Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 126: Feelings (2)

"W-What?" Ophelie replied, flustered. "Well, make them stop. We have talked about this before."

"I cannot. I thought it best to let you know that they persist, and I don’t have any interest in stopping them. It is partly your fault," said Dante.

"My fault? I didn’t do anything to make you have these feelings. Have we not understood from the beginning that there wasn’t to be any love between us? We are to go our separate ways eventually. Have you forgotten that you don’t want to live long?" Ophelia asked, taking a small step away from Dante.

"Then, I shall live."

Ophelia palmed her face. "I cannot be the reason you wish to live. I already struggle with my own will, and I am going because of Theo. How can I share the responsibility of your will?"

"You are likely confused," Ophelia concluded.

"I am not confused, Ophelia. I know myself quite well," said Dante.

"Says the man who finds it hard to like himself. I did not come here thinking of falling in love with anyone," Ophelia said.

"Neither did I bring you here thinking I would fall in love, but that is the path I am heading down. Again, I won’t force you to love me. Neither will I push my feelings onto you, but I cannot promise that nothing will change. I will court you as a woman-"

"Stop!" Ophelia covered Dante’s mouth with her hand. "You must give me a moment."

Ophelia accepted Dante’s feelings when she assumed they were small and would pass, but this was different.

Dante stood still, allowing Ophelia to have her moment.

Not long after, Ophelia removed her hand from Dante’s face.

"Are you certain these feelings can’t go away?" Ophelia asked, first testing the severity of Dante’s feelings.

Dante shook his head. "Even if you plan to act in a way to upset me, these feelings will not go away."

Ophelia frowned.

"Did I just spoil the plans you came up with a moment ago?" Dante asked, folding his lips so he wouldn’t laugh.

"Yes, you did. It was a good plan inside my head," Ophelia sighed. "I must accept that I cannot do anything about your feelings. I simply have to accept that they exist and carry on as we have been doing."

"All this time that we have gotten closer, did you not for a moment find some attraction toward me? Did your feelings not sway you even for the smallest moment?" Dante questioned, refusing to believe Ophelia felt nothing.

"Of course, I have been swayed, as I told you before. You are a handsome man who has treated me well. How could I not feel something? I try not to think much of it and let those feelings go because I know how they will end," said Ophelia.

"The plans to live somewhere secluded on your land, I can accept, but I do not think I can continue to live as Lady Hastings. In the long run, what can you gain from it? What have you gained from it now, other than peace?" Ophelia asked, thinking of the future. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"You mustn’t diminish your worth. I am not seeking a partner to gain power or wealth. I have it already, and as you can see, it doesn’t bring much happiness. I know what you have and what you don’t have, yet I want to love you. You must take your own advice, Ophelia. Start accepting yourself," said Dante.

"You mustn’t use my words against me," Ophelia said, avoiding Dante’s gaze.

"I have a suggestion. Open your heart to me, even if it is just a little and don’t think of the future. Don’t think of titles. Simply see me as the man before you. I see no reason for you to fight these feelings, so for a moment, open your heart to see the possibilities. Can you promise me?" Dante asked, offering his hand to Ophelia.

Ophelia looked down at Dante’s hand. "Perhaps it would have been best to have me fall in love with you and then tell me you were a beast."

"I shared my biggest secret with you. Now, I don’t have anything to hide," Dante said, waiting for Ophelia to agree.

Ophelia considered it. "If I open my heart to you, only for you to let me down, then your curse will be the least of your concerns. I will curse you in new ways that you cannot fathom. I am giving you the chance to take it back."

Dante reached forward to hold Ophelia’s hand, proving that he was serious.

Ophelia shook Dante’s hand. "I look forward to being courted as you would if it were a lady with a proper background. For the time being, I think we shouldn’t share a bed anymore."

"Why?"

"Even though we are married, you must admit that for us to share a bed when you have feelings for me wouldn’t be right. Do you not think it would be uncomfortable? I would welcome you to sit in my chamber, but when we want to sleep, we must go back to our own beds," Ophelia suggested.

Ophelia thought it was only fair that until they sort out their feelings, and she accepted the idea of them having a future together, they shouldn’t share the same bed. With Dante’s growing feelings, it couldn’t be pleasant to have the woman he liked so close, but she had yet to feel the same way.

"You look like a child who lost a treat. You cannot have it both ways, Dante. You may court me, and I will accept it, but I will not share a bed with you until something real blossoms between us," said Ophelia.

"Is it because you fear you cannot keep your hands to yourself once you realise your feelings?"

Ophelia playfully tapped Dante’s hand. "Certainly not. I only want this to be done correctly. I want to see that it is just more than attraction between us, and sharing a bed is not the way to do it. Just because I was against the idea of falling in love doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to be courted properly."

"I understand your wishes for not sharing a bed, but had I known the time we laid on the grass would have been our last for now, I would have enjoyed it more. Perhaps we should start courting each other from the morning," Dante suggested.

Ophelia shook her head and laughed.

"Would anyone believe me if I said you are a tease?" Ophelia wondered.

"The knights wouldn’t believe it," Dante answered.

"I can understand why. You were so scary when we first met that I cannot believe you are the same man now. I have to turn down your request to start from the morning, but I will join you for dinner, and I want to have guests," Ophelia said, having an idea.