Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 303: Gradually Accepting

Chapter 303: Gradually Accepting

"After all, I now know the truth." Talia said, with her eyes closed.

"And what truth is it?" Arthur asked. He hoped that she didn’t find another reason to blame herself.

"Truth about Cyrus’ death." Talia held his hand and placed it over her abdomen to warm herself up. She didn’t know why, but this guy is warm always unlike her. Arthur silently listened.

"Cyrus did what he did to protect his child and not to protect me," Talia opened her eyes and looked at Arthur. Arthur didn’t understand if she means it as a good thing or a bad thing and kept his silence while Talia continued, "I wouldn’t have accepted it if he did it just for me. If his child’s life was not on the line, Cyrus wouldn’t have been cornered to ask me to kill him. He was a very smart man. It’s... I understand why he thanked me. I now understand why his last words were to thank me... In a way, I helped him protect his child. I had to kill him... But I did help him protect his child by doing so."

"It makes sense," Arthur bent and placed a kiss on her forehead. It is better she takes what happened in a positive way. He could see that she is not even considering the fact that Cyrus was asked to violate her. But it makes sense why she doesn’t consider it. It is a non-issue for her since she trusted Cyrus would never do that. So for her the only reason that pushed him to do that would be to save his child.

It is contrary to Lord Lockhart, who thinks that Cyrus would have hurt her to save his child.

Two people with extremely different opinion from each other about the same person.

Who is right though?

"You think so?" Talia asked trailing her finger through his chin. Still in his formal shirt which is now wrinkled, the loosened tie and the messy hair, he radiated a youthful charm.

"Yes." Arthur nodded and kissed her finger.

"I want to meet Lord Lockhart to..." Talia didn’t finish the sentence.

What could she ask him in reality?

"I don’t think he’d want to meet you." Arthur dismissed her plans.

"You must’ve talked to him. What did he say?" Talia sat up straight.

"Nothing much... He always planned to announce it this way. He wanted to meet you, just to give you Cyrus’ journal." Arthur lied through his teeth.

In fact, Lord Lockhart had planned to announce everything as it happened and let the people be the judge. He didn’t want to charge Talia either. At least, that’s what Cyril told him that day they met Lord Lockhart. Apparently Cyril had gotten a copy of the transcript by some means.

Everyone was surprised when Lord Lockhart said that Talia didn’t shoot Cyrus. Arthur asked Lord Lockhart about it after the conference ended and handed over the journal back to him.

’I thought you were smart! Didn’t you predict this? Why else would I leave the journal with you? To drag my dead son’s name in court or in the press? Can you promise me that you have no other copy of this journal?’ Lord Lockhart’s tone was condescending and Arthur couldn’t look him in the eye.

Lord Lockhart hit the nail right in the head!

Of course he took a copy of the journal. He was planning to use the contents of the journal in court in case Talia was charged. Otherwise, he was planning to release the details to the press to turn the negative image on Talia towards Cyrus. The perfect knight was the actual monster and the Princess actually did a favour to the lands by eliminating him.

Sure, his Iris would have hated him for it, but he’d be content that she isn’t hated by the people.

’She didn’t read it?’ Lord Lockhart pointed at the journal and Arthur shook his head. ’She is stupider than I originally thought!’ Lord Lockhart said with a sigh and turned to leave.

Arthur didn’t say anything anymore. It seemed like talking to Talia did change his mind somehow. Whatever! This is better.

"Is that so?" Talia knew he was hiding something, but she let it pass. She didn’t care much about it after she thought deeply about it. The road forward is laid in front of her and it doesn’t seem that bad although it isn’t what she expected.

I should accept it, right? I will accept it... Gradually.

"Ah...Where’s my phone?" Talia tried to get up, but Arthur stopped her and pulled the phone out; from his pocket, making Talia roll her eyes.

"You brought my phone with you?"

"No, your assistant called and I answered and habitually kept it in my pocket." He pulled her close seeing her disbelief, " It’s the truth!" he tickled her waist. "Why else would I sleep with it still in the pocket? I forgot!"

"Fine! Stop..!" Talia curled up amidst her giggles. She felt weird laughing and Arthur stopped tickling her noticing her stressing up.

"He wanted to know what statement they should release on behalf of you." Arthur laid beside her. "I told him that you were sleeping and he said he’d take care of it. I think your cousin offered help too."

"Which cousin?" Talia rolled and rested her head on Arthur’s chest .

"The eldest? And by the way, why is your assistant a man?" Arthur asked running his finger through her hair.

"What man? He’s a boy!" Talia rolled her eyes. Is he jealous?

"He bragged that he knows ’your language’ and whatnot...And what’s with him referring to you as ’My Queen’? Aren’t you mine?"

Talia stiffened as his big hand slithered inside her slip. "He’s a fan of mine...I’m known in the hacking communities as ’The Queen’... You can ask Nathan. He’d tell you..."

"Oh?"

"Yes, it is the truth!"

"Aren’t we perfect together? King and Queen...The titles others gave us..." Arthur was very pleased. "But I’m hurt you hid what Asher Trembley did to you..."

"Who-" Talia tried to get up, but Arthur held her close.

"It’s fine, Iris. You don’t have to tell every single thing to me. I-"

"You didn’t tell me you hired a new female assistant either," Talia interjected him in a blaming voice.

"Yeah, Jordan is leaving the company." Arthur took in a deep breath.

"I’m not blaming you, Iris. I can see why you did not want me to get involved. I’d have blown a fuse and complicated things for you. I’m not from Rosandale and you are their Princess. As your Consort, I’d be expected to have certain behaviour. My actions would not only affect your reputation, but Esteria’s too. My worry is that you should be more careful and...I regret not understanding your intentions towards the Duke of Luxxenshire. You wanted-"

"Leave it Fred, past is in the past" Talia brushed it off. Haven’t they talked over this issue?

"I love how you handled it...but my lovely Iris..." he pressed her under him and with his nose almost touching her nose, grinned eerily. Talia felt a shiver run down her spine.

What did I do Wrong?

" I admire your influence in Rosandale, but you should know I’m pretty influential too....It’s a nice game you tried to play with the press, my dear!" he kissed her lips. " However you forgot who controls the media here. How cute!"

Talia only then realised that Arthur is talking about her leaking news to the tabloids.

Arthur showed her the article that showed the picture of the Oakley Castle and two arrow marks in red pointed at bedroom windows at opposite ends of the castles. The article then explained how Arthur and Talia don’t get along and they despise each other to sleep at the opposite ends of the Castle, so that they might not happen upon each other. All these information were provided by ’sources who are close to the both of them’ from the Oakley castle.

"This article is published ..." Talia grinned. What influence? Why didn’t he stop the article from getting published? Hmpf!

"Yes, because I wanted this reporter’s credibility to be questioned. You see, dear... I understand why you wanted to spread this rumour that we hate each other... But you see..." Arthur pulled the search results for their name combined and every other tabloid, although their headlines were different, they all had the same picture.

Smoke had enveloped the silver coloured car, like it was under the clutches of something evil, making it seem gloomy. Inside the car we’re two people, contrasting the gloominess - beautiful and quaint, handsome and strong. Talia in her blue shirt dress had a look of utter surprise and Arthur in his suit had the expression of a hero - determined and confident. There was a smile in his face as if assuring Talia that he’d take on anything and protect her.

"You see... Honey..." Arthur smirked. "They all say I’m so in love with you and you’re impressed with me. They say wedding bells are near."

"This is a great picture. The lighting, the focus, the ambience... Too bad this picture does not belong to us." Talia pouted. She really felt that way.

She downloaded that picture and frowned seeing it being copyrighted by someone.

Seeing her, Arthur was disappointed.

Should I have bought the picture that letting it getting published? Ah!

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