Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 154: Return (3)

As the castle came alive early in the morning with the servants hustling around to start their chores, Dante still laid in bed with Ophelia at his side.

The palm of Dante’s right hand still covered Ophelia’s eyes since he had forced her to close her eyes to go back to sleep. He began to slowly move his hand, careful not to wake Ophelia.

Ophelia claimed she wasn’t sleepy, but after arguing about what day she would return to her chamber, she drifted off to sleep.

Dante raised his left hand and stared at it. He was starting to feel unlike himself, so he had to enjoy the quiet moments while they lasted. He had very little time to get Theo to the castle and send away the Valthorn coming, so Ophelia wouldn’t be left with the burden.

Usually, Dante wanted the full moon to come quickly so he could get it over with, but now, he wanted it to slow down so he wouldn’t need to show that side of him to Ophelia.

A knock on the door disrupted the silence in the chamber.

Ophelia shifted, but did not wake up.

Dante hoped the visitor would be wise to leave his chamber alone for another hour or so, but he wasn’t so fortunate.

Dante didn’t have any other choice but to get up as the knocking would eventually wake Ophelia.

Dante got out of bed with Ophelia still asleep. He walked to the door and opened it to find Thomas along with another guard.

"This better be important," said Dante.

Thomas bowed his head. "Forgive us. We wouldn’t have disturbed you if it weren’t important. We have caught Remus. He was hiding in one of the cellars. Lady Hastings wanted to be told right away when he was caught."

"Keep him in the dungeon and pay close attention to him so he doesn’t hurt himself. I will be down to see him soon. Do you have more to say to me, Thomas?" Dante asked, noticing Thomas’s hesitation.

"Lady Hastings wanted to be the one to question him. She is the one who pointed him out and has been planning his capture. She should get the chance to question him," said Thomas.

"And she will. I know in my absence, my wife worried herself and had very little rest. We should let her have an hour more to rest before we take her to the dungeon. Wouldn’t you agree?" Dante asked, folding his arms as he challenged Thomas to go against it.

"I agree."

"I often enjoy how much you care for my wife, but I am her husband. I place her best interests first, and never would I deprive her of having the chance to complete a plan she started. Find Alice and tell her to come in an hour to dress my wife," Dante said, stepping back into the chamber.

"Thomas," Dante said before Thomas walked away. "Don’t dwell on it for too long. I simply have to remind some of you at times that I am her husband. I wish to see her happy as you do."

"I understand," Thomas replied.

Dante closed the door and turned to face the bed, only to find Ophelia awake.

"Is it Alice? Did she search my chamber this morning?" Ophelia asked, rubbing her eyes. "That is why I wanted to go there when you returned."

"It wasn’t Alice. Thomas came to share that they caught the knight you were searching for. Not so fast," Dante spoke quickly as Ophelia sat up. "I said you would go down to the dungeon in about an hour. You need to get dressed and be fed."

"I am not hungry."

"It is an awful lie. When do you ever turn away food, Ophelia? He will not be going anywhere, so rest a little more and eat. If you do not, I will bother you all day," Dante threatened Ophelia.

"So, what do you call what you did before? Was that not bothering me? I hate to think it can get worse. Very well," Ophelia gave up. "I will get dressed and eat, but you mustn’t get in my way when I see him. Promise me."

’You don’t want to question him?"

"Would he admit what I am suspicious of? I want to see that he is the man I saw watching me and the very man who helped your mother put the chain around my neck. If he isn’t, I fear we not only imprisoned an innocent man, but the knights will go back to hating me," said Ophelia.

"A little bit of torture can get the truth out of him. If it is a misunderstanding, I shall see to it that it is cleared up and swept away. Thomas will send for Alice in an hour, so feel free to make use of my chamber until then. You look quite lovely in the morning," Dante said, admiring the view before him.

"Did you sleep? It couldn’t be that you are well-rested when you had less time to sleep. You must get back in bed, or I will have Thomas and others tie you to the bed. One morning of rest will be plenty for you. Must you overwork yourself?" Ophelia asked, shaking her head as she stood up from the bed.

"There is much I have to do in so little time. I must step out of the castle alone, nearing noon. You may join me to see someone my family has turned to for help in breaking the curse. She is a little bit odd," Dante warned Ophelia. "Don’t take what she says to heart."

"You turn into a beast. What can be more odd than that?" Ophelia asked, prepared to meet the stranger.

"A woman who is claimed to be a witch. It is assumed she is like the woman who cursed my family. She stays out of sight, and I stopped visiting her after I lost interest in breaking the curse. I have reached an end with her, but perhaps she can point you in the right direction," said Dante.

"Thank goodness your family didn’t kill her, so there is someone with answers. I will prepare some questions with her, as I already have some theories about how to break your curse. I cannot believe there has come a day when I believe in beasts and witches," Ophelia said, pinching her hand.

All that Dante spoke of sounded as though it belonged in a children’s book.

"If this were not my life, I wouldn’t believe it. You are handling it quite well. Is there something you wish to tell me?’ Dante asked, starting to believe Ophelia had her own little secrets.

"You caught me," Ophelia sighed, raising her hands in defeat. "I have a secret, and it is that I am going back to my chamber," she said, making a run for the door. "I am very normal!" She yelled as she ran out.

Dante watched as Ophelia finally succeeded in her grand escape.

While Dante didn’t get the feeling Ophelia was cursed like him, he didn’t believe she was completely normal.