Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 89: Spoiled (2)

Ophelia continued to inspect the market, unaware of Dante’s plans with Alice.

"Aren’t you in need of dresses for everyday wear? I don’t mean to offend you, but the ones you came with do not suit you," said Dante.

"Why would they when they once belonged to Freya? The best dresses I have now are the ones you had made to come here. I can wear the old ones when-"

"No, you are to burn what belonged to Freya and get dresses that are made for you. Throw away even the shoes they sent you with," Dante said, walking ahead of Ophelia to find what would suit her. "You don’t need what they sent you with anymore."

’"I don’t," Ophelia agreed.

"You will not fight me on this? You wouldn’t allow me to throw away a torn shirt, but you would allow me to toss what belonged to Freya?"

Ophelia nodded her head. "It is not the same. I’m sure it would amuse them to see me wearing Freya’s old belongings, and I am quite tired of wearing what once belonged to someone else. For the right price, I should be able to find dresses and shoes to replace them."

"You can find them all here, and for Lady Hastings, it should be of the finest quality," said Dante.

Ophelia turned away from Dante to hide her smile. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Why was it starting to feel that Dante was the one more enjoying their outing more than Ophelia was?

"You look eager to find dresses for me. I will trust your eyes. I always wear what is placed before me. I have Alice to thank for always deciding for me. They are all pretty," Ophelia said, admiring the dresses she walked by. "We are not going to be here long enough to have dresses altered to fit me."

"They can be sent to my land. There are people who will deliver it for us in due time. If you admire someone’s work, I can have them be brought all the way to the castle and have them make the dresses there. What?" Dante questioned, noticing Ophelia’s gaze.

"It sometimes slips my mind that you have the power to do such things. To move someone from their home and have them come to the castle for work. So I do not trouble anyone, I will buy the dresses now and have them altered. I also want to buy material to try making clothing," said Ophelia.

"Did mending my shirt spark this?"

"It did. I don’t intend to stop buying dresses and make all that I would need. I simply want something to do to pass the time in the castle since I am not invited anywhere. It would also be nice to make at least one shirt for Theo. If you are well-behaved, I shall make you one as well," Ophelia offered.

Dante placed his hands behind his back as he walked beside Ophelia. "I am not yet confident about wearing a shirt made by you. What if it falls apart whilst I am standing before others?"

"Well, you are in luck since your body is one to be admired. Those around you won’t be able to laugh at you since you are so fit. Just pick up the pieces and return them to me. I would fix it for you," said Ophelia.

Dante chuckled. "Finally, I have a confession that you noticed I am handsome."

Ophelia looked up at Dante. "I am not blind. I am just not in love with or admire you as the other ladies do. I have never been stared at with so much envy," she said, shifting her gaze to the women she walked by.

To toy with the jealous women, Ophelia inched closer to Dante and asked, "Can I touch you?"

"You may," Dante said, and awaited what Ophelia had planned. To his surprise, Ophelia clung to his arm. "Are you still drunk?’

"No, I wanted to give a show for them to envy. It must eat them inside to see that I am the one who now has you. I laugh about it from time to time. There are dresses," Ophelia said, pulling Dante along to see the dresses up close.

Ophelia let go of Dante’s arm as she stepped away from him.

Dante took Ophelia’s distracted moment to motion for Alice to start.

"They are all lovely. Should we go inside?" Ophelia asked.

"We should. Guard the door," Dante ordered the knights.

Dante opened the shop door for Ophelia and held it open. He waited for Ophelia and Alice to enter before following inside.

"Welcome! Oh my. Lord Hastings."

"You should take your focus to my wife," Dante said, coming to a stop behind Ophelia.

Dante stood like a high wall behind Ophelia, shielding her from being seen by the people outside.

"I am just looking for now," Ophelia said, not wanting to get the workers excited.

Ophelia stared at the dresses, trying to imagine herself in them. She touched them as she walked by, testing the material. It wasn’t long before Ophelia noticed Alice pointing to the dresses and the workers moving.

"Are you buying dresses, Alice?" Ophelia inquired.

’What? Oh, no. There are dresses to be collected for Miss Victoria," Alice said, trying to get rid of Ophelia’s suspicions.

Dante pinched the bridge of his nose. It was his fault for trusting Alice.

Of all the names Alice could mention, she picked the worst one.

"I see. I didn’t know you had such a task to do today. You are at my side, so I thought you would be working for me. You may do whatever it is you were tasked to do. I won’t need you at my side," Ophelia said, dismissing Alice for the day.

Ophelia wanted to laugh at the two fools standing beside her. Dante and Alice were not sly, and since they tried to work together behind her back, she would toy with them both.

Ophelia walked away from the pair and inspected the dresses inside. They were more to her taste since they weren’t too extravagant.

"You were having her buy everything I touched, weren’t you? You don’t need to be so secretive since I won’t stop you," Ophelia informed Dante. "I am open to receiving gifts from you. I don’t want to be rude by declining when you are trying to be kind."

"Is that so?" Dante asked, keeping track of what Ophelia touched. "Then, excuse me while I have a word with the owner."

"The owner? You don’t need to go so far," Ophelia said, but it was already too late as Dante was no longer at her side.