Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 62: Bonding (4)

"Is there a doctor here to check that you are well? Only then will I feel comfortable letting you participate. I fear that if you become wounded during the event, then Joel and others will take it as a chance to attack you. You haven’t told anyone from the palace you would join, have you?" Ophelia asked, crossing her fingers.

"I have not. I thought it would be a good surprise," Dante replied, partially enjoying how Ophelia panicked.

Ophelia felt relieved. "Then, it is not too late for you to change your mind. I will think of another way to get what I want."

"This is your only chance to tie Joel’s hands with an order from the king. I am going to take it, and I assure you, I am well. I wouldn’t take the risk if I did not think about it," Dante assured Ophelia.

"Well, I can’t argue against you when it is your body. Tomorrow, if you feel ill, you should back out. There’s no shame in it, regardless of what the other men might say. From now on, I will consider that you are ill, so I must be careful with my requests," Ophelia said, angry with herself for forcing him.

Dante frowned, disliking the mood that overcame the table.

With Ophelia present, Dante welcomed the chance to annoy her. Now, Ophelia would think twice before joining for dinner.

"Victoria, your maid appears to be lonely. Sit there," Dante said, his gaze flickering to the source of the sour mood.

"Nora?" Victoria peered at her maid. "She sits with the other maids. Why would she be lonely?"

"She appears to be so, and this table has become crowded," said Dante.

Victoria caught on to what Dante was doing and forced a smile as she stood up. "Then, I will join her. I hope you both enjoy dinner," she said, bidding goodbye to the pair.

Ophelia watched as Victoria walked away and said, "She must have been spoiled her entire life. She’s not as bad as a young lady I know, but she expects to get her way and acts like a child. How nice it must be to think everything must fall into your lap because of your status."

"Victoria was once wise. Her emotions are getting the best of her and now behaving recklessly," said Dante.

"Her emotions?" Ophelia’s lips curved into a devious smile. "That is one way to dance around the fact that it is her feelings for you that make her act this way. I have come in and stolen what she felt belonged to her. Didn’t you say she has troubles with her family? Why have a man on your mind then?"

"I don’t mean to insult you," Ophelia added.

"I know when you are insulting me."

Ophelia thought it over. "Have I insulted you so far?"

"Then, all the things you said have been compliments?: Dante asked, folding his arms.

"Whatever I said was the truth. Had I insulted you, I would have remembered it, but that is not the point now. I know it is not my place to say this, but you baby her too much. She does what she wants because you are too lenient on her. You must be serious," said Ophelia.

Ophelia couldn’t see Victoria overcoming her troubles with her family at this rate.

Victoria was too occupied with Dante’s marriage and making enemies out of people who weren’t against her.

"Might I know why you are this way with her? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. You’ve already told me enough about her father and her troubles."

"I take care of her because of her late father’s loyalty to my father. I wouldn’t be sitting here if not for him. He made a great sacrifice so I could go on, so I feel indebted to him by taking care of his beloved daughter. I know she abuses that I am indebted to her father," said Dante.

"Looking after her doesn’t mean you should allow her to make silly mistakes. I am not her enemy, yet she picks fights with me. I would have been more than willing to help her, but I know she will always be upset that I stole you, even though I was kind to say she could have you," Ophelia revealed.

Dante’s brow raised since this was the first he heard of this. "Have me? What gives you the right to offer me to anyone? I don’t want anyone to have me."

"Well, you were free to decline if she had approached you. I only wanted her to know that I won’t fight her for you. I handed her something wonderful, but she isn’t happy. She has been speaking to Freya, and if they plot, I can never forgive Victoria," Ophelia warned Dante.

"I wouldn’t expect you to," Dante responded.

"I am trying to enjoy the peace before Freya approaches me tomorrow. She didn’t say all that she wanted today, so she will try tomorrow. I am certain she will bring along other ladies with her to try to embarrass me. I am hardly in the mood for it," Ophelia sighed, but she was ready.

"You mustn’t let her walk over you."

Ophelia chuckled, humoured that Dante thought it would happen. "I will not allow her to do so. I’ve waited years to not have to bite my tongue when it comes to Freya. Our talk today was child’s play for me. I shall let her have it should she come tomorrow."

Ophelia wanted Dante to win the fight amongst men tomorrow, whilst she dealt with the ladies.

"They have so few insults they can hurl at me. I have heard them all by Freya growing up, so I won’t be offended. I do know how to upset the ladies. I have a special way of bothering others with my presence alone. We shall be the victors tomorrow," Ophelia said, looking forward to the event.

"I am almost tempted to stay back so I can watch you spar with words. Will it only be words, right? I don’t want to hear of you pointing your knife at anyone. Perhaps you should leave it at home."

"Home?" Ophelia shook her head. "We could have been killed in the palace last night. I will not go anywhere without my knife. Insult it all you wish, but it will save my life."

"It might, but it is best if you have a dagger. That would be scarier than pointing a knife meant for butter at your attacker. They might laugh in your face."

Ophelia shook her head, refusing to give up her knife. "I do not mind. I want them to underestimate me and give me the upper hand."