Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 86: Plans (1)

Dante parted ways with Ophelia and was no longer in the mood to train.

One conversation with Ophelia had been enough to calm his anger for now.

Dante gathered men and horses to prepare for their trip into the market.

During the time that everyone readied themselves for the gathering, Victoria walked outside and laid eyes upon Dante.

"Though the market will be a bit crowded, no one will trouble you or Ophelia there. You look as though you are preparing an army. Is there something you know that puts you on edge about your visit to the market?" Victoria inquired, cautiously drawing closer to Dante.

"You can never be too safe. There is a lot of attention on us because of our marriage and winning the event. Many will come close to us to celebrate, and I cannot have them try to harm her in the midst of it," Dante explained.

"Her? Not you as well? You are starting to sound like a real husband," said Victoria.

"I am her husband, so I must protect her. I will be going with Ophelia for her outing, and when we return, I shall take you to see your family. I want to be alone with Ophelia for the outing, but if there is something you must buy, I can take you along," Dante offered.

"No," Victoria shook her head. "You should have your time alone with her. I do not mind staying behind to wait for you. I get to have the mansion to myself."

"There will be guards here with you."

"Yes, but without you and Ophelia near, the servants are more at ease. Go have fun," Victoria urged Dante. "I cannot think of the last time you came to the capital and had a stroll through the market, yet she convinced you. That must be why you like her."’

Victoria noticed how Dante looked away from her. "It is not wrong to admit you like her. It is the change I have noticed about you. She is convincing you to do things you never would, and instead of thinking it is wrong, I am happy for you. I mean it."

Victoria still harboured some jealousy over Ophelia being the one to marry Dante, but she couldn’t change what was already done. Dante was married, and there wasn’t any going back.

"Here I was thinking she came and filled a spot that belonged to me, but if you wanted to marry me, you would have done it a long time ago. Then I was trying to pick at everything she did, and she turned around to offer me advice about my family. I’ve been a fool," Victoria realised, and she knew it was too late.

"You have," Dante agreed.

Victoria smiled. "This is going to hurt, ending my one-sided feelings, but I have been too comfortable. I have forgotten my plans and what matters most to me. So, with your help, I am going to focus on getting back my home. You must have fun."

"I intend to. Can I trust that you won’t cause any trouble while I am away?" Dante asked, though he didn’t need to worry about Victoria.

Victoria brushed her hair over her shoulder and laughed. "When have I ever caused trouble for you? Well, aside from the mistress rumours. I have much to plan, so there won’t be time for me to be causing trouble. I don’t want to be running from my uncle anymore."

"You shouldn’t, and whilst you are making these changes, I want you to stop speaking with Ophelia’s family. You once deemed Ophelia my enemy, yet you would sit with her stepsister and mother. Lady Valthorn and everyone she associates with are not welcome into my presence, so I suggest you be wise," Dante warned Victoria.

"I will be careful going forward. They were the ones who approached me first, but I should have seen past my feelings toward Ophelia and ignored them. I won’t do it again," Victoria promised.

Victoria looked away from Dante when she heard someone speaking and noticed Ophelia had arrived.

"It is time that I return to my chamber and be on my way. Remember to have your fun and most importantly, be safe. Excuse me," Victoria curtsied. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Victoria walked away before Ophelia could approach, with Alice right behind her.

Ophelia watched as Victoria walked off in a hurry.

"Did Victoria leave something behind?" Ophelia asked, finding it odd that Victoria did not enter a carriage.

"No. I will return for her once you have done your shopping. Are you ready to leave?" Dante asked, offering his hand to Ophelia.

Ophelia placed her hand on Dante’s and kept watching Victoria. "I am. If she wanted to join us, I would not mind. There is plenty of room in the carriage and a big market for us to explore."

"She has plans to set out before she meets with her uncle, so Victoria will enjoy the mansion being quiet. We must leave now if we are to get back in time for me to escort her. I can ask her to join us if you want, but I look forward to us walking the market together," Dante said, waiting for Ophelia to make up her mind.

"I suppose it would be wrong to disturb what she has planned. We should go," Ophelia said, stepping into the carriage with Dante’s help.

Ophelia preferred it to be this way, for it to only be Dante she travelled with, since she wouldn’t have to hear anyone speak of what she did wrong.

Ophelia sat down in the carriage and watched as the men outside mounted their horses. At the sound of the door closing, Ophelia looked to see if Dante was joining her this time, and he did.

Dante sat on the opposite side of the carriage facing Ophelia. "Are you upset that I am here?"

"No. I prefer you to be here. Should the carriage be attacked, I mustn’t worry since you are here. I also hope that during our ride into the market, you will give me a little tour. There is still much I have to learn about the kingdom," said Ophelia.

"For your knowledge, I will help you. I now prefer that we ride alone without anyone to disturb us," Dante said, his gaze shifting to Alice.

Ophelia smiled. "Haven’t you tortured her enough? Alice started on the wrong foot, but she is doing better. That doesn’t mean I have forgiven her, but I won’t have you scare her. Alice, you may ride with Thomas. That should free you from suffering my husband’s gaze."

"Thank you, Lady Hastings," Alice said, moving swiftly to open the door and step out.

"My dear wife. If you wanted to be alone with me, you only had to say so," said Dante.

Ophelia laughed as Dante tried to flip what he wanted onto her. "My dear husband, it is you who spoke of wanting to be alone first."