With so many people present, William could only pretend not to notice Diana Rigg's signal to him, ignoring the teasing and uproar from the reporters.
Roger Moore, sitting next to him, also winked at him with a look that said, "You're lucky; a beauty is throwing herself at you."
William didn't believe Diana Rigg was really smitten with him at first sight. English reporters have no scruples—they're just using him for his current fame as a rising star. Marrying him would be even better for them; they could divorce later and get half his assets, becoming rich overnight.
It's not that William didn't believe in love; he just didn't believe in its longevity. Otherwise, how could there be so many people who love each other to death but divorce after a few years? England is the second-highest country in Europe for infidelity.
Do you know who the highest is? You might think it's France, but no, it's Spain, the country of bullfighting, home to Real Madrid. Surprised?
Rather than suffering a few years later, it's better to learn from Hong Kong's Mr. Li, who refuses to marry. If things go well, they stay together; if not, they break up.
William checked his watch and signaled the host to continue with the questions.
"Hello, William. I'm John Trison from The Sun. I just got news that the Earl of Oxford has named you as his heir. What do you have to say about that?"
William cursed inwardly. He hadn't even inherited the title yet and was already being targeted. The English are really vigilant about their nobility. Even the slightest rumor makes them pounce like they've smelled something.
"You at The Sun are really something. I just got the news this afternoon. How did you manage to find out something I thought was impossible to leak? I'll have to check my phone tomorrow; maybe I'll find something unusual. My skills aren't bad, after all."
"I protest, Mr. William Devonshire! I protest your baseless accusation of The Sun eavesdropping. I demand a public apology and compensation for the damage to The Sun's reputation!" John Trison protested angrily.
William acted as if he was being teased and said to his lawyer, Anthony, "Hey, Anthony, looks like your law firm has business. If The Sun sues me, you'll have to help me, right? Anthony, my friend, you'll help me, won't you?"
"No problem, William. Our law firm would be delighted to serve you," Anthony nodded.
"That's good. Haha, I trust the capabilities of your firm, but I don't think I accused The Sun of eavesdropping. I just said I'd check my phone, which doesn't constitute defamation, right?"
Anthony nodded and said, "Mr. William, our law firm is confident and capable of winning this case for you. I assure you this won't cause you any trouble."
"Haha, hey, John Trison, you heard that, right? I now welcome you to sue me. Maybe you'll win and get a few million pounds. Wow, buddy, you'll be rich."
Everyone laughed, looking at William and then at John Trison. Most journalists know a bit about the law and aren't ignorant enough to believe such vague insinuations would be accepted in court. Only John Trison, this fool, would be provoked by William into saying things he shouldn't.
Tomorrow's papers will be richer for it. Such a hit on The Sun won't be missed by the journalists present. Who knows if John Trison will still have his job tomorrow? He might be fired by The Sun's editor as soon as he returns to the office.
The crowd looked at John Trison gleefully, their eyes saying, "Fool, you're done."
"Mr. William Devonshire, you haven't answered my question yet. Please answer it directly. To my knowledge, you have no inheritance rights," John Trison insisted.
"You should ask the English nobility council about that. If they say I do, then I do," Eric replied, looking at John Trison as if he were an idiot.
Seeing the journalists' expressions saying they could find out even if he didn't speak, William thought it better to explain himself. It would be clearer if he said it during the live broadcast, rather than letting the journalists twist his words tomorrow.
"Alright, since you're so anxious, I'll kindly explain. According to English nobility inheritance law, the current Earl has no direct relatives. Among collateral relatives, I'm the only male, so I'm the only one qualified to inherit the title. Understand, Mr. John Trison?"
John Trison, still unwilling to give up, said, "But there are many Devonshires who can inherit the Earl's title. Why must it be you? I suspect there's something shady going on."
"Are you sick? I think you should see a psychiatrist. What's the Devonshire Duke's surname? Cavendish. Do I need to say more, Mr. John Trison? John, I really suggest you get checked out at the psychiatric department. Don't delay treatment. You might thank me later. If you do, please let me know; I'll open a bottle of champagne to celebrate your early diagnosis, giving you more time to deal with it."
The reporters laughed heartily. William was really bad, yet clever. He insinuated John Trison was mentally ill without saying it directly. Everyone knew what William meant.
And he suggested that if John Trison did find out he was mentally ill, he should tell him so William could celebrate with champagne. Damn, we journalists aren't as dark-hearted as William. He's practically cursing the guy to have a mental illness.
But seeing The Sun embarrassed felt so good, they all thought.
"Mr. William Devonshire, does that mean you'll soon be a noble, barring any unforeseen circumstances?"
"Wait, I think it should be said that it will happen someday in the future. But I hope this moment comes as late as possible because I wish the current Earl of Oxford good health. Honestly, the title isn't something I desire. Before today, I never thought I could inherit the title of Earl. This is all God's arrangement."
The reporters applauded, thinking, is this guy really 19 years old? He's so articulate.
The reporter, seeing his previous trap hadn't caught William, continued, "Alright, William, what do you think about the Earl's family wealth? According to my knowledge, the Earl's family wealth has increased significantly over the past decade, from less than 400,000 pounds to over 11 million. What do you have to say about inheriting such a large fortune?"
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