Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 161: Sleeping (3)

Ophelia stood by the chamber door as Eliza tended to Dante. Knights lingered nearby, waiting for news about Dante’s condition.

Ophelia tapped her fingers against her arm, using it as a distraction so she kept herself composed before everyone.

"Do you have an answer?" Ophelia asked after Eliza stood up.

Eliza shook her head, disappointed in herself. "Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer to his condition. The good news is Lord Hastings appears to be simply sleeping. I cannot tell you when he will wake up." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"But he is well. All that matters is that there is no harm to him. Thank you," said Ophelia.

"I was told that Lord Hastings fell from his horse, but there isn’t any sign that he has wounded his head or other parts of his body. Is there more to the story?" Eliza inquired.

Ophelia walked into the chamber with her gaze fixed on Eliza. "I hope you are asking this without thinking that I hurt my husband. Need I remind you of the last conversation we had, where you accused me?"

"I have told the truth of what happened. If you think otherwise and spread a lie, then you will not like what follows," Ophelia warned Eliza. "Your job is to heal him, so instead of turning your suspicions to me, I suggest you focus on him. Understood?"

"Forgive me, Lady Hastings. I only found it odd," Eliza said, still having doubts. "I have never seen Lord Hastings in this state."

"And neither have I, so I would greatly appreciate it if no one makes this time more difficult for me. You are to constantly check on him and report any changes to me. You will report to only me. If news of his health that only I am to know gets out, then you will be placed in the dungeon," said Ophelia.

"I won’t go against your order," Eliza promised, her head bowed as she tried to avoid Ophelia’s gaze.

"I am yet to believe that you know how to follow an order. Please leave us," Ophelia said, not needing Eliza around for the moment.

Eliza gathered her things and exited the chamber. She was relieved to get away from Ophelia since it appeared Lady Hastings would snap at anyone around her.

Ophelia watched as Alice closed the door behind Eliza, then turned her attention back to Dante. He truly looked as though he was sleeping, but if not for it being evident he was breathing, Ophelia would think he was dead.

Ophelia sat down beside Dante. "If this is your way of forcing me to realise my feelings sooner, then it’s not going to work. All that will happen is I will hit you and not speak to you."

It annoyed Ophelia that Dante didn’t wake up. She would even accept him bothering her as long as she didn’t have to look at him in this state.

Ophelia looked at Dante, and all she saw was the same position Theo was in. They both lie in bed with no way of helping themselves.

"Is it me?" Ophelia whispered, believing she was at fault. "Am I the one cursed to have everyone beside me end up like this?"

Ophelia didn’t want two people in her life to be stuck in a bed. If she could, she would wish for them to both be healthy, even if it caused her pain in exchange.

"I must simply accept this is my life," Ophelia said, deciding to care for Dante. "The castle will be fine in your absence. I won’t allow visitors for the time being, and as far as the town is concerned, there’s nothing wrong with Lord Hastings. You are simply too busy to see anyone."

Ophelia wanted to avoid panic, but more importantly, she didn’t want Cecilia to return to the castle.

"I hope you can hear me. I imagine it must be scary to be lying still, unable to move your body. I wonder if we had not gone to Ester, would this have happened? I don’t know her well enough to know if this is new or if it was her doing. Why was she there at that moment?" Ophelia wondered.

Ophelia wanted to blame Ester, but part of her knew that she couldn’t point fingers without proof. She was pointing at others because she had no clue what had happened.

"Is it because I said that I would see you when you change during the full moon? Did you get so upset that you fainted? You must open your eyes soon. Not only to relieve me of my worry, but also because we have too many enemies around us for this to happen now. Open your eyes," Ophelia commanded Dante.

Ophelia sighed when Dante didn’t wake up. "I suppose it will teach me to be patient. I will stay with you a little longer before I go out to the servants. They are all worried, so think of them too."

Ophelia remained by Dante’s side as the hours passed.

Outside of the castle, Cecilia was excited as the letter she was waiting for finally arrived at her home.

"It is about time he answers," Cecilia said, ripping open the envelope with Alistair’s name on it. Cecilia read the letter and scoffed. "How dare he have demands. He has always been a fool and a coward, but a useful one."

Cecilia tucked the letter back into the envelope. All of her cards were in the right place, but what she needed now was to get Dante away from Ophelia.

"Should I kill her or have her sent to the palace? It is all too good," said Cecilia.

Cecilia didn’t need Alistair anymore after her plans changed, and she decided to use Remus to get Ophelia killed, but she thought about how good it would be to send Ophelia to the palace to be with the king.

"My new plan has already started. I don’t need Alistair," Cecilia said, deciding to let go of the first plan.

It was better for Ophelia to die so Cecilia never needed to see her again.

"I can’t miss the chance to kill three of them," Cecilia said, thinking of the visitors the castle would soon have. "Where is that girl?" She wondered, looking around for Victoria.

As the days passed, Cecilia grew more and more annoyed with Victoria.

Victoria was adamant in moving on from Dante and finding herself a husband when she did not need to.

Little did Victoria know that Cecilia spoke with mothers in town to stop their sons from courting Victoria. It was already set that Victoria was to be with Dante, and Cecilia would see that it was real this time.

"There you are," Cecilia said, smiling as Victoria came into view. "We must speak."