Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 128: Changes (2)
"Wonderful. After worrying about war for so long, everyone should get at least a day to be carefree and enjoy themselves. It would create an opportunity for vendors to make money and perhaps, if you spread news of it days before, you could have travellers come to spend money," Ophelia said.
"It sounds like an open window for my enemies to strike us."
Ophelia nodded, agreeing with Dante. "It might be, but you should order your knights to be on alert. Now that you speak of it, if you were to set up a trap to lure in your enemies, I think many of them would fall into it."
"Like if we were to let it slip out of the castle that we were going somewhere secluded on your land without knights or guards, surely, they wouldn’t miss the chance. Then you would have an ambush waiting for them. One day, I will have you pay for my ideas," Ophelia said, giving herself a pat on the back.
"Wasn’t it partly my plan?" Dante asked, but he didn’t mind Ophelia taking credit.
"You only spoke of enemies attacking you. I thought wisely about how we could turn it to your benefit. You should consider it. It would be good to take down some of your enemies before the war starts again. Would you share with me what more you must wait on?" Ophelia asked, curious about what Dante was planning.
"It is all about timing. I will share it with you when the time is right. Dinner will soon be served, so I suggest you have the men move the tables quickly unless you want them to have a cold supper. I will be with you shortly," Dante said, excusing himself from Ophelia’s side.
Dante walked away from Ophelia, but while she was present in the knight’s quarters, he was going to keep an eye on her. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Dante made his way over to Rick’s quarters and knocked on the door.
"I said I am not to be disturbed. Oh, Lord Hastings," Rick’s tone softened. "Have you come here to punish me even more?"
"I came to see how far along you are with packing. You have to be up early to make it to the border," said Dante.
"You don’t have to rub it in that I am being punished. I am doing as you asked, so please, leave me be. Or, is there more I am to be punished for?" Rick asked, waiting for the rest of his punishment.
"I don’t know whether to be upset or understanding of you not coming to apologise for your actions towards my wife. Should I be upset that you didn’t apologise, or be understanding that you don’t want to apologise when it isn’t genuine?"
"The latter is best for you to feel. I know that I was out of line, but I can never like Lady Hastings," Rick said, yet to change his mind.
"I am not asking you to like her. That is for me to do. What I wanted was for all of you to respect her because she is still my wife, no matter your feelings. I have considered you a close friend. If you noticed my closeness to her, then you should have set your feelings to the side and treated her well," said Dante.
"I only acted out of order once by taking her to the dungeon, and with what your mother said, along with the evidence before me at the moment, I thought what I did was right. I apologise for disappointing you-"
"No, you should apologise for disrespecting her," Dante spoke over Rick. "She is Lady Hastings, while you are my knight."
"You’ll have to forgive me. Titles never mattered between us," Rick replied.
"A mistake I surely won’t make again. I came here hoping that, as my friend, you could rid yourself of this anger and act properly, but I was wrong to think so highly of you. I am being disappointed by the people I trusted most. Do well at the border, Rick. It will determine if you have a place at the border later," Dante said, leaving Rick alone.
Rick turned around to speak, but when he did, Dante was already gone. He didn’t want to leave on bad terms with Dante, and he knew he was burying himself further by being stubborn. He knew that was wrong and wanted to apologise, but his stubbornness wasn’t letting him.
Rick sighed and palmed his face.
Before Rick left the castle, he needed to speak to Dante once more to fix the mess he created before he lost a good friend.
Rick wanted to get back to packing, but the loud chatter of the men outside disturbed him. He gritted his teeth and walked out of his quarters, ready to yell, only to be puzzled by the men carrying tables and chairs.
"What are you fools doing? Did he permit you to change around his castle?" Rick asked, watching the men create what he thought was a mess.
"Lady Hastings is the one who allowed it. We’ll be having dinner in the dining hall."
Rick found it odd that they would be eating in the dining hall since Cecilia changed it when the previous lord died. He followed the men, forgetting that he was to be packing, and found Ophelia directing the men on where to place the tables.
It was an odd sight in Rick’s eyes, but seeing that the knights were laughing and following Ophelia’s orders without complaints, she was winning them over.
It annoyed Rick that all it took was food and rum for the men to take a liking to anyone. When she first arrived, none of the men were fond of Ophelia.
"Move this."
Rick had a chair pressed to his chest. He looked to his right at Ophelia, who had crept up on him.
"It wouldn’t be fair for the others to do all the work while you stand around watching and get to sit down comfortably for dinner. Everyone should help," Ophelia said, making way for Rick to get moving.
"What are you doing?" Rick asked, puzzled by Ophelia’s actions.
"I am trying to ensure that everyone has a fair share of work. Instead of standing alone sulking, wouldn’t it be better for you to get moving to join the others? Afterall, these are your peers. Surely you can be happy for them unless my presence bothers you so much?" Ophelia asked, hoping Rick wouldn’t spoil the night.
"This won’t get all of them to like you," said Rick.
Ophelia laughed at Rick’s response. "Then, it is good I don’t want everyone to like me. That would be a hard chore to get everyone in the castle to change their minds, and I don’t have the time. That doesn’t mean I cannot do a good deed for them and my husband. Not everyone acts like you."
