Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 64: How About Me

Chapter 64: How About Me

Prince Edward saw the sudden change in her expression and the slight confrontational tone in her voice and he decided to be cautious.

She might be naive to understand the viciousness behind the politeness of those around her, but she is someone who never gives up what she desires.

She loves that guy and she’d defend him no matter what. But he is not good for her. He have to tread carefully to make her understand.

He knows, since he had seen how she didn’t lose those beautiful gems and outplayed him.

And her grandfather... He won’t budge an inch and will never go against her wishes even if it costs him everything.

He remembered that day when they were just kids. She used to visit the Palace often and both of them watched a movie about a friendship between a whale and a boy. She was awed by that movie as much as him and she went and asked her grandfather, "I want a Willy too."

Of course Lord Brunton glared at him for teaching her vile slangs at first but when she explained about the big fish part, both him and the King laughed it off.

"You cannot get a whale as a pet," his father the King said and her little face got all scrunched up and her lips got pouted for the rest of the day.

He asked his father the same thing once again. He just wanted to see her smile. But his father said it is not possible. That there are rules and regulations for that and it won’t be easy and asked him to give up on that idea.

"No means No. You cannot always get what you want in life. Learn to live with what you’ve got!" was the answer he got when he tried to throw a tantrum.

Growing up in the Palace, one would think you’ll hear the word ’Yes’ more often, but that’s not the truth... The word you hear the most is, ’No’.

He hated the word no.

But the next he heard, the Duke of Oakley was building an underwater aquarium and bringing in all sorts of fishes.

Huh! The things even a King cannot afford to give his only son, her grandfather could. Or maybe because he was willing to go the extra steps to keep his little girl happy?

Why isn’t that she is allowed to hear the word No?

All his life, he, the Prince have watched her getting everything she wanted with ease. One word from her, there will be people bring it to her on a silver platter.

He hated her... That’s what he thought but did he really? He liked when she smiled... Eh!

Even now, the council want her gone... like permanently gone... But he is here trying to convince her to get back so she can be of use to them. To stop her from being discarded like garbage.

"Talia, You may not believe me but I really came here to talk with you. So please listen to me. Let Arthur go... And the Council is willing to arrange a perfect match for you... One of us... How about..."

Talia was so irked by him saying ’us’ this and ’us’ that. She never was raised to only mingle with nobles. She never treated nobles and commoners differently.

Why should one’s birth in a certain family give them the right to get respect? Why should one be respected for something they had no control over? Shouldn’t people be respected for their own accomplishments?

And what’s with them arranging marriage for me? Who is eyeing for the throne of the Northern Star?

"But... Like who? " she pouted her lips to look like a naive child who was attracted to candy.

Prince Edward who was leaning on the table as he was stressed, saw her full red lips pouted and she looked too beautiful. She had drawn wings on her eyes and that simple makeup with her red lips made her look like a famous actress of the 50s.

If only the eyes were more blue without that purple shade... Then no one will blame her for being a monster.

Like who she asks...

Who can kiss her everyday and hear her say, ’I love you’?

Who can take her to his bed everyday and make her carry his children?

Who can stand beside her and tell the world, ’She is my wife’?

But above all, Who can sit on that chair and own billions?

Who else has the eligibility?

"Me. How about me, Talia?"

Prince Edward said and Talia let out a laugh. She was laughing out of joy the past few days and she felt the difference in this laugh.

It was bitter.

So he wants a piece of the cake too! Or to be honest, the entire cake for himself.

Him wanting to lead a normal life, trying to earn for his living?

Heh!

Hypocrite!

He was planning to take over the Northern Star all along!

How long was he planning all this? And was Cyrus just a pawn in this chess game?

No... This guy is not that smart... There should be more to it, More people involved. These informations are just the tip of the iceberg.

" Stop jesting, Edward" she pretended to take it as a joke. "I know you have a girlfriend."

The moment she mentioned his girlfriend, she noticed his face getting pale and he laughed back and no matter how he tried he couldn’t hide that awkwardness of getting caught.

He really forgot! He really forgot he has a girlfriend!

" Yeah, I was jesting. You caught me..." he tried to leaned on the chair before shifting restlessly on that comfortable chair. He felt like he is sitting on needles.

"So, you were here to talk about this," Talia sat with her back straight, "And you even booked the entire floor for me," she smiled. It was hard to smile at that vile creature in front of her but she did.

"What? I didn’t..." he looked around with more than twenty tables with less than ten people sitting.

"No need for denying, Edward. I can a identify paparazzi when I see one," she spoke in a slightly strict tone surprising him.

" And I thought, you just want to create a distraction by making the public speak about me while you slowly introduce your girlfriend as the future Queen Consort who is ’them’ as you say... "she smirked and her blue eyes in that warm light twinkled with mockery.

She actually thought that was what he is doing. That would be a good PR strategy to introduce someone to the people by comparing her with someone well hated and showing that woman as the one more suitable for the title even if she is not of the same country.

" I wonder why you are allowed to date a commoner and she is not from Esteria even... while I’m not allowed to..." she looked at him and his mouth opened and closed and he didn’t say anything.

She is filthy rich, isn’t she?

" Ah, I know! "she banged the table a bit loudly and could feel the entire restaurant stiffening up.

"Because you are a man and you can do what you want. Is that it?" she snorted at him, shaking his head.

She knew the Council is against her inheriting the Northern Star too. Since she is a ’mutt’ as they claim. And she also has the blood of Rosandale Royalty flowing in her. She can never be part of high society of Esteria and they want a man acceptable to their standards to inherit her grandfather’s business and become the big shot.

Claim what’s mine, he says.... Huh, more like become the decoration to stand beside a man they point at.

"Oh well, or you are not serious with her and just using her for her wealth. You know what, I don’t care. I don’t care about ’us’, I don’t care about ’them’. I don’t care about Arthur either. I only care about myself. I don’t care who gets what or who becomes the next whatever! You can all decide that yourself. Leave me be! "

She grabbed her clutch to get up and Prince Edward stood up. It’s like a reflex for him to stand when a lady stands.

" You don’t care if your grandfather leaves the company with Arthur? " he asked.

" No! If my grandfather deems him fit to take on his mantle, then... So be it! I have no say. That company is what it is now because of my grandpa... "

"But I can make the council nationalise and dismantle the company. Then you will get nothing!" he snapped and threatened her.

"Who will dismantle whose company?"

Now Talia got pissed and raised her voice,

"You think the people working for my grandpa will be plucking flowers while you nationalise and spoil their income? You will see riots! You really are dumb aren’t you?" she snorted, "To think you even studied Economics! Are the universities in Esteria that useless?" she shook her head seeing him gritting his teeth.

"You think by dismantling, you’ll be just cutting a part of tax income? That you could replace it by something else? Northern Star is the heart of Esteria whose veins run through every fibre of Esteria... If you dismantle Northern Star, you will be destroying Esteria along with it. Good luck! "

She curled her lips and turned to leave but felt a strong grasp at her arm.

" Let go! "she tried to get out of his grip but she couldn’t." You’re hurting me! "

She really was hurting... Hurting everywhere.

" Do you love him that much that you are willing to leave everything to him? After everything happened between your family and his... Really? Him?"

He shouted and his eyes became red with anger. He had entirely lost his composure making Talia scared a bit.

But still... Everything is being recorded!

A man manhandling a lady... Not going to go well!

Talia tried to take a step back but his hold was too strong and she couldn’t get away from the grip. The man sitting a couple tables behind them looked at her and she signalled him not to move.

That’s right! She brought her own person to record to make it a fair fight.

" I told you I’m... " she spoke fur rowing her brows and biting her lips. Her arm really hurt.

" That demon who killed his own brother? You are in love with him?" Prince Edward held her shoulders and leaned closer to her face and she pushed him away with all her might.

Fred did what?