Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 15: Visit with the king (1)

"I must send to the court that I want a divorce. I want it sent by the end of the day. I wish for the high court to be quick with it. Are you still close to the king?" Selene asked, looking to use Xavier’s relationship with the royals.

"Still? When have we ever been close? The king and I don’t see eye to eye on most days we meet," Xavier replied.

Selene found it odd. "You two are part of the five families who started the half-bloods. It has always been said that you are close. My mother would tell me the stories often."

"Well, in the past our families were close but we’ve long branched off and only gather when it is important. I am not friends with the king or whatever you have heard. I merely speak on behalf of the Blackthorns. Why? What do you need from him that I cannot do for you?" Xavier asked, wanting her to share her plans.

"The king has made it known he will grant Gabriel’s anything he wants. It is something to be concerned about," said Selene.

She would be wary of what Gabriel would ask for until the divorce was final. Anything could happen.

"Oh," Xavier said, not the least bit concerned. "I will speak to the king about it. The divorce will be taken care of quietly and quickly. I will pay a visit to the king after I see that you have settled in today. How do you like the dress? I like it."

"Why would the king listen to you if you are not friends? I am trying to understand the relationship you have," said Selene.

"I am quite persuasive when I want something and he happens to owe me. You have come to me for my power and connections. There’s no need for you to worry when I am not worried. It will go well," Xavier said, certain of it.

Despite her family name not meaning much these days, Selene was still a pureblood so it would be foolish to have her stay with a mixed-blood in the eyes of the other three families.

"I shall leave it to you and I do like the dress. It reminds me of something my mother would have worn," Selene said, looking down at the design of the green dress.

"It does. Your family always wore a certain style. Your father would match your mother and then there was you with a tiny replica of what your mother wore."

Selene smiled. It was a special moment from her childhood when her family got all dressed up.

Xavier noticed how the warmth of her smile disappeared. "Do you have their things stored somewhere?"

"No. My relatives came quickly to collect what they could to make money. It was only me there so it wasn’t easy for me to put up much of a fight. I only got one of my mother’s brooches. I will get back what is left as well as the home," Selene vowed, determined to save the home.

"Getting revenge on that man and his little pest will take some time. Allow me to fix one problem for you. I shall get your parents’ things," Xavier promised.

"It is kind of you but I don’t want to trouble you," Selene said, worried she was already getting too much from him.

"It is not trouble, it is entertainment. Your mother was a lovely woman and your father was a man I could bear. Their things belong in the hands of their daughter. There should have been a male relative to come forward to help you get married and take what you need from the home. They certainly were greedy," said Xavier.

Selene decided to leave it to Xavier since his voice would matter more.

"Thank you. I have been thanking you since last night. If there is ever something you need from me, please do not hesitate to ask. I can help with running the estate since I had plenty of practice over the last year. I will make myself useful in any way," Selene said, not wanting to be seen as a leech in his eyes.

"There is already someone who keeps my estate running well. I don’t need another person to do it. Until we wed, you will be seen as a guest in my home and surely, my future wife wouldn’t like it if I made a guest work, would she?" Xavier asked, enjoying her annoyed look since she wasn’t getting her way.

"Then, I will use this time to look around to see how things are done. Why do you not have any guards at your gates during the day?" Selene asked, puzzled that there was no one to stop outsiders.

"There are guards around. I will let you into my secrets when you have become my wife. I am a bit thirsty so I will take a small drink and head to the palace. The servants will get what you need while I am not here. If you miss me, find a servant to send word to the palace and I will return to you," Xavier said, offering his hand to Selene to help her out of the carriage.

Selene placed her hand on Xavier’s. She didn’t know what to make of the man before her. He was quite the character. She couldn’t tell if he was serious or merely making a joke when he spoke about returning if she missed him.

Xavier helped Selene out of the carriage, waited for Agnes to exit and then got back in to go to the palace.

In the palace, Gabriel arrived by horse to see the king. After Selene left him for another man, Gabriel couldn’t wait any longer to speak with the king since he needed to confirm that Selene was going to end up right back in his arms.

Gabriel got changed into his finest attire to meet with the king. It was the first time he would be so close to the king since he had always been near the back of the king’s army before his victory.

A servant opened the door for Gabriel and introduced him. "My king, Gabriel Valor has arrived.

"Enter," Gabriel heard the king’s voice.

Gabriel entered the dark room filled with candles and found King Darius sitting with a robe draped over his shoulders, exposing his chest. A woman sat to the right of the king with her white dress stained with blood. "My king."

"I expected your visit sooner. Did you not know you had to greet your king upon arrival?" Darius asked. His attention was solely on the woman by his side.

"My apologies. There was a banquet held for me and matters of the army took my time. I was here the day before but you had been busy. I did not want to disturb you," Gabriel said, hoping the king would not be angry.

"I see. You have come to tell me what it is you want, right? Say it," Darius said, curious as to what it would be.

"My wife plans to leave me. I want there to be a decree that she must return to me," said Gabriel.

Darius laughed at the request. "I could give you anything and all you want is for your wife to stay? Have you come to me drunk? You could find another woman or work on your marriage without needing the king to help. Why waste this chance on a woman?"

"It is not so simple to fix our marriage. She is at Lord Blackthorn’s side-

"Xavier?" Darius interjected, his surprise heard in his voice. "Well, that certainly complicates things."