Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 175: Last warning (1)

Selene returned home with Xavier by nightfall. Rather than leave her childhood home after the trap and the bat following them, Selene searched her old room, which had been turned into storage, for any more clues.

Nothing stood out to her, but Selene was able to find a few things she cherished. A few of the books she read as a child remained, and while they were no longer in the greatest condition, Selene planned to place them in her room on the estate.

During the ride back home, Selene’s mood changed for the better. She was worried about where her parents were now, but since they could be alive and well, Selene wanted to remain positive. She would continue her life as it was before and wait for her parents or grandfather to come to her.

"Milady," Agnes greeted Selene.

"I am sorry I worried you, Agnes. Time got away from us. Please have a warm bath prepared for us," said Selene.

"For us to use at the same time?" Xavier questioned, intrigued.

"No. I will be alone, and you can have Harold fill your water after. You are ruining Agnes’s innocent ears," Selene said, wanting to cover Agnes’s ears.

"How disappointing. Here I thought we could end the day on a relaxing note. While she is preparing your bath, there is something I want to show you. It is innocent," Xavier promised.

Selene doubted Xavier’s idea of innocence was the same as her version. Still, she followed him to see what it was. Selene welcomed anything to take her mind off her parents. Worrying about something she couldn’t change would only affect her time with Xavier.

"I’ve done you a favour by getting my hands on something you wanted. I would like something in exchange for the lengths I went to," Xavier said since getting out of his mother’s hands was not easy.

"This sounds a little suspicious. Why must I reward you for what you have found? Is it the portrait covered in your study?" Selene asked, remembering it now. "I did not look at it. I am not one to snoop around in others’ things."

"In this case, it is not others. It is your husband," said Xavier. She was free to snoop since he didn’t have anything to hide.

"Still," Selene didn’t see a difference. "I trust that if it is of any importance, you will tell me. So, I don’t have any reason to snoop around."

Xavier held Selene’s hand so she would not turn away after what he wanted to ask. "Are you certain you do not want to save the maids the trouble and enjoy our bath together?"

"I am certain," Selene replied, squeezing his hand. "Perhaps another night, which I shouldn’t say since you won’t forget it. With all that I learned today, now doesn’t seem to be the right time for that. I don’t think I will be able to get into it."

"Into what?" Xavier asked, feigning ignorance.

"I thought you had stopped this," Selene shook her head. She had gotten used to Xavier enough not to fall for this trick. "It will not work on me."

"I know it won’t because you are too smart for it, but I might have you slip up one day. I don’t have any intentions to touch you in that way. With what you learned today, I must stay near you even if you don’t need to speak. It is the least I can do to comfort you or to help you not get so lost in your thoughts," said Xavier.

"Well, we can do that after we have both cleaned up. You have already done so much for me today and before that, so you do not need to stay by my side. Agnes is here," Selene said, not wanting to trouble him even more.

"I have two good legs to walk away when I don’t want to be bothered by anyone and a mouth to tell you. I am not bothered by any of this. I am waiting for you to realize that anything concerning you matters to me. You don’t have to take care of yourself alone anymore," Xavier reminded Selene.

"I know. There is a tiny fear with all that happens surrounding me. I might end up pushing you away because there is much to look into. I feel a bit drained, so I think of how you must feel," Selene shared her concerns.

"Do not worry about it, since if not for you, I would be asleep by now. I am intrigued by your life. I also have my concerns about you becoming bothered by the guards showing up every other day. We should simply share those concerns and move past them," Xavier suggested.

"We should," Selene said, stopping midway through her response to look behind them. It was small, but she was certain she heard the sound of someone following them.

Selene shook her head, dismissing the thought, and continued to the study

Xavier looked ahead but still listened to the little pest trying to keep up with them. The little spy picked the wrong day to reveal themselves.

Xavier took Selene into his study and closed the door. "There was a servant following us."

"Then, I hadn’t heard wrong. Is it someone following the king’s orders?" Selene asked.

When would all the spying end?

"No. He can’t slip one of his spies in here. The servants here are loyal to the Blackthorns so it must be a follower for my father. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is my mother’s doing to keep watch of our marriage. I will handle the matter later but this is what you have been looking for," Xavier said, removing the cover from the portrait.

Selene was greeted by the sight of a young Xavier. She covered her mouth as she laughed. "Were you glaring at the artist? Why did they keep it like this?"

"He had a habit of taking too long to get the portrait done. I did not know my face was like this. Believe it or not, this was the best among what my mother had. There weren’t too many of me alone and I didn’t want one of the group portraits with my father in it here. Should I take this one back?" Xavier asked, starting to pick it up.

"No, no, no," Selene repeated, stopping Xavier from moving it. "Everything about this fits who you are. I will have it placed somewhere out of sight from any guests we might have but where I can see it daily. Thank you for finding it."

Selene could now call off the search for finding a portrait here.

The more Selene stared at the portrait the more a single thought filled her mind.

"I am not ready for it and I know you have no interest in it now but they are all interested in when you will have a child. You are already far above me and many of your peers with your power. If we were to ever have a child then we would have to protect them constantly," Selene shared her thoughts.

Selene might be thinking too far into the future but with their relationship growing with each passing day and them both open to intimacy, it was possible they could one day have a child.

There were so many interested in Xavier’s child first starting with the Blackthorns. A child who inherited both their abilities would be sought out by many. They could never let Selene’s family secret slip for this reason.

Xavier placed the cloth over the portrait. "If we were to ever have a child or many more, I would never allow anyone to get close to them. I have avoided being approached or used by anyone."

"But you have spent most of your time avoiding everyone," Selene said, pointing out the secluded life Xavier has.

"I might have been alone for most of my life but I was never unhappy. If having to be alone concerns you then I can simply kill everyone who is too nosey," Xavier offered. "Any child of ours will be fine."

"Should we start making one so I can show they will be fine?" Xavier proposed.

Selene shook her head as she laughed. "No, we shall not."