Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord
Chapter 106: Backstabbed (4)

Chapter 106: Backstabbed (4)

Darius quickly buttoned up his shirt to return to the palace before his presence was missed. He was in a far better mood than when speaking to Vivienne last night. He needed to be away from her before he did something he would regret since it would bring conflict with her family.

Darius had to thank the woman behind him for being a good distraction but he wouldn’t say it out loud since she had already received a gift from him which was quite expensive.

"Why are you in a rush?" Natalie asked, wanting him to stay a little longer. It wasn’t every day he came to her home. "She only upsets you so why are you quick to run back?"

"It seems you have forgotten that I have a kingdom to rule. I cannot stay out of the palace long since those fools do not know how to act without me. I should have been gone long ago but you pulled me back to bed," said Darius.

"I hope you are not upset since I don’t remember you putting up much of a fight. You are too stressed these days. I do not like it," Natalie said as she sat up. "The kingdom is wonderful when the king is relaxed. What is the court doing?"

"Nothing. There is always something they want to complain about. I should get rid of all of them but that would be another headache. I should have someone kill them,’ Darius considered.

Natalie smiled as she enjoyed Darius so easily sharing his plans with her. She took it as him trusting her to not speak of anything he said to anyone. Darius was not like this with other people so she was special.

"But then you would need to think about replacing them. Just show them your power to put them in line. They will regret bothering you. Should I prepare some blood for the ride?" Natalie offered, wanting to end his talk about the palace.

Natalie knew he liked her because she didn’t have much interest in the palace.

Darius grabbed her hand before she left his side. "Did you like the gift? That was bold of you to request that I send it there. Are you planning to tell Vivienne?"

"To crush her heart? No," Natalie shook her head as she got up from the bed. "They were all getting gifts and I would have been left out had you not sent anything. Thank you for picking something so beautiful."

Darius released her hand after her answer. While he enjoyed his time with Natalie, he wouldn’t like for her to tell Vivienne about their meetings. Then, he would have to get rid of her.

"I’m almost certain Julianna sent something to herself. She doesn’t know I am close to the jewellers she uses. She’s a little bit too nosey. It might interest you to know she was the one questioning Selene most," Natalie shared.

"Was she? What’s with that look? Are you bothered that I hold some interest in Selene?" Darius asked.

Natalie slipped the thing straps over her shoulders to stand naked before him. She had to pick out a better dress to see him off. "You do not belong to me so I do not care. She is not the only woman you show interest in. I will leave it to Vivienne to care about.

Darius smiled. While he didn’t want Vivienne to care, part of him wanted to see Natalie a little jealous. ’You are fine with being a woman I meet with in private? By now it must have reached you that I am taking other women inside the palace. You don’t have any interest in it?"

"My friend is the queen. It would be too complicated for me to enter the palace to be at your side and I know my family was never one you would consider. I will know my place and stay here. I am satisfied with your visits and gifts," Natalie replied.

Natalie already knew how Vivienne would react if she became Darius’s official mistress. She might be the one pureblood Vivienne tried to kill.

Darius liked that she had no interest in it since he wasn’t considering her but if Vivienne continued to behave like a fool then he might just say Natalie’s name to upset her.

"There’s no reason why your family shouldn’t be called," Darius said, simply to please her.

"Do not act like you would make me official and I do not want to upset Vivienne. This must stay a secret," Natalie said since right now it greatly benefitted her.

"How can you think of Vivienne when you sleep with her husband? You even had me send you a necklace where she sat. You are the last person who should be concerned about her," Darius said, amused by Natalie thinking she was a good friend.

Natalie pulled a dress over her head and fixed it as she walked to where Darius stood. "I am being a friend by having you here when the two of you are not getting along. I am giving her a break," she said but soon started to laugh.

"If you truly believed you were helping her then I would have found you to be crazy. Still, continue to be a good friend to her so that I am welcomed here. I did enjoy my time," Darius kissed her hand.

"Since Vivienne isn’t doing what you want, should I befriend Selene and get her here? I do not think I was so rude to her that it would not be believable. I want to get close to her in secret. Had Vivienne shown less interest in Xavier and more in Selene, this would have been done with," said Natalie.

"She will not admit to you that she is in love with him but I know it. She got up to leave the table right after he left us. I doubt he showed her any interest which upset Vivienne. Leave Selene to me. I will get her here," Natalie promised.

A woman with very few or no friends at all in their circle would be desperate to hold on to the few showing her any attention.

Darius didn’t have much confidence in Natalie getting Selene here but one more person helping him increased his chances. "Do whatever you want. I need to get back to the palace."

Natalie stepped out of his way. She was already used to Darius not being the affectionate kind to kiss her goodbye or inform her when next he would come by. She had to be here for the times when he was upset and wanted to be in her arms.

Natalie went to her window to see him off. Darius never came with a carriage since it would bring too much attention to her home. She didn’t care to question how he found his way home.

She waited for Darius to be out of sight to then move away from the window. He was wrong to believe her that she had no interest in the palace. Everyone wanted to find their way into the palace and be attached to one of the five families. Natalie was no different.

Natalie stood before a mirror and turned to the side to see her shape. She ran her hand down her stomach which was almost flat. Her security in the palace to not have Vivienne attack her was to become pregnant before she entered. Her fate would be sealed if that child were to be a boy.

If Vivienne wouldn’t give the king a boy, Natalie would gladly do it in her place.