Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 171: I’d Prefer You Mute

Chapter 171: I’d Prefer You Mute

The next day sitting in the breakfast table, Talia was stunned seeing Cordelia walking with a weird gait. She noticed her knees looked burnt.

"How did you scrape your knee?" Talia asked holding Cordelia’s skirt slightly up.

"Ask your cousin!" Cordelia was not happy at all and she hissed with a snort. Talia looked at Louis following behind her closing his mouth with his hand, clearing his throat. He seemed to be blushing and even his ears were red. In his eyes however, there was an expression Talia has never seen before. She don’t know what he was thinking.

Louis was confused and embarrassed that his deed was exposed like this. Who told his wife to forget about him for an entire night? He wanted to remind her who her husband is in the morning. What’s wrong with that? And now she is angry. Did he go too far when he insisted on doing it on the carpet; in that position? The bed would have been better? Huh! How can he make her smile?

King Louis was devastated seeing his angry wife. This is the first time he has seen her this angry. She never gets angry at him.

Talia was about to ask Louis, but Rebecca sitting by her side, pinched her thigh, "Tallie... Those are rugburns!" she said with a dirty smile.

Talia didn’t know what rug burn meant, but she knew it should be something related to adult content if it makes Rebecca don that expression and decided to pretend she knows it. She didn’t want to seem like a dud.

She can always look it up in the Internet later!

Cordelia was pouting, Louis was blushing, Rebecca was having a sly smile in her lips and Talia was the only one who had a normal expression throughout breakfast.

Maybe Talia’s normal reaction made Cordelia angry, she suggested, "Maybe Talia should attend the Arrival Ceremony with us, Your Majesty," her tone was frosty and Louis sitting beside her went stiff as the buttered toast he was about to pass to Cordelia fell on the table with a splat. Even Sir Leonard shuddered involuntarily.

The Queen Consort addressed her husband ’Your Majesty’! The sky is going to fall today.

Talia just waved her hands off, "I’m not the State Guest. You two are. I have no obligation to attend."

It is a no brainer! She is no Monarch!

"Yes, the Princess must. It would be her first appearance in the world stage." Sir Leonard who tried to help his King cajole his angry wife, threw Talia under the bus. For some reason both of them are fighting and listening to the Consort will make her anger lessen,he reckoned.

"Then it is settled!" The King commanded.

Talia glared at Sir Robert. Why isn’t her Knight talking on her behalf?

Mr. Ed bowed his head. It’s not that he can talk against the King! Also the Dowager planned this!

Talia who wanted to return to the hotel to spend some time with Arthur, felt her plans getting destroyed like a house of cards. She hasn’t even called Arthur yet to find out what happened with Joe.

But she really cannot argue with Louis here. If she wants to get out of this, she needs to get the support of her great grandmother. She would be the only one who can change his orders. But judging by how Cordelia suggested this ludicrous proposal, it probably was her great grandmother’s plan to make the world know she is the Princess Royal of Rosandale.

Talia had no qualms in announcing that to the world, but why would she stand around for half a day, watching parades?

She went back to her room and looked at the coral coloured skirt suit dress with a matching hat sent by Cordelia.

Yep! This was a decision made at the last moment! I can see that! This dress perfectly fitted for me, appeared out of thin air!

Talia could only roll her eyes sarcastically.

She changed to the dress and the hairstylist lent by Cordelia conveyed her message that the Queen Consort did not think that her suggestion would be accepted by His Majesty this readily and this was an unplanned event.

Yeah, right! And the Easter bunnies poop out chocolate eggs!

Talia kept her silence.

Sitting in the long limousin car, with comfortable seating, Talia could sense the stifling atmosphere between Louis and Cordelia and was irritated. Not only she needs to be a third wheel joining them, but also she should watch them playfully fighting with each other?

That guy looked at his wife like she was a precious gem and she looked at him like he is a piece of trash.

"What’s with you two? Get along already! Are you mocking me?" Talia gritted her teeth. "I wanted to be with Fred and here I am stuck with these two," she mumbled and looked through the window.

"You don’t know what he did, Talia. He... He..." Cordelia’s chest heaved up and down in anger as she remembered how he made her bend down on the carpet and did what he wanted to do with her. He never was rough with her before. They’ve done it in odd places with different positions, but... He always was gentle with her.

What made her more ashamed is not the fact that she didn’t like it. She loved what he did. She loved it more than when he was gentle with her and she wanted to scream in pleasure, but knew she can’t scream in this place where she is a guest.

How could she like doing it rough? She is a gentle lady! It’s his fault.... Somehow...

Cordelia in the end projected her confusion as anger on Louis.

"Fine, don’t be mad Lia... I shall never do it again..." Louis held her hand and she turned and looked at him with her deep blue eyes misted.

Cordelia was stunned hearing him say that he will not do it again... But she liked it! She just didn’t want to do it here!

" You’re.... Don’t talk to me! " Cordelia didn’t want to talk about it now and turned her face making Louis more devastated.

How could he cajole his little wife? He could only think of the wild ride he had with her in the morning. He thought she liked it. He felt like she liked it and so he continued... But that’s not the case?

Talia looked at them both. They looked like clueless teenagers in love. And she only got more jealous. Must they be like this when they already have two kids? Geez! He is thirty and she is twenty seven! They are not frigging twelve years old!

"Is this something regarding the position you did it?" Talia threw a wide net. She could guess by the way both were blushing looking at each other like this is the first time they did something wild.

That seemed to be the case.

"You didn’t like it?" Talia asked pointing at Cordelia and she blinked her eyes. That blue dress with silver embroidery Cordelia was wearing, complimented her blue eyes really well. She looked really cute.

"Yes or no?" Talia got more irritated by her attitude.

Here she is a twenty six year old not even having her first time and there they are with two kids acting like they are purer than her?

"I liked it but it wasn’t comfortable," she said with a low voice that was barely audible and Talia sighed.

"That’s it? You heard her, Louis! Now stop pouting you two... You’re annoying!" Talia snorted.

Why must she witness this couple’s stupid fight when she could be with her man?

Louis looked at Talia with his mouth open like he heard these two woman speak in an illegible language.

Why am I more confused now? And how could Talia understand it? Did I turn stupid overnight somehow? Why can’t I understand?

"So, she likes it or not?" Louis looked at Talia since Cordelia was covering her face.

"How dumb are you?" Talia sighed seeing Louis’ dumbfounded face, "She likes it. But she was uncomfortable because this is not your private place, capiche?" she raised her brow and watched Louis’ face go red.

And I’m the virgin! The world is unfair!

Talia sniffed pitifully.

"You... You’re too much, Mary..." Louis tried to hide his embarrassment. But he was relieved he get to k ow what his wife thought. "You used to be so...polite and sophisticated. Were you always this bombastic? I’d prefer you mute like before!" he rubbed his hands together. They had went cold. Cordelia was still covering her face with her hands.

"Here I thought I helped you!" Talia snorted regretting ever helping them, but soon her face smoothen seeing through the tinted glass. "We’re here, Cordelia. Time to smile and wave!"

And immediately everyone of them sat straight. Cordelia and Talia both checked their makeup for the last time and when alighted, there were hundreds of clicks they could hear.

The Arrival Ceremony went well as President Carter and his wife welcomed them and seeing Talia both of them lighted up more.

After standing through the honours and watching the lineup, they were led to the dining room where the luncheon was arranged.

Talia was very happy to see Little Claire there and Claire was more than happy to see Talia again. Talia however was amused that even after introducing Louis and Cordelia as King and Queen Consort, Claire still stuck with Princess Talia.

Talia was then dragged to Claire’s room and was made to play with her dolls. The first lady was apologetic, but Talia truly didn’t mind playing with the child.

There was a gifting ceremony where everyone gave gifts to the other and being planned before, Talia’s share of gifts were already prepared by Cordelia too.

"Claire wanted to give you a gift. Wait till we get it for you," President Carter said to Talia and Talia was intrigued.

And when they brought the gift she almost wanted to squeal.

"A puppy!" Talia smiled looking at that furry brown little bear-like puppy. "It’s the Newfoundland breed, isn’t it?" Talia couldn’t contain her joy.

This breed is a gentle giant with very calm disposition and very adorable. She’s learnt about this breed before.

"You like it?" the First Lady asked with a smile. In fact no one needed to ask her, her face showed how happy she was with the puppy.

"I love it!" Talia said hugging the puppy, "Does he have a name?" she asked Claire. The President mentioned that it was bred by them and so Talia wanted to know if Claire already have a name.

"You can give a-"

"Bear, his name is Bear," The President’s polite remark was interjected by his daughter.

"Then Bear it is!" Talia smiled.

I own a puppy named ’Bear’.

Somehow she felt her eyes clouded. Back when she was in Esteria their house had many dogs and she loved them. The dogs loved her too. But after what happened with Cyrus, she thought of herself as someone unsuitable to take care of a life. She felt worthless.

And that’s why she never raised a pet. Even the plant she had...it was Rebecca’s gift and so she took care of it, carefully, hoping she won’t destroy its life.

But now, with Arthur’s return, she felt hopeful. Hopeful that she could take care of something; that she is not someone who destroys a life, but can also raise a life well. Hopeful that she is capable of building a family.

This little puppy will be the first addition to her family, she builds for herself.