Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 187: Trouble (1)

"You!" Cecilia stood up, enraged by the comment Ophelia made.

"You don’t like it when I have no interest in Dante and when I do. I’m going to do as I want, and as his wife who cares for him, I will make sure that Dante never forgives you easily. It is not for trying to kill me. I won’t let him forgive you when you tried to use him as a weapon," said Ophelia.

Cecilia scoffed, missing what she did wrong. "My son has been on the frontline of his army many times. He is a weapon who has slaughtered many."

"But he hated himself as the beast and didn’t want to kill anyone when he was in that form. You didn’t just set him up to kill just anyone. You set him up to kill me, and you know he cares for me. I have come to realise that it is not just your hate for the Valthorns that makes you hate me," Ophelia realised.

"Victoria is obedient. She won’t go against your wishes and demands. If you have control of the wife, then you have more control of Dante. I believe that if I were some weak woman who didn’t know how to speak up, you would have spent time shaping me to your liking," Ophelia assumed.

Cecilia laughed since it couldn’t have been any further from the truth. "I wouldn’t have ever liked you."

"I never said you would have liked me. You would have tried controlling me to use me against Dante. You have hurt him, and it angers me that you cannot see or accept what you did. You are so blinded by hate that you cannot celebrate he is healed," Ophelia said, clenching her fist.

Ophelia wanted to punish Cecilia more to make her regret her choices, but she was taking a step back to let Dante be the one to decide.

"If it were up to me, you would be dead by now. They would have been dragging your body back to the castle. It isn’t fair that everyone who followed you has to die, but your punishment is to be imprisoned. Perhaps I should take a leaf from your book and plot to kill you," Ophelia considered.

"I am not afraid of you. You’ll soon realise that despite me being held captive, I have power all over this town. I have been gaining allies long before you were born-"

"You fool," Ophelia insulted Cecilia. "You do know that if your allies rise to help you, it would not hurt me, but rather your son? Duke Vale is in town, most likely to stir up trouble, and Lord Valthorn will soon attack because he is restless."

"If I were my husband’s enemies, a time when he is distracted by your allies would be the best time to attack," Ophelia said.

"So," Ophelia said, walking closer to the cell. "Go on and let your allies bother him now. Let them create a moment to distract him so that we shall all die, and you lose the land you cherish. If only you would use your schemes to help Dante instead of trying to get rid of me."

"Dante is only keeping you at his side-"

"Enough!" Ophelia exclaimed, tired of Cecilia deflecting. "Breaking the curse is enough proof that we love each other. You have searched high and low for ways to keep him normal, but failed. There is no helping you, and I hope he sees it."

Ophelia didn’t want to bother herself with Cecilia for much longer.

Ophelia turned her attention to the cells beside Cecilia. "I shall fill the dungeon to give you company. I will find people as delusional as you are to place beside you. Burden them with your feelings."

Ophelia walked away from the cell, and as she did, Cecilia ran to the cell door. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"You must let me out whilst I am being kind," Cecilia demanded, only to be met by Ophelia’s laughter.

Cecilia was on the verge of tears. She tried not to let them show for the guards to laugh at her, but she was cold and terrified. The dungeon wasn’t a place for her to be.

Cecilia was afraid of what could happen to her without Dante being near to protect her.

The cell was cold with odd sounds Cecilia could not make out. Cecilia was stuck in the night gown Dante had found her in, but now it was dirty because she was not allowed to clean herself.

Ophelia stopped walking when she heard the sound of someone weeping.

At first, Ophelia couldn’t believe it was Cecilia who was crying.

Ophelia looked back at where Cecilia stood, clinging to the cell bars. It was a pitiful sight, but Ophelia didn’t have an ounce of pity for Cecilia.

A few tears weren’t going to move Ophelia.

Thomas looked at Ophelia, curious if she would go back to Cecilia. It was his first time seeing Cecilia cry.

Thomas had to take a second glance when he saw Ophelia smile as she watched Cecilia.

’She’s serious,’ Thomas thought.

Ophelia was sparing no kindness to the people who harmed her.

Ophelia had enough of Cecilia’s ugly cry and continued to leave the dungeon. Cecilia’s little cries weren’t enough to forget all that Cecilia did.

"I know her cries are moving you, Thomas. It is expected since it is likely you have never seen her so emotional. What you have witnessed is someone who is facing consequences for the first time in their life. She also knows her tears might earn her freedom. Do not fall for it," Ophelia advised Thomas.

"I won’t," Thomas replied.

Thomas didn’t think Ophelia needed to worry about what he felt. What mattered most was how Lord Hastings felt about his mother.

"If I may," Thomas requested to speak.

"Speak," Ophelia responded.

"If Lord Hastings were to release his mother early, what would you do?"

"I would have to leave his side despite what I feel for him. I love him, but I cannot stay at his side if he lets her off easily. She tried to kill me on top of everything she did before. I cannot put up with it any longer, but I am trusting he will stand true to his word," Ophelia said, hopeful.

Ophelia didn’t want to have to leave Dante’s side.

"Why? Are you considering whether you would follow me if I leave?" Ophelia asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I would follow you," said Thomas.

Ophelia almost stumbled. "You answered that a bit too fast. Isn’t it your wish to be at my husband’s side?"

"It was my wish, but I find there is more amusement at your side, and I have come to like being your guard," Thomas answered. He also liked that Ophelia reminded him of his late mother with her kindness.

"You have moved me with your words. Let us hope that I never have reason to leave and take you with me. This is our home," Ophelia said, wanting to stay.