Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 277: Still a Citizen?

Chapter 277: Still a Citizen?

"I’m meeting Lord Lockhart tomorrow and I’ll be back for Spring Ball," Talia told her great grandmother who had her usual stone-face, not candidly showing her emotions. Her grandfather sitting beside the Dowager had a very cross face. Who is the recipient of his anger- Talia didn’t know. It could be her, or it could be Lord Lockhart even.

Talia noticed her great grandmother looking at Mr. Ed and looked at him. Surely Mr. Ed knows the pulse of the Dowager very well considering he worked for her more than a decade.

"Some Courtiers are already not pleased with the way you handled the issue with the Duke of Luxxenshire-"

"I went behind the courtiers and exposed the corruption to the public directly, incriminating the Duke with no way out and they are hurt I didn’t go through them first? They’d have buried it like they did before," Talia scoffed.

"I don’t care! What is the worst the courtiers can do? Ruin my reputation in Rosandale too?" Talia’s voice softened. "I understand why you are not pleased with my decision now. Me meeting Lord Lockhart now will bring back the focus to the murder I committed and the already displeased courtiers will use this chance to paint me in a bad light. I understand it, and still want to meet Lord Lockhart before the ball." Talia spoke politely, but everyone around her knew she won’t be changing her decision anymore.

The Dowager observing Talia, felt her heart warming seeing the uniquely coloured eyes of that girl in front of her. The decisiveness in those eyes... It made her remember her late husband. He didn’t have good opinions about the courtiers either and sided with the public most times.

She felt odd. After nine decades in this planet, seeing a lot of things, she still gets surprises like this.

By keeping this great granddaughter near her, she thought she’d see a part of her daughter, but she was surprised she was seeing more of her husband. Looking at those eyes, she... Missed him.

Who knew? Who knew this old heart actually held deep love for her husband? Who knew it took my great granddaughter’s presence around me, to make me realise that what I had for my husband is not just deep adoration and respect, but love? Who knew everyone else was right when they said we loved each other deeply and I was wrong to refuse it in my heart?

So she wants to get it over with?

"You don’t have to march to his orders, Mary Ann. You’ve paid enough already. Even if your case went to court, the maximum penalty you’d have gotten is seven years in prison, even if we couldn’t prove he asked you to do it..." Jerome Brunton knew Talia’s main purpose for hurrying is because Lord Lockhart demanded her visit to be quick.

As much as he wanted to be understanding the death of his firstborn, Jerome still couldn’t sympathise with him, seeing his granddaughter’s suffering the past ten years. He felt like she is getting punished too much for something that was forced on her. He felt the need to make a call to his old friend whom he haven’t called or met with for ten years.

Talia took in a deep breath. "Grandpa, it is one of the reasons. I just want to get it over with. And if it doesn’t go well, and if people hate me in Rosandale too, I can always live. a private life... Getting married, raising kids... Won’t you like that too?" she asked with a smile.

Watching the saddened face of both of the elders, Talia felt sad too. She wanted to take on this role where every eye will be on her and do as much as good as she can. It was a big risk she took.

Did I bite off more than I can chew when I went against the Duke of Luxxenshire?

Talia thought for a moment. But she didn’t regret what she did. It did bring out the corruption and the court has to take action in this issue. At least those people can be happy their complaints are heard and they will surely get their road this time for real.

After speaking with them for a while, Talia returned to her place. She was nervous fearing the outcome, but she wanted to end this quickly too.

Talia informed Lord Lockhart she’d meet him the next morning and he agreed. Talia inquired about her lack of visa and was surprised by his reply.

"You don’t need a visa since you are a citizen of Esteria."

Then why was I not informed of this detail before? Why did my applications for visa got denied each time? And what about my security?

She wanted to probe further after getting this new information, but sensing his tone getting impatient, she decided to clarify her doubts with someone else.

When she asked him to keep their meeting private, he didn’t promise her anything. Talia didn’t have a clue as to what Lord Lockhart was thinking.

Talia wasn’t that surprised when the evening papers wrote about her visit to Esteria. There was a lot of speculation about how she is allowed in and one paper got the biggest scoop that Talia was asked to be here by Lord Lockhart, bypassing all legal procedures for her to enable her entry inside Esteria.

You want to make my visit public? What are you going to do, Lord Lockhart?

Talia felt like someone had tied her lungs and it became hard for her to breathe. As she was struggling, she received a call from Arthur.

"I’m returning after ten years, Fred... I don’t know... I feel rather nervous," Talia said with a sigh. She put a brave front before her elders, but in front of Fred, she can be herself.

She ran away in shame. And what will her return bring?

"I’ll receive you and I’m going with you, Iris. I’ve arranged for your security since only two of your security is allowed to cross borders with you. Don’t worry, Iris. I have a feeling that Lord Lockhart will let you go."

Talia chuckled by the optimism of her man. And his thoughtfulness in arranging everything in the short time.

" There will be people clicking and writing about my every move, watching me like a hawk, won’t they? " Talia knew she won’t have a moment of privacy when she returns to her homeland.

" I arranged for your privacy. But... It would be better if you made up your mind to face cameras everywhere." Arthur said with a sigh.

She is like a celebrity retuning after ten years. And she is the goose laying golden eggs with all the stories about her. People are interested about her since she sells; stories about her sells. The sad fact is that she cannot expect privacy. She knows it.

"I need to have proper rest before facing Lord Lockhart, Fred." Talia said with a sigh. She had a plan.

Arthur listened to her plan and smiled. "I’ll be welcoming you, my love. Let’s sleep together tonight."

According to Talia’s plan, the Palace of Charentes released a statement that the Princess Royal would be visiting Esteria the next day. No details were given leading to a lot of speculations. The private jet was filled up and got prepared for the departure of the Princess.

The press waited at the airport awaiting for the departure of the Princess and in Esteria also, the press waited for Talia’s arrival in every private airstrips and also at the international airport.

There were a bunch of reporters waiting for her at the main and side gates of the Gresford Palace, awaiting her departure.

They all pitched their tents there as the sky started to darken and there was no movement in the Palace. The only car that left was the St. James red Bentley Flying Spur- Prince Lambert’s car. Prince Lambert is known to party and when they saw his car leaving late evening through the main gate, no one minded.

Close to midnight, what they wanted to capture happened. The purple Rolls-Royce car that belonged to the Princess, left through the side gates of the Palace, it was covered with the flashes of the cameras. The heavily tinted glasses didn’t reveal the person inside, but the photographers were happy they got the picture of the Princess’ car as she left.

The car actually went to the airport, but after that no one could get any scoop and they could only see the jet taking off in the general direction of Esteria.

All the tabloids reported the departure of the Princess and the paps of Esteria waited for her arrival at the airport but even after three hours, the private jet never landed making everyone desperate for answers.

It only takes an hour by jet to reach Esteria. If so, where is the Princess?

---

Leaning at the headboard of her bed, after a hearty dinner and a nice walk in the garden of the Oakley Castle, holding the hands of Arthur, Talia switched off her phone and placed it at the night stand beside the bed.

" Sleep well, my love." Arthur kissed her forehead.

She was wearing her usual silk slips for nightwear and after the staff of the castle bombarded her with their love, she was tired. He spooned her inside his protective arms and watched her fall asleep.

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