Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 80: Victory (3)

"Where is Lady Hastings? I was quite disappointed when she didn’t join my wife and me at our seats. Is she unwell?" Edward inquired, trying to get a peek behind Dante.

"Her feet are sore. As soon as the winner is announced, I will be taking her home," said Dante.

"Had I known she was in pain, I would have sent the palace doctor to look at her. I was surprised by how diligent she was in watching you all day. It seems you have found a good wife, and you have me to thank for it. Soon there will be little ones running around," Edward said, patting Dante on the back.

"I am not ready for children, so I won’t force her. Besides, matters of children are between my wife and me. To bring it up before a crowd would only place pressure on her. I would like to avoid it," Dante said.

"How rude of me. Lord Valthorn!" Edward called, shifting attention to Joel. "Take some palace guards and go find your son. I am quite disappointed he has not returned yet."

"Right away," Joel answered.

Joel walked off, angry and embarrassed.

Nigel didn’t only fail Joel, but he failed Edward. Now Joel walked past his peers, embarrassed to show his face.

Nigel failed the plan.

Dante shouldn’t have ever walked out of the woods with the number of animals he had.

’He’s second once again,’ Joel thought.

Joel did as Edward commanded and sent guards in to find Nigel. What returned was Nigel being carried by guards.

"Son!" Joel called, going to Nigel’s side.

Joel first noticed a bruise on Nigel’s head. "What happened? Did someone attack you?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"That bastard!" Nigel spat.

Joel looked back at the tent where Dante stood with the other men. "Can you prove it? Did the men who went with you see it?"

"Yes," Nigel lied.

"Then they saw you lose," Joel said, shoving Nigel away. "You fool. I gave you a simple task. Now, you want me to face the crowd and tell them that he was able to beat you? It shall be that a beast got the best of you. You put up a good fight, but it knocked you down and ran away."

"Father, he attacked me. He didn’t play fair," Nigel accused Dante.

"He sent you running the first time. I will not have it be that he beat you, not only in the contest, but he knocked you on your buttocks and had you missing for hours. It is that you tackled a beast, and wounded it, but it got away. It is the only way to save your dignity," Joel whispered as the men started to get near.

"My king," Joel said as he stood up.

"Lord Valthorn, where are your son’s catches? Wasn’t he told this round was a hunting game? What is the cause of the nasty bruise on his face?" Edward asked, drawing close to inspect Nigel’s face. "Did someone harm you?"

"I won’t tolerate anyone ambushing your son," said Edward.

"It is not so. The men my son selected to join him were useless. He spoke of a good beast to kill and wanted to bring it for you, but though he wounded the animal, he was injured in the fight. He is late because he was wounded. I will punish the guards who ran when the right was overwhelming," said Joel.

Edward peered down upon Nigel.

It was evident from Nigel’s expression now that the story Joel spoke of was a lie.

"Is that what happened? Does your father speak the truth?" Edward asked, giving Nigel the chance to speak for himself. "I assure you, if anyone troubled you whilst you were alone, I would have them placed in the palace dungeon until this matter is sorted. You mustn’t miss this chance to speak up."

Nigel looked to Joel.

Without saying a word, Nigel knew what his father wanted.

"It is as my father told you. The men I walked with were too afraid to follow me in tackling the beast. I failed you. I’m sorry," Nigel apologised.

"Don’t apologise to me. Apologise to your father," Edward said, pitying Joel. "He spoke highly of you. It cannot be helped that you were bold and wanted to get a good kill. You should tidy yourself, as I am about to announce Lord Hastings as the winner."

Edward turned his back on Nigel and Joel. He should have known better than to believe Nigel would succeed against Dante.

If not for Dante being so rebellious and keeping the secrets of his land to himself, Edward would place his eggs in Dante’s basket. The Valthorns were all talk and no show. It was starting to feel like a waste that they had land.

"What a pity, Nigel. I was expecting so much from you," Edward said, turning away from Nigel.

Nigel tried to sit up. "Next time-"

"Lord Hastings!" Edward cheered for Dante. "There isn’t a doubt in my mind and everyone around us that you are today’s victor. That means you have the chance of getting one request from me. What do you yearn for?"

Joel stared in Dante’s direction.

Would Dante ask to end his marriage with Ophelia?

Or, would he request something to place the Valthorns at a disadvantage?

"My wife has spoken quite a lot about her younger brother. I request that you permit him to visit our castle for a week so my wife can be reunited with him," Dante requested.

"That is out of line. He is in my care," Joel said, refusing to let the one weakness Ophelia had leave his hands.

"Silence!" Edward raised his hand. "I am surprised, Lord Hastings. You could ask for anything in the world, but you want your wife to see her brother. It is a simple request, and I shall allow it, but to keep peace between the families, one more Valthorn will have to accompany him. Do you accept it?"

"I do," Dante replied.

"Then, it is settled. Lady Hastings will be reunited with her brother. Now that the event is over, I would like to welcome you both to the palace. That is, unless your wife is too tired?"

"It is not that my wife is tired, but rather I am. With her feet being sore, it is best that I take her home and visit the palace one last time before we depart. Thank you for the offer," Dante said, bowing his head slightly.

"Go, go. I shall see you another day. Now is the time for drinking," Edward said, more interested in returning to the palace. "I shall see you and your wife soon."