Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 398: Mountain or Molehill?

Chapter 398: Mountain or Molehill?

Talia blinked her eyes staring at the ceiling. She turned to her side to see Arthur deeply asleep.

Good! Fred is sleeping well... But why can’t I sleep a wink?

Without blinking her eyes, she watched Arthur sleeping. She slept fine in Rosandale, but being back at the Oakley Castle, her insomnia returned.

When Louis said he doesn’t trust Arthur, she argued that she trusted him.

But how much do I trust him? Will he tell me if his head hurts again or if he doesn’t feel well?

I will watch him properly. It is fine if he doesn’t tell me, I will find out if he’s unwell. I will take him to the doctor myself and help him recover just like before.

She wanted to watch him, but her brain shut down naturally when the sky started to brighten as it needed rest to function. She had dreamless sleep for some time but she felt tightness in her chest and something warm and soft on her lips.

She woke up and her head felt heavy as always. Arthur was on top of her, kissing her. Sensing she has woken up, his hands slithered inside her slips.

"Fred, the doctor-"

Her words were swallowed by his deep kiss and Talia went along. She felt the hardness on her abdomen and she immediately pushed him away.

"It’s not even three months yet, Fred!" she scooted down from the bed. "We talked we should keep away for four months just to be safe, Fred. You cannot do this now!"

She fixed the strap of her slips that slipped from her shoulder.

"But I want you."

Seeing him smile at her goofily, she stomped her feet and turned to leave. But he held her hand and yanked her. She ended up on his lap and he stated kissing her neck as his hands caressed her chest.

"Iris... Just once let’s... "

"Stop it, Fred!" Talia stood up pushing Arthur away. She felt like she was standing on fire and wanted to get out of this situation immediately.

"Come on, Iris," Arthur tried to hold her hand. "Let’s just kiss-"

*Slap*

She didn’t know where she got that strength, but she slapped Arthur’s hand hard. He hissed out of pain and retracted his hand.

Did I just hit Fred?

Talia was shocked by what she did. Her palm she hit Arthur with burned by the force she used.

Why am I this irritable? I could have talked to him, but I hit a sick person.

Arthur looked at his reddened hand and looked at Talia whose angry expression gradually turning to fear. He looked at her palm and he held it and blew on it.

"You’ve gotten stronger, Iris. Your hit really stings."

He said with a chuckle. He was a little surprised by her strong reaction, but he wasn’t angry at her. He shouldn’t have forced her when she clearly said ’no’. They did decide to follow abstinence for four months to let his body recover completely.

*Drip*

A drop of warm liquid fell on his hand and split into little droplets as it scattered away.

"Iris!" he looked up and saw her with tears streaming down her cheeks and her eyes were focused on him.

"I’m sorry, Fred." Talia sat on his lap and wrapped her arm around his neck. "I’m sorry I hit you," she couldn’t hold back her sobs.

"Hey, Iris," he rubbed her back. "Come on, don’t cry... It didn’t hurt. And this is not the first time you’re hitting me..." He paused as he sensed her sobbing a lot.

He silently patted her back and let her cry out. He realised she must have been holding back a lot since he got sick. He knew she needs a release.

Talia didn’t know why she was irritable one second and crying the next. But she felt like she was being very unreliable. She wanted to prove Arthur that she is strong, but here she is crying for no reason like a toddler.

She wiped her tears and tried to stand up.

I cannot stress Fred by being sad.

"You can cry more, love. It’s fine." Arthur hugged her.

"Ah, it’s enough. Crying is embarrassing. I hate myself for letting you see me like this." Talia wiped her face with her hands and got out of his hold.

"Fred, I want to do it with you too. But we cannot stress your body when you just had a major surgery. Just wait till you get better, okay?" she placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Wait here, I’ll see if they had prepared your breakfast and bring you." She smiled.

Arthur nodded with a smile and his smile reduced watching her leaving back. He looked at his hand and it didn’t hurt anymore. His hand gently caressed his chest as he felt like something is wrong there.

In the following days whenever she stays in the Oakley castle, Arthur found her being distant with him. She never wore slips and started wearing PJs and sweatpants and shirts.

At nights, she kept her promise of sleeping in the same bed as him. But she would sleep at the edge of the bed. Arthur only realised how big their bed was only after they started sleeping apart. It always was a very large bed that fitted his tall figure. He used to feel lonely in the past when she was not with him.

But these few months, they always slept spooning each other in this bed and it never felt big. It felt cosy.

But now, the big bed even with her beside him, felt lonely.

He tried to find out what’s in her mind, but she’d always tell him that she is fine. She did seem fine and at times, he even doubted that he is being overly sensitive and making a mountain out of a molehill.

But then there would be a little nagging feeling in his heart.

There still is a molehill in front of me even if it is not a mountain! There is something bothering Iris.

-----

Talia was pretty busy in Rosandale as talks were going on about making Lambert as the next Duke of Trenton since he is a descendant of the Trentons.

The killing of the Duke of Trenton in self-defence was immediately reported by all news outlets. Since everything happened Live, and some reporters were visibly shaken as they reported the attempt on the Princess’ life, their reporting naturally about how Prince Lambert was the hero who saved the Princess and others from a madman.

People called for the Titles of the Dukedom to be taken from the family who attempted to murder the Princess and the opposition to that family increased. Some people even tried to intimidate the Duchess who was grocery shopping and she ended up needing police protection.

In the end, she couldn’t even live in the Dristler castle, the hereditary home of the Duke of Trenton since all the staff quit not able to handle the constant hassles they had to face each day.

There were some reporters waiting to get some statement from the Duchess and some people who were really angry at her for all the oppressions they faced under her husband’s leadership. Some even sent death threats.

Talia was informed that Lady Penelope’s husband wanted to divorce her and she came to Talia for help.

"What were you doing when your father tried to murder me?" Talia asked and she ruthlessly refused to talk to her husband on her behalf.

If their marital relationship is solely based on what their partner could do for their business even after a decade that marriage is not strong and not worth saving.

The son of the Duke was arrested on fraud charges and ten years prison sentence was ensured.

And just like that, the entire family got destroyed entirely within a span of a month. Some complained the palace is targeting the Duke’s family with vengeance, but majority of the people were happy seeing the end of that Duke.

Talia went to see Lady Edith Pembrin one day.

"Tell the truth about why Princess Lillian left Rosandale that year to a journalist if you want me to help your family. Just that and nothing else." Talia sat with her legs crossed.

It always bugged her that the decision made by a naïve eighteen year old girl under the influence of an evil adult is making her a traitor.

People loyal to the monarchy, still won’t accept Princess Lillian’s decision to leave Rosandale for love no matter who gave her the idea. And people who are against the monarchy will still blame the royal family for sending their own to death just because she loved the wrong person.

But still, the truth will give a much needed context as to why the vulnerable eighteen year old Crown Princess decided to elope for her love when in truth she didn’t need to.

It took some more explaining for Lady Edith to give her time to a reputable journalist.

The exclusive article was the front page news of the most trusted newspaper of Rosandale with the picture of Princess Lillian and old Lady Edith.

It became the most talked about article for almost a week and people started hating the Trentons lot more.

Just like The Dowager promised, Lady Edith attended his son’s funeral. Later the son of the Duke of Trenton killed himself in prison.

"You said you’d help my family!"

Lady Edith tearfully asked Talia who attended the funeral of her grandson.