The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 837: AT CASEY’S PLACE

”IS this really where Cassius Grimaldi lives?” Lauren asked as he stepped out of the car. The vehicle had landed on the roof of a towering building that seemed to stretch up into the clouds. He looked around at the rooftop, which looked more like a garden with all the green grass and wildflowers growing everywhere. The only part of the roof that was not covered in green was what could only be described as the driveway.

Astrid let out a small laugh. ”Yeah, I had the same reaction the first time I came here. Let’s just say Casey is not your typical noble.”

Nobles... Right. Lauren had not really stopped to think about it earlier, but this meant both Reas and Astrid were nobles. He was not sure how to feel about that yet. He would have to come back to it later. For now, he should just focus on meeting the other members of his boyfriend’s family.

But speaking of family, now that his brain had finally caught up with everything Reas had told him, he made the connection. The man he met in Delryria, the one Reas introduced as his grandfather, had to be the duke. Remembering how he had acted around him back then, a wave of belated embarrassment washed over him. He could not believe he had been so oblivious in front of a duke. He had made a fool of himself without even realising it.

He might be rich now because of his job, but his family had always been ordinary citizens of the Empire. Even after he became famous, the highest-ranked person he had ever interacted with was a Count. But now he had actually spent time with a duke. He had even done farm work alongside him. And on top of that, his boyfriend was the duke’s grandson.

Lauren shook his head. What did it even matter? He had met Reas without knowing anything about his background. He had not fallen for him because he was some noble’s grandson. He had fallen for him because of everything else. Reas’s protectiveness, the way he showed he cared without saying it, and the kindness he always tried to hide behind his rough edges. Lauren even liked his bratty side. He was that down bad.

So he would not let this new information about Reas’s family background affect their relationship. That much, he was sure of.

Astrid walked over to the elevator entrance and typed in the code Casey had given him a while back. That way, he and Reas could come and go as they pleased without waiting for someone to let them in. He stepped inside, with Reas and Lauren following close behind. The elevator descended smoothly, carrying them down into the building.

When the elevator door opened, Lauren followed Astrid and Reas out. The room they stepped into was clearly the living room. It was wide and open, with a clean, minimalist look that made everything feel calm and ordered. The walls were white, and the furniture came in shades of blue, from the dark sofa to the lighter chairs scattered around. A large window let in plenty of light, brightening up the whole space. A few simple decorations sat on shelves, but nothing felt crowded or out of place. It looked more like a place to relax than a space meant to impress.

A new voice pulled Lauren’s attention away from the room. ”Aster! Reas!”

A man with silver hair and sapphire blue eyes appeared and pulled both Astrid and Reas into a hug. Lauren recognized him instantly. Even without the flashy suits he usually wore at fashion events, he knew this was Cassius Grimaldi. Or Casey, as the brothers called him.

Reas pulled away from the hug like a teenager too cool for family affection. Astrid just laughed and returned the embrace without hesitation.

Casey looked at his nephews, taking in their healthy appearances and the happy looks on their faces. That was enough to put him in a good mood. ”Tommy and Nikki are still on their way,” he said. ”It seems Nikki slept in. I think he was so excited to see you two that he stayed up too late.”

Reas let out a scoff. ”That might be true for Aster, but that brat wouldn’t be that happy to see me.”

Casey chuckled. ”Nikki might act like a little brat with you, but trust me, he likes you. Just in his own way.”

Reas did not bother responding to that. Instead, he tugged Lauren closer to his side. ”By the way, this is Lauren. My—”

”Lauren Watts,” Lauren cut in before Reas could introduce him as his boyfriend. At least he wanted to get a proper greeting first. ”It’s nice to meet you, uh...” He paused, suddenly unsure of how to address the other man. Should he call him ’my lord’?

”Please, don’t call me ’my lord’,” Casey said, as if he had read Lauren’s mind. ”It’s nice to meet you, Lauren.”

He took Lauren’s hand and gave it a firm shake. As he did, he took a moment to study the young man in front of him. Tall and lean, with messy blond hair and eyes that seemed almost amber under the light. Handsome, as you would expect from someone in his line of work. But there was something else about him. A kind of openness, like he was comfortable in his own skin and sure of himself. It was not the kind of confidence that came from fame. It felt more natural than that.

Maybe that was why there were so many dating rumors about him. Yes, Casey knew about those. Not because he kept up with celebrity gossip, but because when Emmy had told him about Reas and the boyfriend who visited them in Delryria, Casey had made sure to look into him. He needed to know if Lauren Watts had any kind of dark past. So far, the only thing he had found were rumors of him being a playboy. But from what he could tell, those rumors seemed to be just gossip with no real truth behind them.

”Uh, yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Grimaldi,” Lauren said a little awkwardly as Casey released his hand.

”And he’s my boyfriend,” Reas added, making sure that part was said loud and clear.