Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 269: The Not Suitable Suitor and The Suitable Suitor

Chapter 269: The Not Suitable Suitor and The Suitable Suitor

Celine sitting beside Talia noted the changes in expression on Walter’s face as she observed him. Her eyes searched for him, and she noticed his eyes got attracted to Talia like a moth to a flame.

Celine could see Walter trying to swallow some hard feelings down his throat and her heart squeezed with pain.

Don’t cry, Walter... Can’t you look at me for just one moment? I was resting on your shoulders for a long time today... You aren’t even slightly moved by me? Why...?

Celine turned to look at Talia who was solely focusing on the Duke. She wanted to blame her, she wanted to hate her, but she couldn’t in the end.

After all how could she hate someone who is honest with her feelings?

The Duke gritted his teeth, glaring at Walter. "What did he say to you when he met you back at your Palace? He wants to rise up high hugging your legs. Did he try to propose to you, yet? His charms are undeniable and I won’t be surprised you are mesmerised. I worry for-"

"Thank you for your concern for my little heart. But I have records saying that there are four lane roads from Luxxenshire to Balstone. What are you going to answer about it?" Talia turned the topic back to the roads. She didn’t want the Duke to play her by changing the topic. The topic that is sensitive for her friend.

"Why should I answer you?" The Duke stood up. He wanted to bring his son out since he was refused bail, but this Princess seems like she planned it all. "Your position depends on the approval of the court. Your lineage is still disputed among-"

"I still am the Princess Royal of Rosandale!" Talia banged the table, gritting her teeth.

Who is he to talk about her lineage? Her great grandmother believes she is her daughter’s granddaughter. And that is enough for her.

Lineage is disputed? So why was I asked to be the Queen then? Idiot!

With a scoff, the Duke turned to leave without answering and Talia rubbed her forehead. Celine held her hand and Talia took in a deep breath and nodded affirming that she is fine.

"He thinks his money will save him not realising that his greed is fueling the resistance. When the resistance wins, how long will his money stop him from the guillotine? He’d be the first one to face the blades. " Walter scoffed. "This is what I wanted to talk to you about..." he looked at Celine right in her eye and she bowed her head as she couldn’t face that straight glance. It was like a sharp knife slicing her eyes.

"You can speak," Talia understood that Walter is feeling reluctant to open up in front of Celine.

"I have very reliable sources informing that the resistance is stronger than they are expected to be. If the people aren’t cared for as they should..." he cleared his throat, "forgive me for being blunt... this country will face a revolution like what happened before in France. And you know what happens in a revolution."

Talia nodded. She could say Walter was not lying and she could feel Louis and Lambert were hiding some stuff from her. It could be regarding the resistance, or it could be some other issue.

But whether the information about resistance is true or not, Talia felt that the lives of the people should be improved. No country where only the rich gets richer and the poor getting poorer will succeed. She wanted to do it or fearing the consequences but out of the feelings of duty she felt for her people.

That bread and soup she ate for lunch didn’t taste much as she was in her own thoughts.

After lunch, she knew she have to leave for the Oakland Islands for arranging her surprise date with Arthur.

She had planned to cook for Fred his favourite dishes and also she wanted to doll up for him. She even had chosen a red dress; a pretty sexy one for this date. She could only imagine Fred’s surprised face, seeing her in a red dress with a table filled with his favourite delicacies she cooked for him.

Talia and Celine were chatting with the workers of the brewery. Most of them were men and they were pretty excited to chat with two good - looking women. Among those were a couple of brothers who were eighteen and nineteen years old.

They were very jovial and as they were wild, they didn’t care much for protocols and were cracking jokes with Talia and Celine and mocking them for their lack of understanding since they weren’t good at coming back at him.

"We’re going to learn everything from Walter and we are going to open up our own brewery right next to this!" the siblings were very confident.

Talia realised although Walter was an aristocrat, he mingled with the workers as one of them and they all addressed him by his name. She could see how much his workers loved him.

What Talia didn’t realise was the shit storm that was created in Esteria by her little visit to a brewery.

---

Arthur slammed the door of his car shut and rubbed the back of his head. He had a splitting headache and he wanted to punch someone to feel better after the terrible day he had.

He was made to wait an hour before allowing to meet the King and when he tried to talk with the King, he ass dismissed before even saying much.

"I’m not going to negotiate with you." The King dismissed him. "You will not release that video of my son. Also, Talia and you cannot end up together."

"Why?" he asked. Why would the King think that way?

"You two are not suitable. And did you forget? You already annulled your marriage... " the King smirked. "You might have changed the year of the annulment, making everyone believe that you weren’t actually married for years, but I have the original certificate proving that you annulled the marriage only recently. You wouldn’t want others to know that you were made a cuckhold, right? Get out, you Boswell scoundrel! Your family cannot succeed in destroying our throne! "

Arthur could see that the King had somehow changed his mind in the past few days. He wasn’t this angry at him back at the Council meeting. And what else changed?

And Iris...

The King actually threatened that he will release the truth about their marriage to the public. That will only make Iris look bad in the eyes of the people for dating others when she was already married to him.

What should I do?

As he was worrying, he received a call from Jordan informing him that there are negative news about Talia in Esteria and that it was actually a positive news story from Rosandale.

Arthur checked the tabloids and there it was...

A picture of smiling Talia sitting in front of a man who looked smitten with her.

[The Prodigal Princess’ Secret Date With A Rosandale Aristocrat On The Birthday of Her Late Knight!!!]

[Heartless Talia, Broken Lord Lockhart]

[’I’ve Moved On!’ Talia Brunton feels no remorse as she had a secret date with a millionaire on Cyrus Lockhart’s Birthday]

The original story was from Rosandale in which they had a very colourful picture of her with Walter Trembley where she was looking amused and he was enticed with her.

His hands trailed through that lit screen of his phone. She really looked like she was very intrigued by what he just told her and she looked very amused. It seemed like they were in their own world, with no cares; like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The Rosandale papers wrote how perfect those two are with each other and how their union would be perfect for the Royal Family.

What were you doing, Iris? You really went on a date with him? How could you do this?

And... Why am I told that I’m unsuitable, but he is told to be suitable for you?

Are you thinking the same way too?

As he was wallowing in his murky thoughts, he had already dialled her number... His Iris.

Or is she even his anymore? Can everyone else be right and he is unsuitable for her?