Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 344: Her Freddy Bear

Chapter 344: Her Freddy Bear

"Is she really not pretending?"

Talia asked the doctor checking Sophia who was restrained to the bed. Apparently, she suddenly started screaming saying odd things, tried to undress and run away. She had forgotten her name even. She was highly sedated and yet she still hasn’t calmed down. The doctor was typing in the tests that need to be taken in the iPad.

"Your Highness, we’ll know for sure after these tests. If there aren’t any physical disorders that come up during these tests, we can safely conclude that this Lady-"He cleared his throat, "This accused is mentally disordered."

"Did she meet with a lawyer? Is this how she’s going to play this out? Just before interrogation, she magically became insane? How is that possible?" Cyril gritted his teeth and Arthur wrapped his arm around Talia’s waist.

Talia looked to her side and watched the complex emotions in Arthur’s face. He really wasn’t pleased. Even Talia wasn’t pleased with the timing this happened.

"That janitor..." Talia heard Arthur mumble and she pressed her lips. With the odd timing this happened, the janitor could be involved.

"Can I?" Talia wanted to take a closer look at Sophia and asked the doctor. The doctor was reluctant but nodded half-heartedly seeing Talia’s focused look. But as she took a step forward, Talia felt Arthur’s hand around her waist, stopping her from moving forward.

"She is totally restrained."

Talia’s unwavering eyes made Arthur release his grip on her waist. By now slowly the sedatives had taken effect and Sophia had calmed down.

Talia got closer and Sophia was staring blankly at the ceiling, still mumbling something as her lips were quivering. Talia could see the emptiness in Sophia’s eyes and knew she is not all there. She really has lost her mind.

Talia bent and looked straight in Sophia’s eyes. She could see her reflection in her eyes and Sophia’s eyes that were restlessly moving, focused on her.

"Sophia, do you know who I am?" Talia smiled and watched the rims of Sophia’s eyes getting red. "I’m Her Royal Highness Princess Royal of Rosandale," she who rarely uses her title, purposefully uttered her title. "You want to speak to Arthur? He is right behind me." she added and watched Sophia’s eyes getting lively and getting covered with a layer of wetness.

Ah... So you forgot who you are, but not me? Should I be honoured?

Talia noticed some movements in Sophia’s mouth and she stood straight. As expected Sophia spat and since she was lying and gravity is a thing, the spit ended up on Sophia’s face itself.

Talia let out a chuckle and it was so scary the doctor who was removing his gloves paused.

"Spit into the sky all you want, Sophia. In the end, you can do nothing to the sky and you’d be the one drowning in your own spit," she said and holding Arthur’s hand walked out.

"Surely you noticed that, right doctor? How is she responding to me alone? Is she even sick or pretending?" Talia stood firmly in front of the doctor and the doctor got flustered.

Surely he knew mental illnesses cannot be explained in a defined manner. It differs from person to person. And this patient seems to have strong feelings towards the Princess and even when she had lost herself, her strong feelings of hate towards the Princess didn’t go away. How is he going to explain it all to this angry Royal? And those around her are scarier.

"I’ll carefully look into it, Your Royal Highness," the doctor gave a bow and Talia let out a scoff before leaving the room.

"Cyril, wherever she goes, make sure she gets bombarded with positive news about me," Talia said as they reached the hallway and Cyril had a calm smile. How could she tell him his exact plan?

Talia looked at Arthur who was dialling someone in his phone and he pulled her closer to him as the call connected. "Jordan, investigate the-"

Arthur who was about to ask Jordan to investigate the janitor paused realising he doesn’t work for him anymore and even if he did, he won’t trust him anymore. Talia let out a deep breath and looked at the floor, feeling the hard grip of Arthur.

Habits... he forgot Jordan doesn’t work for him anymore, didn’t he?

"Collect your things from the office tomorrow. You’re relieved from your duties as of today." Arthur said after clearing his throat and ended the call.

As they walked to the parking lot, Talia could feel Arthur was tensed. He was receiving many phone calls and messages and she knew he is busy. She pulled his sleeves. "You have a lot of things to handle in the office, don’t you? Drop me back home and go handle business. I want to rest," she said and Arthur wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her head.

"You won’t wander off anywhere, will you?"

"No, but I’m leaving for Rosandale just as planned before and attend my Royal Engagements just as scheduled." She had decided to leave Esteria as soon as possible. She wanted to talk to her grandfather about Ralph.

And she still wondered if she could meet Rebecca. Joe told her that Rebecca wasn’t informed about the blast and Talia felt that was a right decision on his part too. Rebecca doesn’t need more stress right now. Meeting her would make Rebecca feel better and Talia missed her friend too.

"Must you stress yourself this much? Can’t you just take rest?" Arthur saw the determinant glow in her eyes and although he didn’t want to rain on her parade, he wanted her to be mindful of her health.

"It’s fine. It’s not hard labour. I just have to talk to some people and pose for some pictures. That’s all," Talia smiled.

"Fine then, I’ll return earlier tonight to spend time with you," Arthur gave a smooch on her lips and holding her hand, walked to his car.

Talia with her head bowed followed him, hiding the blush in her face.

Spend time he says... Surely they won’t be just talking.

The chauffer was waiting and both of them didn’t realise their walk to the car was captured by a couple of patient paparazzi who waited in the parking lot of the hospital for possible scoop.

---

Back in her room, Talia wanted to sleep, but she couldn’t as her mind was racing with various thoughts. So she decided to take a stroll with Bear. But Bear, the lazy guy he is, was sleeping. And so Talia decided to take a look in her closet. She wanted to know if Arthur was keeping the proposal ring somewhere in there.

She first checked his sock drawer and was stunned seeing the bland socks neatly arranged in the drawer. She didn’t know he liked to only wear black or brown socks and not coloured ones or the ones with patterns.

Even though she checked each sock, she still couldn’t find the ring. She knew he might have hidden it somewhere else and decided to find out.

She checked drawer by drawer and found a drawer filled with his hand kerchiefs. They all were plain white and identical. Dark coloured socks and white hand kerchief. He really isn’t picky about it, huh....

Well...Talia suddenly had an idea.

"Little Lady, you have a delivery," Mrs. Grey had a bemused expression and Talia knew what she was talking about.

"About time!" Talia was excited.

Fred, you have to love my gift!

After setting up the gift she ordered in his home office, she returned to her bedroom and started working on what she had planned. As she was deeply immersed in what she was doing, she didn’t realise what time it was.

"Little Lady, Arthur is back!" Mrs. Grey came in running and Talia hurriedly folded all the hand kerchiefs back. With the help of Mrs. Grey, she was able to replace them back in the drawer as it was.

"Fred!" Talia welcomed him with a hug. "I bought you a gift. I left it in your office. Come and see."

Arthur was surprised by her acting cute with him the moment he entered home. All the tiredness he felt flew away seeing her smiling face.

Ah... too bad she cannot stay here forever.

He didn’t mind getting dragged by her and a silly smile bloomed in his face.

"Talia...you..."

His smile disappeared and his face twitched as soon as he entered his office. In his office, behind his chair, was a life-sized plush teddy bear. It was the same colour as his hair and was holding a plush heart-shaped pillow that said ’Lovely Freddy’.

"How do you like it?" Talia asked with a smile, standing in front of the bear with her hands holding at her back. "You don’t like it?" she pouted and walked to the teddy bear and sat beside it and rubbed her face on the bear. "Never mind him, you’re so cute. I love you," she kissed the bear.

Arthur watching her burst out laughing. How adorable is she!

When he brought her to his office and showed her the taxidermy bear, he thought he saw something sinister in her face.

So this was her plan?

"Oh Iris... how do I love you so!" he sat beside her and kissed her.

Talia with a smile leaned on him. "You might be a bear-king for others in your office, but at home you are my sweet cuddly Freddy bear."

"Of course, sweet Iris!"

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