Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 124: Accepted (3)

"I do not, but seeing you have brought it up, it seems that I must believe in them. Is that what you are? Or what your great-grandfather was?" Ophelia asked, trying to believe every word Dante spoke.

When Opehlia referred to others as beasts, she wasn’t being literal, but it seemed to be that way for Dante.

"My family were once simply people, but I must confess my great-grandfather was said to not be a good man. He betrayed many of his peers to gain power, and eventually, he betrayed the one woman who had the power to humble him," Dante said, staring at the graze.

"He thought that, like everyone else he had betrayed and cast to the side, the woman who had loved him and did all he asked for would have gone away without a fight. She was heartbroken and called him a monster. She said he couldn’t love, so she cursed him to be the beast she saw him as."

"As anyone would, it is said my great-grandfather laughed. He had her killed to hide his affairs with her, but when the first full moon came, he regretted killing her. He became a beast, and when he had a son, his son inherited the curse," said Dante.

"So, she cursed him where it would hurt him. I’m certain it made him worry to know his son carried this curse. Forgive me. I know it is your family, but if I had been betrayed by a man, I would have cursed him too," Ophelia confessed.

"She wasn’t wrong to punish him. I only wished it stopped at him," Dante said, bearing anger towards his great-grandfather. "He killed the one person who might have had the answer to changing what was done to our family. We’ve been searching for years for an answer, but have not succeeded."

"I’m afraid the answer might have died with the woman he killed, as you assume. So, this beast," Ophelia said, curious about the curse. "What is it? What does it look like?"

"Something you would never want to see. It drove the men before me mad. My father hated to look at himself. It is as tall as I am now, but it looks like something out of this world. I cannot think of an animal to describe it. There are no drawings. No evidence that can get out of the castle," said Dante.

"The king doesn’t have any idea what your family hides. Surely, if he were to see a drawing of this beast, he would send an army here," Ophelia said, understanding the secrecy. "Can you control it? I mean, when you don’t look as you do now, are you in control?"

"No, I can’t. I have the knights chain me in a room, and no one is allowed inside until I am back to normal. If I were to break free, many would die. It feels as though I am awake, but someone else has control of my body," Dante shared.

Dante looked at Ophelia. She was taking what he said better than he expected.

"Do you believe me?" Dante asked, studying Ophelia’s expression.

"It is a little hard to believe there are real beasts, but you don’t appear to be someone to make up a silly story, so I will believe you. What reason would you have to tell me a lie, other than to test me? No matter what, I’ll believe you," Ophelia promised. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"It is fine for you to have some doubts unless you see it for yourself. Many think my father died from wounds from the war, but he drove himself mad worrying about the curse. We were caged in separate cells to endure the long nights so we could not comfort each other," Dante revealed, his voice low as he recalled the dark days with his father.

"What about your mother? Of your grandmother and the other wives?"

"My mother wasn’t fond of watching us in that state, and my grandmother couldn’t bear it. I know my mother loved my father, but she also feared him. I’m sure that side of him haunts her, so she always leaves the castle when that time is near," said Dante.

"Is that why there are no portraits of your father on the walls? I have noticed that I don’t see any of your grandfather or great-grandfather. There are not many of you as well. Only the wives," Ophelia said, realising a bigger issue. "Are you afraid of looking at your face?"

"Sometimes I look at my face, and it fades to a portrait of a beast. It is all in my head, I know it, but I cannot stop it. I wouldn’t mind seeing my father’s or grandfather’s faces. It is only mine I hate to see. I took them down for my mother’s sake," Dante said, regretting doing so.

"I think you must face your fears, and I am more than willing to help you. Your family was cursed by a woman who thought you couldn’t love, and all you do is hate yourself. I know I shouldn’t speak as though it is easy, but have you ever tried to accept it?" Ophelia asked, thinking the answer was simple.

Ophelia saw Dante as a good man. She didn’t know of Dante’s great-grandfather, but she was confident Dante wasn’t like him.

"You are kind, you are protective, you are willing to risk your life to save others, and you go out of your way to help me. A man like you doesn’t deserve to be cursed. Maybe you are seeking the answers in the wrong place. It could be that you must start to love yourself," Ophelia suggested.

Dante wished it would be so easy to accept what he faced. "I do not like it and never will," he said.

"That is why you don’t want to have children? It is kind of you to want to end it with you, but I wish for you to be the one to find the answer. You should learn how to control it. The next time you must chain yourself, I will study you," Ophelia offered.

"No! It is a serious matter, Ophelia. Accepting it now is different from when you stand before me while I am in another form. When that time comes, I want you far away from me. It would be best if you were to be out of the castle with Theo," Dante said, wanting Ophelia to be safe.

"No!" Ophelia objected to Dante’s order. "I shall be where I want to be."

"Ophelia," Dante pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t want to snap. "Now is not the time to be stubborn. I am trying to keep you safe. You have little idea about the dangers that are coming."

"That might be so, but I will remain here to help you find a cure. How is anyone to find answers if all they do is lock you away or run from you?" Ophelia said, unwilling to stay away from Dante.

"The woman who birthed me and witnessed my father go through this change cannot bear it," Dante said, trying to prove how dangerous it was.

"Well, thank goodness I am not your mother," Ophelia replied.