The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 850: [BLIND JUSTICE] RED CARPET

ASTRID peered out the car window, taking in the crowd already gathered around the red carpet. His appearance in this movie was still a secret, so he wouldnʼt be walking the carpet with the main cast. Instead, he would go ahead early, like an invited guest. It wouldnʼt seem strange, given that he had been a guest star on the show. And the episode he had appeared in was a special one, which made his presence at the premiere easy to explain.

As soon as the car ahead of them moved, it would be their turn to stop at the end of the red carpet. Then he would have to get out and face the cameras. At the thought, he turned to look at Wulfric beside him.

”Wulf, donʼt leave Sister Ellisʼs side,” he reminded him. ”Once the premiere starts, youʼll be watching the movie with the rest of the audience. Just not beside me. Youʼll be with Sister Ellis and the other agents and assistants.”

A disappointed look flickered across Wulfricʼs face. ”Canʼt I at least sit behind you?”

This time, it was Ellis who answered. ”No, Your Highness. Thereʼs a strict seating arrangement, and we need to follow it.”

Astrid chuckled to himself. Just a few hours after meeting Wulfric, Ellis had already gone from nervous and cautious to weary and annoyed. Now she was handling him like she had known him for years.

Wulfric pouted, but he gave in with a reluctant, ”Fine.”

Astrid reached over and gave Wulfricʼs hand a gentle squeeze. ”Just enjoy the movie. You wonʼt even realize Iʼm not sitting next to you.”

Wulfric lifted Astridʼs hand and pressed a kiss to it. ”How could that be possible? Thatʼs the first thing Iʼll notice.”

A flutter ran through Astridʼs chest, and a giddy smile tugged at his lips. ”Behave, Wulf.”

Wulfric blinked with exaggerated innocence. ”What do you mean? Iʼm always well behaved.”

Ellis cleared her throat, having had enough of the two flirting. ”Astrid, itʼs time.”

Astrid turned his attention back to the window, only then realizing that the car had already stopped. He gave Wulfric one last quick kiss on the cheek before stepping out.

The moment he stepped out of the car, a practiced smile settled onto his face. The crowd immediately erupted into cheers at the sight of him. Most of them looked surprised at first, clearly not expecting to see him, but the shock wore off quickly and the cheering only grew louder.

”Astrid!”

”Aster! Look this way, please!”

”Aster, youʼre so beautiful!”

Astrid waved at the crowd as he made his way down the carpet. He paused in the middle, turning to face the floating cameras as they swarmed closer. He tilted his head slightly, smiled warmly, and struck a pose. The crowd behind the barriers went wild, their cheers rising into a deafening roar. He shifted his stance, turning to offer the other side a different angle, and the screams only grew louder. Then he turned just enough to show the long train of his suit as he looked back over his shoulder with a seductive smile. He then continued down the red carpet.

At the end of the red carpet, an interviewer was already waiting for him. She wore a simple black dress, and a small floating camera hovered beside her. She smiled as he approached.

”Hi, Astrid,” she began. ”Your presence here is definitely unexpected, but I think I speak for everyone when I say itʼs very welcome. The crowdʼs reaction to your arrival was proof of that.”

”Thank you,” Astrid smiled. ”Iʼm really happy to get such a warm welcome from the [Blind Justice] fans.”

”Speaking of [Blind Justice],” the interviewer said, leaning in slightly, ”Youʼve been a guest star on the show before, but many fans are wondering... are you making a special appearance in the movie as well?”

Astrid let out a small, measured laugh. ”I think thatʼs one of those questions I canʼt really answer without getting in trouble.” He gave a playful shrug. ”What I can say is that Iʼm a big fan of the show and the cast, and Iʼm really excited to be here to support them tonight.”

The interviewerʼs eyes lit up. ”So youʼre not confirming or denying?”

”Iʼm neither confirming nor denying,” Astrid said, his smile turning just a little sly. ”But I do think the movie is going to be something special, so even if Iʼm just here to watch, itʼs worth it.”

The interviewer laughed and nodded. ”Fair enough.”

After a few more questions, Astrid gave one last wave to the crowd and made his way into the theater.

***

Wulfric shifted in his seat, already uncomfortable. He wanted to stretch his legs, but there wasnʼt enough room. Why did they have to pick a theater where the seats barely had any leg space? If Ellis could hear his thoughts, she would probably point out that the seats were perfectly adequate and that the problem was simply his legs being too long.

The theater was already packed with people. Fans of the show filled the rows behind him, while the cast and a handful of invited celebrities sat further ahead. Wulfricʼs eyes immediately found a familiar figure near the front. Aster was already seated, his red suit visible even from a distance.

Aster was talking to the person beside him, some man Wulfric didnʼt recognize. Aster smiled, but it was the kind of polite smile that didnʼt quite reach his eyes. Wulfric knew that look. Aster was just being courteous, not genuinely interested in whatever the man was saying. He smirked at that, glad that Aster wasnʼt actually enjoying the conversation. But the smirk quickly faded when the man leaned in closer to Aster, invading his space. Wulfricʼs jaw tightened.

He narrowed his eyes at the man, already thinking of making him faint. But before he could act on it, Ellisʼs voice came from beside him.

”William, please sit properly. We donʼt want to disturb the other people around us.”

Wulfric let out a quiet sigh, briefly entertaining the idea of making Ellis faint instead. He glanced back toward Aster and felt a wave of relief when he saw that the other was no longer talking to that annoying guy.