Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 178: Death wish (1)

Back in the castle, Alice stood by the front door awaiting Dante’s return. She was under strict orders to take Dante to Theo.

Alice paced back and forth, worried that Dante would return when Theo was asleep.

Though the chaos in the castle had settled down, Alice’s worrying had not stopped. She feared there was more to come, and with a doctor called to the castle to look at Ophelia’s hand, the knights were restless.

"Why did I become a maid?" Alice muttered, reconsidering her life choices. "Thank goodness," Alice sighed, relieved when she saw Dante’s entourage returning to the castle.

Alice ran down the steps, not wanting to waste any more time. "Lord Hastings!" She called, trying to get Dante’s attention. "Lord Hastings- Lady Hastings," Alice covered her mouth, startled by the sight of Cecilia walking behind a cart.

Alice momentarily forgot how to breathe. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Alice avoided eye contact with Cecilia, who appeared short of breath, and turned her attention to Dante.

"Lord Hastings-"

"Is there trouble with my wife?" Dante inquired as he slid off his horse.

"No. Lady Hastings is well. I have seen with my own eyes that her hand has been tended to, and now she rests in her chamber. Her brother asked that I take you to him when you are well. He said it is urgent and cannot be put off," said Alice.

"Return to my wife’s side. I will visit Theo. Rest once you are done," Dante ordered Alice.

Alice stepped aside to let Dante walk by. She was happy to have Dante back until her eyes settled on someone.

Alice frowned upon seeing Victoria and her maid return to the castle

Ophelia had finally gotten the castle in order, with the knights and servants listening to her. She didn’t need Victoria’s arrival to disturb it.

Nora offered her hand to help Victoria out of the carriage. "Are you certain you wish to stay here? You will be under her rule."

"I don’t want to be alone in a large home, and it would have put Dante off course to take me to a friend. We shall stay the night here and be on our way in the morning. Do not cause any trouble," Victoria advised Nora.

Victoria thought she was close to becoming friends with Dante again.

"I shall take your bag from the carriage. You must go inside to get away from the cold," Nora said, ushering Victoria toward the door.

Alice waited for Victoria to part ways with Nora before approaching Nora.

Alice placed her hands on her hips and said, "I hope neither of you is here to cause trouble for Lady Hastings. The castle is not as you left it."

"We are only here for one night. You speak of a guest of Lord Hastings. I suggest you watch your tongue before you lose it," said Nora.

"I am well-protected by Lady Hastings. She has far too much on her mind to be burdened by your antics. It is not Miss Lowe who concerns me. It is you and the lengths you would go to for your lady’s one-sided love. That behaviour won’t be accepted here," Alice said, warning Nora in the early.

"I see that she has bought you. When she first came here, you wanted nothing to do with her. Were you not the one who didn’t tend to her? How quickly you forget," Nora said, disappointed with Alice.

"I wasn’t bought. Lady Hastings saw good in me and gave me the chance to do better. I might have cleaned up my act to be her maid, but I assure you that I am still the petty maid who can ruin you with gossip. I bid you a good night," Alice said, turning away from Nora with her nose in the air.

Nora paid no attention to Alice. She was only concerned about her lady.

Inside the castle, Dante followed a maid to the chamber where Theo resided.

Once outside, Dante knocked on the door and entered only after hearing Theos’s response.

Dante entered the chamber and found Theo lying on the bed, his gaze fixed on an open window.

"So you are the younger brother I have heard so much about," said Dante.

Theo looked away from the window to the man he had been dying to see. "You’re shorter than they described you to be. I am disappointed. I wanted to speak of how tall you are to others."

"This is the first time I have been deemed not tall enough. For your sake, I will try to grow tall enough," Dante said, coming to a stop at the bottom of Theo’s bed. "You had an urgent matter to speak of?"

"Have you ever raised your hand to her?" Theo asked, starting his judgment of Dante.

"No."

"Tried to kill her?"

"No," Dante answered.

"What of the woman you are rumoured to have here in the castle? Does that mess still exist?" Theo asked, not wanting to hear of Dante having another woman anymore.

"It was a lie to protect a friend. I have never had a real mistress. Your sister knows the truth and thinks nothing of it. At first, she was happy there were rumours of another woman, so my focus would be elsewhere."

Theo laughed as it sounded like something Ophelia would say. "I understand her for thinking that way. My sister seems to be fond of you, and most importantly, she trusts you. She doesn’t trust easily, so if she has placed trust in you, it means you are a good man."

"Do you intend to care for my sister forever? She has told me of the home you placed in our names, but a man in your position can take it back. She won’t have another home to turn to if you change your feelings. Can you promise me to always care for her?" Theo asked, gripping the blankets.

"I promise to always care for her. You are starting to scare me with this talk, Theo. Perhaps we should wait for the morning to speak with Ophelia present. She is injured-"

"I want to die, and I can only do it without any guilt if I know my sister will be well cared for. Ophelia has spent her life caring for me. I want to know she will be with someone who can spoil her," Theo requested.

"Do not do this to her. She has only just gotten you back after much effort. She will be heartbroken. Please," Dante pleaded, desperate to save Ophelia from the loss.

"I know. I know she will not take it well. I also know the position I am placing you in by sharing this with you. I have thought this over for many days and have set my mind on dying," Theo said, his decision final.