Rose was okay to meet Rune's parents and then slowly met his siblings... but to meet them all together at once?

That's a bit too much, wasn't it?

Rune noticed her reluctance and quickly waved his hand. "Don't think about it. I was just saying that you are invited if you want to come. I know you must have a lot to do in Medion during the holiday seasons. Maybe the royal family would like to throw some events too that would require your presence."

Rose shook her head. "Nah, I won't be here by then. I will probably spend Christmas with my friends in Paris. Peter and Helene will be there and George said he will fly to spend the holiday with us before Peter and Helene get married."

"Ah, I see.." Rune nodded in understanding. "In that case, I hope you will have fun."

Inwardly, he felt dejected. Maybe he did come too strong earlier by inviting Rose to meet his whole family. She might freak out.

Gosh.. this ruined their pace. Earlier she already said that she would want to meet his parents, but now, maybe she wouldn't want to anymore.

Rune scolded himself for being impatient.

He didn't show his disappointment on his face and acted like everything was fine. Well.. he did have a lifetime if he wanted to wait for Rose, and his lifetime meant for as long as she lived.

***

Rune decided not to talk about it again and enjoyed his time with Rose while he could. They visited another beach and spent the whole day sipping c.o.c.ktails and watching the ocean.

There was peace in their mind when they did that. Rune was glad to see that slowly Rose looked happier.

In fact, she actually changed her phone number when her new phone arrived and asked her parents not to give it to anyone.

"Ahh... time flies when you are having fun," Rose commented. She rose from the sun chair and pointed to the west. "Such a beautiful sunset. Too bad it's finally over and we have to go home."

"You are right," Rune said in agreement.

Tomorrow was the big day. It was finally the moment of truth.

Leon would get married and then all this would be over.

***

"We can invite Pierre and JM to come to my home and then we can go together to the church," Rose said after she got in the car and buckled up, ready to go home.

"Their hotel is closer to the church," Rune commented. He also entered the car and got ready to drive. "Wouldn't it be better if they just go there directly?"

Rose shook her head. "No. The security protocol is quite strict. This is not a regular wedding, but a royal wedding. They can only come with us."

They didn't say anything again in the car until they arrived at the Fournier's mansion gate. Over the past days, some reporters were still trying to get their statement regarding the gossip that Rose was in a relationship with her half-brother for years.

"Hey... Your Grace, we need your statement," said a female journalist stubbornly when the car was slowing down and waited for the gate to open so it could go through. "Tomorrow is the big day. I believe the people need to know the truth."

Rose bit her lip. She turned to Rune and asked him with his eyes, what should she do. If she kept avoiding them, these journalists would never feel satisfied.

They would keep chasing until they could get what they wanted: the truth, or if not, they might make up whatever they thought would sell.

"Stop the car," Rose touched Rune's arm gently. Her voice sounded tired. The joy she showed all day when they were at the beach had gone. Rune slowly stopped the car and waited to see what Rose wanted to do.

"Your Grace... you look so lovely today." The reporter smiled broadly and came to approach Rose. She reached out a recording device and asked Rose's permission to record her statement.

Rose shook her head. "Not here. Please come in. I will accept you in my home. You can come in, but I want you all to give me your word that you will not publish anything until after the wedding. Understood?"

Rune looked at Rose with confusion. What was it that Rose was trying to do? Did she finally decide to wash her hands from all things related to Leon?

Well.. Maybe it was time.

"Oh, my... are you serious, Your Grace?" The journalists all looked beaming and have disbelief expressions plastered on their faces.

"Yes, I am serious. I will have my family lawyer make you sign an agreement. If anyone of you? violated the agreement and publish anything before I allow you to do it, I will sue the hell out of your news agencies." Rose stared at them intently. "Even until you die, you still won't finish paying for your debt to my family. I will make sure of that."

They all turned silent. This was the first time they saw Rose acting harshly toward the journalists. Even Rune was surprised. He only saw this side of her today.

Apparently, Rose could act like a badass too.

Ahh.. he shouldn't have surprised, should he? He knew Rose had guns and she was good at using them. Of course, she was a badass. All this time, he only got to see her weak side because of her heartbreak.

But the truth was, Rose was not a weak girl who could be easily intimidated.

He loved seeing this side of her for the first time. He hoped he would see it more often in the future.

After Rose motioned him to drive, Rune stepped on the gas and drive the Bentley to pass through the gate. Rose made a sign to the gatekeeper that she allowed the journalists to enter.

The man nodded respectfully and came to meet the horde of reporters and asked all of them to register their ID and filled the guest book.

They felt lucky because they persevered. After waiting for Rose and her parents faithfully for days, finally, they were allowed to enter and get her statement.

Some other journalists who were not as patient had stopped coming. Now, they would regret their decision because they would miss such an important event.

The Fourniers were not known for being open to the press. They loved their privacy and didn't like sensational news. They also tend to have quite a perfect public image.

So, having the opportunity to get up close with them was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially because they were the future king's immediate family.

***

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Rune asked Rose after they got out of the car and Rose walked inside her home.

Rose nodded. "Yes. It's time for me to clear everything. I will leave this country as soon as the royal wedding is over. I don't want to leave a bad taste after I'm gone."

Rune's steps halted. He knew she was serious. "What will you tell them?"

Rose turned to him when she realized he had stopped walking. She stopped her steps too. She said with a low voice, "The truth."

"No, silly..." Rose chuckled. Her face looked bright again. "That I am dating Rune Schneider from the Schneider Group and I hope they will stop spreading lies about me and my half-brother."

Rune smiled when he heard her. He liked that. "Ah, that's good. We should tell them that, so they will stop chasing you with the nasty rumor."

"I suppose you are okay with that? You don't mind me announcing our 'relationship' to the public?" Rose asked Rune seriously.

The man shook his head, "Of course not. I am happy to be of use for you."

"Oh, Rune.. you are too sweet," Rose sighed. "I don't deserve you."

She walked over and touched his cheek. Her eyes were clearly filled with gratitude. "If your family members are half as nice as you, I would love to meet all of them. I can imagine a holiday with your entire family must be amazing."

Rune batted his eyes when he heard Rose's words. His ears didn't play tricks on him, did they?

Was Rose really saying that she would come to meet his entire family for the holiday?

He thought Rose was not into it when they had this discussion two days ago?