Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 269: Playing matchmaker (1)

Xavier returned to the estate with Bryce still under his control. He handed Bryce off to a guard who would introduce Bryce to his new friends in the dungeon.

"You’re not going to explain to me how you got a priest to willingly follow you to your dungeon? I know how to keep a secret," said Isaac.

Xavier ignored Isaac and discarded his coat. He looked around for Selene but was greeted by Harold. "Is Selene busy?" He asked.

"She is busy with Lady Francesca. Her friend had arrived hours ago, and they had been upstairs since then. Lady Josephine is in her room. Packing, I believe. Your father visited today," Harold shared.

"I trust that he wasn’t welcomed inside," said Xavier.

"No, he wasn’t. They spoke at the gates, and your wife was safely inside," Harold replied.

"You said she is packing. Now is not the time for her to leave," Xavier said, walking off to find his mother. "Tend to Isaac for me, Harold. I will be back soon."

For the first time in his life, Isaac wanted to follow Xavier instead of staying with the scary butler.

"All I need is a chair to wait for him," Isaac said, trying to avoid eye contact with Harold.

"This way," Harold replied, leading the way.

Meanwhile, Xavier went up to the room his mother claimed as her own and found the door wide open.

"Where are you going?" Xavier asked, leaning against the door frame. "It is not safe."

"I am aware that it is not safe. Selene has already brought up that it is not safe, but I am still planning to leave. If I were with your father, would you be so concerned about me?" Jopsehine questioned, setting down her dress to take a break from packing.

"No," Xavier admitted. "It would be the two of you protecting your home. Now it is just you, and the humans behind the attacks might be looking for someone to kill as a message to the king."

"I am not afraid. Are you afraid?" Josephine asked, knowing Xavier’s answer already.

"I am," Xavier replied.

This surprised Josephine since she expected him to be confident he could take on anyone.

"Are you lying to get me to stay?" Josephine asked, taking a seat on her bed.

"No. I prefer to be honest with you about the state of the kingdom. If it were only me, I wouldn’t be afraid, but now I have a wife who has never fought a day in her life. I don’t mind keeping that way, but I worry when I am not by her side," Xavier explained his concern.

"I see. I have had my fair share of fights and learned a few things at your father’s side. Your father isn’t going to give up trying to speak to me. He will come to the gates, which will bother you, and I want to avoid it. I have stayed long enough," Josephine said, ready to move on. "I can’t stay here forever."

"I don’t want you to be here forever. Forever is a long time, and I would like to have the estate to myself and Selene, but it is too dangerous for you to go now. Once this is settled, I will personally help you to move," Xavier offered.

"You cannot get upset with me if your father shows up too much," Josephine said, needing to hear Xaver promise it.

"I never thought you could control him, so why would I be upset with you? We are at a good distance from the gates for his presence to not bother me, and there are some days when I enjoy seeing him out there begging to be let in," Xavier revealed.

Josephine laughed. "Your father would lose his mind if he heard that. What if the attacks take forever to end? Would you still want me here?"

"I am letting you stay until they are over with. If you start to bother us, it would be good motivation to find who is behind the attacks to get you to leave. Stay a little longer," Xavier said, entering the room to take out what his mother packed.

"Well, there goes me buying a new home," Josephine sighed.

"Why would you need to buy a new home when you already have others?" Xavier inquired.

"Your father knows where the others are, so it would make it quite easy for him to find me. I wanted a new home that was a little out of town so it would take some time for him to find me. I will wait until the attacks are done and leave right away. You can’t stop me then," Josephine said, refusing to overstay her welcome.

Josephine couldn’t do as she liked in Xavier’s home, and she limited her visitors since Xavier wouldn’t like it. She needed her own space where she could be in control.

"I won’t stop you then. I’ll come straight here to help you pack. While I am enjoying this talk, I have to let Selene know that I am home. She will be angry if I don’t," Xavier said, heading to the door.

Josephine stared at the pile of clothes which needed to be put away. "I need a servant," she said.

Xavier listened to his mother leaving her room, most likely to find Harold, who was already busy. He walked right toward his bedroom and, upon opening the door, was greeted by a sight he would never forget.

"Lord Blackthorn," Francesca greeted Xavier. She took two steps away from Selene. "We were just playing dress up."

Xavier took in every bit of the sultry outfit Selene wore. "It is the kind of dress-up I would have liked an invitation to. I will leave you two to continue as you were."

"No, no," Francesca repeated, taking Agnes with her as she walked toward the door. "I am done here. She will need some help to take it off, and a strong man like yourself would be of more help to her than I am."

Agnes quietly followed Francesca, who was certainly up to no good.

The door was closed behind Xavier after he was given a little shove inside by Francesca.

"This is a wonderful surprise. I would have placed you to ask that she stay there to help you get undressed, and I would have to leave the room. What has gotten into you?" Xavier asked as he walked to Selene’s side. He turned her so he could help her.

"Between you and Francesca, you are the safer option. She has been dressing me up for hours, and I needed to be saved," Selene said, letting out a sigh of relief.

Xavier pushed Selene’s hair over her shoulder. "Don’t thank me yet."