Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 95: Property (1)

"Father, you said nothing would come from sending her to the Hastings castle. That she wouldn’t be in his hands long because you had plans to carry out after the wedding, yet here I stand watching her walk around with him," Nigel said, angered by what he witnessed.

Nigel caught a glimpse of Ophelia as he walked through the market with his father, and it wasn’t long before he noticed the tall, brooding man beside her. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Ophelia and Dante walked like newlyweds in love. It didn’t help that many people passing Nigel spoke of how the pair looked.

"Patience, son. You must have patience. I have told you to take your focus from that woman and ready yourself to find a wife. You should find a woman now that we are in the capital. I need more allies," Joel said, less interested in the couple making a show before the town.

"I will find a wife in due time, but I want Ophelia back in my hands. She belongs to me," said Nigel.

"At the moment, she belongs to that bastard, and when he is gone, she will belong to the king," Joel revealed.

Nigel’s head swung, causing an ache in his neck, to look at his father. "Why would she belong to the king? She is my property."

"No, she is mine, and I will do what I want. After your disappointing performance at the event, I must give the king what he wants to keep myself in good favour with him. I suggest that you lose whatever interest it is you hold for her, and focus on redeeming yourself," said Joel.

Joel had yet to show himself to Edward because of Nigel. It only added salt to the wound to see Nigel angrier about Ophelia being with her husband than about the loss they suffered.

"Doesn’t he have enough women in the palace? Why does he need another? It was always best that we kept her from the palace. I want to be the one who accompanies Theo to the castle. You must allow it," Nigel pleaded, desperate to be at Ophelia’s side.

"I am not sending my heir to be within enemy lines. I am sending Giselle and my guards. If he were to attack you while you are in his home, what am I to do? Try to have another son at this age?" Joel asked, annoyed that Nigel wasn’t thinking.

"He will not kill me-"

"You also said he wouldn’t beat you, yet here we stand without a win. I will arrange your engagement so you can focus. The crown prince is already engaged, so it is time for you to do the same," said Joel.

"Must I follow in the crown prince’s steps? If he were to have a bastard child now, should I have one as well? I have my own plans and desires. I will not be the crown prince," Nigel said, bothered by his father’s need to make him someone else.

"No, you are not the crown prince. If you were, I wouldn’t have to fix your mistakes so often, or be the one to push you to be close to the king. You cannot think for yourself. All you wish to do is busy your mind with thoughts of a woman far below your status. My land is in trouble," Joel said, yet to believe in Nigel.

Joel worked hard to make something of himself and continue his father’s legacy. Nigel was shaping up to be the weak one who would destroy it.

"Your land is fine. You trouble yourself father," Nigel said, shifting his gaze back to Ophelia and Dante.

Ophelia was getting further and further away, so Nigel couldn’t see her face. He needed her to turn around so he could get a glimpse of her.

The dress Ophelia wore was beautiful. Nigel needed to see how it made her appear.

Was she beautiful? Was she smiling at the bastard beside her?

Why hadn’t he thought of dressing her up?

A smack on Nigel’s head disrupted his thoughts about Ophelia.

Nigel slowly turned to Joel and found his father’s hand still raised.

"I see even more reason to keep you away from her. That woman has ruined your mind. She seduced you, and now look at what has become of you. It was my mistake in not keeping Giselle’s children out of my castle," Joel said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Joel needed a mother for his children. Someone who could fully commit to them and not seek more from him because they were desperate, and that was Giselle. She was beautiful, but lacked status.

Giselle only succeeded because Bella took a liking to her. It was perfect, but then Giselle brought two children she had never mentioned in the beginning to his castle, and she had been married once before.

"If you never took them in, then Freya would now be with Lord Hastings and not set to marry a prince. You needed Ophelia, but you’re too stubborn to admit it. Stop blaming your wife for not being able to speak to Ophelia. You couldn’t do it," Nigel said, having had enough of his father pointing fingers.

"You!" Joel exclaimed.

"I will do what I want, father. I will decide who I will marry, and as for the king, you may be his servant. I am friends with the crown prince, so I don’t need to impress the king. I’ll be at the prince’s side when he becomes king," said Nigel.

Nigel didn’t have any interest in being one of the king’s dogs. All Edward wanted were men he could order around to bring women to him.

"You fool. I am trying to set you up to be better than I am. Was it not because of me that you became close to the crown prince?"

"No. Plenty of men tried to push their sons close to the prince. Only I succeeded in becoming his friend, and it wasn’t through any help from you. I will do what I want with my life, and from it, you will not be disappointed. I have claimed her as mine," Nigel said, unwilling to give up Ophelia. "She will come back to me."

"There are women all around us," Nigel said, looking at the ladies who walked by him. "I merely have to find someone else to make him smitten and keep Ophelia for myself."

"What about that girl do you like?" Joel asked, failing to see what Nigel saw. "You can’t marry her."

"Marry?" Nigel chuckled. "Who spoke of marriage? I just want her."