Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord
Chapter 140: Evil deed (1)

Chapter 140: Evil deed (1)

"You must be excited, Vivienne. All everyone speaks about around the town is the ball. They are looking to see who has been invited and who will have to be at home. I have already picked out my dress but I doubt it will be close to how beautiful a dress for the queen will be," Juliana said, showing Vivienne with compliments to make up for her recent mistakes.

Natalie looked across the table at her blabbering friend. "How much longer do you intend to bore her with your compliments? Even I am annoyed by it so think of how Vivienne must feel."

Julianna glared at Natalie who shouldn’t have been invited today. "If it bothers Vivienne then she will tell me. You have been quiet since you sat down."

"Because I have nothing to say. I am looking forward to the ball. Do you want to hear what I will be wearing?" Natalie asked.

"No, but I would love to know who will be at your side. You had someone send you a beautiful gift at Francesca’s home yet you have not told us about him. Or her," Juliana said since she started to assume Natalie preferred to entertain women. "I have been curious about why you would hide your lover."

"From nosey people like you, of course. I am enjoying myself so why would I bring anyone with me to the ball? I am not like you who has a sudden interest in parading around a lover. There will be plenty of men there for me to have more fun with," said Natalie.

"She’s right. My husband has invited men from all around the kingdom so don’t set your eyes on one man just yet, Juliana. You might find one more to your liking at the ball. Natalie has never been one to share her lovers with us and I don’t mind it," Vivienne said since she didn’t care.

Vivienne had too many problems with Darius to care about who Natalie was sleeping with.

"See. That is why I say you are the nosey one. I hope you don’t flaunt a man at the ball and speak highly of him only to not be seen near him at the next social event. You should keep it a secret until you are certain it will go well for you. Take it from me," Natalie said.

Natalie learned from the mistakes of the women Vivienne killed. They were all too eager to show off they had the king’s attention and in the end, caught Vivienne’s attention which led to their deaths.

Juliana didn’t want to take any advice from Natalie. It would be believable that Natalie was the one who sent gifts to herself.

Juliana ignored Natalie for now and turned to Vivienne. "I am sorry we didn’t do well at Francesca’s home. I have heard from a close friend that Selene was spotted with Francesca. They should both know their places."

"I don’t care who Francesca mingles with. She was never someone important," Vivienne said. She only saw Francesca as someone to use.

"I remember how she tried to get the king’s- Sorry," Juliana quickly apologised for being up in the past. "I expected that kind of behaviour from Francesca since she has always been odd. Should we tell the other women to avoid her as well? She shouldn’t be allowed to enter the ball."

"I cannot dismiss who Francesca’s husband is and it would seem childish for me to take back her invitation. My issue doesn’t lie with Francesca, it is with Selene. She has come back to our circle with her head held high as though she and her family didn’t try to harm my family," said Vivienne.

Natalie raised her glass to her mouth, hiding her smile behind it. "I do not like how she tried to act like you were lying about how close you once were to Lord Blackthorn."

"Natalie!" Juliana exclaimed, surprised Natalie would mention that here. Vivienne never liked when they spoke about Xavier in the palace. The king could be close by.

"She was friends with him. Everyone knew that. Maybe there is something about you that annoys Selene. She will never understand Lord Blackthorn as you did," said Natalie.

Vivienne felt the same way. Selene wasn’t around to know how close she was to Xavier. She had gotten under Selene’s skin and rightfully so. Vivienne could have been the one to become Lady Blackthorn.

Life could have been so much better if she was. Xavier might not have been the warmest person but Vivienne trusted he wouldn’t have disrespected her as Darius was doing now.

"She thinks highly of herself to not attend the ball. It would have been quite the show if she ran into her ex-husband and his human lover. I hear they will wed tomorrow," said Juliana.

"I am not fond of humans and this one is certainly beneath us but wouldn’t it be fun to see that woman invited to more social events than Selene? It would add more salt to the wound that not only had this woman stolen her husband but she was now welcomed by purebloods," Juliana suggested.

"You fool," Natalie spoke up, shaking her head at Juliana’s bright idea. "It would be insulting for us to surround ourselves with a human woman. One without a title no less. Who cares if her husband is a hero? He is still a mixed-blood. It would work better to have the town speak highly of this woman and speak of what Selene’s family did."

"I am not surrounding myself with a woman whose name I do not know. It is beneath me," said Natalie.

Natalie didn’t hold so much hatred for Selene to do such a thing but seeing that Vivienne considered it for a moment, she did not understand how Darius missed Vivienne was still in love with Xavier.

It would be wonderful if Vivienne were to be caught with Xavier and Darius decided to punish the two, leaving the position of queen open.

"Natalie is right. We cannot make a fool of ourselves by having a human around us just to make a mockery of Selene. That is why I have set it in place for nobles of their kind to invite his wife to their home. With Gabriel now in the palace, his wife will rise without us needing to keep her at our side," said Vivienne.

Everything was well on the way for Selene to know her place. Having Xavier wouldn’t be enough to protect her.

Vivienne glanced to the left of the table where all the maids stood. One in particular was missing. Theresa shouldn’t be away from her side now that she had guests.

"I look forward to the show. With that said, how are you?" Juliana asked, reaching to touch Vivienne’s hand. "The king searching for official mistresses must be hard on you."

Vivienne smiled as she pulled her hand away from Juliana’s touch. "Not at all. He spoke to me about it before it got out. I understand why he is doing it and regardless of who he brings here, I am your queen. I always will be so while I appreciate your concern, you don’t need to worry about me."

"Or," Vivienne’s smile went away. "Are you fishing to hear who he will choose? You have gained so much interest in marriage as of late. I wonder what you knew then."

Juliana was mortified that Vivienne would think she wanted the king. "I would never seek out a place by the king’s side."

"Good because you will not get the chance. You are my friend therefore I trust you. You were so easy to upset," Vivienne laughed but she was quite serious. "I’ll find you a good match at the ball. Both of you."