Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 68: Trouble in the market (1)

"Milady? Are you certain you are fine?" Agnes asked.

It was another day in the kingdom and time for Selene to set out to the market for what she needed but again, Selene appeared troubled by something.

"I am fine," Selene assured Agnes. "I am just thinking."

"Is it about Lord Blackthorn going to see his family or about the invitation sent to you? It is too much of a coincidence in my eyes that you received another invitation so fast. Not that many ladies wouldn’t want to meet with you," Agnes panicked, worried she had offended Selene.

"I know what you meant, Agnes. It is most likely the queen’s doing. I will accept the invitation," Selene decided.

The new invitation was to the home of a well-known lady in town rather than the palace. Knowing she had to face these women at some point, Selene made the decision it was time to show who Selene Blackthorn was.

"I’m sure there will be plots and tricks to embarrass me or to learn how I got him to marry. I will be walking into a trap but I will be prepared for what they will throw at me. I have to start strong to show they cannot break me. I cannot hide for long," said Selene.

Agnes was still worried about Selene meeting with these scheming women. To these women, Selene was an outsider with a tainted reputation. They would not hold back.

"They wouldn’t be so crazy to invite that woman, would they?" Agnes asked.

Selene shook her head. "They might dislike me but they will not casually invite a human to a gathering like this. I do not need to face her yet and if I do, I am not concerned. What is there to be concerned about?"

"I suppose there isn’t anything to worry about. It is she who should be nervous about meeting you after what she has done. Something must be done about how servants are treated. It is not right for Elsie to be killed so easily and the town guards do nothing. What is the king doing?" Agnes wondered.

"I also wonder but you mustn’t speak about the king out loud. Despite the way he rules, he is still well-loved and protected. We do not need him as our enemy. Instead of thinking about those people today, we should enjoy our time out," Selene said, looking outside the carriage window at the market.

"Lucas, when we first met you said you were at my husband’s side for a long time. While we are out today, I would like to get him a gift so I hope you don’t mind helping me," said Selene.

"I am here to do anything you need, Lady Blackthorn," Lucas answered. He had a few things in mind which she could get Xavier but he knew he would be hit over the head if he suggested them.

Lucas glanced at the maid sitting beside the lady. If he suggested them to her, he had a feeling she would quickly reveal he was the one who said it. If not for her getting dressed for her husband the only other choice to give Xavier was a weapon.

When the carriage stopped, Lucas opened the door for Selene to help her out and then the maid. Watching over Selene would be his hardest task yet since many were interested in seeing who Lord Blackthorn married so already there was plenty of attention on Selene.

Agnes opened a parasol to protect Selene from the blazing sun. ’I should have given her more blood to put up with it.’

Selene didn’t need to be shaded from the sun but she kept the parasol to hide her face from some of the nosey people trying to sneak a glance.

"Where to?" Lucas asked, ready to give an order to the other guards.

"I will walk ahead until I find somewhere I like. If it becomes too crowded, I will slip inside a shop," Selene replied.

"Lord Blackthorn sent a notice out in the morning for you to take a look at jewels. I was told to pass along the message that he has started," Lucas shared, not knowing what it meant.

Selene didn’t know what Xavier started but it wasn’t long before she remembered what was said yesterday. At some point, Selene knew she had to question Xavier about his feelings and plans to court her. She also had to question him about his intentions for marrying her since it wasn’t all to end his boredom as she now knew.

However, it had been a little difficult to face Xavier. She wanted that done with by tonight so they could go back as they were.

Selene didn’t have any feelings for Xavier so this situation they had fallen in was strange for her. It was too early for it to happen. If years later they had fallen in love then it would have been easier for her to understand.

Before a bigger crowd could gather, Selene walked off to search for shoes and a dress to wear to the gathering she was invited to. She thought of asking Josephine if she had received an invitation.

Was it known Josephine had accepted her or were others hoping they were at odds?

Not far from where Selene walked, she noticed the woman Valentina who she had invited to Gabriel’s ball. The same woman who once had plenty of remarks about Gabriel having a human lover had nothing to say now but Selene knew it wouldn’t be long before Valentina gained the courage to speak.

Selene didn’t show Valentina any more attention and remained focused on finding a shop to enter to be out of sight.

Lucas walked a little ahead of Selene to be quick to block her from danger. He was fast to notice a face the lady shouldn’t cross paths with and kept notice of Oliver.

Away from where Selene walked was Lucinda who had long arrived with Cassandra to find the dress Lucinda would wear to the wedding.

Lucinda didn’t like knowing Selene was in the market at the same time Gabriel came to visit a friend. She searched for her son to keep him close. "He shouldn’t see her."

Cassandra touched Lucinda’s arm to calm her down. "Gabriel has promised he no longer has any interest in her. You must trust him and remain focused on the wedding. Think of your dress."

"I am thinking about the future of this family. Look at the attention she has gathered. How has she managed to survive again?’ Lucinda wondered.

No other woman had remained standing in this town after their family fell and their marriages were ruined yet, Selene stood seemingly unscathed.

How was it possible?

Cassandra credited Xavier for most of it but she had to admit that Selene was stronger than she first appeared. "You didn’t know her as well as you thought. I still think she always had Lord Blackthorn’s favour while married to Gabriel. Unfortunately, we will never know since she would be a fool to admit it."

Since Xavier wasn’t with Selene, Cassandra didn’t have any interest in standing by to watch Selene hold the attention of the town. "We must carry on," she urged Lucinda. "We have too many plans to finish to be standing around like this."

Despite Cassandra’s encouraging her to leave, Lucinda couldn’t leave Selene alone just yet. "Go ahead to look at the dresses. I have somewhere to be," Lucinda informed Cassandra. freёweɓnovel.com

Cassandra let Lucinda run off since she needed a break from Lucinda making the wedding about her. Rather than see where Lucinda was going, Cassandra tried to find somewhere she could hide until Gabriel came to take her home but she stopped when she spotted someone who shouldn’t be here yet.