Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 167: Reunion (2)

Giselle raised her hand, but immediately remembered where she stood and who she was surrounded by. She lowered her hand, but she was still seething with anger.

"You must think yourself equal to me because you became Lady Hastings. Do not forget that I am the one who placed you in that position," Giselle said, bothered by Ophelia’s unwavering gaze.

"Trust me, I will never forget that you helped put me in this position, and we are equal. There is one lord more respected than the other, but I will keep my manners to not go into it. You must remember your place here," Ophelia said as she moved out of the way for Theo.

"Are you going to take this time to punish me because I wasn’t a good mother in your eyes? You shouldn’t be so childish, Ophelia," said Giselle.

"That would be me being petty, but I don’t think of you. You’ll end up ruining yourself without my help. Just as you always have. You have always chosen the wrong side, and you used your children to get there. Mother," Ophelia said mockingly.

"You never learn. The past is in the past. Look at what you now hold because of me," Giselle said, pointing to the castle. "Don’t talk your anger out on me because your husband didn’t bother himself to greet your family. You must get used to it."

Ophelia laughed. She expected this much from Giselle.

Giselle was never going to believe that anyone could love her children. Not when she didn’t love them.

Ophelia turned her back to Giselle and focused on Theo. She knew Dante’s feelings, so why bother to explain them to a woman she didn’t care for?

Ophelia wished Dante would wake up soon so this greeting would go differently, but she could take on Giselle alone.

"You have troubled us all with your request to see your brother. It is not as though he can take care of himself. You’ll need to burden others to carry him around-"

"Lady Valthorn!" Ophelia exclaimed, her frustrations getting the best of her for a moment. "I will be with you in a moment. I see that you forgot this is your son whom I am helping. You should know that rumours spread quickly here, and they are all watching you."

Giselle looked around, finally noticing her surroundings.

Maids and knights were watching the interaction, some whispering amongst themselves.

Giselle smiled as she faced Ophelia. "You will not have me walk into your trap."

"If only it were a trap. You are just an awful mother, and it shows easily. This isn’t the Valthorn castle for you to get your way and hide what you want. This is the Hastings castle, and I am Lady Hastings. Welcome," Ophelia greeted Giselle.

"Thomas," Ophelia turned to her guard. "Please do the task I have given you and return to my side. I will show our guests to their chambers so they can settle in."

"Yes, Lady Hastings."

"Everyone else, please take down the guests’ trunks and place them in their chambers. You must all get back to work," said Ophelia.

It irritated Giselle to see the servants following Ophelia’s orders. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to your chambers. I thought after a long journey, you would enjoy a warm bath and settle down. Is that not what you want to do?" Ophelia asked, sparing Giselle a glance.

"That is not what I mean. What are you doing with the servants? Are you trying to put on an act before me?" Giselle inquired, suspecting it was so.

"Even if I wanted to act, how would I get the servants to join me unless my dear husband allowed it? You don’t think my husband loves me, so that is out of the question. I am ready," Ophelia said to the knights carrying Theo.

Ophelia smiled as Theo laughed when she stood beside him.

"I believe she’s going to hate you even more. How dare her daughter have a bigger castle than her?" Theo mocked Giselle.

"It is good that you are enjoying yourself. After you have rested, I will give you a tour of the castle. There is a tower which is all mine, but I am willing to share it with you unless you want your own tower. There are plenty of chambers you can use," Ophelia offered, eager to spoil Theo.

Theo frowned, feeling guilty the more he heard Ophelia talk about the castle. She made it sound as though they would be living here together forever.

"Ophelia," Theo said, unable to hide his feelings for longer.

"Can we move faster? We already had to stop one too many times. I want to rest," Giselle vented her frustrations.

"We shall talk once we get to your chamber. Allow me to get rid of her first," Ophelia whispered to Theo. "Please take my brother to his chamber. I will escort Lady Valthorn to her chamber. I won’t be long," Ophelia promised Theo.

Ophelia saw Theo off first, then led the way to Giselle’s chamber.

Giselle noticed Theo was going in a different direction from where her chamber was. "Shouldn’t my chamber be closer to Theo’s?"

"Why? Your bedchamber isn’t close to his in the Valthorn castle. It is not like you will help him, so he shall be near my chamber," Ophelia answered.

"If you place me in the servant’s quarters, I shall leave right at this moment and take Theo with me. Do not play with me, Ophelia. You are new to this, while I have been a wife for many years," Giselle said.

"You must stop thinking I shall act as you do. There are bedchambers on every side of the castle. There’s no point in placing you near Theo since you won’t care for him. I’m sure all you think of him is your protection to get me to behave," Ophelia said, unmasking Giselle’s scheme.

Ophelia could have placed Giselle in a bad chamber, but she knew the kindness she showed to Giselle would make Giselle restless. Giselle would constantly await the moment when Ophelia wanted to punish her.

This was more fun for Ophelia.

"I see that your title is getting to your head, or is it because the king showed some interest in you that you act this way? You mustn’t give in to what you feel now, Ophelia. You’ll make too many enemies. Be humble," Giselle advised Ophelia.

"You know the king, a man whom ladies should avoid, has taken an interest in me, yet you turn it on me? There is no saving you," Ophelia said, shaking her head. "Your hate for your children disgusts me."