Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 336: Ordering Around A King

Chapter 336: Ordering Around A King

"Fred... Mr. Ed... Is he..."

Talia asked gripping Arthur’s lapel, the question that has been drilling her heart from the moment she woke up. She didn’t want to seem too depressed in front of Roderick and she held her emotions back, but she couldn’t hold back anymore.

And as she asked she felt the sensations too familiar to her. Her chest hurt, her heart began to beat erratically, her stomach cramped and she felt nauseous. And like bubbles forming in a swamp releasing unpleasant odour, images of bloodied Mr. Ed popped in her head, making her head hurt.

Anxiety attack!

Not this again!

Talia let go of Arthur. Closing her mouth with her hand, she rushed to the en-suite bathroom in her room. She was about to lock the bathroom door, but Arthur’s hand gripped the edge of the door forcefully she couldn’t close the door no matter how hard she tried.

"Iris, please don’t lock me out. Please don’t suffer alone."

Talia heard the pleading voice and she couldn’t fight off anymore and ran to the toilet bowl. She felt like throwing up, but nothing came out. He stomach still felt like it was churning and she waited by the toilet bowl on her knees.

Arthur knew when he saw her face getting pale and when she ran to the bathroom. Memories of getting locked out of her bathroom back in her apartment came to his mind. He didn’t want to let her suffer alone and wanted to be with her.

"Sir Robert is in surgery. They were talking about removing parts of his affected liver and intestines. I think he’d survive after the surgery. All his vital signs are normal and he receives the best care in this hospital. Don’t worry, Iris." Arthur crouched behind her and gently gathered her hair and held it in his hand.

Poor Iris... If you are this worried for your bodyguard, how worried will you be for me if I tell you what the doctor told me? I won’t let you suffer alone for me. I can handle it alone.

Mr. Ed is alive? He’s in surgery?

Talia’s chest started to loosen and she felt like she could breathe again. "Vivian and Marcella?" she asked to clarify.

"Vivian was hit in the head and she had a slight concussion. She hasn’t woken up yet. But the doctors are optimistic. Marcella is very fine other than a few scratches here and there." Arthur gently rubbed her back to soothe her. It seemed like she had calmed down a bit and he was glad.

Talia after learning that everyone’s condition is not that bad, she felt herself calming down and everything started to brighten up once more. She was touched when she realised that Arthur is holding her hair and his big warm hand was rubbing her back, helping her a lot.

"Wait... What if I threw up? What were you thinking standing close to me? Were you going to throw up on me?" Talia only then realised a sympathetic gagger like Arthur is no good to have around at times like this.

Arthur had nothing to say. He really didn’t think about that. At that moment, he didn’t want her to be alone and wanted to be by her side. And good thing she didn’t throw up. It wouldn’t have helped any if both of them were throwing up.

Talia almost felt fine after some time and some doctors came for her check-ups. They assured her that other than her ear, there is nothing wrong with her physically and prescribed rest for some weeks. They also asked her to talk to someone if she needs as she had gone through a traumatic incident just now.

Talia only asked for her discharge papers and promised she’d rest well in her home rather than in the hospital. The doctors had to agree reluctantly.

"Are you really okay, Iris?" Arthur held her hand as she was adamant on leaving the room to see Vivian. "Do you remember being in the blast? It must have been so scary and I can’t even imagine being in such situation. And you aren’t even a little worried that your ear is hurt and you are temporarily deaf in one ear. Iris, if you have any complaints you can tell me. I’ll listen." He hugged her.

Talia didn’t feel like she was that shaken by the blast. "I don’t remember much. Mr. Ed shouted for me to take cover and I remember covering my face. See... that’s why I only have scratches on my arms and none on my face." She proudly showed him.

Arthur could only sigh. What a vain woman!

"Honestly Fred, these kinds of dangers... I can get through it all without batting an eye as long as it only affects me. I am not that worried about my ear because the same thing happened to me in the past when I was little and I was scared then worrying if I’d go deaf. But I became fine in a couple of weeks. I know I’ll be fine this time too. Only when others are affected by what was planned for me, I become anxious. So don’t worry. As long as others are fine, I’d be fine too." Talia wanted to take a walk to check on others.

"But I’m not fine, Iris," Arthur rested his forehead in her hands. "I feel like an imbecile for not even protecting you properly. I used her to save Northern Star and if I knew she’d come for you, I... still would have used her but killed her once she stopped being useful to me." Arthur’s tone went so cold Talia felt a dip in the temperature of the room.

"You’d have still used her?" Talia pinched his cheeks with a chuckle. To be honest, she really didn’t expect anything different from him. "Explosives? How did she put her hands on them? Was it planned by her brother and her?" Talia wondered.

Seeing Arthur donning a contemplative expression, she knew he has the same thoughts too.

"Is Vivian in the next room?" Talia walked out not expecting Arthur. She knew if she doesn’t confirm what he said about everyone is true, her head would burst. And with the media to the Courtiers, there will be a lot of people who needs to be handled. The coming days are going to be very hectic.

Arthur was burning in rage at the Clairmont family and Sophia for daring to hurt his woman. Till then, he was worried for Talia and kept his rage in the backburner, but now he sees that Talia is fine, he wanted to plan for revenge. Also Cyril and most importantly Jordan. He wanted to tear Jordan apart for bringing that woman past the outer security and near to their room without any security check.

Sophia was carrying a backpack and when the securities asked for checking, Jordan stopped them and gave assurance on her behalf. And that’s how she was able to carry two explosives into a high security area. Then she sent Jordan back to the car saying she had forgotten something and Jordan followed her orders like a dog, not knowing she was actually planning to hurt his sisters too.

All for a woman! And he dared to call me a ’simp’!

"Wait, don’t walk alone!" Arthur followed Talia. He was mad at her for not lying on the bed and rest, but what else could he do other than following her and make sure that she is safe?

Talia saw Elizabeth McAllister waiting outside the next room and she was talking to someone in her phone and she seemed exasperated. Talia knew the McAllister sisters are pretty close with each other and they must be pretty worried about Vivian.

"We are investigating-.... It has been just three hours since the-.... We cannot hang someone without proper-... We cannot allow your military in our soil..."

Talia wondered who was interjecting a Minister this much making her not finish her sentence.

"I can safely say I’m not in the line with His Majesty The King of Rosandale," she sighed seeing Talia and Talia rubbed her forehead.

Louis must have blown a fuse to call the Defence Minister of Esteria and making her feel this exasperated with his unrealistic demands. Did he forget that the Minister’s sister was in the blast too?

Talia held out her hand and Elizabeth handed her phone. "It’s your brother screaming at me and not the Head of State. He has lost his bearing and I understand him very well." She said gritting her teeth and Talia saw the rage in Elizabeth’s eyes.

Oh no! The delinquent is enraged! Sophia, you dumb b*tch!! You’ve angered a lot of people. Even God cannot save you.

"Louis," Talia spoke softly.

"You’re awake! That’s good!" Louis was relieved. And what followed was marching order for her to return to Rosandale immediately. He went a step further and forbade Talia from ever stepping foot in a country that isn’t safe for her. He repeated what he said over and over again and Talia let him vent.

"I’m not returning now. I’m requesting you to extend my stay here. And since you’ve forgotten who you are, you should spend the rest of your day with your family. Cordelia should be worried. First it was Rebecca and now me... Cook for her and be with her. Check on Gigima and my grandpa for me. Ask Lambert to stay with them." Talia was calm as she advised Louis.