Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 214: New beginnings (2)

Nigel stabbed Joel again, and again, finding joy in getting rid of one of the men who stood in his way.

Nigel’s cheek ached from how much he smiled. Soon, his laughter filled the study as Joel’s look of betrayal amused him.

Nigel wanted nothing more than to paint the study red with his father’s blood and leave it for years to come so it would always be remembered for what he had done.

"I will have her," Nigel said, thinking of Ophelia.

Joel was the reason Ophelia slipped from Nigel’s fingers, so Joel was going to be the way Nigel got her back.

Nigel relentlessly stabbed Joel even when Joel’s eyes were long closed, and his body went limp.

Nigel let Joel’s body fall to the floor and continued the attack. He didn’t want to leave a chance that his father could still be alive and his plans could be spoiled.

Nigel only stopped when his hand ached and let the knife fall onto Joel’s chest.

Finally, he was Lord Valthorn.

Nigel stared at his father’s lifeless body for a moment before standing up. He didn’t attempt to wipe the blood from his hands. He wanted to let the blood stay on him all day to show what he had done.

The servants and everyone else who entered the castle must know that he killed his father. They must see that he took pride in it, and the power that he now had to be able to get away from it.

Nigel looked up to stare at the ceiling.

A weight was lifted off his shoulders, to now be able to do as he pleased. There was no one in his way to stop him from reclaiming what had been owed to him.

’The letter,’ Nigel thought.

Sebastian needed to know that Nigel had fulfilled his part of the plan. Soon, Edward would be dead, and the kingdom would be under better rule.

Nigel took a deep breath as he lowered his head. He examined the study, which now belonged to him.

With one final glance, Nigel turned around to leave the study. There was plenty he needed to do now to prepare for his time as Lord Valthorn.

Nigel exited the study and stumbled upon a maid whose eyes widened when she saw his appearance.

"Find me some painters and bring them to me right away, or you’ll hang by nightfall. Tell them that Lord Valthorn will pay them handsomely if they finish the task by today. Now go," Nigel shooed the maid away.

If not for how much Nigel enjoyed the maid’s terrified expression in the moment, he would kill her for not moving when he told her to.

"Oh, spread the news that my father has died, and I am now Lord Valthorn. Make it be known that his peers are not to visit the castle to pay their respects since there is no use for it," said Nigel.

Instead of honouring his father, Nigel would rather his father’s peers come to him with gifts and plans for how they would turn to his side.

Nigel grinned, thinking of how the men who once thought he would not be suitable to take his father’s place would now have to beg to be on his side.

Nigel’s mood was spoiled by the maid standing still, staring at him. It dampened his mood.

"You there!" Nigel called a passing maid. "I have a task for you. Announce that my father is dead, but more importantly, you must find me painters who can do a job in one day. And," he looked back at the maid who didn’t know how to take orders. "She is to be hanged."

Nigel’s mood turned better when he heard the maid gasp and watched as she fell to her knees, asking for a second chance.

Nigel smiled. "I like my servants being told what to do once and moving without questioning my orders. Now, must I kill you too?" Nigel questioned the second maid.

The maid shook her head and moved to carry out Nigel’s orders. Everyone knew to stay out of Nigel’s path, but the poor girl who had been sentenced to death had only started to work in the castle this morning.

Nigel walked away, leaving the crying maid to her peer.

Nigel walked down to the guards’ quarters, catching the attention of all the men present as he walked.

"Gather around!" Nigel yelled, getting the attention of the men who did not know he was present. "My father is dead. A new dawn is upon this castle, and you are now tasked with proving your loyalty to me."

"If you don’t like that I am now Lord Valthorn, I will be fair by allowing you to leave the castle. Your head will be delivered to your wives, your groin to your mother, your hands to your sisters, and your feet to your children," said Nigel.

"I will be so kind as to allow each precious member of your family to hold a piece of you, and once their day of mourning is over, I will either place them in the dungeon or have them sold to cover the debt of your betrayal. Anyone who wants to leave is free to do so now," Nigel said, pointing to the door.

None of the guards moved. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"My father was a weak man who never saw his plans through. Year after year, you were placed to go out to fight a battle that was never finished. Our fight with the Hastings shall end now in my time as Lord Valthorn. War is now upon us, and none of us will return until we are the victors!" Nigel yelled, trying to hype the men up for battle.

"Gather your swords, your armour, prepare the horses, and the wine for celebrations. In two days, we shall begin our march to the Hastings’ castle and claim it by force. I will lead all of you to have your name be a part of history for the Valthorns. Make me proud," Nigel said, expecting the men to give their lives.

The men responded to Nigel with cheers, though many of them were worried about a young Lord who didn’t have a good history leading an army. Nigel had run and left them once before, but now that he was Lord Valthorn, he had the power to harm them and their families if they did not obey.

Nigel expected a victory soon since Sebastian would send him support as soon as Edward was dead. Dante would be outnumbered in the surprise attack, and when Dante fell, Nigel would take Ophelia back to where she belonged.