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"Fred, are you listening to ?" Talia throughout lunch could feel Arthur detached from her.
"I’m listening. So, grandpa still doesn’t want to get involved with Belfauger." Arthur ran his fingers through her hair. She was wearing a ponytail and this guy just undid her hairdo and started playing with her hair.
"Fred, is there sothing bothering you?" Talia could sense sothing and she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach which she couldn’t explain. "No matter what it is, I can handle it, and I can help you solve it. So if there is sothing-"
"Not really. I just... I feel tired, that’s it!" Arthur lied on her lap. "I want to take a nap."
Arthur closed his eyes as he wanted to think. He wanted to open up to her about the prognosis of his tumour, but then he couldn’t. The thought of seeing her getting hurt when she knows about his condition, made his heart hurt.
He thought he can handle it all by himself without letting others know, but it seems like he cannot do that if it would take at least a month for him to recover from the surgery.
And so he knew he had to let everyone know about his condition. He knew there are very serious implications for his reveal.
For starters, his Iris probably would die hearing it. Even if she accepts, her family won’t be pleased with her marrying an ill man. Even if his surgery is successful, there might be terrible side effects. Her family from Rosandale who are already not approving him will not accept him for sure.
Leaving out the Royals, even Jero would think twice before letting him marry Iris. And that thought made him want to cry.
Other than that, if his tumour is revealed, it will cause a serious effect on the stocks of Northern Star. But it can be kept a secret if planned ticulously. But it will affect the morale of the staff if the reason of his disappearance for weeks is leaked.
Ugh! Why? Even if I do the surgery, what if I got worse?
What if I can’t concentrate anymore? I got to the top putting all my efforts. After being here just for a while, should I be losing everything?
Why did this happen to ? Just when everything is settled in my life, why should I have this tumour now? With Cyrus’ death solved, I thought all I have to do is propose to her to make her mine, but this happened!
If I have to go through surgery, I have to appoint a proxy to make decisions on my behalf during my departure. But who can I trust with this?
Iris can handle it, but it would cause her trouble to work here when she is a Princess.
What should I do?
I wanted to tell her everything today, but with possible troubles arising with Belfauger, it won’t be wise for to do the surgery now.
I will postpone it until the issue with Belfauger is solved.
Talia’s gentle fingers caressing his hair made him feel relaxed, and before he knew it, he actually fell asleep on her lap.
---
After Arthur woke up, he seed normal and acted as usual with her, trying to get her make love to him in the elevator and in the office. Talia really thought he was tired and was hiding nothing from her.
The next few days Talia’s life went smoothly. She closely watched the news about Belfauger. Cyril told her that the official reports that the accident was caused by the sudden change in weather was the actual truth and no foul play had happened.
Belfauger’s son on the other hand was still said to be unconscious in official reports. Rumours said that he was kept on life support in a vegetative state.
anwhile, the missing funds were brought to the attention of Belfauger and Cyril said that Arnold Belfauger, who is now forced to take care of the business all by himself in the absence of his children, seed to be not making any move.
Cyril also told that even with the help of Cobra, the whereabouts or the appearance of Ralph J. Runtley could not be found out.
Talia had another idea to find out Ralph, but Cyril forbade her from snooping around in the dark web, citing that many people are now looking for Ralph. And so Talia asked Cyril to retrace the steps of Sandy Belfauger before her health got affected and Cyril found out that she indeed t a guy in so country before she was found "ill". She was so ill she had to be brought back secretly.
Talia knew if they know it, Belfauger knows it too. But his inaction towards the Bruntons or the Rosandale Royals must be because he believes they are not responsible for what happned with his children.
She guessed Belfauger must have asked the help of the "secret cabal" to look for Ralph. She was relieved to know that Ralph will be found by those powerful people without her lifting a finger.
Thankfully Belfauger didn’t bla us!
Talia’s grandfather felt that maybe it is ti for Lambert and her to return back to Rosandale as there were people questioning why both the Prince and the Princess are staying out of the country rather than supporting the monarch as they must.
It was a valid criticism and Talia agreed she should be returning to Rosandale.
The death of Natasha was not made public since the Palace wanted not to give Ralph the attention he wants. Talia also believed that Ralph is sending his minions to attack her to grab her attention. He wants her to live in fear, getting scared of every shadow in the corner. But Talia refused to play into his gas by not giving him the attention he craves.
She knew he’d be fuming now that she’s not worrying about him and with him angering one of the most powerful people and with a bunch of people looking for him, he won’t be having ti to think about her.
With the threat of Ralph and a possible threat from Belfauger were avoided, the intelligence agency of Rosandale still found so credible threats from the Duke of Trenton. But still Talia and Lambert were called back to Rosandale and both agreed to return.
The night before the departure, Talia was as usual under Arthur. These past few days their ti together is mostly spent doing ’that’ rather than talking. And Talia found Arthur being extrely gentle with her. Even his kisses have beco gentler and more passionate making her brain scrambled whenever she was with him.
"I love you, Fred," Talia kissed him and he kissed her forehead.
"I know."
As she ca back after a quick shower, she found an odd ssage. It was a cryptic ssage and Talia out of curiosity, solved the puzzle and translated the texts imdiately.
It was a ssage from Arnold Belfauger’s people and they have expressed his wish to et with her great grandma.
Why?
Talia sent back a cryptic ssage saying that she’d pass that information to the Dowager.
She got a phone call imdiately and it was from an unknown number making Talia stupefied. Arthur got the phone from her hand and answered the call.
"It’s Arnold Belfauger. He wants to speak to you." Arthur passed her the phone and Talia put the phone on speaker.
Arthur sat beside her, rubbing her back to calm her down.
"Mr. Belfauger, It’s an honour to receive your call," She tried to be as sincere as possible, but she knew she cannot ever be able to treat this guy with dignity, if given a choice.
But she doesn’t have a choice in this matter as she is a Princess representing Rosandale and Belfauger is a very powerful guy who cannot be ignored. She decided to find out what he has to say.
"Listen to , Jero’s granddaughter..."
The voice at the other end was plain and devoid of any emotion making Talia surprised. She always imagined this scruffy looking guy with a hoarse voice. But this voice was very smooth.
"Yes, Mr. Belfauger. "
"Edith rcy Pembrin knows where Princess Lillian is buried. Confirm it and bring that old hag to et ."
*Beep*
The line disconnected and Talia looked at Arthur and shrugged.
"He barked out an order at ! He’s stupid if he thought I’ll bring Gigima out to et him when he orders ," she snorted, "But Fred, didn’t you already found out her grave?" Talia asked.
A couple of days back, Arthur asked for Talia’s DNA for it to be tested against the DNA of the person they have found now.
"That’s not her and we are searching in the area." Arthur was a little saddened and Talia hugged him close.
"It’s fine. We’ll find her soon. Don’t worry." Talia assured him.
So who is this Edith Pembrin?
She decided to ask Celine.
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