Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 387: A Lonely King

Chapter 387: A Lonely King

The loud, angry voice of Louis echoed in the small ballroom that was turned to a temporary concert room.

Cordelia raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What is he doing here?"

Pushing the make-shift curtain aside, Talia peeked out of the platform and gulped seeing Louis standing at the door with his sons holding each of his hand.

The staff all bowed and the audience of the surprise concert all stood up for the King sparing The Dowager.

Louis’ eyes took a glance around the hall and his face twitched with embarrassment realising his in-laws, grandparents, his great grandmother and even Jerome Brunton are in the room.

When his youngest told him that his mother is planning some fun surprise with his uncle and aunt, he felt betrayed to be left out by his siblings and even wife. Without thinking twice he stormed in.

And now I have embarrassed myself!

"Granny!!" both Henry and Philip ran to their grandma.

"Please be seated," Louis gave a charming smile as if the one who stormed in shouting was not him.

"We are screwed!" Talia got behind Cordelia while Arthur was pushed to the front by Lambert for him to hide.

Cordelia cowered behind Lambert and Arthur with the violin in his hand, was stunned to see the line formed behind him.

What is this about?

Talia, Cordelia and Lambert on the other hand, knew Louis would be raging mad now that he embarrassed himself in front of the elders.

"You said he’d be busy," Talia pinched Cordelia.

"He said so. Why is he here?" Cordelia hissed.

"Hello, my lovely traitors," Louis stepped behind the curtain. "You too, Arthur?" he placed his hand on his chest and his lips trembled unable to accept this betrayal.

Even Arthur is included in their little concert while he was rejected! How traitorous!

"Wait... Are you performing Julius Caesar?" Arthur couldn’t hold back his laughter and Louis punched his arm.

"How long were you planning this behind my back? To think my wife whom I keep no secrets from decided-?

Louis’ shaking voice made Cordelia shrink back as she felt guilty and Talia interjected Louis feeling bad for Cordelia, "We are sorry for thinking you won’t be interested in this. Here, you can choose any instrument you want to play. We will get you the notes. You can practice and we’ll ask the elders to wait for you. I reckon you play the piano? Or do you want to-"

"I can’t read notes. They all look like tadpoles to me," Louis folded his hands over his chest, pressing his lips and his face was red.

Is he ashamed?

"I’ll have to practice hard for sixty hours for a three minute performance. That is how I performed in the past." Louis closed his eyes as if he didn’t want to see other’s reaction.

Talia looked at Cordelia and Lambert and both of them looked surprised as she is.

So he secretly practiced that hard for all his performances? No wonder he stopped playing after he became King.

"Get lost, Louis! Did you have that kind of free time? Why are you even creating a ruckus now?" Lambert gritted his teeth and tried to push Louis out.

"You don’t understand, do you?" Louis pushed back Lambert. "My problem is not about me performing." He looked really hurt. "You all were planning this for weeks and no one bothered to ask me just for courtesy sake or inform me as a passing remark, as if you deliberately kept it from me. Aren’t I your sibling too? You bothered to involve my wife, but not me?

I wouldn’t be able to perform, but at least I would make time to watch you all perform. You all excluded me from your fun! Why? Just because I’m the King, I became someone to be not bothered for this? I want to have fun at times too, you know?

I know how Talia and Lambert have drinking parties in their terrace, but none of them bothered to invite me just once. No one thinks of me as their brother but they never forget to serve me, treating me as their King. I feel excluded and lonely. At least Cordelia has her afternoon tea with Talia and they have fun. I thought I had a small but tight-knit family, but no one cares about me."

"Sorry we made you feel this way, but...We all care about you a lot, Louis." Talia held his hand and she was touched for a grown man to feel this lonely when he is surrounded by people. "We didn’t invite you to our terrace because you’re married and you two cannot leave your kids. But I guess we can visit your place for drinks and chat if you want. What do you say Lambert?"

"Exactly! We miss you too, brother." He hugged him.

"We’re sorry... we just wanted not to stress you more than you already are," Cordelia hugged him.

"So we’re all hugging now?" Arthur joined in the group hug and they all laughed.

The elders who were waiting were given refreshments and after that the performance started. Arthur opened, followed by Talia, Cordelia and then Lambert.

And since they wanted to include Louis, they all decided to add 4’33’’ composed by John Cage. The score instructs the performers to not play their instruments during the entire duration of the piece. The piece is commonly perceived as four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence while the audience is encouraged to the sounds of the environment.

Everyone was pleased seeing Louis with a proud face sitting and holding the Cello.

As long as he’s happy!

Talia met with Cordelia’s parents and for some reason, Talia felt like her mother is not that impressed with her. Lady Penelope was dressed to the latest fashion and seemed like an assertive woman, very different from how Cordelia is. Standing beside Cordelia, she looked like her elder sister and Talia admired how she took care of the little boys.

Talia didn’t remember ever offending her and so she didn’t spend much time with her to give her discomfort when she clearly doesn’t like her. There was no malice from her and Talia guessed maybe her personality is off-putting for Lady Penelope.

That night, all of them spent time in Louis’ residence eating and drinking. Everything was fun and games. Talia really loved these days when she had no worries.

Arthur and her grandpa returned back to Esteria and Talia resumed her duty as the Princess Royal. Talia found out that as her great grandma gave her some of her powers, she can request for intelligence briefings and a detailed report of budget briefings.

The Duke of Trenton is still lying low and visiting bars in the middle of the day. The PR firm he hired for damage control of their brand couldn’t do anything as the Club’s name was constantly on news regarding that criminal who was arrested. Talia usually feels pity for alcoholics, but she didn’t feel anything for him.

That guy actually tired to kill Lambert after his mother killed his parents. Who cares how he lives?

The Daughter of the Duke asked for a meeting with Talia. She’s already married to an Earl and she has children with him. Talia although was not interested in what she has to say, met with her in a neutral place. The Countess expressed her decision to distance herself from her father and asked to keep her husband out of any consequences of their relationship with the Duke of Trenton.

She seemed sincere and scared. Talia couldn’t tell for sure her fear is for her husband or of her husband. Surely she must be in stress now that her family is losing favour in the world stage and her connections through her father would be leaving her like a hot potato. Her value in her marital home would now reduce and her businessman husband might not be pleased with everything happening with her family.

Her father might have asked her family for help to go against the royal family and she is here to surrender. Maybe it was her decision or she was forced to do so by her husband. She seemed to love her children a lot and Talia felt like she was threatened divorce with no custody of her kids if the royal family went against them.

Women become pawns in the hands of exploiting men, unless they gain a spine. Then they can choose their own path.

She seemed a little pitiful and Talia although didn’t promise anything, decided to not go against her family deliberately. Sometimes it is better to have a person from your enemy camp by your side.

When Talia talked about her decision to the Dowager, she had a proud smile.

That day, Talia was bored and checked the budget announced and was awed seeing some billion dollars given as an aid to an underdeveloped country. Talia did extensive research on that topic and went to meet Louis.

"If we’ve spent two hundred and thirty seven billion dollars for Basmia in two decades, they must show us some progress. Why is there no improvement? Either they are hiding their progress or they are corrupted to the core. Our people pay taxes with their hard earned money. Their money cannot go to the pockets of some corrupted politicians of Basmia wile their people are still suffering. Even if we give it out as charity, we have an obligation to make sure the money ends up in the hands of those it is meant for."

Talia produced her case.

"What do you suggest?" Louis looked at her and his lips had a smirk. Talia sometimes wondered if everything she gets interested in is pushed by this guy.

Could he be a master manipulator manipulating me to do his bidding without me even knowing?

"A diplomatic visit, of course. We’ll have to tour Basmia to give some pressure to the politicians there and threaten cutting of funds if they don’t show any improvement."

"Basmia is a nation torn with many militias and civil wars among various tribes of the nation. It is not safe for a visit. Even if we go, we would be only allowed to tour the places they take us. It won’t make any change." Louis spoke the situation.

"Send me. I am a Brunton and doors open for me." Talia leaned to the front excitedly.

"No. I might send Lambert but not you."

"Why?"

"It is an unsafe place and I would like to send someone who can shoot their attacker!"

"But..."

As Talia was discussing with Louis, Arthur entered Jerome’s room.

He had an important issue to discuss.

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