Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 34: The ball (2)

Ophelia avoided Dante until it came time to get ready for the ball. Instead of walking around to get acquainted with the palace, Ophelia stayed inside the chamber.

’They must have arrived,’ Ophelia thought, referring to her family.

Ophelia was eager to see Bella since she trusted Bella would share an honest answer about Theo’s state.

Though Bella had her moments, she was far different from her older sister. Bella and Ophelia would have been closer if not for Giselle’s meddling.

"Are you ready?" Dante asked, offering his hand to Ophelia.

"No, but I’ll try not to let it show," Ophelia said, placing her hand on Dante’s.

While it was once uncomfortable to think of staying close to Dante all night, Ophelia now welcomed being so near because she was about to enter a ballroom filled with people she did not know.

Dante and Ophelia exited the chamber, and just as they stepped out, they came across Victoria.

Victoria took notice of Dante and Ophelia holding hands.

Victoria smiled so Dante wouldn’t pick up on her troubles. "I was coming to see you two. Since you were inside your chamber for hours, I thought the trip had made you both ill."

"Ophelia needed to rest," said Dante.

"I see," Victoria said, her gaze momentarily flicking to Ophelia. "I hope you are better now. The queen was eager to meet you, only to hear that you needed to rest. Dante, I hear the king is in a foul mood because Duke Kaden might arrive tonight."

"Who is Duke Kaden?" Ophelia asked, only hearing of the name now.

Victoria found joy in knowing something Ophelia did not. "He is a man who has recklessly shown his displeasure toward the king and Lord Hastings. His anger should only be directed at the king since he had the duke’s family killed. You must be careful around him."

Ophelia hoped that if this Duke Kaden had come to pick a fight, he would keep it with the ones who hurt him.

"We are going to be late," Victoria pointed out.

"Then you can go ahead. Rick will stay at your side tonight," said Dante.

Victoria’s lips formed a thin line. "Then, excuse me," she said, parting from the pair.

Ophelia watched as Victoria walked ahead and said, "Is she close to the queen?"

"Somewhat. Victoria attended many gatherings when her parents were alive and met the queen before she entered the palace. Many of the ladies you will see standing together are not friends, but socialise because it is expected," Dante explained.

"Are there any wives I am to speak with for your benefit?" Ophelia asked, crossing fingers that Dante would say no.

"No. We don’t need to get close to anyone," Dante replied.

Silence fell on the pair as they walked down to the ballroom. The closer they got, the louder the music became, and Ophelia started to spot guests. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Ophelia subconsciously drew closer to Dante when they reached the open doors. Heads turned as, finally, the couple everyone had waited to see had arrived.

Ophelia kept looking ahead, avoiding the gaze of the people she didn’t know, so she wouldn’t feel nervous.

In the distance, Ophelia saw the king and queen sitting on a throne. Their faces were easy to remember due to a portrait Joel kept in his castle.

"Ophelia."

Ophelia tensed up at the sound of her mother’s voice.

The Valthorns had already arrived and placed themselves for Ophelia and Dante to greet them first.

"Mother," Ophelia returned the greeting.

Giselle left Joel’s side and approached Ophelia with her arms spread open for a hug.

Ophelia stepped back, an action not missed by Giselle and Dante.

"It is good to see you, mother," Ophelia said, in an effort to make up for her mistake.

Giselle didn’t give up and embraced Ophelia in a hug. "It is good to see that you are well," she said.

Giselle stepped back and turned to Dante to hug him, but his gaze made her change her mind.

"It looks as though the newlyweds are getting along," Joel said, secretly angry with what he witnessed.

Joel hadn’t sent Ophelia into Dante’s arms for her to find love. She was meant to be discarded once the plan ended.

"Lord Hastings, we should greet the king and queen whilst the women speak amongst themselves," Joel suggested.

Dante kept his hold of Ophelia and replied, "Despite the many times your family has frequented the palace, Ophelia has never had the pleasure of coming here. I should introduce her to the king before I speak to anyone. Excuse me," Dante said, leading Ophelia around her family.

Ophelia locked eyes with Joel as she walked around him.

Joel looked embarrassed, which meant he would take his anger out on someone later. Since Ophelia was no longer in the Valthorn’s hands, Giselle would be the unfortunate victim.

Ophelia didn’t pity her mother. Whenever Joel was angry, Giselle allowed her children to be the ones used to soothe his anger. It was Giselle’s turn to experience it.

"Lift your head," Dante encouraged Ophelia. "You are no longer his stepdaughter. You are the wife of Lord Hastings. They cannot look down on you. You shouldn’t feel little even before the king."

Ophelia lifted her head and stared at the two royals who peered down at them, seemingly enjoying the interaction between the two families.

"Welcome!" King Edward Croswell greeted the pair. "It is about time you made your appearance. Behold! The union that brings peace to two lands. I would rather my lords work with each other than against. I hope to hear good news that there will be a child of Hastings and Valthorn blood."

Ophelia thought it was strange to request since she wasn’t related to Joel. She was only his stepdaughter.

If the king wanted such a child to exist, he should have wed Freya to Dante.

Taking a second look at Edward, Ophelia didn’t like his gaze.

Edward was close in age to Joel, yet the queen was far younger. Ophelia found the king’s gaze to make her skin itch.

"Lord Hastings, you have found yourself a beautiful woman," Edward said, scratching his beard. He didn’t know Joel hid a pretty flower in his castle all along.

"Yes, I did," Dante said, moving to shield Ophelia from Edward’s gaze.

Edward laughed, amused by the sudden turn of events. He anticipated Dante arriving at the palace, still angry with the wife handed to him. Yet, Dante stood with a protective stance before Ophelia.

"I’ve come to introduce my wife to the queen," said Dante.

"There’s no need for that," Edward said, shooing Dante off. "The ladies do not need to speak as yet."