool.

Instead of sleeping on the floor, Dante wanted to train.

Dante sighed as he stood up.

"Are you going to make me feel guilty about taking your bed again? I thought we established that you have a big bed?"

"I thought you were asleep," Dante said, looking down at the little trickster.

"I was asleep until I felt the blanket. It’s far better than sleeping on the chair," Ophelia said, opening her eyes. "I am surprisingly comfortable here, and the bed is big enough for the two of us. I can move to the other end."

"Ophelia-"

"If I go back to my chamber, I am going to end up where I started the night. I’ll be thinking of Theo’s arrival at the castle and come up with every way it could go wrong. I am not asking you to bed me, just to lie on the bed with me. Your presence is surprisingly distracting," said Ophelia.

"Surprisingly?" Dante responded and sat back down on the bed. "Do you want me to wake you before the servants rise?"

Ophelia chuckled. "You are acting like we are forbidden lovers sneaking around. I was nervous at first, but I had to remind myself that we are husband and wife. It should not be so strange to find that we shared a chamber. All that matters is we both know what happened here. If you are afraid," she stopped when she felt Dante lie on the bed.

Ophelia moved so Dante would have plenty of the bed to himself.

"Are you afraid of me?" Ophelia asked. "Or is it these newfound feelings you have that make you shy? You are not the same man who entered the chamber on our wedding night."

"Do not remind me of how much I made a fool of myself then," Dante said, embarrassed by the memory.

"We spoke of this already. We were both strangers then, and you wanted to be out of the chamber faster than I did. There’s no need for you to be embarrassed about how you acted then because I don’t think so. You’re not the one I was angry with that night," Ophelia said, the person she hated coming to mind.

"Who were you angry with?"

"My mother," Ophelia answered. "She got me dressed up and abandoned me when there were many questions I needed answered. I am not angry with you about that night, so if that is why you find it hard to lie in bed with me, you can let it go."

"It is not so simple. I wish I could go back and change my actions," said Dante.

"Then I would have thought you to be strange for being so nice. We became close over time, and I like the way it happened. I got to know you better, and I am grateful for it. I suspect you were awake watching me sleep all this time, so now, I want you to rest. Good night," Ophelia said, too tired to keep speaking.

"Good night," Dante said, looking to his right where Ophelia slept with her back toward him.

A sense of comfort came over Dante from sharing the bed, and it calmed the feelings he had been experiencing as of late. His only concern was the days counting down to a time when he would have to hide himself from Ophelia.

If he were lucky, Theo would be in the castle by then, so he could send them both away to keep Ophelia safe. If she remained in the castle, his secret might place them back to being strangers.

Inside the palace, Freya slipped away from her chamber without Bella noticing. She was desperate to make something grand out of her last few days in the capital.

Freya wasn’t satisfied with being engaged to the third prince for now. The answer was right before her, and since neither her father nor her brother would help her, Freya needed to meet with the crown prince herself.

The crown prince’s engagement meant nothing in Freya’s eyes. As long as he was not married, he was a free man ready for the taking.

Freya hid as servants and guards strolled the halls, doing their work.

Freya knew exactly where she would find the crown prince because of a mouthy maid who accepted a ring.

Freya came to a stop before a door which was decorated with what looked to be gold. It was fitting for the crown prince.

Rather than knock, Freya turned the knob and pushed the door open. She covered her nose with her hand as an awful stench, along with smoke, filled the air. Her gaze went to the bed where a man laid.

"Crown Prince Sebastian Croswell," Freya curtsied. "I am Freya Valthorn, daughter of Lord Joel-"

"I know who you are. What you should do is explain why you are here. Surely, you aren’t lost. My brother’s chamber is on the other wing," Sebastian said, blowing smoke from lips. He eyed the young woman from head to toe.

Sebastian expected a visitor, but not a lady of Freya’s status. Still, he was intrigued by her appearance.

"I am not looking for the third prince. I have come to you," Freya said, removing the coat that covered her to reveal what she selected for the crown prince’s eyes.

Sebastian smiled as the night suddenly turned exciting. "Come closer," he said, needing a better look at the foolish young woman.