Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 250: Birds of a Feather

Chapter 250: Birds of a Feather

She closed her eyes, resigned to accept her fate, but heard a loud bark of Bear, followed by a series of ’pew pew’ noises, and the whines of the dogs.

Mr. Ed is here!

Bear was circling around her legs agitated as he sensed the danger and Talia, felt all her energy leaving her body and slid through the tree trunk and ended up sitting on the ground.

She didn’t dare to look to her front knowing what awaits her. As much as she was scared of the dogs, she didn’t like to see them dead. They are loyal beasts who obeyed their master. It was that guy’s fault his dogs are dead.

"Haha... Lambert... What did you do that for? I worked hard to train them and now they are all dead. My dogs weren’t going to hurt the Princess, I was just teasing her... " That guy kept on talking.

"Your Highness, have some water."

It was the very soothing voice of Sir Robert. He tried to be as respectful as he can, but he still couldn’t hide the worry he had too.

"Thank you, Sir Robert"

With a smile, Talia accepted the bottle of water and she felt sad seeing the guilty look in his eyes.

He is feeling bad because he didn’t protect me? But is it his fault though? Why can’t I, a Princess, walk safely for some meters in the woods when surrounded by nobles?

If a Princess’ safety isn’t assured in a place where there is maximum security, how safe are the young woman walking in the roads at night are?

Talia could only smile wryly.

They would be safe as long as they are not attacked by the son of a Duke who is friends with a Prince.

Power... In the end, power makes these kind of scums walk away, right?

"Are you okay?"

Talia gasped slightly as a big hand enveloped her head. The voice of her cousin that contained traces of worry and care, made her feel more angry.

"Talia?"

She felt Lambert kneeling beside her and reached out his hand to hold hers. She didn’t want to look at his face. Her heart beat that was erratic sometime ago, started to calm down and she oddly felt very calm as she reached to a decision.

"I’m fine, Lambert. Was that you who shot the dogs? I never thought that he has the balls to hurt a Princess. Poor dogs..." Talia avoided Lambert’s touch and got up.

If this is his friend, what kind of man would Lambert be? Won’t birds of the feather flock together?

Talia felt her opinion about Lambert sink to the rock bottom in her heart.

" Come on, Bear. Let’s go! " Talia started walking leaving the perplexed Lambert behind. "Sir Robert, send someone to inform his Majesty that I felt unwell and leaving the hunt," she said as she was still walking.

Although she didn’t have eyes at the back of her head, she could feel the lecherous pair of eyes looking at her with a contemptuous smile on his face. She knew that guy would be thinking that she is among those other women, who covers up what happened to her to avoid public blaming her.

Let him think that way for now.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness," Mr. Ed acknowledged her.

Talia heard a shout from behind her at that time and she flinched a little as she heard Lambert punching that guy, cussing at him. And yet she still didn’t stop and walked forward.

For all she knew, Lambert could also be one of those guys who had a different persona with his family and friends. Who knows what his ’hobbies’ were? And she wondered if this is the first time Lambert saw this side of his friend. She highly doubted that Lambert was still in the dark about his friend’s peculiar ’hobby’.

As she neared the car arranged for her, she heard Louis behind her.

"Mary! Wait!"

"Your Majesty," Talia gave a polite curtsy. "I’m feeling under the weather. I hope you can permit-"

"What happened?" Louis was not in the mood for her politeness and abruptly interjected her. When he heard she was attacked by dogs, he ran to her immediately.

"Lambert’s friend played a prank on me and I fell for it..." Talia smiled and her smile didn’t reach her eyes. " It was some harmless hazing, never mind that..."

"Talia...are you sure?" Cordelia who came running with her husband, asked, her eyes filled with tenderness and her furrowed brows and dry tone showed how skeptical she was.

"Yes. I am telling the truth. I’m a Princess with a Knight protecting me. Who’d dare to hurt me for real? I was already feeling sick when he pranked me and I over-reacted. That’s it. I’m sorry for ruining your day with my-"

"Never mind that. If you’re sick, I’m going with you." Cordelia looked at her husband telling him that she is leaving with Talia and he nodded back. For some reason, Louis couldn’t put his mind at ease seeing his sister’s troubled face.

He was informed that three men had to pull Lambert hard to stop him from hurting his friend badly. Lambert is not someone to react that much for a prank on his sister.

There should be more to it!

Louis looked at Sir Leonard and he nodded understanding what tht King wants from him. Surely it would be hard to gather informations about the truth, with no cameras around, but he can do it the old-fashioned way.

Talia politely refused Cordelia, insisting she is fine and will get better after a rest. Talia didn’t want to drag Cordelia with her when everyone will expect her near her husband’s side.

In the car, on her way back, Talia couldn’t help but shake the bitterness brewing in her heart towards Lambert.