Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 48: Fading friendship (2)

After a short ride, the carriage came to a halt before a mansion the Hastings owned in the capital.

Ophelia was curious about how much time Dante and his family spent in the capital to get a home instead of staying in the palace.

"Dante!" Victoria called to Dante as he started to walk away to give orders. "Can we talk for a moment? It won’t be long."

"We can. Take the trunks off the carriage," Dante instructed Rick. "Ophelia, you can walk around until I am done. I will show you to your chamber."

Ophelia nodded her head.

"This way," Dante said, directing Victoria in the opposite direction.

"I wanted to hear more about the attack you spoke of. Was it the king or Lord Valthorn’s doing?" Victoria inquired.

Dante placed his hands behind his back as he walked and replied, "It seemed to be the work of more than one man. Some who claimed to be my allies might have turned their backs on me."

"How foolish of them. If I had to pick a side, I would always count on you to succeed. Perhaps they wavered because Lord Valthorn has grown close to the king. I heard from Miss Freya that her family will stay when everyone is gone," Victoria shared.

"It doesn’t come as a surprise to me. The king and Lord Valthorn are close in age, so they have been friends for a long time. The king will not side with me," said Dante.

"I do not understand why he wouldn’t. Though he has known Lord Valthorn for years, you have better served the king. I know that the rift started with your father. Forgive me," Victoria said, fearing she stepped on a sensitive matter.

Dante looked down at the ground. "I don’t mind if you speak of him. Someone has to so that his name goes on."

"You never told me why the king and your father were at odds. Or, is that you never found out?"

"The king surrounds himself with men who would do his bidding without question. My father had no interest in that kind of loyalty, which would get others hurt. He wants to remove my family because we don’t fall in line, but since we have the support of the kingdom, he cannot openly attack us," Dante explained.

"So, he is using Lord Valthorn’s troubles with you to try to kill you. If only the king were wise, then he would truly try to stop the war. Two lords trying to kill each other is not good. You both own sizable lands and have many allies," Victoria said, wishing the men could come to their senses.

Victoria thought it had more to do with Dante’s secret, but the king couldn’t have any suspicions about what Dante was. The Hastings were always careful.

"That would be best. What is it that you truly wanted to speak about? I know it is not the king," said Dante.

"You are right that there is more, but I did need to speak about the king. I must limit the gatherings I attend with the king present. I heard whispers that he might be looking for another mistress, and my uncle once suggested I enter the palace," Victoria said, afraid she would be forced to the king’s side.

"Althea was unfortunate to be sent to the palace, and there are other ladies who married men they did not want to. I am lucky to have not crossed paths with my uncle, but I know it will soon come," said Victoria.

"Even if you see him, he will not bring you any harm. I am keeping my word to keep you safe. Your troubles remind me of someone. You could benefit from speaking to Ophelia."

Victoria smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Ophelia and I am not meant to be friends. It does surprise me that you have been so close to her. Normally, you are guarded against strangers."

"Well, she is no longer a stranger. She is my wife," Dante corrected Victoria.

"Still, you have never been so welcoming before. What changed?" Victoria asked, needing the truth.

"When you discard the fact that she came from the Valthorn family, you see her innocence. She is not here because she wanted to be, but rather, she had someone she wanted to protect. Her family doesn’t do well at hiding how little they care for her. How am I to treat her poorly when knowing this?" Dante asked.

"Does that mean you see her as someone you must protect? It is not that you have started to have feelings for her?" Victoria inquired, starting to feel relief.

Dante smiled, but he wasn’t in the mood to go around in circles with Victoria. "Do you love me more than friends?"

Victoria almost tripped. Her cheeks were flushed as she didn’t expect Dante to be so abrupt. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"What?"

"Aside from our family’s closeness, we have always remained friends because neither one of us crossed a line. I fear you are starting to cross a line which will ruin how close we are if you continue. To me, you are only a friend. No, you are family," Dante corrected himself.

Dante always viewed Victoria as a little sister. She spent plenty of her youth in the Hastings castle because of her father.

"You know your father’s dying wish and how close we grew up are the reasons I put up with a lot of your antics. I have warned you once before not to let what I owe your father be the reason you act so carelessly. You should reconsider starting a friendship with Ophelia-"

"Why does it sound like you wish for me to be more like her?" Victoria questioned, her fist tightly clenched.

"I am not asking you to be like her. I suggest that you form a friendship with her, as you face the same battles, but I won’t force you. If that is all, I must show her to her chamber," Dante said, ending their talk before it got out of hand.

"You, you should know that she schemes," Victoria spoke as Dante started to walk away from her.

"Aren’t we all scheming? I am not innocent since there is much I scheme for. After what you recently did, there is not much room for you to speak. I already tolerate the things you do. To hear you judge Ophelia is rather disappointing," said Dante.

Dante continued to say, "As I told everyone else, matters involving my wife will only be dealt with by me. I appreciate your concern, but until you notice something truly worth questioning, please refrain from approaching me about Ophelia. It is not your place."

"Suddenly, it feels like we are not friends," said Victoria.

"Have you ever considered it because you have turned out to be quite childish? If I were you, I would think of my actions as of late and reflect," Dante suggested. "I have much to think about when we return to the castle. You will be better suited with my mother."

Dante had enough of the conversation and was the first one to walk away.