"Still, you must come with me," Dante said, yet to believe Ophelia's tale.
"Do you wish to do this even if it will make your lover's maid appear careless? Though I am quite certain, even with the truth, this will all be twisted and the blame placed on me. Perhaps I should have stayed," Ophelia said, realising her carelessness.
Ophelia walked the halls of the castle alone, so if anything went wrong, surely they would blame her.
"I won't make the mistake of walking alone again. I know for certain your servants wouldn't speak on my behalf, but if I am to be punished, so would they," Ophelia said, unwilling to be punished alone.
"And why is that?"
"They are meant to be watching me so I don't cause anyone harm. If I am accused of a crime, wouldn't that mean they weren't doing their job well? They should be punished too," Ophelia explained.
"You wouldn't be kind and try to protect them from being killed?" Dante asked, pleasantly surprised by how wise Ophelia was.
"Why should I? Everyone here wishes for me to drop dead. Why would I be kind and spare anyone when I can drag them down with me? There's no one here I wish to save," Ophelia said, thinking of herself. "Think what you will. I don't mind."
To Ophelia's surprise, Dante smiled.
"You are not foolish, something I admire. I'll escort you to your chamber, but you will not be allowed to leave until I confirm your story. Sneaking around here won't be good for you," Dante warned Ophelia.
"I wish to stay in the comfort of my chamber, but I was invited out. I don't want any part of your war, so leave me be."
"Come," Dante said, grabbing Ophelia's hand. Unknowingly, he grabbed her too hard.
"Don't pull on my hand," Ophelia said, trying to slide her hand out of Dante's hold.
Dante was too strong, so his grip caused Ophelia to be in pain.
Dante peered down at Ophelia and saw how terrified she was for a split second.
Dante loosened his hold on her hand, but he didn't let go.
"I can walk without you dragging me along. I'm not foolish enough to run when I know you'll catch me," Ophelia said, not wanting to be held by Dante.
Dante didn't listen to Ophelia as his attention went to the bruises on her neck.
"What happened to your neck?" Dante inquired, realising his missed more of the story of what his mother did to Ophelia.
"Why does it matter to you?" Ophelia asked and covered her neck with her hand.
Dante pulled Ophelia forward, and since she was light, she stumbled. "It matters to me that your stepfather can't make complaints to the king when he sees you at the festival. What happened to your neck?"
"The rumours say you are a wise man, yet you can't piece together what might have happened. Think about who you left me with. I shouldn't have to spell it out for you," Ophelia said, pushing Dante away, but her attempt was futile.
Dante was a large man, so he wasn't easy to move.
Ophelia bowed her head as it felt like the world around her was spinning. She was starving, and since there was no food around, she wished to lie down until the feeling passed.
Dante took notice of Ophelia's weight. A daughter of a nobleman should be well-fed.
"See, silence now that you know it was your mother's doing," Ophelia whispered.
Dante released Ophelia, and with his support gone, she almost stumbled again.
Ophelia dug her nails into the palm of her hand and looked up at Dante. He peered down upon her as if in deep thought.
"You're too weak to hurt a fly," Dante concluded.
Even if Ophelia had plans to harm anyone, she wouldn't succeed in this state.
"Then, allow me to return to my chamber. I want to rest," Ophelia said, hopeful this time he would listen to her.
"You there!" Dante called to a passing guard. "Escort the lady back to her chamber and have the cook prepare her something to eat."
Ophelia wondered what stunt Dante was trying to pull now. Being kind to her wouldn't make her forget all that had happened before.
"My family eats in the dining hall. You are to eat there tonight," Dante said, his tone coming off as an order.
Dante walked away before Ophelia could protest.
Ophelia looked back at Dante. The last thing she wanted to do was join him and the other Hastings for dinner.
'Has he no shame?' Ophelia wondered.
Surely Dante didn't think of how absurd it would be for his wife and mistress to be seated at the same table.
'His mother will stop it,' Ophelia thought, no longer worried.
Later, someone else panicked when news of Ophelia attending dinner reached them.
Victoria paced back and forth in her chamber.
"Are you certain you heard right that he invited her to dinner?" Victoria asked, facing Nora to hear the answer once more.
Nora nodded. "A guard who was present informed me of it. She is to be at dinner tonight, but I do not understand why. She is an outsider, and Lady Cecilia already said she is to receive her dinner in the tower."
"Is your position threatened now that she is here?" Nora wondered, worried about Victoria.
"He questioned why I did not leave before he returned. I never thought her arrival would make Dante change our plans. She is ruining everything, and it is not as though I am being replaced by a lady who knows how to run the castle," Victoria fumed.
Victoria continued to pace back and forth. "I must think of something to stay here and be at his side, but what?"
"Would it be useful to you if she were proven unfit to take over your duties? You are already known as the lady of the castle, so if others see her fail, perhaps Lord Hastings would keep you," Nora suggested.
"No. That isn't enough for Dante to let me keep my duties here. He would have her taught, but I don't understand why. I must show him that my life is in danger so he may never think of sending me away again, but how?" Victoria wondered.
Victoria sat down on her bed, feeling defeated. "I fear I will need to leave eventually if this continues. If we had only gone through with the engagement when my father was alive, I would be safe. What will I do?" She palmed her face and cried.
Since Dante wanted her gone when he left, Victoria believed there would come another time when Dante would try to send her away to a nearby mansion.
Nora couldn't bear to see her lady be worried and thought of a dangerous yet certain way her lady could stay.
"Do you trust me?" Nora asked, drawing close to the bed to kneel before Victoria. "I have a plan which might get rid of your troubles.