Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 222: The Heir Apparent

Chapter 222: The Heir Apparent

Arthur couldn’t sleep that night and he looked through his phone for the arrival time of Talia’s flight. He didn’t know why she opted to reach here early morning. He tuned into Rosandale news channel to watch Talia.

They are broadcasting her arrival Live on TV! How amazing is she!

Just as the reporter reporting from the airport said that the Princess’ flight has touched down, he received a call and a smile bloomed on his face.

"Hello, popular person! I’m watching your arrival live on TV!" he said and stood up and walked to the window and opened it. The cold air from outside rushed in ruffling his hair and like his face, his heart felt like it was grazed by the breeze as she spoke.

" You’re up already? "Talia was surprised. The sun hasn’t risen yet.

" Yeah, I missed you and wanted to see you and so I stayed up the whole night. " he said. He wasn’t actually up the whole night, but he didn’t sleep deeply, fearing he might miss the alarm he set.

" Should I hop on another flight and come to you?" Talia really felt that way. From where she is, to where he is... She can reach there in a couple of hours if she took another flight immediately.

"Hmm... Arthur took in a deep breath." Your grandpa will be there before noon."

He wanted to join her Grandpa and go visit her, but he needed to do a lot here now.

" Why aren’t you getting down yet? " he asked watching the television.

" I’ll be the last to get down. Security reasons," Talia shrugged. She has taken a quick shower in the little bathroom in her cabin and changed her dress and wore proper makeup.

"Hmm..." Arthur sighed. He should have made a video call. "Where is Bear?"

"He’s sent with Louis and Cordelia in their private jet. The airlines told us to put the puppy in the kennel and I didn’t like that and so I sent him with Louis." Talia said.

"He agreed?" Arthur was surprised. Guess everyone coddles her.

"Are you in the bedroom?" she asked swallowing a yawn. "Are you working out? Send me a picture," she said without any shame.

"Yes ma’am! Right after you send me a picture of you showering," Arthur was surprised by her brazen request for a moment. But then again, it is her and so he threw in his request.

Talia’s face reddened as he said that. "What a lecher you are... Didn’t you watch me shower the other day?" she placed her hand over her heart as she remembered that intense session in the shower. Her heart raced remembering that. "Never mind! I have no need to watch you," she said composing herself. "In the Palace, I will be surrounded by a variety of Kingsguards and no one would refuse me if I ask them to work out in front of me," she snorted.

"You little... I dare you to!" Arthur really got flustered. This one got more and more brazen. How dare she watches other naked and sweaty men?

"Fred... I love you," Talia said standing up. Mr. Ed signaled that it is time for her to disembark.

"I love you too, my love" Arthur said as he watched the television. She’d get down soon. Considering the delay in Live TV, it would be within a couple of minutes after she ends the call. "Iris, don’t forget to get the flowers from the little girl wearing a red frock," he said, "That little girl is standing for a long time carrying that bouquet."

"... Okay. I have to go now. Bye." Talia felt odd by his request, but still decided to get the flowers from the little girl.

Did people bring their kids this early in the morning to welcome me?

Talia didn’t know what to feel about the love from strangers.

As she got down from the flight and was led out through the VIP section of the airport to the exit gates, she saw a bunch of people shouting and waving at her from the other terminals. She smiled and waved at them. The sun behind her reflected on the glass and made her eyes squint.

Great! I’d look like a buffoon now, she thought as she noticed the cameras pointing at her. This time, the cameras didn’t give her fear. But she soon brushed it off and with a smile, walked as Mr. Ed led her.

Arthur was watching Talia disembarking from the flight. She was wearing a pale yellow dress and her hair was let down probably because it wasn’t that windy there. Her face was fresh and bright like a blooming flower and her demeanour was graceful and elegant. As she stepped foot on the pavement on her high-heeled pumps, the sun rose from behind her and the reporter said some poetic words about how the Princess’ arrival will bring out the brightness and it will mark the dawn of prosperity and all. Arthur knew the reporter won’t be doing this narrative, unless he had the okay from the Palace itself.

They do like her, he thought and somehow his heart felt a bit sad too for reason he couldn’t pinpoint.

Talia walked through the VVIP exit path and reached the exit gates. Mr. Ed asked Talia to get in the car by opening the door for her. He was worried for her security and it is not Palace protocol to get gifts from people. This was not only for security concerns, but since some people get really expensive gifts for the Royal family members sometimes even forgetting their own needs. And so as a basic rule, the Royal Family Members are not allowed to accept any gift from the people.

Talia without minding the disappointed look of Mr.Ed walked towards the fence where the police were placed to keep the people who came to have a glance at their Princess from rushing towards her.

She smiled and shook hands with them and as she got to the little girl, crouched to the level of the little girl and accepted the bouquet of red roses. She noticed a pale blue card stuck in there and got up as she had an intuition that Fred has something to it.

Why else would he talk particularly about this girl, right? There were some others who got her flowers and she accepted them too and passed them to the assistant following her, keeping the bouquet of roses in her hand.

As she walked back to the car, she opened the little blue card and her face lit up. There was a deep blue calligraphic drawing of an iris and a red butterfly near it.

Fred! He sent me these flowers!

She felt sweet like she tasted the best chocolate in the world. Like she’s been showered with flower petals from the sky.

She looked straight into the camera and she couldn’t stop smiling.

Arthur walked to the TV and his hands reached to her face. His hands paused at her pink lips. She was even showing her teeth as she smiled. She is too happy. All he wanted was her to smile like that and for him to see her smile like that. He thought he might miss that smile if she opened the card inside the car, but she let him see that smile.

’Thank you’

Talia knew he is watching and mouthed looking straight at the camera and Arthur placed his lips on the cold, flat screen of the TV where her face was zoomed in.

"No, Thank you Iris," he said knowing she won’t hear it but felt like it.

Thank you for letting me see your surprised face once again.

Of course he recorded it all and Sebastian, Mrs. Grey and everyone in the house were thrilled to watch their little Lady returning.

Our little lady....Our little lady....

The entire staff was smiling and talking about Talia the entire day. They all wanted back in her home like before.

Arthur went to meet Jerome Brunton who was being checked by the doctor to make sure he is okay to travel. He was surprised to see the family lawyer present there along with the doctor.

"Artie! Good that you’re here. I was about to call you," Jerome said with a smile.

"I came to check on you Sir, and to wish you a safe journey," Arthur tried to pretend he was not stunned to see the lawyer here with a document.

Jerome looked at the lawyer and the lawyer left the room with the document and Arthur could see what’s written on the cover.

Upon seeing the title of the document, Arthur’s hands trembled.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

Arthur was not a very cowardly person. He always faced any problem head on. But to be in this situation... He felt like he was standing on an unsteady ground.

"It would be unwise for me to not have one at my age. In fact I always had one even from when I was twenty. I just updated it often as situation changed. I bet your father has one too." Jerome spoke calmly.

It is not wrong to have a last will and testament. It would be ring great troubles if someone doesn’t have it though.

"I hope the day we get to see the content of that document never comes," Arthur said honestly. Talia won’t be able to handle it if her Grandpa dies. He grew a strong bond with Jerome too. He is a good guy.

"You’re not curious what’s in it?" Jerome asked with a smile.

"No, of course not. Everything that belongs to you, will belong to Talia. What’s more to it?" Arthur shook his head vigorously.

Seeing that buy shaking his head like a goat, Jerome laughed "When are you announcing the breaking of the engagement?" Jerome asked.

"Today. After the voting in the company. I bet the Council will want to meet me."

"Council..." Jerome laughed. "You will be Marquise of Ashwood when you announce the breaking of your engagement with Lady Sophia Clairmont. I’ve already sent a letter to the Council." Jerome said and it was an order.

Arthur froze. Marquise of Ashwood is a subsidiary title of the Duke of Oakley. Does this means he is legally announcing me as an heir to his Dukedom? I’d be the next Duke of Oakley? The heir apparent?

Why? He already gave me a lot of shares in his company. Why this too?

He did enter the council wearing the crest of the Duke of Oakley. He only borrowed it. And he never wanted to own it. Never!

" You need a title, Artie. I need an heir. And Mary Ann needs it too." Jerome patted his shoulder and walked out, leaving the room.

What does he mean?

Isn’t Iris his heir? Why would I need a title?

Only after thinking hard as his brain stopped working, did Arthur realise what Jerome meant.

It all belongs to Iris! It is the absolute truth.

But...

If Iris accepts her title as Princess Royal of Rosandale, she cannot be the heir to the Duke of Oakley and so Jerome has to find an heir. He doesn’t have any close relatives too. And even if he did, he won’t trust them enough to leave his properties with them. Who else would he find suitable than the one his granddaughter chose?

And the Princess Royal cannot marry someone without a title.

So this can be a win-win situation?

But still... Ahhh!

Arthur felt bewildered.

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