"Do you feel better, Lady Hastings?" Alice asked, curious as to what Ophelia felt after seeing Nigel.
"I do. It is like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. All the people I once worried about are in the dungeon. Well, Freya is not there, but I don’t think she is having a pleasant ti in the palace. I feel like I can truly relax and I intend to," said Ophelia.
"Well, it is good for you. It was exciting for to see Lord Valthorn sitting in the dungeon. At least concerning the Valthorns, I don’t need to worry about a war. I hope the Hastings can have so peace for so ti," Alice said, wishing it mostly for Ophelia.
"I hope so as well, but I have a strong feeling it will not happen since a new king will need to be selected. I do wish for Duke Vale to step forward and take all the responsibility so I might have more ti with Dante," said Ophelia.
"If I may," Alice requested.
"You can, Alice. Even if I tell you no, I will hear of it later."
"Why don’t you plan a special gift for Lord Hastings return?" Alice suggested.
"You an a special gift like the one with dinner? I feel that this ti you are asking to seduce a man just returning from war," Ophelia said, her voice low so her guards wouldn’t hear. "A man who would be tired from the long journey and fight."
"I assure you that they are hardly tired. When I shared a bed with a knight who had just- I am sharing far too much," Alice said, quickly realising her mistake.
Ophelia drew closer to Alice, wanting to hear more. "You haven’t shared enough. What were you about to say?"
"I am a woman with needs, Lady Hastings. It is not wrong for to share a bed with a man, and it was quite good. I almost thought of being with him, but I cannot bear having to keep track of a knight," Alice spoke fast.
Luckily, Ophelia understood all that Alice said.
"I am not judging you, Alice. You are free to do as you like. I shall see how my husband’s return goes, but I won’t dress up to seduce him. He might not be in the mood for it, and I don’t even know when he will be returning. So, there is no use," Ophelia said, disappointed.
"When Lord Hastings is on his way to the castle, the mont he sets foot on his land, the n at the border there will alert the castle. You will have plenty of ti to prepare."
"Alice, I think it is not the right ti because I fear I might cry when I see him. I don’t cry often to know if it is a pretty sight," Ophelia said.
"Do it now, and I will tell you if it is ugly," Alice offered.
Ophelia stared at Alice for a mont before turning away to go back to her bedchamber. "I believe our ti of bonding has ended, Alice. I am going back to my bedchamber."
"Forgive ," Alice said, following closely behind Ophelia. "I can help you seduce him for another occasion. Sorry," she apologised when Ophelia turned around.
"I can seduce my husband without your help. Do you doubt ?" Ophelia asked, confident she could put Dante on his knees.
"A little."
"I know what you are doing, and it won’t work. I am not going to be so determined to prove you wrong that I accept your plan. I applaud you for thinking fast on your feet to convince ," Ophelia said, patting Alice on her shoulder. "While you are so full of energy, please send soone to see that Mary is well."
"Of course," Alice said and curtsied.
’She’s grown very bold,’ Ophelia thought as she watched Alice walk ahead.
Ophelia smiled as she failed to deny how much she had co to like Alice. Since Alice wasn’t afraid to speak, Ophelia had soone to speak to when Mary was away, since she didn’t have any other friends.
"I should be planning the ball," Ophelia whispered.
With all the guests out of the castle and the war with the Valthorns over, there was nothing more for Ophelia to do with her ti besides her lessons. It was a good ti to plan the ball, which would now be a celebration for all the n who fought in both wars. Ophelia made her way to her bedchamber with plans of starting the preparations in peace.
Another day went by in the blink of an eye, and with the ending of that day ca news Ophelia had been waiting for. Dante and his army were spotted returning ho.
Ophelia sat in her bedchamber, looking out her window for the mont Dante would arrive. She wanted to wait by the gates, but Thomas and her other guards were anxious, so she returned to her bedchamber.
Ophelia stared out her window, but she didn’t have the slightest clue if this was the direction Dante would co from. She was tired from spending the day making preparations for the ball with Alice, but she didn’t want to go to sleep now to miss Dante’s return.
Ophelia pinched her leg each ti her eyes closed.
The chamber was perfect for Ophelia to rest now. It was quiet, with a cool breeze passing through the windows, but she refused to fall victim to it. She would run out to greet Dante just as the other wives did.
Ophelia stayed awake for as long as she could, but in the final monts when she needed to be awake, she drifted to sleep.
Ophelia missed the grand return of the Hastings army and welcoming Dante as he got down from his horse, but fortunately, she would be the first one to greet him since she was the person Dante wanted to see first.
Dante entered the bedchamber and searched for Ophelia. He found her sitting in a corner, her body slumped as if she were sleeping. He chuckled, certain Ophelia would be angry when she realised she had missed the army returning.
Dante placed his helt and sword on the floor, then quietly approached Ophelia. He thought of getting out of his bloody armour and washing up first, but since Ophelia would be angry that she missed his return, he didn’t want to prolong their reunion any further.
Dante had rushed back to the castle for the sole reason of seeing Ophelia. He couldn’t wait any longer.
"Ophelia," Dante said, touching her hand. His hand then moved to her hair to move it out of her face.
The innocent action startled Ophelia and woke her up, but she soon relaxed when she saw it was Dante.
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