Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord
Chapter 103: Backstabbed (1)

Chapter 103: Backstabbed (1)

In the late hours of the next day, Selene was the first one to wake up or so she believed. She was surprised that Xavier had not left the bed as he always would right when she fell asleep last night. She knew he hadn’t left the bed since they were in the same position as when she fell asleep and even closer than that.

Selene cursed herself for letting her hands wander in the night. She knew Xavier was well aware of where her hands were placed and she would hear of it at some point.

Selene didn’t bother to be careful as she slipped away from him. She moved her hands away from him quickly and got off the bed before he could hold onto her.

This was the one time she might believe he was asleep since his hold on her wasn’t as strong as before.

Selene went to the door to greet Agnes who should be there waiting to dress her.

"Good day, Milady."

"I’m sorry that I kept you waiting. It seems well into the day," Selene said, seeing the sunlight creeping into small places.

Already she noticed the windows were covered even more than normal to keep some of the sunlight out.

"It is fine. I do not mind waiting outside for you. Are you ready to have your bath or should I bring up something for you to eat? The table is already set but I can bring your food here," Agnes offered.

"No. I would like to go down. He is still asleep so I don’t want to disturb him. Help me to get dressed quickly and then I will go down to have some blood," Selene instructed Agnes.

Agnes glanced at the bed where Xavier laid. How certain was Selene that Xavier was still asleep?

To enter the room alone with Selene was one thing but it was terrifying to enter while Xavier was there. Agnes saw him as a sleeping beast. Normally he would only trouble Selene but watching him still scared Agnes.

"He will not bite. Maybe," Selene said, not certain anymore since he bit her. Humans might not be the only ones who need to beware of getting bitten by Xavier. "Let us be quick."

Agnes did as Selene wanted and dressed her as quickly as she could then head out of the room to wait for Selene.

Selene grew suspicious of Xavier not moving at least once. It couldn’t be that he was this tired since he went to bed at the same time as her. Was he hurt?

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to focus on her tasks today unless she checked, Selene approached the bed. She sat down where she earlier laid and touched his face.

Selene frowned just as Xavier smiled. "I should have known. Are you a child? Why would you lay there this long when you were awake?"

Xavier held her hand. "I knew it would be comfortable for you and your maid if I were not walking around. It is good to know you wouldn’t leave me if you suspect there is something wrong. You have joined Harold in caring for me so much."

Selene pulled his hand from her hold. "You should keep Harold as number one. I am going down to get blood and get started on what I have planned for the day. You can continue to lie as you are."

"I have work to do as well," Xavier replied.

Selene wondered what kind of work it could be. She had not questioned Xavier on his current finances. How was he maintaining or growing it? Since their life expectancy was longer than other creatures, they needed to have a plan for the future.

"Then I will leave you to get to it. I want to see what work was done during the night and what is needed from me. I have considered meeting with Francesca. I’m sure it won’t be long before more of the queen’s ladies come after me so I will need help. There is work to be done with these ladies as your wife," said Selene.

She was Selene Blackthorn now and she would not let the women acting on Vivienne’s orders forget it. Aside from Xavier’s protection, if she had the right ladies around her, Selene could protect herself. She had witnessed these circles sticking close to each other in her youth.

"It is not the kind of talk I would enjoy but if you need my opinion, I will be in my study," said Xavier.

Selene got up from the bed and headed to the door so Xavier could get ready for the day in peace. She made her way down to the first floor to start there to see the maids’ work.

"Harold, you are in quite the rush. Are you looking for my husband? Or is it me?" Selene asked.

Harold slowed down now that he found Selene. "There is a lady at the gates requesting to see you. She came early this morning but I sent her away since you were resting. She returned not long ago. The name given is Fiona Carleton."

Selene thought it was quite soon for Fiona to seek her out but given what Fiona was doing as of late, it was expected she would come here after Oliver went missing.

Selene thought of meeting Fiona at the gates since she didn’t want to welcome her inside her home, but knowing how it would look if the guards heard of this, she decided to let Fiona in.

"Invite her inside but she is to stay at the door," Selene ordered Harold.

Harold left to welcome the guest inside.

Agnes did not understand why Selene would give Fiona any time of day. "Milady, I don’t understand."

"Later you will understand but you must be quiet now," Selene replied.

Selene waited by the door for Fiona to come with Harold and a guard. Fiona wore an expression which would have Selene running to comfort her in the past but not this time. Not anymore.

Fiona thought it would be hard to look Selene in the eye but as she walked up, she could not look away from Selene. She did not miss the anger in Selene’s gaze.

"Harold, I will speak to my guest in private. I don’t want to be disturbed," Selene said, wanting it to only be her and Fiona. Selene wanted this addressed once and be done with. There wouldn’t be more she had to say to Fiona after today. "Now you may tell me what you have come for," she addressed Fiona.

Fiona noticed the difference in Selene tone. She was warm to the servant but cold to her. It was warranted but Fiona could not bear it. "You have heard."

"You will need to be specific since these days I don’t know all of what you are doing. Tell me, what did I hear?" Selene asked, needing Fiona to say it.

Selene would not allow Fiona to play innocent about what she did.

Fiona hesitated at first but to get answers about her husband she needed to speak. "It was wrong of me. I know it was. I was only following Oliver’s lead. We have been struggling quite a bit so he thought this was our chance to make money. I told him it was wrong. I truly did try to stop him."

"What matters to me isn’t what you told him. It is what you ended up doing," Selene responded.