Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 160: Sleeping (2)

Ophelia leaned against a tree with Dante lying on her lap. Ester left after helping to carry Dante to the shade.

Ophelia felt as though time was moving slowly since Dante fell from the horse, but she knew it was only the loneliness making her feel this way. She brushed Dante’s hair with her fingers, hoping it would ease him of whatever he faced in the moment.

Ophelia kept looking around to see if anyone was approaching them. She was most concerned about the wrong person stumbling upon them when Dante was not awake to defend them.

"Of all the times to forget my knife," Ophelia muttered.

Ophelia peered down upon Dante. She wished to know what happened and what he felt right now.

Was Dante in pain, or was he merely sleeping, not knowing that she was worried about him?

The thought crossed Ophelia’s mind that Dante might be closer to turning into the beast than he thought.

Ophelia didn’t want that to happen in this present moment. She didn’t have a way of restraining Dante so he wouldn’t kill anyone.

Ophelia sighed.

All she could do was wait.

A few hours after getting off the horse, to her luck, Ophelia heard horses and the calls of men in the distance.

Ophelia didn’t make a sound as she waited to see who was riding by. She thought of the duke still being on Dante’s land.

"Lady Hastings!"

"Thomas? Thomas!" Ophelia yelled, relieved to hear a familiar voice. "Thomas!" Ophelia yelled as loud as she could until she caught the attention of the knights who came to find her.

Ophelia’s worries went away when she saw Thomas and others riding towards her. She no longer had to be concerned about spending the night outside the castle.

"Lady Hastings!" Thomas called as he got off his horse.

"I am fine. It is my husband you should worry about. He fell from our horse and hasn’t opened his eyes since. We must take him to the doctor right away," Ophelia said, motioning for the men to come to her.

Ophelia finally had some relief when Dante’s weight was lifted off her legs. "I didn’t know my legs ached all this time. Thank you," she said, accepting Thomas’s help to stand. "Let them go ahead. I need a moment since my legs feel numb."

"Can I lift you, Milady?" Thomas asked, wanting to get Ophelia back to the castle along with Dante.

"If you insist," Ophelia replied, welcoming the offer to be carried. "I apologise for my weight."

"You are not heavy," Thomas said as he lifted Ophelia with ease. "I shall walk."

"You will ride with me, Thomas. Now is not the time to think about what is proper or not, given the circumstances. Wouldn’t you agree?" Ophelia asked, offering her hand to Thomas.

"Forgive me," Thomas said, getting up on the horse behind Ophelia.

Thomas took the reins of the horse and guided it to follow the others.

As they rode back to the castle, Ophelia thought of the accusations that would follow from returning to the castle with an unconscious Dante.

"Thomas, is this what happens before my husband must distance himself from everyone? Has he ever fainted like this before?" Ophelia inquired, curious if their visit to Ester triggered something or if this was the norm.

"I have never heard of Lord Hastings being unconscious for this long. I didn’t see any blood, so he hasn’t injured himself. Did only the fall cause this?" Thomas asked.

"Yes. It came out of nowhere. I didn’t harm him," Ophelia defended herself before accusations started.

"We know. Someone would have to be foolish to accuse you of harming Lord Hastings and linger around to guard him. I trust that you didn’t try to harm him, and it is all a misunderstanding. He will be well," Thomas said, trying to comfort Ophelia.

"You are about to be surprised by accusations. As far as anyone is concerned, Lord Hastings is well. We mustn’t let this news get out of the castle for us to have visitors. There is something I must ask you," Ophelia said, thinking of what Ester said. "Do you truly believe Lady Cecilia loves my husband?"

"Without any doubt, Lady Cecilia loves her son. She speaks of her love for him every chance she gets," Thomas answered.

Ophelia knew it was one matter to speak of loving someone and another to truly love them.

"And when my husband locks himself away, is Lady Cecilia ever in the castle?" Ophelia asked, realising that Ester had been right.

"Not anymore. She used to stay in one of the chambers, but in the later years, she would go to the home she has now and return days later," Thomas answered, starting to be concerned about what Ophelia found out. "It might not be best for you to pry."

"He is my husband. There are no secrets between us. I know of what cannot be said out loud, and I won’t speak of it to anyone. Tell me honestly, are you afraid of my husband?"

Thomas nodded. "Yes. Who in the caste isn’t afraid of him? He is our lord and the one who commands his army. We should fear him a little while respecting him. A little bit of fear keeps us in check to never go against him."

"I see," Ophelia replied.

Ophelia thought of how everyone might act when Dante started to change. She knew for certain the knights all respected Dante, but she also understood if they were to fear him.

Ophelia didn’t have more to say during the remainder of the ride to the castle. She made up her mind that during Dante’s most vulnerable moment, she would be at his side.

’But do I love him enough to break the curse?" Ophelia wondered.

Ophelia accepted her feelings towards Dante, but since they were taking their time getting closer to each other, Ophelia didn’t believe there was so much love between them to break a curse which lasted generations.

While Ophelia wanted to put an end to the curse right away, it seemed Dante would need to wait a little bit more for their love to grow.

Once inside the castle, Thomas helped Ophelia off her horse.

Ophelia took notice of the knights watching her, most likely trying to make sense of why Lord Hastings returned home unconscious.

"My husband will be well. He fell from his horse, but there aren’t any injuries seen so far. Until I deem it safe, the castle shall not take any visitors," Ophelia said, fidgeting with her fingers as she experienced a tiny bit of nervousness.

Ophelia expected defiance from the guards. If she were in their shoes, Ophelia wouldn’t easily believe a skilled man like Dante fell from his horse.

"Yes, Lady Hastings!" The response startled Ophelia.

Ophelia didn’t know what to say at first, but since the knights didn’t have any doubt towards her, now wasn’t the time to stumble.

Ophelia proceeded to walk into the castle to follow the knights taking Dante to see the doctor.