Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 192: Shift in power (2)

"Despite what your father or your servants might have told you, you are not special. There are plenty of pretty faces all over the kingdom. Others are lining up to get into my bed, so do not think you can lash out for long, and I will do nothing," said Sebastian.

Sebastian wanted the palace to be to his liking, and those who could not follow would have to leave or die.

"My brother would never forgive you if you harm me," Freya said, knowing Sebastian couldn’t lose Nigel.

Sebastian’s laughter filled the bedchamber. "You truly are a spoiled little lady who knows nothing of this world. I took you in as my mistress, and your brother didn’t speak on it. Do you know why?"

Sebastian laid on his side to look at Freya. Despite her antics, Freya was a beautiful woman.

Freya didn’t answer. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I am in a good mood, so I will be good to you. Your brother didn’t get angry with me because he knows his place and he understands me. We’ve gotten along so well because he doesn’t question my plans. You should be a good little sister and not ruin his friendship," said Sebastian.

"Instead of seeing being a mistress as so awful, why don’t you turn it to your liking? You can be at my side around the palace and attend gatherings under the name of the royal family. Your only flaw is that you can’t refer to yourself as my queen," Sebastian said,

"I have boasted about one day becoming queen. To walk around claiming myself as your mistress would be embarrassing. I will not be laughed at by ladies beneath me," Freya said, furious by the mere thought of it.

"Then punish them. I won’t bother myself to get involved in women’s troubles, but I don’t like what belongs to me being insulted. Will you live the rest of your life being pushed around by others?"

"No. If you knew that was how I was being treated, why didn’t you come to me sooner? Why didn’t you save me from Althea when she sent the priest here? You’re just like the others," Freya said, not trusting a word Sebastian spoke.

"I thought you would have surprised me and done something about that woman. You disappointed me, Freya. I had such high hopes," Sebastian said, slowly losing interest.

"You are not fond of the queen?" Freya asked, surprised by this.

"Why should I be? She is not my mother. She’s some whore my father selected to be his queen. Althea has a way of acting all high and mighty, doesn’t she?"

"She does. I do not like her. She fooled me," Freya said, upset that she once considered Althea a friend. "It is her son who should be upset, not her. I would like to see her punished. Can you do that?"

Sebastian liked the desire in Freya’s eyes. "What would you have me do?"

"Punish her how you see fit. She has been ordering a priest to pray for me while they place me in cold water. She should get to feel it too," Freya said, eager to see Althea get a taste of her own medicine.

"Why don’t we just kill her and all her bastards?" Sebastian suggested.

"What?" Freya frowned. "We cannot kill royals"

"We can if there is no use for her. If my father passes, why should I keep his whore and all his bastards around? I won’t have a need for an old queen and her children. The palace will be mine alone," said Sebastian.

"But they are royals. They are your brother and sister," Freya said, puzzled as to how Sebastian could think of killing his siblings.

"I only have one brother, and that is the one who came from my mother’s womb. All the others are not important or needed. I’m afraid sending them out of the palace isn’t enough. Their mother would try to bring them back to the palace to claim the throne. My hands are tied," Sebastian said, playing innocent.

Freya thought of how young the princess was. Did she need to die because Sebastian didn’t like Althea?

"Why are you looking so against it? Don’t you hate the children Lady Valthorn brought to your family?"

"That is different. I don’t share a drop of blood with those two. The third prince and princess are your half-siblings. You should only get rid of Althea," Freya suggested.

Sebastian laughed, once again entertained by Freya. "You silly little lady. You think the palace is just filled with rainbows and fancy dresses. This is what happens here. We kill each other to get what we want. Just as you tortured Lady Hastings, this is my way of having fun."

"Don’t act so surprised," Sebastian said as he sat up. "I speak with your brother quite often and hear of the things you do. You have the same hate in your heart as I do, so don’t stand there like you are some saint. You should be grateful you weren’t placed to marry a prince who is going to die."

"Forget about your brother. Your father is the one you should be upset with. He didn’t fight to take you with him. Wouldn’t you like to see him have to beg you a little?" Sebastian asked, curious if Freya would get rid of Joel.

Freya shook her head. "I am angry with him, but I don’t want to hurt him. I think you should leave."

"And here I thought you would be wise to think about your future. While Ophelia is making the most of the future handed to her, you are sitting around doing nothing and being forgotten. I thought you would accept my help, but you are turning out to be a bore," Sebastian said, his interest in Freya fading.

"I should give you away to a man loyal to me," Sebastian considered.

"No!" Freya exclaimed, afraid of being stuck with a man worse than Sebastian.

Sebastian held his hand out to Freya and said, "Then entertain me. Prove me wrong about you."