Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 237: Mentor?

Chapter 237: Mentor?

"Your Highness, You’re a queen... My Queen. Please teach me your ways. This loyal squire will follow you always..." Raphael knelt in front of Talia with his head bowed. His eyes couldn’t help but look at the codes running in the big screen with great interest.

Great! This guy figured out I’m ’Purple Jinx’.

Talia rubbed her forehead. She knew her assistant had interests in hacking, but she didn’t know he is following the hacking community this closely. He could tell by the codings that she is ’Purple Jinx’. He must be one of those groupies of hers.

She accidentally revealed her gender in one of the serious altercations she had with one of her opponents back in her university days and since then she had gained the nickname ’Queen’ among the hacker community and Measoles was ’the Emperor’.

Measoles and she are considered legends in the hacking community and they didn’t appear often and so that only added to their mysterious dominance. Both of them had their own following although both didn’t interact with them ever.

This guy must be one of her groupies who called themselves ’Squires’.

Talia noticed even with his bead bowed, the shine in his eyes couldn’t be hidden as he was filled with enthusiasm. He went on with his ramble addressing her as his Queen with stars in his eyes and expressed his wish to be her loyal servant. Talia looked at Mr. Ed who was fisting his hands and gritting his teeth.

Is he going to punch this poor guy? This idiotic fanboy cannot address me as a queen though... He forgot who he is, who I am and is full on fanboy mode.

"Raphael Barnett!" Talia stopped that little boy who got enthusiastic for all the wrong reasons.

"Yes, my Queen... I really didn’t think that I’d have the fortune of meeting you here and that you’d be this close to me. I must have saved the universe in my past life...." he couldn’t stop his ramble and walked on his knees and got closer to Talia.

All his life, he wanted to be a renowned hacker and so he started learning from an early age. He had a higher IQ than most and he loved breaking codes and firewalls. But his father insisted he cannot have a career in that path and forced him to study management and since he finished his masters and wanted to do what he wanted, his father got him a job in the Palace. He wanted to quit and run away from home to become a hacker and what are the probabilities of him to find his hero here, In the Palace? His boss is his hero!

"Raphael!" Talia pulled her hand out of his grip before he kissed it. "Remember you are in the presence of the Princess Royal of Rosandale!" she spoke in a stern voice.

"But you are Purple Jinx! I could only imagine to be-"

"You think I’m cosplaying as a Princess here?" Talia interjected him.

"You want to be a Princess when you’re a Queen?" The boy asked with his face filled with confusion. He couldn’t believe how someone who is the envy of thousands could just become a Princess who only dresses up and showed up to places, following thousands of rules and protocols.

How could she choose this life over the unrestricted, thrilling life of a hacker?

Talia sighed exasperatedly. Doesn’t he understand personal choice?

"Mind your words!" Mr. Ed slapped the back of Raphael’s head and he still confused, rubbed the back of his head with his hand. His utterly confused look made Talia feel pity for him.

"Raphael," her voice softened. "It’s my choice to be here. You have a choice to choose where you want to be too. I want an assistant, not a fanboy. If you want a mentor, I’m honoured you think I’m worthy to be your mentor, but I’m not the one you’re looking for since my interest doesn’t lie there. Decide for yourself if you still want to work for me. It would greatly benefit me with a capable assistant like you in my work, but in the end it still is your choice. " she looked at Raphael still kneeling and said with a soft and clear voice expressing her thoughts.

Speaking to him, she herself thought of herself as stupid. She has hacking skills and management background. There will be a lot of security firms willing to hire her. If not, she has thirty three percentage share in Northern Star and she need not work a single day of her life. In both cases, she would be majorly away from public scrutiny and media exposure.

Why do I want to be a Princess with a thousand eyes watching my every move again?

Ah... I wanted to do good by using my title. I know I can do good.

Raphael asked her to give him a day and left the room and Mr. Ed followed him.

Talia felt bad a bit. She didn’t want to lose that assistant of hers. He is smart and would finish any work by the easiest way possible. Even she was amazed by his thoughtfulness.

But if he wants to leave, what could she do?

Talia started working and she felt the firewall getting tougher as she got closer to finding the identity of the journalist. And something was very familiar.

Measoles?

Why is she protecting the Journalist? Or... Was she the one who published it?

She pushed through. And as expected she received a call from Camellia.

"You can stop trying, you know. You’re not better than me!" Camellia’s voice had a little sneer.

"I wanted an audience with the crowned Emperor and I got it without much efforts. Didn’t I win already?" Talia leaned back in the recliner with a smile.

The other end of the line went silent. "Was it you who made this documentary?" Talia asked and there was a scoff from the other end.

"Not my style. I’m a blogger, you know..."

Talia agreed. The one who made the document is very talented and experienced. It can’t be her.

"Some pictures were from... him, I guessed..." Talia didn’t know why she can’t mention Cyrus’ name to Camellia.

"... Yes," Camellia’s voice went soft, "We found his other phone. It had a lot of details."

Talia felt like her heart stopped beating and felt like the world around her darkened for a split second.

They found his other phone?

" When? What else was there? Did you find out who wanted him dead?" Talia asked after composing herself.

Why did Fred tell her nothing about it?

"I... Cannot reveal much details, Ms. Brunton." Camellia said in a slightly apologetic tone. "Lord Lockhart... He’d be the one who tells you."

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