Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 268: Controlling Feelings

Chapter 268: Controlling Feelings

Talia refused to visit the Wintmer Castle that was the residence of the Duke of the Luxxenshire for lunch. After what Asher did to her twice, she won’t be someone with dignity if she still gives the Duke of Luxxenshire her time and presence.

Talia wanted to bring attention to the corruption in roads in the area which was the biggest issue for the people here. She knew it is only the tip of the iceberg and it will bring other corruptions to light. She wanted to bring the Duke of Luxxenshire who was enabling Asher Trembley to be brought under the watch of the Judiciary system. She thought it will lead to him when the investigations of the unbuilt roads is undertaken. She didn’t think that Asher will act like a catalyst for the Justice department to launch investigations on the Duke of Luxxenshire.

Talia didn’t concern herself with whether the investigations will be handled publicly or secretly. It doesn’t matter since, no one can stop investigating entity until she gets the result she wants.

What Talia wanted was the reforms and bills passed by Louis to reach everyone. She didn’t want the already rich Dukes and their children to line their pockets with the funds intended for the common people.

Rosandale is a self-sustaining, rich nation with many natural resources. It is a first world nation, but it can be barely compared to Esteria which is a much richer nation.

The income gap between the rich and the poor was very higher in Rosandale, compared to Esteria. And this discrepancy has brought in many resistance groups as they believed the archaic system with the monarchy is the reason.

But the stunted development of Rosandale is due to the greed; greed of the ones with power. Once that greed is corrected and is replaced with people who actually cared, the archaic system will work. After all, Rosandale is one of the very few countries that still has a working monarchy.

Talia didn’t want that changed.

"You will tell me what happened between Walter and you in great details tomorrow," Talia whispered in Celine’s ears as they were sitting at the table in the tasting room. Talia wanted to return as she was in no mood to eat at the Duke’s house, but Walter felt extremely guilty letting them go without hosting them better.

In the end, Talia agreed when Walter suggested that they eat at the brewery itself. After all, when the cops were reluctant to arrest Asher, it was Walter who gave a statement that Asher, in fact did harass a girl. When Talia saw the very apologetic face of Walter when he said he closed the small restaurant at his brewery that would be open for tourists for her arrival and only had the canteen food available, Talia couldn’t act prideful anymore in front of his sincerity. Also Celine had a face that screamed ’I want to spend more time here!’.

As they were served humble food from the canteen of the brewery where most workers have their lunch, they were interrupted by the Duke of Luxxenshire himself.

When she previously looked at the pictures of the Duke, Talia thought he was familiar but couldn’t pinpoint exactly why he seemed familiar. She dismissed that odd feeling, since she knew she might have met him in other social gatherings when she was in Rosandale. But meeting him face to face, she realised how she knew him.

This is the same guy who was seen with a woman less than half his age at the pub when she and Stacy had a meeting with Peter Campbell. The reason the article Mistyflower wrote about the Campbells was take down.

So this guy cheated in his first wife and married a younger woman and is still cheating with younger women?

Talia didn’t know what to feel about Duchess Judith anymore.

"He’s a young boy, Walter. You should have been patient with him. You know father punishes him aptly at home. It hurts my heart to see you not getting along with your brother..." the Duke of Luxxenshire spoke as if he was deeply disappointed by Walter who sent his brother to jail for no reason.

Talia just rolled her eyes." It was His Majesty who sent the cops after investigating Asher’s crimes. You’re saying that Lord Rodenberg should have lied to the King?" Talia asked raising her eyebrows. "Or are you saying I didn’t see what I saw Asher doing? Or are you suggesting that Lady Celine Delaffose lied?"

The Duke gulped and he couldn’t answer anymore. He tried to make it seem like the rivalry between the brothers was what made Walter act this way towards his little brother, but the Princess refused to go with his narrative.

" The Duchess of Luxxenshire and I were waiting for your arrival by the helipad at our castle... When His Majesty arrived here, we welcomed him grandly at our home. His Majesty was so happy with our..." the Duke went on speaking about Louis’ visit a year back.

He was here for the opening of the ’Road’ they had built. But Louis didn’t know the road was only built for ten kilometers and the rest wasn’t built.

Talia couldn’t understand why the Duke refers to his wife as the Duchess of Luxxenshire each time he mentioned her. Won’t people usually say ’My wife’ or refer them by their name?

But then she realised Walter getting hurt each time his father said ’The Duchess’. His mother is the original Duchess and this guy pricks him with the fact that his mother is no more by referring his step-mother by his mother’s title.

What a lowly man! He is your son too!

"Did you spend the money His Majesty allocated for laying the road, on welcoming him? What a stupid thing to do!" Talia didn’t hold back her insult.

A man can be a greedy pig, or he can be an adulterer or he can be very petulant. She can handle anyone with any one of those qualities. But to have all incorporated in one, Talia didn’t feel the need to be polite with him.

Maybe she called him stupid, the Duke got offended. Although she is ranked higher than him, she still is very younger than him and also she called him names in front of others.

"I’ve been where I am, for as long as I am, not without merits, Your Highness." he glared at her.

"Oh really? What merit do you serve?" Talia smirked. "Will Rosandale crumble without you?"

Celine realised the confrontational atmosphere and bowed her head and took a sip of the hot soup. Walter with his lips pursed to a line, kept his silence.

He always wanted to distance himself from his family. But he knew of he gives up his title and becomes a normal citizen, the future of the people in will get worse. His father will find a way to hide his corruption and will protect Asher by any means no matter what he does. This will only increase the support to the resistance and it might lead to civil war.

And any war will only affect the common people. Walter really didn’t want his people to suffer.

And that’s why he still stayed in this sewer as he wanted to clean it. He had every means to leave the sewer to have a peaceful, clean life, it he wanted the people who love him to have peace too.

This Princess has guts, he could say. And she is graceful even when she is slicing through his father’s armour. Just in one day, she exposed more corruption than any other would.

Even in that stressful situation, he could not help but admire her. Those pretty blue eyes and those pink lips... Those soft hands,that long neck and the peaks below...

He took in a deep breath trying to control his feelings.

She refused you, Walter... She refused you... Stop trying to sexualise her, you pervert! She’s your Princess, not your wife... Not your wife! Please... Don’t think about her anymore.

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