Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 389: Queen of Nights For His Queen

Chapter 389: Queen of Nights For His Queen

Talia smiled and as she swirled to take a look, the stole slid from her shoulders and fell on the floor.

"You look dapper," Talia smiled seeing Arthur wearing a suit.

"And you too, Your Highness. You look... irresistible." Arthur wetted his lower lip making Talia’s heart race as he walked towards her.

"You’re making my heart race, love..." Talia’s feet naturally gravitated towards Arthur. "You even tied a proper bowtie." She placed her hands on his shoulders.

"I did. It’s a special day after all," he said as his hands traced through her bare back.

He did get a pretty nice image of her as he walked in. The stole slipped revealing her beautiful back and then came her face prettier than the moon shining above. Her beautiful shoulders and the shape of her body...

She had taken a lot of efforts to look stunning. It made his heart warm seeing how she dolled herself for him. He did the same for her too. Looking in her eyes, he could see she was deeply contemplating something. He purposefully said ’special day’.

Will she guess that I’m going to propose?

Talia’s was indeed thinking about that. Her heart fluttered imagining him kneeling in front of her with the ring under the moonshine.

But he said he’ll propose only at the end of the year and there is still months left!

Talia stopped her mind from wandering and looked at her man. His big warm hands were caressing ever so gently as if they were the gentle breeze caressing the flowers making them release their scent.

"Wha-"

A moan escaped her mouth as he bent suddenly and kissed her behind her ear.

"I didn’t want to ruin your makeup. Shall we?" he extended his hand and Talia hooked her arm in his and both of them walked through the hallway.

"Where’s dinner?" Talia asked as they walked out on a cobblestone pavement towards the beach.

"There..."

Talia looked at the direction Arthur pointed and she was awed seeing a white beach tent lit with candles and fairy lights. Soft, sheer chiffon curtains swayed in the breeze painting a pretty picture. There was a round table in the middle and the silverwares were all set perfectly.

Is he really going to propose?

Talia looked at Arthur and he looked calm and sombre making Talia rethink.

I surprised him with the Investiture and so he must be doing this to surprise me.

Throughout the entire five course dinner, they had conversations as usual. The dinner was luxuriously prepared by a Michelin star chef with the freshest seafood and produce, but for Talia everything tasted like cardboard out of excitement.

Arthur acted natural, but still Talia’s unruly expectant heart did get excited as she reached the bottom of the wine glass or she dug through the dessert.

Even after they finished, Talia placed the napkin on the table and looked at him with a smile that reeked of desperation as she herself felt shameful.

"Are you cold? You want a-"

"No need," Talia shook her head. She really was not cold. Even the nights in tropical countries were a little warm.

"Shall we take a walk along the beach? The moonshine is bright and the breeze is gentle." Arthur helped her up.

Ugh! Talia, how many times should I tell you? This is not a proposal dinner!

Talia had to scream in her mind to compose herself.

"I’m wearing pumps though," Talia pouted. "It’s fine." She removed her shoes and stood up.

"What are you-" Arthur picked her up Princess style and Talia wrapped her hands around his neck.

"Don’t walk barefoot outdoors..." he kissed her forehead and asked one of the staff to get her a pair of sandals.

In his arms as she saw the profile of his face, Talia warmed up. She lifted her head and placed a kiss on his chin. It was smooth and not rough as it would be every night.

Did he shave too?

Getting kissed by her unexpectedly, Arthur felt his abdomen tighten. She still has this effect on him just with a kiss. He sat on the chair placing Talia on his lap and placed his big hand on her cheek.

Her long curled hair swayed in the breeze and her beautiful eyes glittered prettier than the dark sky beneath her. Under the fairy lights, she looked more beautiful an angel.

He gently placed his lips on hers and as he expected, she reciprocated with the same passion as always.

My love, will you kiss me the same after I tell you that I’m sick?

Only after talking to Jerome he realised how much the ones who love him will be hurt by his sickness and his decision to keep it away from them. His father; as expected gave a slap and shouted for taking this long to get treatment. When he got all tear-eyed, Arthur had no excuses to say.

He has scheduled his surgery the next day and his decision to propose to her before the surgery hasn’t changed.

Either she will be with him through the surgery, his recovery and the rest of his life, or... She’ll be for none of that. After today they will no longer have a close relationship if she rejects his proposal.

But he knew in the bottom of his heart that she’ll accept his proposal knowing his sickness. He knows how much she loves him.

His kiss deepened and he held on to her wanting to merge her to him, so that she won’t leave, so that he’d know how she feels, so that he’d share her suffering when she learns the truth.

Talia... My Iris...

Their kiss came to an abrupt halt when the staff brought her sandals and Arthur helped her wear it.

Talia saw the man kneeling in front of her and caressing her foot like it is some treasure as he put on the sandals. She felt like she was floating.

I love him so much.

They walked along the beach and Talia noticed Arthur checking the time often and wondered what that was about.

Did he arrange for a fireworks show or something? Tomorrow’s not even my birthday.

She didn’t even think he was bored with her. She knew if he is bored or he has somewhere else he wants to be, he’d tell her and he won’t act rude with her. As long as she knew him, he’s always polite and caring with her.

The golden sand now looked pale in the moonlight. As they have walked a long distance along the shore, there weren’t other lights than the gentle moonshine.

As she was walking looking at the sand, she recognised some little creatures moving in his sand.

"Wait, wait. Fred..." She stopped him from moving further. "I think there are baby turtles."

She searched her pockets and pulled out her phone. Using the torch she confirmed they were indeed baby turtles.

"Wow! Cute...." Talia got excited seeing those little ones using their little flappers and walking towards the sea.

"There...that side...you’re going in the wrong direction. The sea is at the other side..." Talia picked a little one and placed it so that it goes in the right direction.

"Wait... there are more going in the wrong direction... Oh, poor babies...wait, not there..." Talia started to help the baby turtles find their way to the side.

Arthur simply smiled watching her and joined her in helping the babies.

For such a psycho who kills baby birds, there is someone like his Iris, who helps little turtles find their way. Surely doing this wearing a tight fitting dress would be hard, but she doesn’t mind and pushes through.

I’m glad once again that I found you.

"Fred! Tell them to switch off all the lights in this side for some time. I heard they follow the light at the horizon. My mum told me this when I was young. I think they are confusing with the lights from the house." Talia ran to Arthur.

Arthur obliged and both of them started getting busy helping the turtles after having the lights turned off. Arthur knew it had skipped her mind that they could call for the other staff to help, but he decided to not call for others.

Isn’t it peaceful, just me and her, with a bunch of baby turtles with the sound of waves crashing and bathing in the moonshine?

He got a message in his phone and it was from the gardener.

[It is 9:55 p.m. It will start any moment now. Come immediately]

Arthur looked at Talia excitedly watching the baby turtles.

Back in high school, as they were watching some cheesy rom-com, he laughed when the climax was at an airport where the male-lead proposed with a flash mob and a bouquet of flowers. They got into an argument which ended with her pouting.

’That proposal was romantic! I take it that you’d propose in the most boring way, probably while you are pooping’ she turned her face.

He remember thinking that moment what would he do if he proposed to Iris. Back then he knew it won’t be a possibility. But he knew he had this urge to see that sparkle in her eyes as he surprised him. He could understand a little why men go to a lot of troubles for a proposal.

’I’ll propose to her with the most expensive flower in the world and a ring with a big diamond matching her eyes.’

He had forgotten about it until he accidentally stumbled on the same movie once again. She had such a beautiful expression that day, but then he saw her face turning extremely sad. Maybe that’s why he forgot about it not wanting to remember her sad face.

But... they have come this far. He has a ring with a big diamond that matches her eyes. So he searched for the most expensive flower in the world. He thought it would be some lily or orchid, but a quick Google search revealed that it is some flower named ’Kadupul Flower’.

And to his horror, he learnt that it was expensive not because it was hard to cultivate, but because that flower dies the moment it is plucked.

Kadupul Flower – Queen of the night and also called the Flower from Heaven.

It starts blooming between 10 to 11 p.m. on full moon day and will last only during the night. It dies if it is plucked and after dawn. The plant takes a year to bloom and the flowers release a very soft fragrance, mesmerising the ones near them.

A flower that is accessible to all and at the same time unreachable!

But my queen deserves the queen of the night flower!

So having no way to buy the flower, he thought of other ways to propose to her with the flowers. Then he came across this island in the listings that was owned by some billionaire where he had cultivated these flowers.

Isn’t it amazing? When I was looking for a diamond, I got the perfect one with less effort. And just when I was searching for these flowers, I’m getting it too along with a perfectly private island!

Doesn’t this show how we are meant to be together?

[I’m not coming now. Take a video.]

[But it is better to see it in person. If you miss today you’ll have to wait a month]

Arthur put his phone back in his pocket and his hands held to the little box inside. They can see the flowers later even if they’re not watching them bloom.

His lips curved up seeing her going behind little turtles, happily but then he turned sombre.

I’ll have to tell her.

"Iris... I have to tell-"

He felt a headache that he has never felt before and unable to bear it, knelt on the sand holding his head.