Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 383: Getting Schooled

Chapter 383: Getting Schooled

"Your Highness, It’s no use running." Mr. Ed blocked her way in the hallways.

"Amy, are you going to-" Talia knew she cannot outrun Mr. Ed in her heels and asked for help. But before she could finish, she was shot down.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness. You’ve been avoiding Sir Robert for too long. I think it would be better if you have a talk." Amy bowed and retreated and so did her other securities.

"But Gigima would be waiting for me!" Abandoned by everyone, Talia found excuses.

"I already got permission from Her Grace, Your Highness. And I have brought a pie my wife baked." Mr. Ed showed her a Tupperware box.

"Pie?" Talia raised her brows. "You should have opened your statement with that, Sir Robert. What kind of pie? Give me," With no shame. Talia held out her hand and Mr. Ed pointed at the bench in the garden. He was not going to give the pie without having the talk.

An uncomfortable talk in exchange for a pie cooked by Lady Magdalene? Totally worth it!!

"Here," Mr. Ed knew his Princess won’t listen to a word he says unless she finishes the pie and passed the box. Under the shade of an oak tree, Mr. Ed had a cocktail of emotions as he looked at Talia and she gave him a hearty smile and saw his face brighten up.

"Thank you," Talia was all smiles. Although she just had breakfast, she finished half of the chocolate cream pie while asking about his health. She was delighted he had returned to normal after getting so close to death.

After she felt full, she safely kept the box by her side. "I’ll return the box after cleaning it."

"That’s fine," Mr. Ed had a pleased smile and thanked his wife who gave him this idea to bring pie. As he expected, she enjoyed eating the pie. But he was a little jealous the Princess agreed for the talk just for his wife’s pie. "I heard you performed really well in the military games the other day and your team almost won."

"I dragged my teammates down. They might have won if not for me," Talia pouted. "But I know I have improved a lot from when you were training me. Fred is a hundred times stricter than you."

"I see," Mr. Ed chuckled. "I did go easy on you."

There was silence for some time and Talia took in a deep breath. "I miss you, Mr. Ed." Talia turned to look at Mr. Ed. "You’re the best bodyguard and friend I ever had other than Cyrus. I’m glad your health is getting better and I will not regret my decision to transfer you. You became so close to my heart; almost as close as Cyrus. I don’t want you to end up like him too. I have nothing more to say."

Not forgetting to grab the box, Talia was about to stand up. She had explained her thoughts clearly and he should understand her perspective now. He can accept her decision now, right?

"That is your reason, Your Highness? Not because of your fears that my injuries would make me incompetent to be good at my job?" Mr. Ed asked and Talia knitted her brows.

"Nonsense! Why would I think that way? I know for sure you saved me that day and I have personally talked to your doctors who said your recovery is one hundred percentage!"

"Yes, I did my job as a protection officer and I still am capable to do that." Mr. Ed had a smirk. "A recording of your statement now is enough for me to get my job back through the HR. You didn’t transfer me for incompetence, but for your personal preference. Although it is a Palace, we still have laws and these things are not tolerated in the workspace."

"I would say ’Do as you please’, if you’d actually recorded our conversations Mr. Ed. But I know you’re not someone who records private conversations." Talia was confident.

Mr. Ed raised his eyebrows as she knows him well and chuckled. "You’re this amazing and you’re forbidding me to serve you." He sighed. "I heard you had some tough conversations with the Duke of Luxxenshire?" he looked at her.

Talia felt a squeeze in her heart as she could understand the parallels between Celine and Mr. Ed. Both of them have risks by association with her. But she made the decision for Mr. Ed herself, while being gracious enough to let Celine take the decision for her.

Aren’t I being a little hypocritical here?

"I’m glad you care for me more than you do for Lady Celine," Mr. Ed said in a playful tone.

"You’re far more in danger than Celine would be, Mr. Ed. Don’t twist anything," Talia explained although she felt confused.

That’s not the real reason, but his similarities with Cyrus.

"I know," he got serious. "Although you can see similarities between the late Lord Cyrus and me, we are not the same. I am a paid employee who works for you who also happens to have been knighted. I can in no way be compared with Lord Cyrus who dedicated his life for you."

Talia wanted to refute him, but she didn’t find any words. He is right! She was the one who considered Mr. Ed as Cyrus when in fact he is not. They are different.

After that Talia was schooled by Mr. Ed explaining how and why he is hurt by her singling him out when he is one of her employees.

Talia realised her decision was entirely made considering her own feelings and realised the blunder. She did nothing commendable but she had actually hurt a competent man who wants to serve her, to protect her feelings.

"I’m sorry, Sir Robert. I’ll talk to the HR immediately." Talia said with a smile. She was about to say that she won’t forgive him if he puts his life in danger for her, but then she knew he’d say, ’But THAT is my job’. She smiled. "You should be really lucky to have a wife who understands you well, Sir Robert. And someone who can bake amazing pies."

"Of course, Your Royal Highness." he stood up and gave a deep bow filled with reverence. Talia nodded and stood up to leave.

This is how it will be, right? Me and them... Me: who needs protection, and them: who will put their lives on the line for me.

While it is not wrong to form an emotional connection with my employees, I have no need to feel guilty when they do their job.

Mum, I realise what you were trying to teach me. It is a one way deal and there is nothing for me to feel guilty about. I cannot protect them but they are paid to protect me. All I can do is to be grateful for their loyalty and treat them sincerely as I would treat any other employee.

Ah! It is better this way.

Talia felt light as she felt another weight getting lifted from her heart. Usually she won’t call Arthur in the mornings as both of them would be busy, but she picked up her phone to dial him. She wanted to share her happiness.

Her eyes widened with surprise when Arthur’s image blinked in her screen.

He’s calling me... How in-sync are we!

"Fred!" she answered enthusiastically.

"Iris... you answered... I worried if you’d be busy," Arthur’s voice was leisurely and filled with mirth.

"Not busy... " Talia smiled. "I wanted to call you and just then you called me."

"Why?" Arthur stood up and walked to the window with a smile.

As always, she makes me happy just by little words. How can she be this amazing?

Both of them talked for just ten minutes, but they ended up being happier than they were before. Talia told him about her talk with Mr. Ed and Arthur was happy. Arthur informed that he had found the remains of Princess Lillian and Talia almost jumped out of joy.

"I’m on my way to meet Gigima. I’ll inform her." Talia ended the call.

Arthur initially wanted to keep it a secret until he asks them permission to marry Talia, but since Belfauger’s interference and the odd stories he heard about the Duke of Trenton, he decided to let them know earlier.

Talia went to her great grandmother and she brought her straight to the hospice where Lady Edith was kept. Their visit was kept a secret from the public.

On their way there, Talia could feel the stuffiness in the car. Her Gigima didn’t say a word and was very silent.

Is she anxious?

Talia, expecting a joyful chuckle from the Dowager, told her that Arthur had found the remains of Princess Lillian.

"That’s good."

That’s all she said and Talia was stunned by the lack of reaction from her Gigima.

Is she not pleased?

They reached the hospice and they were led in through a side door and brought to the room where Lady Edith is staying. Talia noticed this hospice was in no way inferior to a five star hotel. At least the Duke of Trenton knows to take care of his mother!

They entered the room and Talia immediately smelt a thick stench of disinfectant mixed with a strong scent of rose. The room had rose coloured wallpaper and in the vases there were fresh roses.

A frail old lady was sitting by the window.