Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 349: Little Gift, Much Happiness

Chapter 349: Little Gift, Much Happiness

A gust of wind blew from nowhere making Talia’s ponytail all messy and fixing her hair, she observed her great grandmother. Her reaction was not good as Talia could sense she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Ah, stubborn old people! Can’t they just be open?

She didn’t even think that both of them might not want the other to know their secrets for some reason. Her grandpa and her great grandma both weren’t uncomfortable with each other, but they were trying to keep secrets only from Talia.

"Gigi ma, I’m not trying to pry into the secrets you’ve kept. I know you are trying to protect us by keeping certain secrets. But with how carelessly King Titus revealed the truth to me and how Belfauger is powerful enough to kidnap a Prince with no repercussions; I wanted to know for the sake of avoiding future confrontations. I don’t wish to know the reason for the bad blood between Belfauger and our family. But I want to know if I should be wary of him in the future. I don’t think that is presumptuous of me to ask that." Talia didn’t back off and carefully expressed her intentions.

"And grandpa, why did you ask Belfauger to kidnap Edward? Is he your friend?"

"No, he’s not. Listen to me MaryAnn, for I will never repeat what I’m going to say. But I’ve left some clues in my will in case some of them might bother you in the future. Arnold Belfauger belongs to a secret cabal which I once was a member of and he’s an acquaintance. We people... we don’t become friends. We do deals. He owed me one and I asked him to put the fear of God in Prince Edward’s childish heart. Now or in the future, neither Artie nor you need to be acquainted with such people who covet power even if they approach you themselves. Just keep them away and they won’t bother you much."

"Yes, I understand, grandpa." Talia nodded.

If it was someone else, she’d have laughed when they said ’secret cabal’ but it is her grandpa saying that and she believed him. They used to go to these odd gatherings when she was little, but then her grandpa stopped going to such gatherings anymore. She remembered few of them and they are still the richest ones in the world. Are the rich and powerful people from those gatherings part of this ’secret cabal’ her grandpa is speaking of?

And she had found some odd activities in the dark web where random information that may seem insignificant, would start a domino effect resulting in the rise and fall of nations and world economy. Seven years back, one such campaign was started against the Northern Star which she successfully stopped, and that’s how she became much better as a hacker. Was that organised by that ’secret cabal’?

Odd information that circulated in the dark web actually toppled the governmental structure of a country rich in resources and that country is now suffering from civil wars due to the lack of strong leadership and the common people are scrounging for their basic necessities. Is that the doing of that ’secret cabal’ too?

Whatever! I have no intention of becoming one of those who lurks in shadows to gain power and further their agendas. Nor am I curious about those people. I’ve always used my hacking abilities for defense and securing what is important for me. And that’s how it will be in the future too.

The Dowager watched Talia accepting her grandfather’s advice without much questions. She was surprised when Jerome revealed his secret to Talia just like that when she had no plans to speak out her secrets. But seeing how Talia acted, she changed her decision.

"Louis doesn’t know. Lambert doesn’t know either. The whole thing is only known to a select few intelligence officers who worked on the case and every file regarding that flight accident is heavily redacted. I would like the secret to be kept secret even from Louis."

"Understand." Talia had a lot of doubts regarding this, but she didn’t ask any questions and she didn’t want to dig into the past either. She understood why her great grandmother wants to keep this as a secret from Louis and Lambert.

As they were directly affected by that accident arranged by Belfauger, surely the brothers will try to avenge. But as a ruler, Louis’ mind cannot be corrupted with thoughts of vengeance. He should spend his energy serving his people.

"Belfauger won’t bother with you anymore. I made sure of that." Jerome said taking a sip of the cranberry juice and then cringed as he swallowed.

Talia didn’t know if her grandpa assured her or her great grandmother, but as long as it is handled, she didn’t mind.

"Grandpa, are you planning on having an investiture ceremony for Arthur?" Talia asked.

"Such outdated customs aren’t followed anymore. But, what do you think?" Jerome had a sly smile. He wanted to have a grand ceremony for Arthur when he returns to Esteria and before his grandchild announces her engagement.

Although Arthur is legally The Marquees of Ashwood, Jerome wanted to make a big show announcing him as his legal heir so that no one would slight him in the future.

Seeing his granddaughter bringing it up only made him happy that his granddaughter is caring that much for her future husband.

"I think you should arrange a grand ceremony as soon as possible. There are still people who criticise him for stealing his place as your heir. Only when you cloak him and pin that Ashwood Crest on his chest with a wide smile in your face will they shut up." Talia spoke her mind.

"Alright, then. Do as you wish. Make all the arrangements and ask Sebastian for help if needed." Jerome held back his smile seeing his granddaughter getting excited. He loved seeing that on her face.

"I want to embroider his robe myself." Talia added and Jerome chuckled.

"Good... Talk to Mr. Kinsley. He’d give you the patterns and the materials that need to me used."

"You do embroidery, Talia?" The Dowager was surprised.

"Of course! I grew up as a Lady after all. But I’m not very good at it. I’m going to need all the help I can get." Talia stood up. "I’ll take my leave now, grandpa, Gigi ma," she smiled, "I have promised Little Henry he can ride ponies with me."

"Be careful. Don’t ride too fast and-"

"I know grandpa," Talia interrupted her grandpa with a pout. Her grandpa still considers her as a child.

"That child used to give her hand embroidered kerchiefs as gifts to me. She’s always the best at everything she tries. It is better she is doing the embroidery for Artie. Now he will have to agree for that ceremony. My MaryAnn is brilliant." Jerome was so happy; he finished the cranberry juice in one gulp.

"I still don’t understand why I put myself to suffering by watching how much Talia prefers you over me," The Dowager sighed.

"Aren’t you too old to get jealous?" Jerome laughed. He liked to see that old lady not having hold of her emotions like this. Every time he talks about MaryAnn, he could see this fun side of this ’Iron lady’.

---

Talia tucked Little Henry in the bed and placed a little kiss on his forehead. She thought he’d get scared to sleep without his mother and she might have to send him back, but his guy was calm. He wanted to sleep with her and seeing those big watery eyes, Talia couldn’t refuse him. Even before she finished reading a few pages of his storybook, he had already fallen asleep.

Talia heard her phone vibrating and her lips curved up seeing the picture of the teddy bear blinking in her phone screen.

She answered the call and sneaked to a quiet corner so not to disturb the sleeping child.

"What is it?"

She could help but giggle along with the guy who was giggling at the other end non-stop for two minutes.

"Iris...."

Arthur started giggling once more and Talia’s stomach hurt as she laughed for no reason.

"Fred, tell me what it is or I’ll end the call," she spoke in a stern voice.

"No don’t," there was a slight panic in his tone. "I saw it..."

"Saw what?"

"Every single one of them is pretty." He still couldn’t stop giggling.

"And this made you giggle like a little girl?" Talia sat hugging her knees and she couldn’t hold her grin.

She realised he was talking about the embroidery she did in his Kerchiefs and her heart felt flustered.

"Yes, I’m so happy."

"I thought you’d call me in the morning itself after seeing them," Talia questioned. She thought since he didn’t call her, he didn’t like that she had touched his kerchiefs without his permission. But by his reaction, she was really happy.

"I... I didn’t notice it until when I took it out at the office. I was so surprised and I returned home to take a look. Iris, you’ve embroidered my initials in all my kerchiefs! Mrs. Grey told me how you spent an entire evening doing embroidery. I wanted to hug you immediately. But I didn’t want to disturb you and waited till now to call you. Iris... I love you."

"I love you, Fred."

Talia didn’t expect this little thing would make him this happy. She was glad she put the effort.