Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 197: Plotting to kill (3)

"Pitiful? Ha," William chuckled, thinking Kaden was toying with him. "You must know that my wife adores me."

Kaden watched Mary’s reaction and waited for her to proclaim her love, but it didn’t come. William appeared to be the only one who believed his wife loved him.

"I shall take your word for it," Kaden replied.

"To prove it, we should all gather so we may get well acquainted with each other," William suggested.

"Oh, no. I don’t need anymore friends," Kaden said, uninterested in speaking to William. "So, this is the infamous Lady Hastings," he said, moving his gaze to Ophelia.

"Infamous? Your grace," Ophelia curtseyed as she greeted Kaden.

"Don’t you know how popular you were inside the palace and around the capital? I kept hearing your name at every corner I turned. Many were eager to lay eyes upon the woman who married Lady Hastings," Kaden explained, getting a good look at the woman behind the rumours.

"I see. Well, nothing about me is interesting, so I am sorry to disappoint you. Why are you two roaming the market?" Ophelia asked, looking to Dante for answers.

"His grace wanted a tour of the market, so he forced me to come here," Dante explained.

Dante didn’t mind Kaden’s request since he got to keep an eye on Ophelia, and he came just in time to save her from William.

"I would be so kind to offer his grace a tour," William volunteered.

Kaden grew bored now that William placed himself where he didn’t belong. "I wonder how you do it," he said, speaking to Mary.

"It is not a matter you should be curious about," Mary said, lacking interest in amusing Kaden. "Perhaps it is time that we return home."

"Don’t speak," William instructed Mary. "She tends to forget her behaviour when she stands before reputable men. You must be careful, Lord Hastings."

Ophelia wished even more for her dagger.

"With what?" Dante asked, regretting doing so.

"With getting your wife to know when to speak. In my time-"

"We are not in your time," Ophelia spoke over William. "Mary, let me say my partings to you while the men speak. I need a moment alone with you."

If Ophelia stood near William any longer, she might choke him.

William watched as Ophelia took Mary away from him. "Did I miss something?" He asked.

"You are lucky my wife is missing her dagger. Don’t ever try to push your old beliefs onto my wife, and don’t ever try to scold her. You might lose your head if you stick your nose in a marriage that does not concern you. Do we understand each other?" Dante asked, wanting to grab William by his collar.

William frantically nodded his head. "Perhaps it is time for me and my wife to return to our quiet abode. I look forward to seeing you both soon. If you would excuse me."

"What a nervous little man. How does a beauty get herself entangled with a teacup-looking man?" Kaden wondered, his gaze fixed on Mary.

"Money. Her family set up an arranged marriage," Dante replied.

Dante stared at William, trying to place why Kaden thought he looked like a teacup.

"You have someone you must protect. Even if Edward were to be near his deathbed, he would still think of having a woman at his side, and I see why he wants your wife," said Kaden.

"Careful," Dante warned Kaden. "I would kill you, too."

Kaden laughed, more humoured than afraid of Dante’s threat. "Please, your wife is lovely, but I lack interest in her. There are more interesting women around the town. How long do you think it will be before that woman kills her husband?"

"We are to speak about the palace, not what Mary intends to do with her husband. You must keep your focus," Dante instructed Kaden.

"Hmm. Is that Lady Valthorn I see? I know she is your wife’s mother, but I hope you won’t be so foolish as to let her return to her husband. We need her," Kaden said, watching the key to provoking Joel.

"You would be better off taking one of his daughters. If you take his wife, he won’t be so concerned about listening to our demands for her safety. He doesn’t love her."

"How disappointing. Here I thought we had something to hold over his head."

"Lady Valthorn is useless. Your plans must stick to those in the palace. The market isn’t the best place to speak of our plans, so I suggest we leave this for another day," said Dante.

"Why don’t you save yourself the trouble and invite me to the castle?"

"Why don’t you jump from somewhere high? You are not welcome inside my castle," Dante repeated for the fifth time since meeting with Kaden.

"I would be on my best behaviour. I am not one to destroy someone’s home unless they have done wrong by me. I see that the rumours are true about you and your wife. About how she has you smitten with her. What a shame," Kaden said, finding Dante’s state to be unfortunate.

"A shame?" Dante questioned.

"Yes, a shame. You were known for following in your father’s footsteps and all your efforts at war. Now, all everyone speaks of is your time with your wife. I liked it when you were feared. It was useful," Kaden said, wanting Dante to change back. "She is making you warm up to others."

"You are seeing wrong. I still don’t care to be near you. I like her, I don’t care for you and the others. Our interests have aligned with each other due to our enemies. I have not forgotten all that you did when you misdirected your anger meant for Edward," said Dante.

"I lost my family to that old swine, and very few families came to my aid. You should be thankful that I didn’t go ahead with my plans. I had plans to kill everyone in the kingdom and paint the towns red with their blood. I didn’t go through with it," Kaden said.

"There are rumours you have killed innocent families, and while I don’t like to believe rumours, something tells me that there was some truth to it," Dante said, facing Kaden.

"I’m not a good man. I have always been honest about it. A few innocent people will be in your way when you carry out your plans. You have no choice but to-"

"So, you’ll be the villain in another person’s story just as Edward was to you?" Dante interjected. "I don’t kill anyone who didn’t have a hand in the war."

"All that matters to me is avenging my family. I don’t care who falls while I do it. Careful with your glare, Dante. Your wife is watching," Kaden said, waving to Ophelia.