Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 232: Teaming up (2)

"Vivienne, I didn’t know you would be here," Juliana said, second-guessing her decision to stay with Darius. "I should leave."

"It is Queen Vivienne, and you may stay unless you were planning to speak ill of me to my husband. That couldn’t be what you came for, right?" Vivienne asked, examining the dress, which mirrored one she once wore to a ball. "You look wonderful today."

’Today?’ Juliana thought. She always looked well.

Was it her imagination, or was Vivienne trying to shame her in some way?

"Thank you. I was coming to have a drink with the king, but I can also have a drink with you, Vivienne. You might like this wine. I will only need to send a maid for another glass," Juliana said, secretly hoping Vivienne would leave.

It was a rare sight for Juliana to see Vivienne and Darius together without the pair arguing. Were they in a better place now?

’No,’ Juliana thought, gripping the bottle she had behind her back. ’They can’t be good again.’

Juliana feared Darius being good with Vivienne meant she would see him less, and considering she was not yet with a child, she could be replaced. It pained her to think Natalie might be the next one to enter the palace if Darius did have some interest in her.

"I don’t have time for a drink, but you two should sit together. I need to speak with my family and then to the court. Distract each other while I am busy," Darius said, kissing Vivienne’s cheek as a goodbye gesture.

Darius hoped to return and find her in a good mood just as he had left her.

Juliana smiled as Darius came toward her but soon frowned when he walked right by her. She shouldn’t expect much, but by now, she thought he had felt something for her.

After all, Darius was spending more time with her in bed than he was spending with Vivienne, who always sought to fight with him.

Why hadn’t she gotten a kiss goodbye or acknowledged more?

How hard was it to gain a place in Darius’s heart?

"You shouldn’t look so down, Juliana. He’s like that with everyone. Darius isn’t good at loving anyone. He says he loves me, but I don’t think he does. Sit," Vivienne ordered Juliana. "You should enjoy the wine you brought."

"Should I pour some for you?" Juliana asked since there were enough glasses now.

"Oh, no," Vivienne laughed. "I don’t want anything you have. Our tastes are a little different. If I want wine, I will send a maid."

"This also came from the wine cellar. The king drinks it each time he comes to see me. Perhaps you didn’t realise he is fond of it," said Juliana.

Vivienne smiled. "Are you trying to question how much I know about my husband? You have been at his side for how long now?"

Juliana shook her head. "That is not what I was trying to do. I was only saying that since the king enjoyed it, you might enjoy it as well."

"I am not a fool to fall for that, Juliana. You were trying to act like you know him better, which I don’t mind. You’re keeping him distracted, which is what I brought you here for, but you should be more careful with what you say," Vivienne advised Juliana.

Juliana frowned, confused by how Vivienne spoke to her now. "I don’t understand why you are speaking to me this way. I said you misunderstood what I meant with the wine. Have you turned on me now that I am sleeping with him?"

Vivienne laughed at Juliana’s silly assumption. "No, I am not upset with you. How could I be upset when I gave you the chance to be near him? I only want you to be quiet. When you see me, act like the maids and please, stop dressing like me."

Juliana looked down at her dress. This was something her maid picked because it was beautiful. "I am not dressing like you. We’ve never had the same style and it is my maid who picks my dresses. It is starting to feel like you are jealous."

Juliana didn’t feel the need to bite her tongue since she was more than Vivienne’s friend now.

Vivienne got her close to the king, but Juliana didn’t see any reason to be Vivienne’s little follower forever.

"You know, I never once believed you wouldn’t get jealous of me being at his side. He warms my bed more and tells me all his plans. You, on the other hand, have been busy chasing after another man while I got close to your husband. You should have been paying attention more," Juliana said.

"Well, well, well. You’ve finally grown to speak back to me. I suggest you walk out of this room now because you will regret saying the wrong thing to me, Juliana. I am still your queen while you are nothing more than his tramp," Vivienne reminded Juliana.

It was Juliana’s turn to laugh. "I will be more than that as long as I can have his child. You never pay attention, Vivienne. That’s why another friend has been seeing your husband without your permission. No one cares for you. Without your last name, you would be nothing."

Juliana approached Vivienne to pour her a glass of wine since she would need it. "I was a good friend to you. I was better than anyone else, yet you always treated me the worst. I was going to be respectful while I am here, but now, I think I will enjoy myself with the king."

Vivienne only cared to know about the friend Juliana spoke of. Was it Natalie, or was it someone else? How would Juliana know who else Darius was sleeping with? Did he admit it to her?

Vivienne had picked Juliana so she wasn’t ashamed about her being at Darius’s side, but it would be embarrassing if she had been sitting near a friend who was with her husband in secret.

"Juliana, you have always been a silly woman in my eyes, but I kept you around since you were always so useful to do as I say. I have already banned one friend from coming to the palace, and now, no one speaks to her. What do you think will happen to you if I toss you to the side as well?" Vivienne asked.

"I am one of the king’s women. I am no longer just your friend. It is time that you stop speaking down to me. I want to get along with you, but your little remarks to embarrass me can not go on. You will need me when he brings the others," said Juliana.

"I will need you," Vivienne laughed, amused by this. "It is unfortunate that unless you are now with child, you will soon be sent out of the palace. It’ll be a great shame when you are tossed to the side. Will you show your face then?"

Juliana didn’t believe Vivienne. "Do you think you can fool me? This is your jealousy speaking. I have been with the king each night since I arrived."

Vivienne shook her head. "I will show you how little that matters. I hope you are with child now since I will take up all his time. With him in my bed every night, how will you stay in the palace?"