The dinner continued to be eventful, with a few of the knights approaching the table to speak to Ophelia and Dante. Many of Ophelia’s concerns about Dante leaving went away as she knew she would find comfort with the others remaining in the castle.
After retreating to her chamber, Ophelia sat on the bed, braiding her hair herself since Alice wasn’t in any position to help her get ready for bed.
Dante laid behind Ophelia, waiting for her to join him. "You should let help."
"Do you know how to braid hair?" Ophelia asked as she shifted her body to look at Dante. "I will not have you create a knot in my hair. I am all done already," she said.
Ophelia crawled to the middle of the bed where Dante laid. "You must rest. I know you were looking forward to us being alone, but you must leave early in the morning. I cannot have you be tired and fall asleep while on your horse. It is ti to sleep."
"You set up by dressing up so beautifully tonight. Now, you are going to plague my mind during the journey. You and Alice know what you were doing," Dante said, feeling the two plotted against him all day.
"I agreed to dress up to surprise you, and that was all. If you had ti to spare, I would engage in what is on your mind, but you have to leave early if you will see Ester before you leave. I will not be the reason Lord Hastings is late. Rest," Ophelia said, placing her hand on Dante’s chest to keep him down.
"This isn’t helping you," Dante said, holding Ophelia’s hands. "I quite enjoy how you pin down now."
"I forgot how you are seduced by all that I do. Nothing will happen between us tonight, so I suggest you settle yourself. I want to wake up early in the morning to see you off. I must see that you go off well," Ophelia said, lowering her body to lie on Dante’s arm.
"It is starting to sound as though you don’t have any faith in ," Dante pointed out.
"I have plenty of faith in you, but this is my first ti experiencing this. When the Valthorns went off to war, I would hope they all died. Now I must hope for you to return to safely. I have to trust that bastard," Ophelia said, thinking about Kaden.
Dante chuckled. "I will be fine with or without Kaden. He acts as he does to upset you, and it works. He is just a child in a man’s body seeking revenge for the loss of his family. His anger is more for Edward than it is for ."
Steadily, the relationship between the Hastings and the Vales was shifting for the better. There was a chance the two houses could be close again as long as Kaden stuck to his word.
"I do pity him, but I am still annoyed by his presence. I hope he gets the revenge he seeks and does what is right with the throne. He should be happy that you are helping him now and never turn his sword on you. I am tired," Ophelia said, placing her head on Dante’s chest.
"Then rest. You have been quite active all day," Dante said, moving his hand to rest on Ophelia’s waist. "I will wake you when it is ti for to go."
"You must," Ophelia whispered. "I will not forgive you if you leave without allowing to say goodbye. I will follow you to the palace and scold you."
In the early hours of the next day, Ophelia woke up to join Dante and the knights who were leaving with him.
As much as Ophelia wanted for Dante to stay a day longer, it was best that he leave now to finish the battle with the palace once and for all.
Ophelia walked to Dante’s horse with his helt in her hands. She waited for him to mount the horse and then lifted the helt for Dante to take.
When Ophelia was handed the helt to take to Dante, she had the childish thought of hiding it so he would stay a little longer, but it wouldn’t do any good for anyone. He had to leave.
Instead of taking the helt from Ophelia, Dante took her hand and pulled her closer as he leaned down to leave her with one last kiss.
"Be well," Dante said as he took the helt from Ophelia’s hands. "Thomas, protect my wife well."
"I will," Thomas promised.
Ophelia stepped back to be out of the way as Dante had to leave. She waved her hand, saying goodbye to Dante and the knights that followed. Just as she wanted Dante to return safely, she wanted all the n she had co to know well to return safely.
"I love you," Dante confessed as he placed his helt on his head.
"And I love you," Ophelia admitted, a smile forming on her lips.
Dante stared at Ophelia, taking one long look at her to imprint into his mind for the days he would be gone.
"Move out!" The dreaded order ca to start the n leaving the castle.
Ophelia stood off to the side, continuing to wave at the n passing by. Each one of them followed Dante, confident they would win the battle and return to their ho.
Ophelia didn’t move until the last of the knights and carts left the castle gates.
"What now, Thomas?" Ophelia wondered. "Do we just have patience and wait?"
"That is all we can do," Thomas answered. "Would you like to introduce the guards Lord Hastings picked out to join at your side?"
"When I go inside, I would like to et them. Have the people in the villages near the border start to move closer to the town?" Ophelia inquired.
"They have. So of the n from the castle and the ones his grace handed you are already going towards the border. The border will soon have the help it needs. I have instructed the n at the gates to be quick if they receive any notices from the border," Thomas shared.
"Well done. If you don’t mind, I want to watch the army until it is out of sight. I am not going to see my husband for many days, so I want to enjoy this mont even though he is far at the front," Ophelia said, struggling to see Dante’s horse at the front.
"As you wish," Thomas replied, stepping back to let Ophelia have her mont.
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