Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 440: Engagement Interview(3)

Chapter 440: Engagement Interview(3)

"That’s lovely to hear. So, we’ll be seeing you two together in a lot of engagements serving the crown?" the interviewer asked and Talia felt a prick in her heart as she found the question offending.

Do they think Fred has time to cling on to her every engagement? He is pretty busy himself and why would he leave his work and follow her when she works?

And serve the Crown? How could that even be suggested? Him working UNDER the crown? How can her man who rules the business world, work "under" someone?

And why should her man – The Bear King, serve the Rosandale Crown when he sits in the Esterian High Council? How can her man be expected to leave everything he has in Esteria and just become "her husband"?

She was so mad she wanted to flip the table, but she kept her expression the same minding the cameras, as she had mastered masking her negative expressions with a smile.

"As we talked previously, Arthur is very busy with his work. Also, as Marquess of Ashwood, he has recently replaced my lovely grandpa - The Duke of Oakley, in chairing the High Council of Esteria. I highly doubt he would have time to accompany me in my work."

Raphael, the smart guy, has already mastered reading Talia’s expression and he talked with people from the TV to cut the interview to prevent his boss from blowing out in front of the cameras.

"Of course, I’ll support Talia in other ways." Arthur held her hand. He didn’t expect she’d get mad on his behalf. Even he wasn’t that offended. But he knew they have the duty to inform the people about his role in the future.

"And the Royals of Rosandale are my family. My love and support for them as a family member will be forever."

Arthur made his point clear and was glad he got the chance to do it publicly.

He will support the Rosandale Crown as a family member but will not accept Louis as his liege lord and serve him.

Louis talked to him about gifting him a title on their wedding day. But having a title in Rosandale means he has to have citizenship in Rosandale and he didn’t want that.

As someone who is seated in the Esterian High Council and also the Esterian President’s son, he didn’t want to interfere in the affairs of Rosandale in any capacity while being able to give input in Esteria’s affairs to his full capacity.

And so, he rejected Louis’ offer and Louis understood why he rejected a title from Rosandale. He personally won’t accept title or money from Rosandale.

This decision is tricky since his wife would be getting the sovereign grant from Rosandale, and maybe their kids too. It is hard to box everything separately when they are married, but it is not impossible.

There was silence for a moment before the interviewer as he took it in and he then asked the next question in a cheery tone to take away the awkwardness.

"Have you planned for children?"

"Yes, definitely we’ve talked about having children," Arthur answered. "We’ll see how it goes," he didn’t give their exact plan.

"Yes, that’s great. Congratulations on your Engagement and well wishes for your future."

The interviwer gave them well wishes and the interview was concluded since Talia already gave the signal to her people to end the interview.

"It was nice talking to you both, Your Royal Highness, Lord Ashwood." The interviewer shook hands with Talia and Arthur.

"We still have a lot to talk about," he added. "Especially how you’ll both work under the crown."

"And I had a lot of fun talking with you. Will you reduce the segment to the assigned time?" Talia smiled.

Talia only agreed to an interview for fifteen minutes and the interview took more than eighteen minutes. And she wasn’t happy with the issue he raised.

Yes, she gets petty at times.

Sensing the slight aggressiveness from the Princess, the interviewer backed off. Arthur held her hand to calm her down and she let out a deep breath.

It made her think about Lambert’s situation again. She was able to make the interviewer back off since it is known that men are allowed to do what they want even after they marry into the Royal family.

Otherwise, if it was Lambert saying that his future wife would not accept the Royal Title and won’t work for the institution after their marriage, he wouldn’t have backed off. It would have caused a row.

But others can’t be blamed either since they would be mentioning the rules and it is not their fault the rules seem sexist.

"I now truly get why Lambert was willing to let Jolene go."

She told Arthur and he turned to look at her.

"I don’t," he shrugged. "If it were you, and our genders were reversed, I knew you’d have still fought to get what you want. And even in Lambert’s case... you made sure they have a chance."

"You think I’d be a better man?" Talia’s face brightened up as she looked at Arthur and he nodded.

"You are already."

Talia gritted her teeth. "You think I am a man and proposed to me? I’m a woman! I am a woman!" She tried to catch him as he ran away from her.

"You are a woman! What I meant was...you are very prideful to lose what you want." Arthur tried to back-track seeing her almost catching him up.

"So being prideful is a masculine trait? You are saying that I am a masculine woman? Take back what you said or I will marry a woman!"

"I dare you to. You cannot marry anyone else as long as I am here!"

The two of them argued on their way back to her place. Arthur couldn’t hold back his glee seeing her pouting cutely turning his face away from him. He liked to tease her when he is happy and he was very happy at the moment and wanted to tease her.

After doing quick editing, their interview was aired in the evening bringing forth a joyous celebration in both the nations and all over the world. The Northern Star announced the engagement at the same time as the Royal family, making their engagement announcement the trending topic all over the world.

The announcement of marriage signifies stability in the conglomerate and that made the stocks of the Northern Star, skyrocket.

It was a very happy day for a lot of people and just by the interview, both Arthur’s and Talia’s official social media accounts gained a lot more followers.

"Should’ve stopped with ’He woke up with a bump’. You trying to explain where the bump was, has made you into a meme." Arthur scrolled through his phone and laughed.

Talia’s little pause and her explanation that Arthur had a bump in his head made that entire statement turn into a joke about morning wood and Talia felt ashamed for getting associated with vulgar speech when she didn’t mean it that way.

"I meant to say that’s how you fell and had to get your brain surgery... Stop laughing! Why aren’t you ashamed?" she hit him.

"Waking up with a hot woman like you... I’d be spit in the face if I don’t get morning wood. So I am proud of becoming this meme material. I approve!"

Arthur was very proud and Talia wanted to bang his head for being so vain. But then she realised she should be proud of it too.

She is sexy after all!

Arthur returned after the announcement since he had a board meeting and Talia had to spend time replying to the congratulatory messages she got from various world leaders.