Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 31: First dinner (1)

Selene parted ways with Xavier to get dressed for dinner. It would be the first proper dinner they would have together since she arrived. The first of many as Agnes called it.

"You and Lord Blackthorn get along quite well. I have enjoyed seeing the lord up close. He is as scary as they say but he is caring. I wouldn’t have placed him to be so caring to help you this much. If only you had found him before that brute. I’m sorry," Agnes apologised for speaking ill of Gabriel.

"He is a brute. I do not mind if you say what you feel when we are alone. I like hearing what you think since it helps me. He is a kind man but I am starting to wonder if there is something more than entertainment for why he has chosen to help me," said Selene.

"If there is a plan I am unaware of, I do not mind. I only hope not to be burned by it. I should ask at dinner and hope he tells me. He has been quite honest so far. I should have come to him months ago but I did not think he would have seen me as a friend," Selene said, still wrapping her mind around their friendship.

"Is it possible the lord once loved you? If there isn’t a big reason behind getting married to you so suddenly, it might be that he once loved you. That would be wonderful," Agnes said, excited to test if it was true.

Selene smiled upon seeing Agnes get so worked up. "I doubt it is that. We were around each other when we were children but we weren’t that close for him to have liked me. I have a feeling he would have said something."

Agnes continued to brush Selene’s hair. "Well, I can’t think of any other reason he would be so kind. I don’t believe his kindness extends to other people. It is just for you. Perhaps you never noticed his interest in you. You were young so you didn’t pay attention to boys."

"It was always said he would marry one of the girls from the other families and he was always by himself. There wasn’t a point in trying to get close to him then since he was well above me. There’s no need to think about this. We have our arrangement," said Selene.

Agnes placed the brush down. "I wish for you to be loved, Milady. I know it is what Elsie would want. She would be happy to know you are no longer at Gabriel’s side. If there is a chance for you to find love in this new marriage you should take it. Once your heart has healed of course."

"I will try to. You’ve done a wonderful job again," Selene said, admiring her appearance in the mirror. "Isn’t it too much? It will only be the two of us at dinner tonight."

"It is your first time sitting with the lord. You must be dressed up," Agnes replied. While Selene might find it to be too much, Xavier might enjoy it. "I will tidy the room while you eat. I must put away what the lord bought for you and set out the night dress. I will be fine alone."

Selene still worried about letting Agnes out of her sight but it seemed Agnes was doing well. "You should be quick to have your dinner. You will also need some blood. I will have someone send blood to my room for you." frёeωebɳovel.com

"Thank you," Agnes answered.

Selene stood up to make her way to the dining room so she wouldn’t be late. She kept looking down at her dress, still wondering if she was overdressed for the occasion. It was only dinner so Xavier would wear simple clothes.

When she neared the dining room and found him dressed in a loose shirt and pants one would wear at home, it confirmed that she was right.

"Agnes got a little carried away with my look," Selene said.

"It seems I need to be prepared next time to dress well for dinner. Remind me to pay your maid well for this sight she has given me. I don’t know what to enjoy more. The dress or you overthinking how you look. You are beautiful Selene," Xavier said, enjoying the look now before she tried to hide herself from him.

"I know. Agnes always does a wonderful job. Her hands are talented to make any hair she touches pretty," Selene replied.

"I was not speaking of what she added to you. You are already beautiful. The red does suit your pale cheeks," Xavier noted once more.

Selene walked by Xavier to enter the dining room.

"Are you running away from my compliments? Normally others would take the chance to enjoy my compliments. Not there," Xavier stopped Selene from pulling out a chair. "You will sit here."

"Isn’t that your chair as lord of the estate? I can sit beside you or down there," Selene pointed to the other end of the table.

"But then we wouldn’t be close," said Xavier.

"We both have wonderful hearing. Why would we need to be close? So you could tease me or do whatever you have in mind? I will crush more than your fingers if you toy with me now," Selene said as she made her way to the other side of the table.

Harold awaited Xavier’s response to the lady threatening to harm him but Harold was met by Xavier following Selene to the other chair. He raised his hand for the maids to not enter. The moment should not be disturbed.

Selene sighed. "I did not mean for you to follow me. You can hear all that is around you. If a maid drops a rag on the second floor, you will surely hear it so why must we be close?"

"Because I want to be close. Isn’t that reason enough?" Xavier asked, taking his seat as he spoke.

Selene knew it was no use to move since he would follow her. "I am almost certain you are my punishment for the times I misbehaved as a child. Or is this what I must tolerate for revenge? I would prefer that you would ignore me."

"Then you must find a way to stop being so lovely to bother. Every bit of you intrigues me, " said Xavier. It wasn’t that often he found someone who didn’t bore him one bit. She could do nothing yet still excite him.

"I see it as a curse to be someone you like to be around. I would not mind it if you need to leave my side to be with your friends or anyone else as long as you are not by my side. I enjoy our conversation but there are times where I would like to give you a pinch," Selene shared.

If Xavier wasn’t careful, she might pinch him without warning.

"You are free to do so but I must warn you that our ideas of punishment are different. You will want to tread lightly," Xavier advised Selene.

"I will pretend you are a gentleman and there is nothing to your words," said Selene.