Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 189: Apology (1)

"Ophelia, you should inform Lady Valthorn that you have decided to leave for the outing earlier than you planned. I will apologise when I see her. You should also gather what you need for your outing. I want to have a little talk with your brother," Dante said.

Ophelia didn’t see why Dante would need to speak to Theo. It was Theo who needed the most protection once they left the castle, but she didn’t want to spoil Dante and Theo’s bonding.

"I must find Alice. I won’t be long," Ophelia said, parting from the two men.

Ophelia welcomed the chance to leave and think about her conversation with Theo.

What had she done wrong?

"I know what you are going to say," Theo said once Ophelia was out of earshot. "I know that I was wrong."

"You were very out of line. I’ve come to respect your wishes since it is your body and your life, but Ophelia isn’t aware of your wishes. She wants to see you be healthy as always. She tires herself with finding ways to make you settle in here. Don’t spoil it for her with your attitude or tell her now," Dante demanded.

Dante didn’t like the secrecy.

Ophelia was planning her life with Theo in it, while Theo had his mind fixed on leaving her side soon. It wasn’t fair.

"I will tell her in due time. I don’t want to spoil our reunion," Theo said, but there were more reasons.

"It is already being spoiled. It won’t make sense in her eyes that you don’t want to be seen by a doctor, and then she will realise it on her own. Do not let her find out by her own thinking. You must be honest with her to give her better time to prepare, or I will tell her," Dante said, unwilling to let Ophelia learn the truth alone.

Theo avoided Dante’s eyes. It was easier to tell a stranger than Ophelia that he wanted to die.

Theo wasn’t prepared for Ophelia’s reaction.

"Allow me to have a day of fun today. I won’t snap if she brings up the doctor again. I will enjoy today and then tell her tomorrow," Theo promised.

"Believe me, she isn’t going to mention a doctor today after the way you reacted. You and I will find it hard to be close if you are rude to her when she’s trying to help you. She’s done plenty for your sake, so be kind. Wait here," Dante said, looking back at the knight. "I must give an order, and then I will take you to your chamber."

"I will stay here. I like looking around the castle," Theo said, his voice sounding defeated. "I apologise for how I acted. Truly. I didn’t think in the moment of Ophelia not knowing."

"You have an outing to make it up to her, and I trust that you will. Excuse me," Dante said, leaving Theo to return to the knight.

Theo watched as Dante walked away. It surprised him that Dante had not shared what he said to Ophelia. Part of Theo hoped that Dante couldn’t keep the secret, so he wouldn’t have to be the one to tell Ophelia.

’How do I say it to her?’ Theo thought.

Theo was afraid of seeing Ophelia’s reaction. He didn’t want to be the one behind her tears, but he also still wanted to die.

’A day of fun,’ Theo thought, trying to be positive in the moment. ’One day of fun before I upset her.’

Later, once the carriages were prepared, Ophelia set off with Theo, Giselle, and Victoria for an outing.

Giselle sat alone in her carriage, thinking of a way to use the poison.

Dante was not present for the outing, which gave Giselle an opening to carry out her plan.

"Where are my guards?" Giselle wondered, looking out the carriage window for the men she came with.

It was only now that Giselle stopped to think about her guards that she realised they were not around.

Giselle placed her finger in her mouth to bite at the short nail. "Did they kill them? When did I last see them? I don’t know," she shook her head.

Giselle had been so focused on her plans that she didn’t pay attention to her surroundings. Now, there were strangers at her side.

"Am I to believe these men will protect me?’

There was an uneasiness Giselle felt since she arrived, and after her talk with Dante, Giselle had good reason to worry about her time in the castle.

"They’re going to kill me," Giselle assumed.

Giselle believed Ophelia wasn’t going to let Theo leave, but she started to assume she wasn’t going to leave either. Before Dante and Ophelia tried to harm her, Giselle needed to act faster.

"What is happening at home? They haven’t given me a sign," Giselle muttered.

Giselle awaited hearing news about the Valthorn castle to know if Nigel had gone ahead with his plans or if he was toying with her. Before she tried to kill Ophelia, Giselle needed to know who had control of the Valthorn castle in her absence.

"They say the king is ill."

Giselle’s head whipped around when she overheard a man’s voice outside.

"The crown prince now sits on the throne while the king recovers."

Giselle couldn’t believe her ears. She leaned against the door, wanting to hear more news.

Giselle clutched the necklace around her neck. ’Did the crown prince do it?’

Giselle could only think of what Nigel said.

If Sebastian had done something to Edward, then it was likely that Nigel would follow suit so he could take his father’s place.

"Freya would be at the future king’s side, and Nigel would be Lord Valthorn. I cannot harm her yet," Giselle said, realising her plans had to change for her sake.

If Ophelia died when Nigel became lord, then he would never forgive Giselle and send her out of the castle. If Freya had gained power in the palace from being at Sebastian’s side, then she would surely come after Giselle.

"I must stay at Nigel’s side," Giselle concluded. "But how would I get her away from here?"

Giselle continued to bite her nails. She was surrounded by people she couldn’t bribe to turn on Lord Hastings. It wouldn’t be an easy task to take Ophelia back to the castle.

"Where is Lady Cecilia?" Giselle wondered, upset that Cecilia was yet to make an appearance. "Is she fine with the marriage? No, that cannot be," she shook her head. "It is odd," she concluded, sensing something was amiss with Cecilia’s absence.