Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 231: Final moments (1)

"It feels as though you have a sword pointed at my neck. You know that I cannot afford to go to the palace without your husband, so I will leave behind a thousand men to help safeguard the town. If Nigel does attack, you may send your people to my land for safety," Kaden offered.

"Thank you. We hope that when this war is over, the Hastings and Vale families can retain a friendship. You never know if you will need our help in the future. I urged my husband not to worry about Nigel and focus on Sebastian. Sebastian is the biggest threat," Ophelia pointed out.

"I agree with you there. Sebastian will soon have the power to call upon his father’s allies, and I have noticed for years that he has been going behind his father’s back to work with the sons of powerful men. Nigel won’t be the only one to kill his father," Kaden said, expecting more deaths.

"As long as we cut off the head quickly, the others won’t know what to do. I have my allies in the capital who will not turn to Sebastian’s side. As soon as we attack, they will join us," Dante said.

"Can you trust these men?" Kaden asked, wary that the men in the capital would change their minds.

"These are men who have been loyal to my father and now to me. I trust them when they say they shall offer support. They have been waiting for me to call upon them against Joel and Edward. They will be there," Dante said, confident Norman would show.

"Then, I shall trust you. I won’t need to worry about leaving some men behind with Lady Hastings. You should start to move the families living near your border and send them somewhere safe," Kaden suggested. "If possible, we should do our best to avoid the innocent dying."

"I will open the gates of the castle for all to enter if Nigel pushes an attack. I am considering sending more men to the border so we don’t need to worry about him reaching the castle. I have a day left to plan with my husband," said Ophelia. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Kaden looked to Dante for an answer. "It sounds like your wife will be leading your army with you away."

"She is more than capable. Do you find an issue with it?" Dante inquired, but he didn’t care much about Kaden’s opinion.

"Not at all. I think it is about time a lady defends her home, and her husband backs her. I would hate to be fighting alongside you at the palace, and you are distracted with concern about your castle. It seems to me that the Hastings castle will be in safe hands. Now, where do you fit in all of this?" Kaden questioned Mary.

"If Lady Hastings needs my support, I will go to the castle. There is not much I can do considering I don’t have an army or the experience with war to help her, but I will do my best," Mary answered.

"You should be at your boys’ side and go somewhere you could be out of the war," Kaden suggested.

"Wherever I go, they will go. If the Hastings castle falls, then I shall take them and leave for another town. Is there something you wish to say about my children?" Mary asked, annoyed that Kaden kept poking at her.

"No. If the townspeople move to my land, you should join them. I know being loyal to a friend seems important, but your children’ s life matters more," said Kaden.

"I am well aware," Mary responded. "You don’t know me. I might have hated my husband, but I love my children. I will do what is necessary for their safety, and I don’t need a man I recently started speaking to telling me what I must do. I am a fit mother."

"I never said you were unfit. I am concerned," Kaden explained.

"About my children? Why ever is their well-being a matter of your concern?"

"Because I have a heart. Though I have lost most of my kindness when my family was taken from me, I still know how to feel for others. You are the only wise, caring person your sons have left. You could be injured while helping your friend, and those people can come to take your sons. Don’t let them," Kaden pleaded with Mary.

"This is what happens when greedy relatives come to the side of children left behind," Kaden said, lifting his sleeve to reveal bruises. "I had to kill them to get away from it. It was satisfying, but I would have liked not to have experienced it."

Mary stared at the bruises on Kaden’s arm. "I assure you that I won’t give my husband’s family the chance to take my son. I thank you for your concern, but they are well. I must see them," she said, standing up.

Mary wanted to be near her sons after seeing the outcome of Kaden’s family trouble.

Kaden lowered his sleeve and asked, "Now, where were we?"

Ophelia stared at Kaden in disbelief. "I know that your intentions are good, but there is something wrong with you. While Mary tends to her sons, we should get back to our plans. It is only a day before the two of you leave, which is very little time to prepare for Nigel."

"I am not too concerned about Nigel. He’s going to lead his army right into the ground. I advise you not to be afraid of the number of men he arrives with. An army is only as good as its leader. That coward is going to hide somewhere," Kaden assumed.

"Of course he will. Nigel will never be at the front of an army again. He ran the one time he was to face my husband, and I had to endure his loss. I mean," Ophelia bit her lip, realising how much she revealed. "It is nothing."

"Did that bastard hurt you because I sent him running?" Dante asked, his fingers digging into the leather arm of the chair. He had not once thought of how it would’ve affected Ophelia.

"It was before we were married, and we both cannot change the past. I am not angry, so I think we should move on. Your Grace," Ophelia said, turning to Kaden to change the topic.

"No, no. I don’t mind the two of you finishing your talk. So he sent Nigel running, and Nigel troubled you instead of him. How unfortunate that you made life difficult for your future sweetheart," Kaden teased Dante.

Ophelia abruptly stood up. "My plans for Nigel don’t need to include the duke any longer. I shall leave before we lose an ally now. Good day, Your Grace."

Kaden chuckled as Ophelia walked away. "How unfortunate, I can’t hear the rest of your conversation."