Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 56: Mother (3)

Giselle parted from Joel so she could find Freya and share the good news. She couldn’t wait to speak to the other ladies about her daughter being courted by a prince.

Giselle pushed open the door of the chamber assigned to Freya and Bella.

"Girls!" Giselle’s call filled the chamber. "I have good news to share."

Freya set her brush down and looked in the mirror at Giselle’s reflection. "Has Ophelia dropped dead? Or, have you finally opened your eyes about the kind of lady your daughter is?"

"You must stop thinking about Ophelia, and no, it is news about you. Your father has just shared with me that the king wishes for you to marry one of the princes. It is important that you always look your best since many eyes will be watching you. Are you delighted?" Giselle said, awaiting Freya’s excitement.

"Well, it is about time my father arranged a proper marriage for me. I thought I would have to wait until the end of the season. Why isn’t it the crown prince?" Freya asked, a frown settling upon her lips.

"The crown prince is already betrothed to a woman selected by the queen. It is too late for us to change it."

"It could be changed if the woman he is betrothed to dies," said Freya.

Giselle glanced at Bella, who sat on the bed. "Freya, that is not something you should say."

"Why not? If she were to die, it would mean I would get my chance. Were you not ecstatic when our mother died, and you got to take her spot? If anyone should understand my feelings, it should be you," Freya said, her gaze moving from Giselle back to her own reflection.

Giselle’s lips folded into a thin line. "I never once had those thoughts. I met your father a year after your mother died. I would never celebrate her death. Your father and I got married because we fell in love."

Freya laughed. "No, my father got married because he wanted someone to raise us. We got a mother and you the life you always wanted. It worked out for you, so now you should help me to get rid of the crown prince’s betrothed. It would be the best gift you have ever handed me."

"Freya," Bella whined.

"Don’t interrupt me, Bella. If I were to marry the crown prince, it would do well for you when it is your season to marry. It would be good for father and our brother too. You’re too young to understand it, but one day you will thank me," said Freya.

"I’m afraid I can’t help you marry the crown prince. If they wanted the crown prince to marry you, you would have been first selected. You never know what the future may bring. The prince you marry could one day be the one to sit on the throne. The king doesn’t plan to give up his throne anytime soon-"

"I want to be with the crown prince right now and have everyone try to get on my good side. I want to be the one everyone knows will be queen one day. Why should I marry another prince and wait longer to become queen? You and my father should have pushed for me to be engaged to the crown prince," Freya said, her anger returning.

"Had you two not wasted your time planning for Ophelia to wed Lord Hastings, I would have already been married. No, I would have been engaged to the crown prince and not living in the shadow of a woman who is not a Valthorn," Freya vented.

"Freya!" Bella exclaimed.

Bella didn’t like to see anyone in her family fighting.

"What’s so wrong about wanting more for myself? I want to be more than just a prince’s wife. I want to be queen one day. Since your daughter married well, you should get rid of your guilt by giving me what I want. Do what you must," Freya encouraged Giselle. "You’re close to the queen, aren’t you?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"The current queen isn’t the crown prince’s mother-"

"But since his mother is no more, the queen is seen as his mother. Why are you standing there instead of helping me to get what I want? Aren’t I kind to let you go around speaking as though you are my mother? You should help me just this once. I won’t need your help with my dresses," Freya said, picking up the brush to continue.

Freya thought little of Giselle’s ability to select dresses. Quite frankly, it was tiring to hear Giselle force compliments.

Giselle remained composed, though she wanted to yell at Freya.

For all that she did for everyone in the family, why was this the thanks she got?

Giselle never tried to replace Joel’s former wife. She never tried to make the children forget about their late mother. All she wanted was for them to be grateful she was present and giving her love to children she did not birth.

"I must speak with your brother, so I will return once I am done. Goodbye," Giselle excused herself.

Bella wasn’t happy to see Giselle’s excitement fade.

Bella waited for the door to close before asking, "Why must you be so mean? She is our mother."

"We already had a mother and don’t need another. She can be with our father, but she must not try to replace our mother. And you," Freya faced her sister. "You shouldn’t forget that we have a mother. You are of age now to know better. Giselle is only here to care for us because father is busy with the war."

"You always said you were happy to have a new mother. You always loved her," said Bella.

"Love? My mother was taken away from me. Isn’t it only fair that someone below me lose their mother as well? Ophelia should experience the misfortune of losing your mother. I only love my true mother," Freya revealed.

"I haven’t forgotten my mother, but Giselle is now my mother too, and you should be kinder. You’re not easy to put up with," Bella muttered.

Bella once thought that if Freya were not her sister, they could not be around each other. Freya wasn’t a loving older sister, as she only cared about appearance and who she would marry.

"She brought up more siblings to play with-"

"She brought us others who would take father’s time from us. If you keep acting like this, I will tell Nigel. You mustn’t forget who your true family is. They are not Valthorns, we are," Freya corrected Bella.