Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 118: Price to pay (3)

"Bella, go into the bathing chamber for a moment. I must have a word with your sister alone," Giselle said, keeping her gaze on Freya.

Bella was hesitant to leave in fear that the pair would argue, but since she didn’t have the power to stop it or go against Giselle’s command, she did as she was told.

Giselle waited for Bella to be out of sight to ask, "When are you going to start thinking of others in this family? Your father said that you are to stay, yet here you are trying to cause more trouble by packing. For once, think of someone other than yourself."

"You must be thrilled to see me in this position. Your daughter married a lord, while I am reduced to being the mistress of the crown prince. That is why you do not stand up for me and want me to stay," said Freya.

"You always wanted me to be silent because you viewed me as a woman brought to care for you and never respected me as your father’s wife. Now, you wanted me to speak up for you? Why? What good would that do for me? After years of your insults, you became what you accused me of being," Giselle said, tempted to laugh.

"I am not a whore who goes after a dead woman’s place!" Freya snapped.

"No, you are a whore who crawled into the bed of an engaged man and ruined your own engagement. You don’t have evidence of what you claim about me, but I have evidence of what you did. Soon, the town will hear of it and speak poorly of your name," Giselle said, awaiting Freya’s downfall.

"I am not staying here," Freya said, pulling her hand out of Giselle’s hold. "You’ll leave my father’s side before I do."

Giselle shook her head, pitying Freya. "You poor child. How will you survive in the palace when you are this way? The queen already hates you, and I could have spoken to her on your behalf, but because of your lack of manners, I will decline helping you."

"I don’t need your help. You there!" Freya yelled at the palace maids. "Open my trunk."

"Please leave us," Giselle ordered the maids.

Freya watched as the maids walked out of the chamber. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Following my husband’s orders. You are not to leave, and I will see that the only place your belongings move to is inside the chamber assigned to you by the crown prince. I hope the night you enjoyed with him produces a little princess," Giselle said, her gaze settling on Freya’s belly.

"It is a boy anyone would expect if I am to rise in status. Are you a fool?" Freya asked, thinking Giselle to be as uneducated as Ophelia.

Freya decided to pack her trunk herself.

"I know a boy would benefit you, but I want you to suffer as I did. I want you to feel that no matter how good you are and what you have done for the family, no one finds you to be useful. You are bound to experience being insulted and undermined soon enough," Giselle said, followed by laughter.

"I am Lord Valthorn’s daughter," Freya said, tired of everyone forgetting it.

"Oh, they are going to eat you alive in the palace. I suggest that you not dangle your father’s name before anyone, since it won’t hold any weight. Your new title is the prince’s woman. No longer are you simply Lord Valthorn’s daughter," said Giselle.

Giselle watched as Freya opened her trunk. "Freya, if you placed anything inside that trunk, I will be forced to drag you away from it. I suggest you listen while I am being nice."

Freya ignored Giselle and started to place her shoes inside the trunk. She was caught by surprise when Giselle grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her backwards.

"I said, you are not leaving. Do you not- Nigel," Giselle said, letting go of Freya. "She was trying to pack."

"Don’t let me stop you," Nigel said, urging Giselle to continue. "I don’t think my father would stop you as well. She’s lost her father’s favour. Do as you wish."

Freya’s eyes widened, surprised Nigel would say such a thing. "Brother."

"Sister," Nigel answered. "Do what you want with her, but keep in mind she cannot be damaged. That is what the crown prince is for."

"I will tell everyone of your sick, twisted interest in Ophelia. How do you think they would view a man who loves his sister?" Freya asked, deciding to drag Nigel down with her.

"Go ahead. You’ve never spoken of her being our sister, and why should anyone care about what you have to say now, Freya? Go on and keep making a fool of yourself. If you had sense, you would be kind to the one who is close to the crown prince. I can make your life hell," Nigel reminded Freya.

"You have all turned against me. All of you!" Freya yelled, close to a breakdown. She stomped her feet out of frustration that no one was listening to her.

Nigel thought the drama got better when Joel entered the chamber.

"What is the meaning of this?" Joel asked, looking at each person in the chamber. "The maids laugh as you three yell at each other."

"Your wife is trying to tell me what to do. She should know better," Freya said, wanting her father to punish Giselle.

"She wanted to pack her trunk to leave," Giselle informed Joel. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Joel looked at the open trunk. "I told you that you are not leaving. I don’t have time for this. Giselle, do what you must to get her in order. Come with me, Nigel," he said, proceeding to get out of the chamber before Freya spoke to him.

Giselle smiled as the long-awaited moment had come. She had been ever so patient for the chance to set Freya straight.

"As I was saying, you will not be leaving the palace, but I can help you decide on what dress you should wear to your first dinner as his mistress. Oh, wait," Giselle said, feigning shock. "You won’t get to sit with the royals for dinner. Only his future bride has that pleasure."

"You won’t attend gatherings at his side, or alone. If they allow you to set foot outside the palace gates, you will be met by mockery. You’ll have to stay in one quiet corner of the palace, almost forgotten. I would feel pity for you had you not treated me so poorly," said Giselle.

Giselle drew closer to Freya, longing a hence to slap her.

"I will feel forced to strike you if you do not listen to my commands. Gone are the days when you can belittle me, Freya. We’re starting anew," Giselle said, looking forward to her last moments with Freya.