Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 380: Getting Rid Of Enemies

Chapter 380: Getting Rid Of Enemies

"Do you feel cold, Iris? Should I turn off the air conditioner?" Arthur sitting in the armchair of the sitting area right under the air conditioner asked Talia who was packing her bags in her slips.

He is someone who cannot handle heat and likes to keep the room really cold. She is someone who is cold regardless of the season and they realised for the first time that summer is tough for both of them.

"No, I’m fine." Talia looked at Arthur sitting with his legs crossed, with a lit cigar in his one hand and a document in the other.

Like she has reduced her drinking, he has reduced his smoking and it was rare Talia sees him smoking. She loved the smell of cigar but she loved the man holding the cigar more. No matter how many times she looks at him, he gets more and more handsome each passing day.

Cold? I’m feeling hot for some reason.

She didn’t want to pack anymore and sat beside him, hooking her arms with his and leaned on his shoulder.

"You smell good, Fred. With grandpa quitting smoking, I don’t want you to entirely quit smoking so that I can indulge in the scent of cigars for a while." Talia took in a deep breath.

Although she knew second hand smoking has the same risks of a smoker, she loved the scent of cigar.

"Come on, Fred! A little more," she tried to stop him from stubbing the Cigar. Failing to do so, she got mad. "Why must you be so stingy? You always keep me away from things I love. Be it wine or cigar, why must you be so-"

Her words were swallowed by his deep kiss. Before she knew it, she was on her back on the couch, as their tongue intertwined with each other in passion. His scent combined with the scent of the cigar that was embedded in his tongue, made her go crazy as they made out.

Who needs cigar when you have him?

"I’m not keeping you away from this addiction," Arthur seductively touched his lips with his index finger and Talia pushed him back. "Should I thank you?"

"Yes, please," Arthur, with a chuckle, pulled her to sit beside him and started looking at the document once more.

Talia fixed her slip that got a little messy. "Are you busy? I can leave if-"

"No need, Blue." Arthur wrapped his arm around her waist and placed a kiss at the crook of her neck making her flinch. "Did you find out who Edith Pembrin is?"

"Ah, yes!" Talia folded her legs over the couch and sat looking at Arthur. "It gets more and more weird, Fred. Lady Edith is the mother of the Duke of Trenton and the matriarch of the duchy. And guess what? She is also the aunt of my great grandma. Not an immediate aunt, but somewhat a distant aunt. Lady Edith is younger than my Gigima, but she is the aunt. Isn’t it weird?"

"Silly, a ’younger aunt’ is what weirded you out? It was pretty common until some decades ago. People got married really young and had many kids too. Many families had a child and a grandchild around the same age." Arthur chuckled and Talia nodded.

"I guess so."

As someone who grew up without any relatives, Talia always got intrigued by big families and their structure.

"Anyways, I called Gigima and told her what Arnold Belfauger said and she was speechless for a while, Fred. She froze for a minute. Then she asked me to join her to visit Lady Edith. Apparently she is kept in a hospice in Balstone as her health is degrading. I wonder what happened between Lady Edith, Gigima and Princess Lillian in the past." Talia rubbed her chin, as she pondered.

"I don’t think it is anything good. Isn’t Lady Edith’s husband the one who killed The Dowager’s brother? I bet there must be some resentment there. What I wonder is why does Belfauger know Lady Edith by name? If Belfauger hated the Dowager and Lady Edith’s history with the Dowager’s paternal family... Something’s fishy." Arthur placed the document on the side table and his eyebrows were furrowed.

"Fred," Talia’s heart skipped a beat as she understood what Arthur is implying. "Could it be that Royal Jet accident...? The Duke of Trenton might be involved in it?"

"Him, or it could very well be his mother acting alone. Whatever the case maybe, you should be more careful. Don’t try to be the hero trying to find out the past not minding your own safety and be safe."

"I understand," Talia leaned on Arthur. Her heart filled with gloom.

"Families are weird, Fred. Grandpa has something with Ralph that he is not telling me, and now Gigima has some secrets around her family. I know they won’t be happy their children are affected by the feuds of their past. But is it possible to live a life without making enemies? Fred, will we leave enemies for our kids too? In that case, wouldn’t it be great if we don’t have kids at all?"

"Let’s not go that far now, shall we? Don’t you want four kids? You’re even working hard for it." Arthur gently rubbed her back. He could understand how there are always enemies growing up like mushrooms around her. It should be pretty disheartening.

"And Iris," he kissed her forehead. "I won’t leave any enemies who might touch you or our kids, alive. So rest assured."

"You’ll kill them?" Talia looked him at the eyes. He didn’t answer, but she could see the ruthlessness in his eyes. She leaned back on his chest.

"You’re scared of me?" he asked as his fingers ran through her hair.

"Scared of you? No. But I am scared for you. These days are not like the old days when secrets are kept by loyal people, and everything will come out one way or another. I don’t want you to get your hands dirty or to get investigated for the murder of some scum." Talia spoke her mind.

It should be hard for him to see her at the brink of death far many times. So if he wants her enemies get purged, isn’t that a form of self-defence? It is morally and legally wrong to kill someone who is of no immediate threat to your life, but how long should she live not knowing which one would come for her with an explosive or a poison ring?

Have I grown to become heartless? Why don’t I feel bad?

Talia sighed.

She herself won’t be able to take a life as she had learnt. Cyrus was her first and will be her last. But that doesn’t mean she won’t be involved in someone else’s death. As she had learnt, she will always have enemies for one reason or another. Whether it is because of family feud or just for money, her life would be in danger as long as she lives.

No wonder I have millions spent on me for security each year. I should live with it.

"I’ll be careful. I’ll hire professionals," Arthur laughed. As always... she is amazing. "By the way, what have you decided about Sir Robert? He expressed his desire to work for you, right? I heard he is already raring to join your side."

"I’ve asked the HR department to transfer him to some low risk position." Talia rubbed her head in his chest like a cat. "He won’t be pleased. But at least he’d be safe in the future. He has a wife and two kids to look after. He cannot be in danger for me."

Arthur patted her head.

It is a job! Even if Sir Robert is transferred, won’t there be someone else who’d be taking his position? Is his life not precious? Won’t he have a family too? Oh, Iris! Why are you this sensitive? Guess you grew more attached to him.

----

The day of the departure, Talia felt suffocated by how tightly Arthur was holding her.

"It’s getting late! Come on!" Lambert grumbled.

As much as he liked the Oakley Castle and was awed by the hospitality he received by the staff there, he liked his home more.

"Iris, call me often. Don’t wonder if I am busy. Just call me anytime you want." He whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek.

"There is something important I need to tell you." The words he wanted to say for days got stuck in his throat once more and he gulped, swallowing the lump formed in his throat.

Why can’t I tell her?

"Okay. You can call me anytime during the evenings," Talia smiled at him biting her lips. After spending a couple of months together, it was hard for her to leave and unknowingly her eyes watered. He seemed to be distressed too.

"Grandpa, I’ll call you daily," She walked to her grandpa.

"Grandpa, you can come visit us anytime you want. If you fell like it, just hop on a jet and visit us. Great grandma would be pleased too." Lambert hugged Jerome.

Staying here, he had caught on with Talia and started calling Jerome ’Grandpa’ making Jerome much happier.

After saying their farewell, both of them left for Rosandale.