Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 141: Trouble (1)
"We must make haste with the letter so we can send it out when our food arrives. I want it sent so I can have a response in due time and prepare for Mary’s arrival. I was also thinking of having an outing around the town to see more of your land," said Ophelia.
"Are you asking me to join you, or are you planning to go with Mary?"
"Who better to go with than the man who owns the land. I am hoping that there is a clue about your curse somewhere around the town. The woman who cursed your great-grandfather should have a relative who is still alive. Even a friend," Ophelia said, being hopeful.
Dante doubted they would find a clue since his family had been searching for one long before Ophelia came around. He accepted his fate that nothing was going to change, but he would allow Ophelia to do her best.
"I’ll arrange an outing for us the day after tomorrow. I will take you to see the home that was placed in your and Theo’s name. If you want, we could stay the night there and be away from the castle," Dante proposed.
"The knights will feel we are abandoning them if we miss dinner so often, but I will consider it. A break from the castle would be nice. Our time in the capital doesn’t count since it always felt as though we were being watched," Ophelia said, eager to have a real break.
"Then I will arrange for us-"
A knock on the door interrupted Dante.
Ophelia laughed at Dante’s look of annoyance. "It must be our dinner. Calm yourself, you grumpy man."
Dante stood up, hoping it was only the maids with their dinner who disturbed them, but he was wrong.
Dante opened the door to find a knight on the other side.
"We received word that Duke Vale made an attack. He killed twenty men, and reports say he might be pushing toward your land," the knight shared.
Ophelia stood up after hearing the news. "Duke Vale?"
"Duke Kaden Vale. The one I spoke of when we were in the palace. Gather the men," Dante ordered the knight. "I will be out shortly."
Dante closed the door and walked back into the chamber to get his armour.
"Why would he be attacking and coming to your land? Wasn’t it the king who harmed his family, or was I given the wrong tale?" Ophelia asked, following Dante to his armour. "Why is he fighting with you?"
"He is angry with the families he thinks stood by when his family was getting attacked. The best path for him to get to the king is through my land. The hills will give him an advantage. I will not have the king believe I have joined his side. It’s not time for a fight," said Dante.
"I must talk some sense into him," Dante said, but he knew more blood would spill.
"You don’t speak of him as a friend. What if he doesn’t listen?"
"Then, I kill him, but I hope it doesn’t come to that right now. I need to make use of him for my fight against the king. I need him, but I can’t allow him to spill blood on my land. You will stay here where it is safe," Dante commanded Ophelia.
Dante didn’t have a moment to spare for Ophelia’s stubbornness.
"I do not know how long I will be gone for, but until I return, you must stay within the castle walls. As much as you help me with your ideas, this isn’t the time for you to follow me out to battle. Stay where it is safe," Dante repeated, so it stayed in Ophelia’s mind.
"I know to be wise and not follow you to present Duke Kaden with a weakness for you. My concern now is that you return from this battle. What he has done now might not be a direct attack on the king, but it could give the king reason to move and then Joel. You are the one who needs to be safe," Ophelia said, her well-being the least of her concerns.
If Dante were to be gravely injured, then all that Ophelia had been building up to this point would crumble.
"You mustn’t allow me to have these feelings for you and then go off to battle, never to return. When you see his grace, try your best to talk some sense into him. You two are better off working together than against each other," Ophelia said, hoping Kaden would have the sense to realise it.
Joel had the support of the king, and they both wanted to go after Dante. Surely Kaden could see it too that once they had teamed up against Dante, they could easily get rid of him.
"Men," Ophelia muttered.
"Men? Why am I being scolded for the actions of other men?" Dante asked, approaching Ophelia with his armour in his hands.
"All this war started because you cannot settle your emotions, or you want what the other has. They say women are the dramatic ones. I will stay put in the castle and take care of it in your absence. All I ask is for you not to make me into a widow. I don’t want to be the woman fighting with her husband’s family for his home," said Ophelia.
"You won’t be. This won’t be a fight where I lose. Rest here," Dante said, leaning forward to kiss Ophelia’s lips. "It shall help with your worries about my return. You won’t need to see me off."
"That, I will not listen to you. I will see you off," Ophelia decided. "I will see all of you off. Put on your armour now. I will lift your sword."
Ophelia walked over to the wall where a sword was hung and tried to lift it, but failed.
"It is too heavy," Ophelia said as she turned around, but she was blocked by Dante’s figure.
Dante embraced Ophelia, knowing she needed it in the moment. "I will be back soon. I promise you. This is what comes with being the wife of a lord, so I hope you consider it as well, but do not allow it to chase you away from me."
"You are a man who turns into a beast. I trust that you will not lose to Duke Kaden, but if I hear news that you have fallen into a trap, I will go there and grab you two by your ears," Ophelia said, her words sounding like a joke, but she was serious.
"I am certain you will. I will write the letter to Mary on my way out and send it to her, so you have company. The castle is now in your hands. Protect it," Dante said, entrusting Ophelia to keep their home in order.
