Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 153: Return (2)

’What has become of me?" Ophelia muttered as she placed the clothing onto the bed. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Ophelia spent her time thinking of how Dante had changed, but she rarely thought of how much she had changed.

Why was she sitting in Dante’s chamber when the plan was always to leave when he returned?

Ophelia palmed her face. ’He’s going to turn you into a fool,’ she thought.

Despite the realisation, Ophelia sat down on the bed to look out the window. It was nearing morning, and surely, she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, but she felt the need to stay and force Dante to go to sleep.

"I must let him rest," Ophelia said, deciding to forbid anyone from coming to Dante before he rested.

Ophelia tapped her fingers on the bed, patiently awaiting Dante’s return.

’I should go to sleep before he returns,’ Ophelia plotted.

Ophelia laid down on the bed and tried to force herself to go to sleep. Then, she wouldn’t have to speak to Dante when he returned.

Just as Ophelia closed her eyes, the door opened.

All that was heard was Dante’s footsteps as he approached the bed and stopped behind her, most likely picking up the clothing Ophelia set aside.

At the side of the bed, Dante watched as Ophelia pretended to sleep. She was yet to perfect faking her sleep, and she made the bad choice of trying to fool him, of all people.

Dante didn’t mind that Ophelia was pretending to be asleep. He knew exactly how to wake her.

Dante stepped away from the bed to dry his skin and get dressed.

It wasn’t long after that he returned to the bed, and even then, Ophelia had not succeeded in falling asleep.

Dante sat down on the bed and noticed the faintest movement from Ophelia. To tease her, Dante laid down beside Ophelia, and unlike their other times, he laid close to her for their bodies to touch.

Dante placed his left hand on Ophelia’s waist.

Ophelia opened her eyes. "Surely, one outing has made you lose your senses."

"No, but I did get you to reveal that you have been awake all this time. Why were you pretending to sleep? Did you hope that I would leave you be?" Dante asked, his hand yet to move.

"I hoped we wouldn’t be doing this right now. The talking," Ophelia clarified. "You must rest."

"I am not tired, but talking might help me fall asleep. That, along with a beautiful woman in my arms-"

"I am convinced that the Dante I met on my wedding day and the Dante beside me now are not the same people. You have switched with each other, and now I am stuck with you. It is the only explanation for why you are like this now," Ophelia concluded.

Ophelia shifted to lie on her back.

"Could it not be that it is because of my feelings for you that there is a change? That, and now I know you are not a threat. I have not been switched with anyone. If there were two of me, I would have left the castle long ago," Dante said, debunking Ophelia’s theory.

"So, you have your moments, and I must be prepared for both. I have no other choice but to give up and indulge you. What is it you wish to speak about? Will you tell me what Duke Vale spoke of, or will you keep me in the dark all because you want to protect me?" Ophelia asked, hoping it wasn’t the latter.

"He wants me to help him against the king, but I am not so certain about trusting Kaden. He claims to have only killed spies on my land and not innocent families, but Kaden truly is the kind to kill anyone in his way. He will be staying on our land for the time being," Dante shared.

"It sounds like he is about to force your hand to join him, or he will get rid of you. I don’t know much about your army, but surely if he tries to attack you now, you will have the advantage since you are on your land. Well, as long as you fix what gave you difficulty on your journey," Ophelia said, poking at what Dante said earlier.

"Would you please forget what I said?" Dante pleaded, regretting the lie he had come up with.

Ophelia shook her head. "Certainly not. It would be good for you to have one more ally in your corner, and since everyone seems to speak of Duke Vale as being unpredictable, the king wouldn’t expect you two to work together. I don’t think it is good to have the duke on your land, but it has already happened."

Ophelia looked to her left. "Do you think there is a chance the duke is searching for what you are hiding? Surely, it isn’t only the king who is curious."

"It could be his intentions, but I believe he is fixated on killing the king and the crown prince. War will soon be upon us, so you will need to hold off your plans to live outside the castle. I will send someone to know if your brother has left the Valthorn castle," Dante said, knowing it had to be on Ophelia’s mind.

"I will do it. I know you are concerned about the knight I am searching for and the duke, but allow me to continue to handle those matters. You must rest before you make yourself ill. You must also prepare for the full moon," Ophelia said, remembering what Dante said before he left.

"Does that mean you will slowly start to distance yourself from me because you will lose control?" Ophelia realised she had little time with him.

"It does. I will leave your side as the day gets near. That is why we must enjoy this now without any complaints. Can I take your knife from the bed? It concerns me," Dante said, moving the knife from between them. "Do you truly think you can kill someone with a little knife?’

"Had you snuck up on me, you would have found out. I might not have been able to kill an intruder, but a knife to the neck would have certainly slowed them down. You mustn’t underestimate me," said Ophelia.

Dante dropped the knife to the side of the bed since Ophelia wouldn’t need it anymore.

Ophelia pointed at Dante’s hand around her waist and said, "I am only allowing this to happen tonight. Tomorrow, I will be going back to my chamber."

"Very well," Dante agreed.

Ophelia grew suspicious of Dante acting suspiciously. "Why didn’t you fight it?"

"Dear wife, it is already a new day. Based on what you said, you will be here tonight and go back to your chamber tomorrow," Dante pointed out.

"No!" Ophelia exclaimed and attempted to sit up, but Dante’s arm weighed her down. "I meant today."

"It is too late for you to take it back."