Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 21: Moving on (2)

"What do your parents do? I didn’t get the chance to hear about where you came from," said Lucinda.

"Nothing is exciting about the town I came from. I lost my parents when I was quite young so I was taken in by a family friend who took good care of me. He spoiled me just as my father did and forbade Gabriel from taking me without promising marriage first. He is a trader," Cassandra replied, knowing Lucinda wanted to hear about money.

"It is sad to hear about your parents and it is wonderful he took you in but what title does he hold?" Lucinda asked, only interested in who this man was.

"He doesn’t hold a title and it doesn’t matter. He is well respected around the town I met Cassandra and if not for his help, we wouldn’t have gathered the extra supplies we needed. Do not ask about a title again," Gabriel said, annoyed by his mother’s behaviour.

Cassandra had enough to please him. Gabriel didn’t need a wife from a wealthy family for all the credit for his status to go to his wife’s family. He would find his riches and status by himself so he would never have to feel small again like he did with Selene.

"A well-respected man sounds good. I look forward to meeting him before the wedding. It must be the grandest wedding anyone has seen for the year. It must take the attention away from the divorce. You will not give that woman anything," Lucinda said, her mind still lingering on what Selene could want.

Lucinda trusted the court would do as it always did to send Selene away with what she came to Gabriel with. It was better to stay with the life Gabriel offered than to go back having only what money was left by Selene’s father.

"It doesn’t work like that, Cassandra. I am tired," Gabriel sighed. His talk with Xavier was already draining. "I must leave to speak to the earl and his peers. They have invited me for a small gathering."

Lucinda’s eyes lit up with excitement upon hearing the men Gabriel would now meet with. "You must wear something nice."

Lucinda now examined Cassandra’s dress which looked dull. "You must be more careful with what you choose to wear. Even at home. You came from humble beginnings but you must think of Gabriel. He cannot have a woman who dresses nearly the same as the servants. Aren’t there any dresses here?"

"I did not want to enter her room to be careful if she returned. I don’t want her to hate me more than she already does," Cassandra replied.

"You are too kind. You can take what you want from that room but it is best to get you new dresses so she cannot mock you. I have always noticed that woman had an evilness to her," Lucinda said, her intuition proving right again.

Cassandra could only smile. She believed Lucinda disliked Selene simply because she is a pureblood but she doubted Lucinda was so vocal about disliking Selene.

"We shouldn’t speak ill of her. Who knows what she will have Lord Blackthorn do to us? Would she fill his ears with lies about us? The lord was cruel to me when he came yet I did nothing to him. I did not know Gabriel was married when I fell in love with him so I wanted to apologise for hurting her. I did not get the chance to say my side," Cassandra said, her eyes glistening with tears threatening to fall.

Gabriel’s anger returned after seeing Cassandra on the brink of tears. He brought her into his mess of a marriage. "You do not owe her anything. Mother, take Cassandra to get what she will need. We have plenty of parties to attend so she will need to be ready. I don’t want to hear about Selene in this house if she is not here."

Gabriel only wanted to hear about Selene when it came to the divorce. He would see her again when they were called to end their union and when they did, he would have his request by the king granted to show he did not need her any longer.

Meanwhile, on the Blackthorn estate, Xavier listened to the report of what Selene did during his absence.

"The lady only took a tour of the estate. She was not able to visit all the rooms but she did come across your private room you have made off-limits. I informed her that she would need your permission first before she could enter," Harold shared what he saw and said.

"Now, why would you do that? She can go wherever her curious mind takes her. I have nothing to hide from the woman who will share my name. Inform all the servants not to stand in her way," Xavier said.

Xavier’s back was turned to Harold since his gaze was fixed on Selene walking around the garden below.

"I will gather the servants and tell them as soon as I leave. The lady only wants to use the maid she came with."

"That is fine. She will need time to get close to the maids here. Selene should have the warmest welcome here. I will not tolerate any disrespect to her or her maid. If the maid is not doing her job to your liking or the head maid’s, you should step in but I don’t care for childish drama. Selene cares for her," Xavier said, thinking of how Selene would be if someone troubled Agnes.

It was evident that Selene was not yet over the loss of Elsie. She would snap at anyone who targeted Agnes.

Harold noted to inform the maids to be welcoming of Agnes. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Put away the coffin. She doesn’t like the sight of it," said Xavier.

It didn’t show but Harold was surprised to hear he could finally put away the coffin. Xavier’s mother would be delighted to hear that it was out of sight.

"You will also need to move most of my things to make room for her in our bedroom. Everything she needs should be there for her to use the day after we wed. I will leave it to your hands," Xavier said, moving away from the window when he lost sight of Selene. "How long will it take for her to lose that name?" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"With the king’s help, it could be no more than a week if they both are ready to part. I have heard it takes months or years for couples to part. Forgive me," Harold asked for forgiveness because of the look he received from Xavier. "She is already Lady Blackthorn in my eyes."

"You always have the right answer. The town will learn of the divorce soon since it will surely be talked about her no longer residing there and it will slip from the court. News about our plans to wed should not get out before then. The kingdom will know once she no longer holds his name," Xavier said.

Xavier knew the town well enough to predict their responses would be not believing he had finally picked a wife to also wanting to approach Selene now that she would enter the Blackthorn family. Those who laughed at losing her husband to a human would smile while they wished her well.

"A good show is coming, Harold. I only need the king to hurry it along. Should I have given him more motivation?" Xavier wondered. People worked faster when their lives were at stake.

"So you do not get married in the palace dungeon, I think it is best you leave the king be," Harold replied, wanting more for Xavier’s wedding.