The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

CASEY was about to say 'how should I know?' when he remembered something. There's only one photoshoot being held in their family's manor today - the one for their Chrome Collection. The one where Astrid was the new model.

After the huge success of the newly launched perfume line, they held a meeting and almost everyone agreed that they should continue to use Astrid as their ambassador.

Seeing that all executives had a much softer attitude towards Astrid, Casey saw it as a chance to suggest something that he had been thinking from the very beginning. To make Astrid the face of their upcoming collection.

This suggestion did not meet much opposition. And so, they proceeded to make a contract. The only thing that's unexpected was Astrid's agent's ability to negotiate. That one made sure to squeeze every last bit of star coin she could squeeze from them.

Not that Casey minded. Even in his opinion, Astrid deserved that much. Rather, he was glad that there's someone on the young man's side who thought of his well-being like that. Having a reliable person like that would surely help to make his talent, and fame, grow even more.

No, wait- this was currently not the point now. He should be focused on the fact that the duke was most likely in the manor where Astrid's photoshoot was taking place. Because why else would he suddenly sent for Nicol like that? Today was probably the day he was scheduled to go to that manor to do his usual 'gardening'.

The duke probably wanted to keep that a secret, but Casey accidentally found out about it. Not that he wanted to in the first place. It happened about two years ago.

He just finished with a business trip and was about to return to the capital, but his personal spaceship suddenly encountered a problem. They had to land on the nearest planet. It just so happened that the Grimaldi family had a manor on that planet, and it was also quite close to where the spaceship was hovering. So, the pilot decided to have their emergency landing there.

And it was at that manor that he saw the duke. Tending to the garden, of all things.

He didn't ask, and the other also didn't explain. They both knew the reason, so what's the point of explaining?

It annoyed Casey, though. Which he knew was not the right thing to feel. But what could he do? Whenever the duke did something that's related to his mother, it just annoyed the hell out of him. Maybe because it reminded him of the past. Of how consumed the duke was with his revenge that he let the whole family fell apart.

He shook his head. This was barely the time to think about that. He had to remind himself that he was still having a video call with Tommy.

"It's probably to meet Astrid," he said to answer the other's earlier question. "He has a photoshoot on that manor you just mentioned. The duke probably arrived there yesterday, which I had no prior knowledge by the way, and met Astrid today."

Tommy furrowed his brows. It's either he didn't like the way he referred to their father, or that the said father suddenly sent for his son without his permission.

"Don't worry, Nikki will be fine," Casey said. Although he and Tommy hadn't been in the best of terms since, well, years now, he wouldn't make a sarcastic comment regarding his nephew. "I'll go there later to check on things. I'll message you if you want."

"No need. I'll go there myself."

Casey raised a brow but didn't say anything. Then the two ended the call. He then called for his secretary, who had left earlier in a very discreet manner so he could have a private conversation with Tommy.

He told the other to make sure all the staff in the manor would leave as soon as the photoshoot ended. He didn't want any audience in their 'family drama', just in case some drama did happen.

---------- Astrid picked the teacup in front of him and took a sip. The sweetness, with a tiny hint of bitterness, spread in his mouth. Then he slightly raised his head and looked at the man sitting in front of him. The duke was elegantly sipping his tea.

He almost let out a sigh. Who would have thought that when he left his apartment this morning, he would actually end up having tea with the duke? Honestly, if he had known, he would have done everything to postpone today's photoshoot.

Okay, maybe not. He's a professional, after all. And since he was a professional, he should get past this, like a pro.

He took a deep breath and looked around. They were in the pavilion in the garden. There was a trolley of sweets on the side, and the butler standing not that far nor that close to them. Just enough so he could quickly attend to them if needed.

Since he was here, having a tea party, Ellis had to wait for him. She's probably the only one, aside from the servants, in the manor right now. All the staffs, from the creative director to the photographer, had already left. Which was good, in a way. At least he didn't have to see them gossiping about him.

Although their little misunderstanding had already been cleared, he was sure that some of them still had opinions about him. Not that he cared. At least with the misunderstanding cleared about him being related to the Grimaldis, there wouldn't be any more spiraling rumors about him.

His train of thought was cut off when he saw a plate of cupcake that was beautifully decorated in front of him. When he raised his head, he saw the duke taking back his hand. Obviously, he was the one who put the plate of cupcake in front of him.

The duke cleared his throat and avoided his gaze, as if he was being... shy?

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