Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 249: Victory (3)

"How did you know he ran to the tower? Is it our vision or is it your hearing? What are you? Or was it training you put yourself through?" Kaden asked, unable to ignore Dante’s talents. "Is it true you returned from war without any bruises? If I stab you now, will you die?"

"If you stab me now, you will die," Dante answered.

"You must feed my curiosity a little bit. You are no ordinary man," Kaden concluded. "There should be no secrets between friends."

"We’re not friends. We’re allies," Dante corrected Kaden.

Kaden placed his hand on his chest and faked being hurt. "You wound me. After all that we have been through, you would not think of us as friends? What about the long journey and the killing side by side? I must have a word with your mother about this."

"My mother sits in a dungeon. Would you like to join her inside so you may speak?" Dante asked.

"You placed your mother in a dungeon? How awful yet exciting. I know why you are in a foul mood," Kaden said, facing the burning tower. "You miss your dear wife, and you are worried that Nigel has her."

"If Nigel manages to secure a win against your men, you will be a laughing stock. I will laugh at you, but to be serious, I think even if he were to capture your wife, she looks like the kind of lady to stab him," Kaden said, trying to calm Dante. "You know he won’t reach her, so why worry?"

"When you find a woman you love, then you will understand. Until then, I would prefer that you not speak to me. Once Sebastian has been killed, I will be leaving the palace in your hands," said Dante.

"What a bore. I- Did he just jump?" Kaden questioned, watching as someone fell from the window. "It couldn’t be, right?"

"It is," Dante replied as he walked forward. "Put out the fire. He’s abandoned his knights."

"Put out? We gave them the chance to surrender, and they ignored it. Fine, fine," Kaden said, putting his hands up when Dante turned around.

Dante walked to where Sebastian laid on the ground, still alive. He stooped down and pulled off the helmet to confirm it was Sebastian.

"It would have been wiser for you to get your knights to stab you. It could have been painless, and you would be dead, but now, you’re our prisoner," Kaden said, grinning from ear to ear.

Sebastian glared at Kaden. He hated that Kaden hovered above him.

"You did not kill me. I will go down as a king who fought to the end," Sebastian said.

Kaden chuckled. "You’re still alive, so I am going to kill you, and you’re not a king. Just because you killed your father and ordered the servants to call you king, doesn’t make you one. I am certain the crown never touched your head, and you didn’t have the ceremony, Your Highness."

"You are still the crown prince. Well, you’ll be a disgraced prince once word gets out that you killed your father, and I shall ensure it gets around. You will not be remembered as the king after Edward. Your brother will," Kaden said, taking delight in Sebastian’s misery.

"I am the king," Sebastian said as he fought the pain that lingered all over his body.

"Certainly, and I am the king. See how everyone can say it, but it doesn’t matter because we don’t have the crown. You did all this just to be forgotten. How foolish," Kaden said, laughing at Sebastian’s downfall. "You can leave now, Lord Hastings. I’m going to kill him."

"You must gather all the royals, and find-"

"You cannot put those bastards on the throne!" Sebastian spat.

Althea’s children should never touch the throne. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"And here I thought you would find joy in considering the second prince for king. Who said anything about the queen’s children? Why don’t you give us a little hand and tell us what happened to Queen Althea and her children? No?" Kaden replied, giving up.

Dante stood up. "Can I trust you won’t be childish if I leave you here alone? A king needs to be crowned. A proper king."

"You can trust me, Dante. I might joke with you, but I want a good king just as much as you do. Now, run along to your wife. I will make sure the kingdom knows of your contribution on this day. I will send word of what happens here to you as it goes on," Kaden promised.

Dante had no other choice but to trust Kaden. He was tired and in dire need of rest, but Dante needed to urgently return to his castle.

"Gather the men who are to return with me today," Dante ordered a knight from his side.

It bothered Dante that he had not yet received news from his land.

Back at the Hastings castle, Ophelia stood in the kitchen, overseeing the food that would be taken out to the visitors.

Alice stepped forward to whisper, "Lady Hastings, you are making them nervous."

"Why? I see nothing wrong with what they are doing. I was wondering if I should give them a hand. I once worked in the kitchen so I could be of some use. I need a distraction," Ophelia said, not knowing what to do with herself.

"Then, you should visit the dungeon. The guards always speak of your mother requesting an audience with you," said Alice.

"Speaking to my mother isn’t a distraction, but more of a headache. I don’t want to be bothered, Alice. I will leave them so they can relax. You are all doing well," Ophelia complimented the cooks. "You must remember to take a break at times and enjoy plenty of what you are cooking. I will make sure you are paid handsomely for all your work now."

"Thank you, Lady Hastings."

Alice followed Ophelia as she walked out of the kitchen. "Will Lord Hastings allow all the pay you are offering the servants?"

"Why wouldn’t he? They could have left the castle to be with their families when I offered, but they stayed behind to work. We should reward them for staying. I am certain most are afraid. It would be wrong of us not to thank them properly," said Ophelia.

"I shall pay them even if it is taken from the money I am allowed to spend on myself. I cannot stop putting myself in their position. Are you looking for me, Thomas?" Ophelia asked, spotting Thomas running ahead.

"News from the border has come."