Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 324: Missing Prince(2)

Chapter 324: Missing Prince(2)

"Maybe Prince Edward doesn’t want to return?"

Talia really didn’t want to get involved with the matters of that hypocrite. She really didn’t care if he was kidnapped or willingly staying low somewhere.

"You are saying that my son is hiding somewhere even from me? I lost contact with him for days! This happened right after the Lockhart family pulled back their security. We found Edward’s phone, his credit cards from the hotel he was staying and my son... he wrote a mystic letter with his own hands fearing for his life. How is he in hiding? " The King looked panicked and Talia thought he really was worried.

She did feel pity for the King who once was so majestic now looking so meek and fragile. Guess, age gets them all! But she still didn’t want to get involved in his issues.

She really thought that Prince Edward might be doing all these to gain sympathy. He might have expected that his father would make it a big issue and have a vendetta against the Brunton family and announce the nationalisation of Northern Star.

From her previous meeting with Edward, she could infer he was very jealous of Arthur. He really wouldn’t like the success of Arthur and would do something to bring him down. And he hated her too.

Could he be that petty to give trouble to his old father who is sick for his selfishness? Absolutely!

Too bad he didn’t realise that his father would put his pride above everything else. He wouldn’t let others know that a Prince was kidnapped right under their nose.

"You investigated?" Talia asked. She was not curious, but she knew that would be the polite thing to ask.

She watched as the King sent everyone out and Talia gave a slight nod at Mr. Ed who was brought in by Talia. He politely refused to leave. Seeing Talia didn’t want him to leave either, The King let him stay.

"Arnold Belfauger... I think he’s got my son," The King whispered and Talia noticed the little finger of Mr. Ed who was standing beside her twitch hearing that name.

Belfauger Groups’ Chairman Arnold Belfauger? Why would he kidnap Edward and what is his connection with grandpa?

"Prince Edward is acquainted with a lot of scions. His fiancée Ms. Graham moves with a lot of people in the business world. Maybe Mr. Belfauger’s son invited Prince Edward to stay with him?" Talia said with a smile. She wanted to leave. Who knows which wealthy person Edward or Olivia angered? Why should she be involved?

"Ms. Graham," The King snorted and Talia could see the look of utter disgust in his face.

He hates her that much?

"You didn’t know? She killed herself in a private island belonging to Belfauger. They kept it a secret and turned it as a boating accident and my son didn’t even attend her funeral. You still think my son is in hiding?" The King’s voice shook and Talia started to feel sorry for him.

So Edward really is missing?

"There are only a select few who can stand equal to the Belfauger family and your family is one of them. I know with everything turning sour between Brunton and I, Jerome might have felt the need to teach me a lesson. Just tell him to let my son go. Other than that I want nothing. He is my only son and I don’t want to lose him." The King actually pleaded and Talia was lost for words.

But why did their relationship turned sour? Did grandpa beg the King for me and he refused? Why should my grandpa spare mercy for this sick old guy when he was denied mercy for his only granddaughter?

She now understood why her grandfather forbade her to decide on his behalf. He waited ten years for retaliation. Ten years to give the same taste of despair to his old friend who abandoned him when he needed help.

Talia stood up to leave. "Your Majesty, I appreciate you coming to me for help. I, however, don’t appreciate you blaming my grandfather with no proof whatsoever for what might have happened to your son. My grandfather would never kidnap someone’s son for coercion. That announcement was not that important for him to go to those lengths. And to remind you kindly, I no longer represent the Brunton family. So I cannot-"

"So just because you became the Princess of Rosandale, you will forget our past, Little Lia? You grew up right in front of my eyes." The King got emotional and his voice trembled.

Talia pressed her lips together seeing the trembling old man in front of her who was addressing her the same way he used to in the past.

He had used their secret service to find Edward, but was met with dead ends. There were no clues as to where he might have disappeared. Only Olivia’s suicide was proof and when they contacted Belfauger’s people, they refused ever seeing Edward in their property, when he had a photograph of Olivia and Edward together in the Belfauger properties from social media the day she died.

Even that picture is now taken down and they were told there are some people who cannot be messed around with and the Belfauger family is one of them.

Should he lose his only son like that?

He’ll beg.

He couldn’t fathom when Jerome came to him and begged to stop the wedding between Talia and Raymond. ’Send her to prison for she killed a person, but don’t let her life be ruined by marriage!’ Jerome begged. But he couldn’t help.

Ah, who is he kidding? He could have helped if he wished to. But he didn’t. He oddly felt a rush seeing the noble and righteous Brunton in front of him begging.

Oh, Jerome! Were you felling this desperate that day too? Why was I so hard-hearted?

And I’m now begging your granddaughter whom I refused to help. The same girl who is smarter than my son; the same girl whom I wished was my child or at least my daughter-in-law.

Even now she is insisting that her grandpa is perfect, on the surface. But at the same time she is insinuating that even if her grandfather did it, it won’t be for the announcement.

If so, why did Jerome make this happen?

To give me a taste of that desperation you felt? For Northern Star? Or for some other reason?

He was arrogant and listened to the other nobles who said that Brunton has become weak and his power is gone. So he thought he could get a piece of that cake, his son so much desired. Who knew now he is in the verge of losing his son? Who wants anything when their only child was in danger?

I don’t care and I won’t give up! This child took after her mother who was kind-hearted and I can change her heart.

"Your Majesty, I will do what I can to find Prince Edward, with the limited power I wield as the Royal Princess of Rosandale. I hope my efforts will be considered in good faith for the future relationships between our great nations." Talia gave a diplomatic reply which was in fact a refusal.

"There is no one listening to our conversation, Little Lia. You don’t have to be polite. I know you are refusing me by saying you only have limited power citing your Royal title when you can use your name ’Brunton’ which would open many doors. But can’t you consider the request of this old man, for old time’s sake?"

"You must be jesting, Your Majesty. How can a Royal title hold less power than a name?" Talia said with a chuckle to lighten up the situation. The atmosphere had turned very tense and she knew even a small misstep will cause a mighty problem; especially when they all are in a way represent different countries.

"Royal Title? How much is it worth? I am a King and what did the title give me? And even the Lady with the steel heart- The Dowager Queen of Rosandale... what was she able to do with her title when the reigning King and the Crown Prince were killed by Arnold Belfauger? Even she had to cower and surrender to Belfauger! I don’t want my son to end up like that! Only the Brunton name can do something."

Arnold Belfauger killed Louis, parents and grandparents? It was not an accident?

Talia’s hands shook and she automatically turned to Mr. Ed to check if that is true. Seeing the reddened eyes of Mr. Ed, holding back his urge to punch the man who blurted out the well-kept secret just like that, Talia could gather what King Titus said was indeed true.

No way! If he knows, then Gigi ma knows too? She’s been living with this secret for years? Does Louis know too? Lambert doesn’t know for sure. They kept it from me too. Why? Why were they killed? And why was it announced as an accident?

"Heh!" Talia scoffed and her eyes misted up. "So what? What if the Brunton name holds greater power?" Talia really couldn’t bear the shocking news and she was angry at the King for letting it out like that.

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