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 wouldn't be walking the carpet with the main cast. Instead, he would go ahead early, like an invited guest. It wouldn't 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, don't leave Sister Ellis's side," he reminded him. "Once the premiere starts, you'll be watching the movie with the rest of the audience. Just not beside me. You'll be with Sister Ellis and the other agents and assistants."

A disappointed look flickered across Wulfric's face. "Can't I at least sit behind you?"

This time, it was Ellis who answered. "No, Your Highness. There's 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 Wulfric's hand a gentle squeeze. "Just enjoy the movie. You won't even realize I'm not sitting next to you."

Wulfric lifted Astrid's hand and pressed a kiss to it. "How could that be possible? That's the first thing I'll notice."

A flutter ran through Astrid's chest, and a giddy smile tugged at his lips. "Behave, Wulf."

Wulfric blinked with exaggerated innocence. "What do you mean? I'm always well behaved."

Ellis cleared her throat, having had enough of the two flirting. "Astrid, it's 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, you're 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 it's very welcome. The crowd's reaction to your arrival was proof of that."

"Thank you," Astrid smiled. "I'm really happy to get such a warm welcome from the [Blind Justice] fans."

"Speaking of [Blind Justice]," the interviewer said, leaning in slightly, "You've 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 that's one of those questions I can't really answer without getting in trouble." He gave a playful shrug. "What I can say is that I'm a big fan of the show and the cast, and I'm really excited to be here to support them tonight."

The interviewer's eyes lit up. "So you're not confirming or denying?"

"I'm 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 I'm just here to watch, it's 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 wasn't 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. Wulfric's 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 didn't recognize. Aster smiled, but it was the kind of polite smile that didn't 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 wasn't actually enjoying the conversation. But the smirk quickly faded when the man leaned in closer to Aster, invading his space. Wulfric's jaw tightened.

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

"William, please sit properly. We don't 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.