The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

WHEN Astrid heard the little boy in his arms called the silver-haired man rushing towards them 'uncle', he suddenly had a bad premonition in his heart.  The man didn't glance at him and just took Nicol into his arms.

"Nikki, are you okay?  Where does it hurt?  Tell Uncle, okay?" he asked, full of undisguised worry. 

"Uncle, I'm okay.  I'm not hurt," Nicol said, assuring his uncle.

But the uncle seemed to not hear that and just proceeded on blaming himself.  "It's my fault.  I was careless.  I shouldn't have left you alone.  What should I do if something had happened to you?  I could never forgive myself."

Nicol felt a bit funny inside.  Because his uncle didn't really leave him 'alone'.  His uncle took him out today to play.  His uncle didn't live with them in the big mansion, he only visited a couple of months.  This time when he did, Nicol pestered him to take him out.  Since his father was not at home, no one would really interfere even if Nicol wanted to go out with his uncle.

So, they went out with three bodyguards in tow.  They went to the nearest city center.  They were planning to go to a famous playground area when someone called his uncle on his Terminal and they had to change route.  His uncle told him that he would meet someone first but promised him that it wouldn't take long. 

When the car stopped in front of some building, his uncle went there and he was left inside the car with the bodyguards.  So, he wasn't really alone.  But he could never really sit still for a long period of time.  That's why he told the bodyguards that he wanted to follow his uncle. 

He wasn't worried that they wouldn't give in because they always do.  Not just them but also all the servants in the mansion.  The only reason Nicol could think of was because he was the only child in the house.

After coming down the car, he quickly ran forward.  But before he could even reach the building, someone suddenly grabbed him.  Then he felt something metallic pointing on his temple. 

The next thing he knew, the crazy guy who grabbed him had already taken him inside a mall's food section.

Remembering that, Nicol wanted to cry again.  But he resisted.  Because if he did, then his uncle would definitely feel guiltier.  And he didn't want that.  Especially since it was his fault in the first place.  If he just obediently stayed inside the car, then none of this would have happened.

"Uncle, it's not your fault.  It's because I'm not obedient," he said, comforting his uncle.  "I'm sorry for causing trouble."

Astrid raised one of his brows when he heard what the kid said.  He could see by the way that he comforted his uncle that he got a good upbringing.  It was also quite obvious that he had a good relationship with his uncle.

Suddenly, he was a bit relieved seeing how loving the uncle and nephew pair were.  He remembered his mother's story about her family.  They weren't exactly the 'loving' type.  Maybe these two were really from the branch side of the Grimaldi family.

"Nikki didn't cause any trouble.  It's your Uncle's carelessness that caused this to happen."  The silver-haired man hugged his nephew.  "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too," Nicol said, returning his uncle's hug.  Then as if remembering something, he let go of his uncle's neck and looked back at Astrid.  "Uncle, this brother saved me."

The man seemed to just notice Astrid then.  He looked at him and it didn't get pass Astrid the wonder that flashed in the other's eyes.  He was familiar with that look.  He always received that kind of look whenever people first saw him.  The silver-haired man was probably surprised by his looks.  After all, it's not everyday one could see a young with black hair and black eyes. 

But the man quickly recovered, as if that flash of surprise in his eyes didn't even appear.  "Thank you for saving my nephew."

"No, it's not me.  It's actually my brother who did all the lifting," Astrid said, correcting the man.  "He was the one who subdued the criminal."

Nicol quickly frowned when he said that.  "Brother, what are you saying?  If you didn't take the attention of that man away, then no one would be able to quickly subdue him."

Astrid was amused looking at the kid's stern look.  It's like he was looking at a small adult.  So, he even if he wanted to correct the kid's assumptions, he held back and just let him believe what he wanted. 

Then he saw his brother walking over with that soldier he was talking to earlier. 

Reas glanced at the silver-haired man faintly before standing beside his brother in a protective posture.  The man saw this and an amused glint appeared in his sapphire blue eyes.

Reas gazed down at his brother.  "Are you okay?"

Astrid was also amused by his brother.  "Yes.  I should probably the one asking that question.  Are you okay?"

Reas only gave him a look as if asking him, 'why shouldn't I be okay?'.

Captain Moore, who also walked there with Reas, looked at the black-haired teenager. 

The young man said to him that he came here with his brother.  He just didn't expect that his brother would be a great beauty.  He looked around and just as he expected, almost all of his soldiers nearby were looking at the direction of the teenager.  His face darkened.  It seemed like his soldiers still need a lot of training.

He shook his head and turned first to the silver-haired man. 

"Lord Cassius," he greeted.

Astrid blinked his phoenix eyes when he heard the name that the soldier called the silver-haired man.  Cassius.  Cassius Grimaldi?! 

He was frozen on the spot.  And then he just wanted to curse.  [You shitty fate, I just knew you would do this.]