Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 20: Selfish (2)

As wrong as it was, Victoria had to think of herself. She could not leave the Hastings castle and end up in the hands of her uncle.

Simply knowing that her actions were wrong was enough to take a weight off her heart. Had she been heartless not to care that Ophelia would be accused, then Victoria would consider herself a monster.

"Dante isn’t going to kill her because he doesn’t want to ruin the truce yet. We must be patient, and if anyone is killed for this, we shall pray for them. I need you as my eyes and ears more than ever," Victoria said, needing to know all that happened in her absence.

"I will gladly do so. Surely, Lord Hastings will come to you again. You should have seen his expression when he held you while thinking you were going to die. He cares for you. The presence of another lady will not weaken where you stand in his heart," Nora assured Victoria.

Victoria could only smile. She always felt her feelings were one-sided, but others said differently.

At the moment, Dante was only Victoria’s friend, but she always thought of what could have happened had they gotten married.

Victoria thought of the past, recalling that Dante had never wanted children or to marry anyone.

"If I had convinced him to marry me back then, he wouldn’t have had to go through with the truce. There is plenty I regret not doing in my youth. I now suffer the consequences for not speaking up in the past," Victoria said, upset with herself.

A knock on the door made Nora panic.

"Be calm. It must be the doctor," Victoria said, slowly turning her head to gaze out the window.

Nora moved to open the door and was thrilled to see Lady Cecilia.

"Oh dear," Cecilia said, heartbroken by the sight of Victoria lying in bed.

"Lady Cecilia, you must rest," Victoria said whilst trying to sit up.

"I have rested enough. How could I not visit you? So many things have upset me today," Cecilia said as she walked to Victoria’s bed.

"What is it that troubles you?" Victoria asked, curious about what happened after she left. "You mustn’t worry yourself."

Cecilia smiled. "Even now in your state, you have time to think about me. It is my son I worry about. He is strong enough not to fall for that woman’s traps, right?"

Victoria placed her hand over Cecilia’s. "You’ve raised a wise man. Dante has never allowed anyone to fool him. I understand your concern, but we must trust what he does. He will never do anything to cause harm to his people."

Victoria was confident that if Ophelia came with plans to hurt Dante or anyone in the castle, she would not succeed. Dante would always be one step ahead.

"You are right. I simply worry because men don’t always think with their heads, but he has not welcomed her to his chamber since he returned, so there is nothing to worry about. I come with good news," Cecilia said, excited to share what she did.

"Dante will allow you to stay. You don’t need to worry about leaving anymore," Cecilia shared.

"Do you mean it?" Victoria asked, feigning surprise. "Did he say it to you?"

"He did. I made him swear to it. This is your home before any other lady," Cecilia said, raising her hand to stroke Victoria’s hair. "I will not have you sent away, but to be safe, there is something I want from you."

"Give him a child," Cecilia requested, desperate for the castle to have an heir.

"What?" Victoria frowned.

"A child. This castle will need a new lord one day. Give my son a child. It is odd that despite how long you have been at his side, you have not become a child, but I shall help you," Cecilia promised.

"Dante doesn’t want a child, and it would be wrong of me to have a child with him before he has one with Ophelia. He has not officially taken me as his mistress, so it would be wrong of me," Victoria said, moving her hand away from Cecilia.

Victoria also thought of how she needed to tell everyone that she had never once been Dante’s mistress all along, and they were only friends.

Victoria wondered if she revealed the truth to Cecilia, if Cecilia could make Dante take her as an official mistress. Victoria wouldn’t mind being a mistress. She would gladly share Dante’s bed since she truly cared for him.

"Don’t think of that woman. The best way to secure your position here is to have a child with Dante. It will not ruin the truce since other men have mistresses and children. The king cannot think anything of it unless he judges himself. Give my son a child," Cecilia urged Victoria.

Victoria didn’t think it was possible to have Dante’s child for two reasons. She had never slept with Dante since she wasn’t truly his mistress, and Dante was adamant about not having children.

The nights Victoria rested in Dante’s chamber, he had lain on the floor while she used his bed. Sharing a chamber, in the past, was a way to start a rumour that they might have been lovers.

Still, Victoria nodded her head, giving Cecilia hope.

"Wonderful. I shall have Eliza brew something to help you. You are still young, so you have time to have many children. One day, it shall work in your favour that you stand beside him as his wife," Cecilia promised.

Cecilia was certain someone from the Valthorns would break the truce, and when they did, there would be no reason to keep Ophelia present.

"I have a plan, but it is dangerous, so I will not let you know it now. I only need you to trust me and do as I say. From now on, don’t be kind to that woman. You mustn’t forget what she did to you. Understood?"

Victoria nodded. "But," she said, regretting that she spoke up. She had no choice but to continue after seeing Cecilia curious about what she wanted to say. "What if it is found out that this was my uncle’s doing? Will Ophelia’s name be cleared?"

"If she is found innocent, she will still be held accountable. Everyone will believe she played a role in it because she is jealous. With many social gatherings coming soon, you will see how much the people love you. You shall always be Lady Hastings," Cecilia said, hopeful that it would be true one day.

"Now," Cecilia got up from the bed. "You must rest. I have much to do."

To avoid causing Victoria to worry when she was in a good mood, Cecilia decided to keep it a secret that she was leaving soon.