Chapter 247

Andrew stood tall beside Princess Aurora. She entwined her arm lightly in his, exhuming an air of confidence that Andrew had not seen in one of his partners at a press conference since his last deceased Luna. She waved to the crowd of reporters that stood in front of the stage, occasionally blowing a kiss to them.

Princess Aurora was definitely a natural when it came to crowds and socializing.

Andrew could not help comparing her to Crystal in his head.

Crystal had always done her best to hold her own against the crowds. In the beginning, she had even excelled, despite any insecurities she might have felt. Then her trauma and anxiety took over after so many public attacks.

It wasn’t her fault, but try telling that to judgmental paparazzi and politicians.

Princess Aurora, on the other hand, could not have looked more in her element. It even made Andrew’s chest swell up with pride to know that she was his partner, in this instance. Remembering Crystal and his love for her, though, would make his heart ache all over again.

Andrew forced himself to be in the moment. He approached the podium, Princess Aurora gliding beside him. He detached himself from Princess Aurora and leaned towards the microphones, clearing his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us here today,” he boomed. “Princess Aurora and I asked you to come so that we could make a joint announcement and take your questions.”

Andrew grabbed Princess Aurora’s hand. Together, they raised their hands and displayed their engagement rings.

“We are getting married.”

A chorus of cheers erupted throughout the crowd.

Princess Aurora grinned broadly, absorbing the love from the reporters and photographers. She waved to them and blew them kisses, even raising her free hand to her mouth in her signature gesture of hiding a giggle. She practically glowed and appeared to be in heaven.

The photographers ate this up, scrambling to get the best angle of her possible, only to find that every angle was her “best angle”. This fact didn’t stop them from fighting each other to be the closest one to her.

Andrew allowed Princess Aurora to enjoy this attention for several minutes before he finally motioned for the crowd to calm down. Immediately, the noise ceased.

“The wedding will be in a few weeks, and it will be planned by Terri Russo of Ever After Weddings,” he continued.

Murmurs broke out at the mention of Ever After Weddings. Andrew had expected as much, along with Princess Aurora’s tightening grip on his hand. He would take care of it if it became a problem.

“We will now take your questions.”

Immediately, hands shot up.

Andrew pointed to a young reporter in the front row. The man seemed elated just to be at the press conference, let alone with the fact that Andrew had chosen him to ask a question. His hand shook as he held his pen over his notepad.

“Johnny Parker, Lunar Gazette,” he introduced himself. “Your Highness, compared to your relationship with Crystal Blanchard, your courtship with Princess Aurora has been relatively short. Why have you chosen now to propose?”

Andrew was almost relieved that the first question had nothing to do with the hiring of Terri and Ever After Weddings. At the same time, though, he wished that the reporter could have phrased his question without mentioning Crystal. He could feel Princess Aurora’s grip growing bone-crushing.

“Sometimes, you just know when the moment is right,” Andrew said, looking down at Princess Aurora admiringly. “With Princess Aurora, it just felt like the right time—emotionally and politically.”

He reached down and gave Princess Aurora a peck on the cheek. A splash of pink spread across the princess’s cheeks, and the crowd broke out in a chorus of “aw’s”.

When the fanfare died down, hands shot up into the air again. Andrew gestured to a female reporter in the third row.

“Emily Chang, The New York Times,” she announced. “Princess Aurora, how does your father, King Frederick of the human world, feel about this union between you and Alpha King Andrew Dubois?”

Andrew smiled encouragingly down at Princess Aurora.

With an air of authority, Princess Aurora stared down the reporters and replied, “My father is ecstatic with the arrangement. He believes that Andrew and I make a perfect match, and he has great hopes for the doors that the union will open for human/werewolf relations in the future.”

“What about the age difference?” Emily Chang asked. “Does that concern him—or you—at all?”

“Age is just a number,” Princess Aurora said without missing a beat.

Half of the audience scrambled to write down notes on their notepads, smartphones, and tablets, while the rest applauded thunderously. Princess Aurora stood a little straighter and smiled a little more broadly. Andrew nodded his approval and squeezed her hand.

As the applause ceased, the reporters raised their hands once more, now even more eager to have their questions answered. Andrew turned to Princess Aurora and motioned for her to select the next person. Filled with glee, Princess Aurora pointed to a man in the very back.

“Dakota Rain, The Daily Moon,” he declared. “Your Highnesses, do you foresee there being any conflict using Ever After Weddings for your wedding planning when Crystal Blanchard is the majority shareholder?”

Princess Aurora’s hold on Andrew’s hand turned into a death grip. He did not show any outward signs of discomfort, but inwardly, he was impressed by her strength for a hybrid.

“No, we do not think that there will be any conflict,” Andrew answered for the both of them, even though he knew that Princess Aurora had much different feelings. “The people at Ever After Weddings are very professional. I know from past experience during similarly complicated situations.”

“Are you referring to the wedding of your daughter, Lisa, to Crystal’s other ex, Bob?” Dakota Rain asked.

It took everything in Andrew’s being not to react instinctively to this question. He wanted to lash out over the very mention of Bob’s name and the fact that he was now married to Lisa, but he maintained himself and did nothing more than breathe in and out deeply to keep himself calm.

“Yes, I am,” he replied. “Despite outside factors that may have disrupted the reception, Ever After Weddings—including Crystal—pulled off a beautiful ceremony for my daughter and her husband, and I trust that they will do the same for Princess Aurora and me.”

Andrew looked down at Princess Aurora and address her more than the reporters with the next part of his statement.

“Besides, Crystal is moving to Crescent Moon Pack. Her involvement, as far as I know, will be minimal. There will be no conflict of interest.”

Princess Aurora glanced up at Andrew and silently lipped, “You promise?”

Andrew lipped back, “I promise.”

Princess Aurora smiled and turned to the audience.

“Yes, we are sure that there will be no problems. Ever After Weddings has pulled off gorgeous ceremonies before, and we are sure that they will do the same for us.”

There was a clamoring of murmurs and whispers, but the reporters seemed to accept that answer so long as it came from Princess Aurora.

“Well, those are all the questions that we have time for today. Once again, we would like to thank you for coming out,” Andrew concluded the press conference. “Drive safely, and may the Moon Goddess bless you.”