Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 17: Offering (1)

Dante walked to the dungeon, seeking an explanation for why Ophelia had been placed there without his order. The guards parted from the door as Dante strode inside.

Rick sat on a chair watching Ophelia, but when he saw Dante, he stood up.

"She’s here," Rick pointed to the cell Ophelia was inside. "She hasn’t confessed."

"Open it," Dante ordered Rick.

Rick thought he had heard wrong at first and asked, "Open her cell? Are you going to kill her yourself?"

"Who said anything about killing her? She’s not going to confess since it wasn’t her doing," Dante said whilst staring at the woman seated in the corner of the cold cell.

"I walked into the dining hall, your mother distraught and accusing Ophelia of trying to stab her with a knife. There was a knife in her hands, yet you want me to free her?" Rick asked, confused by Dante’s order.

"Since when must I explain myself to you?" Dante asked, turning his head to Rick. "Open the gate."

Rick gritted his teeth, but still moved to open the cell gate with the key in his hand.

Dante entered the cell after it was opened and peered down upon Ophelia. She was wet, so it was likely that the guards, or Rick, threw cold water on her to get her to confess.

"Get up," Dante ordered Ophelia. "It was a mistake that you were brought here."

Ophelia immediately stood up since she didn’t want to stay in the dungeon.

"Did you try to kill my mother?" Dante asked, needing all the details before he met with his mother.

"Would you do nothing as someone tries to choke you? I could tell it as it happened, but none of the maids are going to be on my side, and your mother will do anything to have me killed. She has pushed me to my limit. I am not going to stand still anymore," said Ophelia.

"Then come out," Dante said once more.

"Do you believe me?" Ophelia asked, surprised that Dante was trusting her.

"If I didn’t believe there was a chance you were innocent, you would be dead now. You’ve been held captive in the tower, and though you were walking free this morning, you couldn’t have gotten near the food. Do you plan to sleep here?" Dante asked, willing to leave Ophelia if she wouldn’t move faster.

Ophelia didn’t understand Dante.

Regardless of whether Ophelia was behind the attack on Victoria or if she was justified in protecting herself from Cecilia, Dante could use this to break the agreement. So, why didn’t he?

Ophelia cautiously walked toward Dante, anticipating that he would grab her.

When Dante raised his hand, Ophelia stepped back.

Dante stopped before he could touch her. The bruises on Ophelia’s neck caught his attention again. He wanted to check them, but Ophelia always flinched, and she had every reason to.

Dante turned around and walked out of the cell, so Ophelia would follow him.

Whilst Ophelia came out of the cell, Rick approached Dante.

"Victoria is said to be poisoned, and your mother was attacked. Despite that, you are going to let her free?" Rick asked, angered that Dante was being light with Ophelia.

"We don’t kill innocent women and children," Dante said, repeating the same rule his father once said to him.

"They’ve hurt our women, children-"

"Stooping to their level will make us just like the people we hate. We don’t kill innocent people," Dante said, grabbing Rick’s shirt to pull him close. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Forgive me," Rick said, avoiding Dante’s gaze.

"I am going to look over this myself and find the culprit concerning Victoria. Eliza has gone to check the food and the kitchen. Go to her side and protect her. Keep watch of anyone suspicious," Dante ordered Rick.

"You think there’s a spy here in the castle?" Rick asked, curious if Dante already suspected someone.

"Our absence would have been a good time for spies to enter the castle. We need a cleanse quickly," said Dante.

There were secrets Dante couldn’t allow outsiders to overhear or see.

Rick accepted the order, and before he walked away, he glanced at Ophelia.

Though Dante was freeing Ophelia now, everyone was still going to believe that she had a part in what happened to Victoria.

Victoria wasn’t the lady of the castle, but by being Dante’s lover, she was seen as such.

Dante looked over his shoulder to check Ophelia was out of the cell and started to walk to take her back to her chamber.

Ophelia quietly followed Dante. His rule about not killing innocent people was good, but she knew it wouldn’t apply to her forever.

"You are not angry about what I could have done to your mother?" Ophelia questioned, still surprised.

"I would have been angry if you killed her, but I cannot be upset if she attacked you first. The bruises on your neck are red again, so I believe she tried to strangle you. I know my mother," Dante said, annoyed that she never listened.

Dante tried to be patient with his mother, but that patience had dried up. She had to go for his sanity and Ophelia’s safety.

"And what about Victoria? I didn’t poison her. I didn’t touch her food, and I don’t know anyone here," Ophelia pleaded her case.

"There are others I can suspect for that crime. I have a feeling that you would have poisoned all our food, not just Victoria’s, if you wanted. Unless you are a jealous woman," Dante said, looking over his shoulder at Ophelia.

"For me to be jealous, there would have to be a man I care for. This marriage is merely a duty for me. I am not troubled by the rumours of you having mistresses. Your time being taken by other ladies is better for me," Ophelia said.

"I will investigate, but for now, you are to stay in your chamber. I will send the doctor to take a look at your bruises. They must heal before we see the king. Once this passes, I will decide on whether to allow you to roam the castle with a guard at your-"

"I don’t want to walk around your castle to be accused of any more crimes. I only ask for wood so I might light the fireplace in my chamber, and that I don’t need to sit with you for dinner again," Ophelia requested.

"Very well," Dante replied, accepting the offer. "I prefer to have peaceful dinners."

"If you wish to have peaceful dinners, I suggest you send your mother away. Forgive me," Ophelia said, but soon bit her lip.

For a moment, Ophelia got too comfortable speaking to Dante.

Dante agreed with Ophelia, though he didn’t express it.

"I apologise for being so late with protecting you from my mother. There have been matters, as of late, withholding me from being more present," Dante said, taking a glance at his trembling right hand.

Dante lowered his hand back at his side, keeping it out of sight from Ophelia.