The Dowager watched the little interaction and she was proud. She thought Talia would take this step much sooner, considering her wish to keep her private life private. She did nudge her to this reaction.
If she wants to survive in the Palace without becoming a villain in the future, she needs people who have sworn loyalty exclusively to her along with their loyalty to the crown.
She already has such people like her assistant Lord Raphael, her lady in waiting Lady Celine and so others. Sir Robert would be the first who would be announced to the public as her exclusive staff.
"Gigima, Fred did know about his tumour earlier than everyone." Talia said with a smile.
"He talked to about it when he ca here for the concert you arranged." The Dowager said and Talia felt her heart clench.
So he told everyone but .
But it is not important. He is fine now, which is more important.
"Gigima, do you think I am weak?" Talia asked. She needed to know the issue that is bothering her.
This unknown feeling in her heart that is stopping her from happily accepting the ring he made especially for her.
That amazing ring she is hiding from him...
Why can’t I wear it and at the sa ti return it to him either?
She knew she is a little offended that Fred didn’t tell her about his tumour even after he planned for his surgery. But thinking deeply about it, she didn’t think she is that bothered by it.
She was a little worried that she might seem frail to Fred, but it seed like Fred didn’t see her that way. During his recovery, he really depended on her and he even approved of the decisions she made on behalf of him.
But there is sothing nagging . What is it?
"No, you’re not," her great grandma chuckled. "A weak person wouldn’t have faced a problem with the clarity you had. Getting flustered when you suddenly got exposed to a struggle is not weakness. It is a natural reaction. But how one decides to proceed in the face of the struggle is what defines them. In that sense, you handled your lover’s illness the best as one could. You stood by his side and helped him recover. You are not closer to a weak person."
"Is that so?" Talia shrugged. "But before this, was I weak? Did you have the need to protect from truths?" she asked.
"Sotis, yes. You know I am keeping certain secrets from Louis and Lambert, but not you. There are so secrets that will not affect your life I am keeping from you. So Arthur felt the need to protect your smile for as long as he can before he told you about it. You might not feel it is right, but he would be satisfied he kept you from worries even for one more day." The Dowager explained.
"Well, I knew he would have thought this way, Gigima. But there was no need for him to suffer alone, was there?" Talia asked resting her cheek in her hand.
"Just like you tried to do your best to take care of him after the surgery hiding your own pain, he tried his best to keep his pain from you. It’s what people in love do." The Dowager said and Talia did understand Arthur’s point of view clearly.
She talked with her great grandma for so more ti and after that returned back to her place. Jolene ca to et her later and asked for stepping back from her post as a Lady in Waiting.
"It was Lambert, wasn’t it?" Talia asked holding her hand.
She sighed seeing Jolene tearing up.
"I don’t know what I want anymore, Talia. It hurts so much. I should have stayed away from him, burying my first love... I want it all, but I can’t have both my company and my love. And even if I leave my career for him now, I don’t think he’ll want . I pushed him away myself..."
Jolene cried and Talia hugged her to comfort her. She couldn’t find words to comfort her. The problem in their relationship is a lot more complicated than what they can give up or what they want
Of course Lambert abdicating will solve a lot of their troubles, but Lambert loves the military charities he’s involved in. And he promised that he won’t talk about abdication.
Has he really given up on Jolene?
Jolene is dear to her and she didn’t want her to cry. And at the sa ti, she wanted Lambert to have all he wanted too.
Is it possible?
Talia arranged for a terrace drinking party and invited Louis and Lambert. She purposefully made strong cocktails herself and got Lambert drunk to gather news from him.
She at first wanted to get the ’Truth serum’ from her great grandmother, but then didn’t want to put Lambert’s health in risk and settled for alcohol.
She learnt that his friends arranged a blind date for him and he used this party as an excuse to not et with that woman. She then probed him further about that girl he was having relationships with.
But who knew? Her drinks were too strong for him and he ended up passing out.
"Get up and spill so truths, la-bird!" Talia slapped his cheeks to wake him up, but he had blacked-out.
Louis rolled his eyes and savoured the cocktails. "You should make more of these often."
"You should care more for your brother, Louis," Talia shook her head and sat beside Louis with a Punch Romaine.
"He still loves her if that’s what you want to know. But he loves us more and is scared of getting vilified by the press and people if he leaves his post. She loves him too, but is not willing to let go of her company. She won’t betray this kingdom by demonising our family or Lambert for not letting him leave his post. She knows he loves his post."
Louis said with a shrug and Talia sighed. This is the response from a Royal brother. Not just a King, not just a brother, but he is both.
She knew Jolene won’t b*tch about their family for not allowing her to do her private business and that’s why she had to give up on love. She won’t say she was forced to give up her career in case she decides to leave it all for Lambert. She is mature and will take responsibility for her actions.
In other words, she’d be a perfect bride for the family who will uphold the traditions.
Lambert too is willing to put his duty ahead of his love and is an admirable man.
"With both of them acting responsible and not complaining, don’t you have a teeny bit feeling in your heart that we are the villains for not standing up for their love?" Talia asked downing the cocktail.
"We seem like the least supportive family mbers in the history of families. Of course we are doing our duty, but we are watching out brother suffer silently. It’s not a good feeling, right?" Louis sighed.
"It’s a very terrible feeling..." Talia stared at the sky.
Both of them silently sipped the cocktail.
"I have a plan," Talia shouted as she had a revelation. "Announce that you’ll be downsizing the monarchy and the sovereign grant won’t be allotted for the spares. Henry is the heir and Philip is the spare. Lambert and I won’t be receiving the sovereign grant."
"And?" Louis was furrowing his brows as if he was angry at her. But Talia continued.
"Announce Lambert as the Duke of Trenton. Aren’t there talks about exiling that family from Rosandale since the Duke tried to kill ? If Lambert becos a Duke, he won’t be styled as a Prince anymore in official docunts, but he still will be a very high-profile noble and can keep his charities. And people always will rember him as a Prince. Even with the laws now, Lambert’s kids won’t be styled Prince and Princess since their father is not the monarch, right? Nothing much will change for Lambert, but he will be able to marry Jolene even if she wants to have her business. There! I found a way! I’m insanely smart!"
Talia patted herself in the back with a wide grin.
"Lambert can lead a fairly lavish life with the inco from the Duchy of Trenton, but what about you? You will have no inco." Louis asked. "And if I am downsizing the monarchy, Henry will get it all while Philip will get nothing, right? What kind of father do you want to be?"
Of course Talia didn’t think that far ahead about Philip. It would cause serious sibling rivalry and possible fights for the throne. She learnt that there was a reason the sovereign grant is shared with the children of the previous monarch.
"Of course you can change the law back to how it was in ten years so that both your sons and your future children will get the grant..." Talia could sense the dangers in her suggestion and paused,
If a monarch changes the laws to his convenience, then he’d be known as a tyrant.
"I can mooch off my sweet royal brother and also my future husband who is a billionaire, so don’t mind ..." she smiled and Louis shook his head.
"You can’t depend on others for money. Your suggestion will give more options to the spare. But is it fair for the heir?" Louis sighed.
Changing rules that had worked well for centuries has a lot of potential pitfalls.
"I only gave a rough idea of what can be done. We can discuss about it more and see what we can do for Lambert," Talia knew her plan is egregious and not easily achieved.
"Your suggestion is not bad. It needs a lot of improvents and I’ll see how we can implent it." Louis said and asked for more Walnut Old-fashioned.
"I don’t want you to marry a guy who can’t be honest with his illness with you, Mary. I don’t trust him with you." Louis said and Talia’s heart skipped a beat.
Yes, she couldn’t accept the fact that Fred hid it, but does she want to leave him for that? No!
"But I trust him..."
Talia and Louis started to discuss about Arthur.
Both of them didn’t notice the figure lying on his side on the lounge chair wiping his eyes. He pretended to be drunk to escape Talia’s probing, but he knew their thoughts.
Giving up my love? For them, I’ll give up my life!
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