Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 384: A Warrior Woman

Chapter 384: A Warrior Woman

"When Albert said he loved ’Rose’, he meant me, not roses as in flowers, Aunty Edith." The Dowager said and Talia took a step back as she had never seen her great grandma being this bitter with anyone. Standing by her side, Talia felt the hate emitting from her great grandma.

"So the wench who stole my betrothed is finally here!" Lady Edith’s tone wasn’t close to polite either.

"Stole?" The Dowager chuckled and Talia felt the chill. "Your Betrothed fell in love with me at first sight. He then went against everyone to make me his wife. He was more than happy to make me the Queen of this kingdom and the mother of his children. I had no choice there, did I?" The Dowager answered calmly.

Whoa, so Celine’s info was right! And Gigima is savage! She made it like her husband was the one who chased after her when she was not even that interested with him.

Talia was impressed. Now Lady Edith will feel worse that her pure heart filled with love was ignored by King Albert for someone who didn’t even appreciate him. Wow!

Lady Edith picked up the vase on the windowsill and tried to throw it at The Dowager. Talia shielded her great grandmother instinctively. Thankfully the strength of the old lady was not great and the vase fell on the carpeted floor with a thud and didn’t even break.

"Let’s leave the past at the past, aunty." The Dowager said as she sat on the chair Talia got for her.

Lady Edith’s wrinkled face twitched and she gripped the dress she was wearing. "Who’s your aunt you shameless-"

"Should I address you as cousin, then? You married my cousin after all!" The Dowager smirked and Lady Edith gritted her teeth.

"Have you met Talia? She’s my Lillian’s granddaughter. You were with me in those days when I was missing my daughter, comforting me. So I brought her to meet you before you kick the bucket." The Dowager pushed Talia to the front with a smile. "Doesn’t she look just like Albert?"

"Who’s going to die-" Lady Edith shouted and ended up on a coughing fit.

Talia felt uncomfortable being in the middle of the fight between two old ladies and just moved to the side. She couldn’t guess why her Great grandma who is dignity and grace personified is acting this different. She couldn’t understand why she was brought here either.

If it was any other situation, Talia wouldn’t have wanted to involve herself and left the place, but she didn’t want to be rude to her great grandma. Lady Edith stared at Talia and she stared some more after wearing her glasses. Meeting her eyes, Talia saw Lady Edith trembling.

"Those eyes..." her eyes teared up and she waved her hand for Talia to move closer. Talia took a step back and got closer to The Dowager. If she has to take a side, she’d take her grandmother’s with no questions asked. Lady Edith tried to stand up to get closer to Talia, but she couldn’t.

"You can’t die, I misspoke. You will die when I want you to, Cousin Edith!" The Dowager continued, interrupting lady Edith’s actions. "And you will tell me the burial place of my Lillian."

Talia watched Lady Edith’s face twisting with rage and some sense of pride and accomplishment. Talia, who was stunned by the Dowager’s question when she already informed her that Arthur had found Princess Lillian’s remains, realised the reason for her presence and the Dowager’s odd behaviour.

Gigima wants to provoke Lady Edith to get some truths!

"Heh!" Lady Edith chuckled. "Of course I know your precious daughter’s burial place. I was there when she died after all. She was telling me how she wanted to return to Rosandale if only her mother wouldn’t send her guard dogs behind her son to hurt him to save your pride. She died thinking of her mother as a monster!"

Talia could see the Dowager’s facade cracking hearing the evil cackle of Lady Edith. "I was going to speak to the Court to grant my grandchildren titles if she had children. You knew that! What made her think I will hurt her children?"

"Oh my! I wonder the same!" Lady Edith laughed and Talia realised everything.

This Lady Edith prevented Princess Lillian from returning to Rosandale by speaking falsehoods about her mother’s intentions. OMG! If the Princess returned, she’d have lived longer! But wait... Gigima knows about this already?

"Like you, your girl was naive to believe every word I spoke. Even then when I told her you’d definitely separate her love, she decided to elope. She never was planning to leave Rosandale, but I convinced how being in Rosandale would be dangerous since you’ll send out your dogs. She was such a nincompoop. But her husband was smart and after her death he took his son and went to hiding. He didn’t even dare to visit his wife’s grave fearing I might get them and left it unattended...." Lady Edith went on and even Talia felt the urge to snap the neck of that frail old lady to stop her from talking.

So this is why dad didn’t know anything about his mother?

Talia knew her dad’s father died when he was very young and he was sent to an orphanage where he was raised. His father must not have told him anything about his mother since her dad had no idea he might be the son of a Princess.

Talia could see The Dowager’s hands slightly trembling and she searched for something. "Past cannot be changed and I cannot change the unpleasant way my child- my firstborn died."

"You think only your firstborn died in my hand?" Lady Edith laughed. "That nutcase believed she birthed my Albert’s child and even her son was raised with that belief. It was like getting a low hanging fruit."

Is she talking about Belfauger? This woman twisted Belfauger’s mind to kill Louis’ parents and grandparents?

But why is she spitting all the truth now?

Talia’s eyes widened as she realised the truth. The Dowager stood up and in her hand were a bunch of envelops that looked old.

Seeing those envelops, Lady Edith was stunned. "How did you get it? I kept it all in a secret place."

"You mean these letters you exchanged with my child at those times you knew I was missing her?" The Dowager smirked. "I asked my people – the one’s you refer to as ’dogs’, to get them and they got it for me."

Talia understood that the Dowager must have investigated Lady Edith after Arnold Belfauger mentioned her name and found out everything about her. It must be hurting her bad knowing that the one she considered her friend had betrayed her and even killed her children.

Talia looked at her great grandma. Due to age, she had a little hunch on her shoulders and yet she was standing as straight as she could. Her eyes were red and yet no tears escaped her eyelids. She is suffering and yet she doesn’t want to show it while confronting her enemy.

How strong a woman is she? She is like an undefeatable warrior in a battle.

Talia couldn’t help but admire her.

Yes, it would take a lot of strength to admit that you need help and ask for counselling. It takes a lot of strength to admit you have a problem, to admit you’re wounded and broken inside and to get help to get better. It is commendable.

But to overcome the trouble and mend the wound yourself, and to hide the scars you got from your battle and to still stand straight with an undefeated look in front of your enemy... How much more strength is needed?

Will I ever be this strong? Like a warrior?

There was fear apparent on Lady Edith’s eyes. "You... what did you give me? Why did I open up the deepest vault of my heart where I locked all my secrets? How did I reveal everything?"

"Don’t worry, you won’t die of that drug," The Dowager smiled. "I especially asked them to keep you alive for long. Alive for so long, that you’d outlive your son and grandchildren and watch them getting buried; just like I did. You’d be alive for long enough, you’d have no one to arrange your funeral; of course that’s not going to happen to me because I am the Beloved Consort of The Great King Albert."

"My son... Don’t you dare touch him!" Lady Edith started coughing once more and some nurses hurried inside.

"No one informed her of the situation with her son?" The Dowager asked in a dignified manner and the nurses bowed.

"Your Grace, We were asked by His Grace to keep his situation from his mother."

"What is it? What happened to my son?" Lady Edith shouted and the nurses tried to calm her down.

"Oh, he’s such a filial son," The Dowager turned to leave. "Take good care of her."

As they walked through the halls Talia heard one of the nurses telling Lady Edith about the issues surrounding the club. Lady Edith screeched and cussed the Dowager and both of them walked back to the car silently.

"I’ll tell you where she is buried! Help my son!"

Her screams were heard for a long distance.

Talia was wondering if there is actually a ’Truth Serum’ that could make anyone talk the truth. Is that the drug Gigima talked about?

"Ask Arthur to talk to Louis to follow the procedures of bringing the remains of my daughter back where it should belong. "

"Yes, Gigima." Talia nodded.

"He’s a thoughtful man who follows traditions. Although there is no need, he is willing to give betrothal gift to his wife-to-be’s family before asking for her hand." The Dowager gave an approving smile.

"No, Gigima. That’s not why-"

"Talia, are you that naive to believe he took that much efforts just out of the goodness of his heart?"

The Dowager asked and Talia was lost for words. Although she didn’t think that way, it is possible Fred did it for her Royal family to develop good opinions about him.

"I’m not blaming him but applauding him. If he is willing to go this far for your family, as if he didn’t prove it already by taking care of Jerome Brunton, I know for sure he’d go to any extremes for you. And I will approve of such a man for my precious great grandchild."

The Dowager held her cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead and Talia blushed. She didn’t know why but her great grandmother’s approval made her so happy.

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