Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 130: Good news (2)

Ophelia went down to the gardens to get a closer look at what the gardeners were planting.

When Ophelia thought of Dante courting her, she did not expect the first move he would make would be to get ahead of her to start the garden. Ophelia welcomed the effort since it meant she didn’t have to go through the trouble of picking out a spot and finding the vegetables.

Alice was curious why Ophelia was so excited about the vegetables. Surely jewels or dresses would make a better gift for a lady.

’Do not try to understand them,’ Alice thought.

Ophelia and Dante were an odd pair, so no matter how Alice tried to understand them, she would never succeed.

"Does this mean I no longer have to prepare the tower for you to grow vegetables? I think a garden should be outside," Alice said, trying to weasel her way out of work.

"I will place a few pots in the tower for the fun of it. You can never have too many vegetables growing. I hope you remembered to tell the head maid to gather the maids. I must speak to them," said Ophelia.

"I did. She is waiting for when you are ready," Alice answered.

"Good. I’ll send you to gather them shortly. Has anyone questioned Edith’s whereabouts?" Ophelia asked,

"No. Once someone has been replaced, we know what has become of them. Some of the other women do not know what to do now. They are panicking because all their support is gone. They either followed Edith, Miss Victoria, or the former Lady Hastings. Now, there is no one here but you," Alice shared.

"That is what they get for placing their eggs in the wrong basket. I am almost tempted to make them sweat. Make them think that their places are not secure. I know they will try to play nice with me to get on my good side," Ophelia said, plotting to be one step ahead.

Alice’s eyes widened. "How do you know? Do you have a spy? Some of my peers tried to bribe me. They offered their dinner and some of the coins they had been saving. I didn’t accept any of it," Alice said before Ophelia assumed wrong.

"Wise decision. If you accept bribes from anyone, I will let my husband punish you. No, I will personally punish you, and I will be less forgiving than he would be. It would benefit you to be on my side," said Ophelia.

"You must have faith in me, Lady Hastings. I have learned from my mistake. I am not used to the work of the new headmaid, so I believe I should keep an eye on her if you allow it. The head maids are always loyal to Cecilia," Alice said, wanting to prove her usefulness.

"It would impress me if you were to find a maid to watch her in your place. You are to always be at my side, so you cannot watch the headmaid and follow me. I also want you to get a maid to keep an eye on the doctor. I find her to be a little concerning," Ophelia said, thinking of her last interaction with Eliza.

"Eliza? But she doesn’t trouble anyone."

"No, but she is the kind to disobey an order. Must I explain every command to you?" Ophelia asked, turning to Alice. She noticed Dante coming towards them in the distance.

"No, you do not," Alice answered, lowering her head in shame.

"Go gather the maids. I am saving you from being in my husband’s presence," said Ophelia.

Alice walked forward and dared not look back.

"Thank you for the garden. It has saved me from a bit of planning, and it is right below my chamber. I am still going to use the tower," Ophelia said, knowing Dante was trying to keep her from there.

"I have sent servants to prepare the tower for you as well. I come with good news. A message was received early this morning by a messenger bird. It seems we missed a bit of drama by leaving the capital too early. Freya has become the crown prince’s woman," Dante revealed, the note he received still present in his pockets.

"This doesn’t surprise me. Freya has always wanted to aim high. Your smile tells me that I have missed an important detail," Ophelia noticed.

"You are mistaken. She isn’t set to marry the crown prince. Freya has become his mistress, so she will stay in the palace. She cannot leave to be with her father or marry another man. Her fate now lies in Sebastian’s hands, and I assure you, he will not treat her well," Dante said, certain Sebastian would soon grow bored of Freya.

Sebastian was never one to keep his lovers for a long time.

"Why did we need to leave so early? I can only imagine Joel was furious, and Freya acted like a child. Wait, was it that Joel gave her to the crown prince, or the crown prince wanted her?" Ophelia inquired, puzzled by the turn of events. "They spoke of her marrying the third prince only to change plans."

"It is said Freya placed herself in the prince’s bed without her father’s knowledge, but a different story will be told to the town. She has ruined herself by breaking the plans for her engagement to the third prince. The queen isn’t fond of the crown prince and would not like to see her son insulted."

"So, Freya has placed herself in the line of fire, and the cause of it came from her wanting to be queen one day? I do not feel sorry for her, and I wish we stayed longer to see the aftermath. What is the crown prince like?" Ophelia asked, curious about the man Freya chose.

Ophelia didn’t get to meet the future king, and based on the fact that he was close to Nigel, it was best she stayed away from the crown prince.

"He isn’t much different from the king when it comes to bedding women in the palace. Sebastian is cruel, and he takes pleasure in being that way. He doesn’t care to appear kind, so he will do as he pleases with Freya. The king will never punish him," Dante said, knowing what cruel fate awaited Freya.

Freya wouldn’t be as fortunate as Ophelia.

"So, he is spoiled, and Freya is spoiled. Why does it seem like the two of them deserve each other? I am glad it turned out this way. Freya always looked down on me, but in the end, I married a lord while she became the mistress of the crown prince. I’m curious if she will boast about it," Ophelia said, wanting to see Freya.

Was Freya still prideful?

Did she still look down on others?

"It would be foolish of her to boast. Freya must try to get on the queen’s good side since she commands the women in the palace, but it won’t be an easy task. Forgive me, but I wouldn’t be surprised if news comes to us that Freya has taken her life," Dante said, almost certain it would come soon.

"It is time Freya experiences being pushed around and looked down upon. May her days be hell," Ophelia wished.