The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

THE Townsend twins were currently inside a high-end flying car.  The car didn't seem like a car actually.  It's more like a small lounge room.  The back seat was so soft like sitting on velvet or something.  A table would appear if you just pushed one of the buttons on the side.  Also, another button would reveal a secret compartment that was akin to a small refrigerator.  Where drinks and sweet snacks were.

This car was owned by the Grimaldi family.  The car arrived in front of Astrid's apartment building a little before six in the evening.  Astrid and Reas were both ready by then so there wasn't any delay in time.  A man who introduced himself as Cassius' secretary was sent there to fetch them.  And they were quickly on their way to Cassius Grimaldi's home.

When Astrid's receive that message from Cassius yesterday, he and Reas talked about it and decided to just agree to the dinner.  Both of them just wanted to get on with this thing quickly.  Then the other wouldn't have any reason to contact them again.

Of course, after this dinner, Cassius Grimaldi might just be more interested in them and therefore would do a more thorough research about their background.  It was already obvious that Cassius did a simple background checking on them by the fact that he had his contact number and apartment building address. 

It was also obvious that he did not suspect any connection they might have with the long-lost sister.  Because if he did, then he would be more enthusiastic in wanting to meet them.  The level of enthusiasm he had shown so far was just enough for someone who wanted to thank the people who saved his nephew. 

And Astrid rather let it remain that way.

So, the best way, of course, was to not let the other had more interest in them than normal.  Or at least not do anything that might make the people they were going to have dinner with a chance to think that they were in any way related to Emmaline Grimaldi.

Based on what their parents had told them, Cassius had a good relationship with their mother.  If he was privy to the real circumstance behind his sister's 'death', then if he found people who could be potentially connected to her, he would definitely do everything to find her whereabouts. 

Frankly, in Astrid's opinion, there was no harm in letting, at least, Cassius knew of their existence.  Surely, he wouldn't put them into harm.  There's hardly any reason to.  Admitting to him who they were might even help them in some ways while they were staying here in the capital. 

But it was obvious that their mother didn't want them to have anything to do with the Grimaldis.  As a dutiful son, he should honor his mother's wish. 

It's probably a good thing that they were going to Cassius' house and not at the Grimaldi mansion.  At least he could be sure that they wouldn't be meeting the duke.  But they might meet the older brother.  Considering that he's the father of the kid they saved.  Maybe they would even meet his wife or a husband perhaps.  And Cassius did mention that they were going to have dinner with his family.

Astrid suddenly felt the car levitating higher.  He looked outside the window and saw that the car was travelling upwards a tall building.  At the top of the building, the car slowly landed on a space that seemed to be dedicated to parking.  The assistant walked down first and opened the backseat door.

Reas came down, followed by Astrid.

"Please, follow me," the assistant said, gesturing for them to follow.

Astrid looked around.  Aside from the parking space, the whole rooftop was like a beautiful garden, full of exotic and wild flowers.  Completed with bright and green grasses.  It must have cost a lot for this rooftop to look like a real garden.

They walked to what seemed like an entrance to this building.  The assistant entered some kind of code and it opened.  When they walked inside, Astrid only noticed that it was an elevator.  The assistant pressed a button and the elevator started to move down.

"Excuse me, does Lord Cassius own this whole building?" he thought of asking the assistant.

"Yes.  It's a commercial building.  A couple of well-known businesses have their office here," the assistant answered.  "Lord Cassius lives on the top three floors."

Huh, Astrid didn't expect that a son of a duke would choose the top floors of a building as his home.  He thought he'd be living at some mansion overlooking the city or something.  Well, it seemed that Lord Cassius was a very unconventional noble.

When the elevator door opened, they were welcomed by a wide living room.  It was very neat with a very minimalistic design.  The color motif was blue and white which was very cool to the eye. 

With the personality of Cassius that he had seen so far, he thought his place would be more, well, cluttered and vibrant.  It seemed that one could not really judge one's taste based on their outward personality.

They walked out of the elevator.  They hadn't taken a few steps yet when a very energetic and childish voice suddenly called Astrid's name.

"Brother Aster!"

Astrid looked up and saw a boy with curly silver hair and a pair of sapphire blue eyes running down the stairs.  He was running so fast, Astrid was worried that he would fall down.  Thankfully, he did not and managed to safely run towards them.  Nearing them, he quickly jumped and hugged his leg.

"I'm so happy you're here!" Nicole said, looking up excitedly at the black-haired brother he had been wanting to meet again.

Astrid couldn't help but smile.  He rubbed the little boy's head.  "I'm also happy to be here," he said, but then followed with a stern voice, "But you shouldn't have run down the stairs like that.  What if you fell?"

Nicole showed a guilty expression.  "I'm sorry.  I'm just so happy to see you."

"No need to be sorry, I just want you to be careful," Astrid said.  "And I'm also very happy to see the young master again."   

"Nicole," a baritone voice suddenly called.

Astrid raised his head and saw a tall man with silver hair cleanly swept back.  His eyes were as blue as Nicole's. 

"Dad!" Nicole called the man.