The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

WITH just one phrase, Wulfric felt his entire body freeze. It was as if Aster's mother was silently demanding, 'Why didn't you beat him senseless?' Was she really expecting Gage to leave him battered and bruised? No—why was he even questioning it? The answer was glaringly obvious: of course, she did. She probably wanted him bloodied.

That first impression must have completely shattered his image in her eyes. He regretted how he had acted back then—like a complete jerk, entitled and brash. If he'd just behaved more like a decent person, maybe things would be different now. Maybe Aster's mother wouldn't be so fiercely against him.

If he could go back, he'd handle things with more care, show respect, and prove he wasn't the person she still thought he was.

But there was no time machine, no way to undo the past. He could only lie in the bed he'd made. Now, the best he could do was prove that he could be better, at least for Aster. Even if he couldn't change how he treated everyone else, he could honestly say he would be good to Aster—and that had to count for something.

Just as Wulfric was trying to fortify his resolve, he heard Gage say:

"Well, His Highness here dropped to his knees and swore his feelings for Aster were true and sincere. He even looked like he was about to cry like a baby. If I'd kept punching him after that, it would've felt like kicking a dog while it's down. What could I do? My soft heart just couldn't bring myself to hit him any more after that."

Wulfric felt lightheaded when he heard what Gage had said. It was like listening to a story about himself, but none of it was real. He couldn't understand why Gage would make something like that up.

But when Gage glanced at him, Wulfric suddenly understood. In that single look, it was as if Gage was silently telling him, 'I just handed you a huge opportunity—don't waste it.'

And before he could even think it through, the words just tumbled out of his mouth: "Yes, I got down on my knees like a dog and cried like a baby!"

Gage nearly choked on his own spit when he heard the prince's words, staring at him in shock. What was this guy saying? When he looked at Wulfric earlier, all he meant to convey was, 'See how kind I am? I'm even trying to make you look good in front of my wife.' He never expected the prince to willingly make a fool of himself, as if he'd completely abandoned any sense of pride.

In that moment, Gage finally believed the prince was truly sincere about his feelings for Aster. Because why else would he be able to say something so humiliating with a straight face, unless he genuinely loved him?

Now, Gage didn't know if he should be annoyed or impressed.

Emmy raised an eyebrow at the prince's words, clearly surprised. That was definitely not the reaction she had expected. She couldn't decide whether to commend him for saying it with a straight face or to throw something at him, simply because she felt irritated just by looking at him..

In any case, that wasn't the issue right now. "Please follow me, Your Highness. Let's have a talk."

She walked forward, passing by Wulfric and Gage, and exited through the back door.

Wulfric watched her back, feeling complicated. Now that he would finally have to talk to Aster's mother, he suddenly remembered the 'precautions' that Aster mentioned before.

He glanced at Gage and asked, "Ahm, your wife wouldn't poison me, right?"

Gage blinked, then nearly burst out laughing. Feeling generous after his earlier kindness, he couldn't resist teasing. "Who knows, if she offers you tea, you'd better be careful. But don't forget—you still have to drink it, or she'll be even madder."

Wulfric gulped and the nodded seriously. "Okay."

Gage shook his head in amusement as he watched the prince follow his wife. Who would have thought that this so-called 'terrifying' prince was really just a fool—a fool hopelessly in love with his son?

He caught himself and clicked his tongue. Why did it feel like he was actually warming up to the guy? Tch. That couldn't be possible, right? Shaking off the thought, he turned around, deciding to go say 'hi' to his in-laws. If his wife was already here, that meant her talk with her father and brothers was over.

Now, it was his turn to have a chat with them.

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Wulfric came to an abrupt stop when he saw Aster's mother seated at a much smaller table than the one they had used for breakfast. His eyes landed on the teapot and cups arranged neatly on the table, and he instantly froze.

A flurry of thoughts raced through his mind in that moment. Why was there a teapot and cups already set when Aster's mother had been waiting for them inside the house, not out here in the garden? Unless... she had planned this in advance.

Did that mean he was actually about to be poisoned? The thought sent a chill down his spine.

Noticing him standing there frozen, Emmy glanced up and said, "Your Highness, please have a seat."

Left with no choice, Wulfric took a deep breath and sat down opposite the other.

Wulfric's body tensed as Aster's mother calmly poured him a cup of tea. When she gently pushed the cup toward him, he could only stare at it, hoping that if he looked long enough, the tea inside might magically vanish.

"What's the matter, Your Highness? Don't you like tea?" Emmy asked, noticing how intensely the prince was staring at the cup, as if he could burn a hole through it with his gaze.

"No, no, I love tea!" Wulfric quickly said.

He picked up the cup, not noticing the slight tremble in his fingers. After a brief pause, he slowly raised it to his mouth, his body tensed all over as he took a small sip.