Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 54: Still standing (1)

The carriage stopped once more at the graveyard where Selene laid her parents to rest.

Agnes handed Selene the flowers Harold was kind enough to prepare and stayed back so Selene could go with Lord Blackthorn.

"How did you and Agnes come to be so close? For her to follow you where you go?" Xavier asked, giving Selene the chance to think of something other than her relatives.

"I’ve known her for many years. Agnes was taken in by our headmaid at the time since she lost her family. She was employed to play with me and then later on became my maid. Elsie was the daughter of a maid my mother adored. Like me, they didn’t have anyone to turn to so we stuck together," Selene shared her past.

Wherever Selene travelled to, Elsie and Agnes were always at her side.

"Aside from you, those two are my family. Agnes is more than a maid to me. She is my friend and family. We became closer during the time I lost my parents since she lent me her shoulder when I needed someone. I had bad thoughts when I lost my family. Those two kept me here," Selene revealed.

Only Elsie and Agnes understood how hard it was for Selene when she lost her parents.

Selene looked ahead at the two graves placed side by side. The memory of the rainy night when she had to plead to have them rest here and offer a great deal of money came back.

Back then, the rain beat down on her without mercy as she was the one who needed to dig a hole for her parents. The more Selene cried that night, the more it rained. She was soon joined by Elsie and Agnes who did not mind getting their hands dirty.

Selene remembered Elsie as the one to say the sky was crying with them.

Selene first noticed her mother’s grave. The name Sabrina Harrison was partially covered by old weeds.

"Can you hold this for me?" She asked, handing the flowers to Xavier.

Xavier took the flowers and watched as Selene lowered herself to clean the grave.

After a quick look around, Xavier noticed her family graves were the only ones not taken care of. This graveyard was for vampires only but Selene’s parents had to be the only purebloods around since they were usually hard to kill and they were placed to rest near their homes.

Xavier joined Selene to clean the grave. "The caretaker should have done this."

Selene pulled away the weeds and set them to the side. "He has already informed me that he will not be cleaning them. I was lucky he accepted the money to place them here. I can take care of it. I am their daughter."

Selene did not regret bringing them here instead of burying them at her childhood home as she thought at first. Trevor and the others might have done something to the graves.

Xavier grabbed Selene’s left hand because of the way it shook. It would pain anyone who adored their parents to see their graves like this. "I will clean it for you. As your husband, I have enough cause to take on cleaning it for you. We will go faster if I help."

Selene wasn’t used to someone other than herself or her maids cleaning the graves. "If that is what you want," she replied. She drowned herself in guilt for not coming sooner to tidy the graves.

Xavier released Selene’s hand and placed the back of his right hand against her cheek. "I think you are the one who has been alone."

"I was not. I had my maids," Selene answered. "I am fine. I get worked up like this each time I come but I am fine. Truly."

"Selene-"

"I know how the town views them but as their daughter, it hurts to see them disrespected. I am grateful for the offer you made to help clean up but would you please give me a moment alone? Just a small moment for me to gather myself and then you can return so I can introduce you. Please," Selene pleaded, trying not to let her tears fall.

Selene didn’t want to cry before Xavier and she didn’t want to cry before her parents’ graves since she promised she would stay strong.

Xavier left the flowers at Selene’s side and stood up to leave her alone as she wanted. He would like for her to find comfort in him but it was too soon for her to share what was eating her inside now that they were here.

Xavier walked away from Selene, using this moment to search for someone.

Agnes worried when she saw Xavier returning near the carriage without Selene. "Is there something you left behind in the carriage, Lord Blackthorn? I can get it for you."

"No. Keep an eye on my wife for me. I must speak to the caretaker for a moment," said Xavier.

’The caretaker?’ Agnes thought. Why would the lord need to speak to that rude man?

Still, Agnes preferred that Xavier speak with the caretaker instead of Selene. Nothing good ever came out of the lady speaking to that man.

Xavier followed the noise he heard someone rummaging through something. It took him to a small home where the caretaker stayed.

"Who are you?" The caretaker Martin pointed his shovel at Xavier. "I don’t want any trouble with a pureblood."

Xavier examined the small home given to the man. "The court gave this home to the one who looks after the graves. When you slack off, shouldn’t it be taken away from you?"

Martin wasn’t in the mood to deal with a pureblood speaking in circles. "I’ve been doing my job. If there is someone you cannot find, that is on you. You should check all the names again."

"You have the Harrisons buried here. You are paid to keep the graves in good condition. Or have your duties changed without my knowledge?" Xavier asked.

Martin thought about the name Harrison. "Harrison? Those traitors? I’m close to digging those two up to make room for someone else. I don’t need any traitors here. That reminds me to speak to their daughter."

"How did they get here in the first place? Why accept them if you were going to be this way?" Xavier asked, placing his hands behind his back. Since Selene was near, he didn’t want to act upon his anger so fast.

Martin lowered his shovel. This was just another nosey pureblood who came around asking about the Harrisons. Instead of asking him about those people, why didn’t they just dig them up for him?

"Because of the money their daughter gave me. I should have asked for something more. It’s not every day a young pretty girl comes to me in the middle of the night. It gets lonely here. W-Wait," Martin cried out, his shovel falling as he reached for Xavier’s hand on his neck. "I didn’t mean it like that. I meant to marry her."

"We both know what you meant. Honestly, I’m in a terrible mood after seeing her try not to cry before me then I come to you who had plans to take advantage of a woman desperate to bury her parents. They could use a new caretaker here," Xavier said whilst tightening his hold on Martin’s neck.

Martin’s panic grew when his feet started to dangle after being lifted from the ground. "Forgive me."

"I am tired of hearing apologies," Xavier replied.