The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

WHEN they walked into the manor, Astrid was once again amazed when he saw the interior.

Upon entering through intricately crafted double doors, one would see a spacious foyer boasting polished marble floors and simple yet tasteful tapestries. A grand staircase, carved from rich mahogany, connected the levels of the manor with a subtle majesty. The walls were adorned with portraits and paintings.

The light came from classic chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow on the subtle, muted colors of the interior.

Anyone who stepped foot here could immediately tell that it belonged to a noble family.

As Astrid looked around, he wondered if his mother had stayed here. Considering how she spent the first half of her life as a Grimaldi, maybe she had run around in this manor as a child.

He could have asked his mother when he was informed that the photoshoot location was one of the manors of the Grimaldis. But he chose not to. If his question could bring her pain, then he'd rather not ask at all.

He and Ellis hadn't walked that far yet, when a woman wearing a colorful floral dress approached them. She introduced herself as the creative director, Miss Turner.

"As you know, we will be using this wonderful manor as the location for this photoshoot," she started as they walked. "I've inspected the whole place and there's a lot of areas we can use. Oh, I can already see how beautiful the end result will be. Especially with you as the model."

The creative director chattered away as she led them to the room that would be used as the dressing room.

"Our model is here!" Miss Turner announced to the people inside.

There were two women - one was tall and the other petite - which were most likely the make-up artist and the hairstylist. Since Astrid was the only one who would be the model for this photoshoot, one of each was enough.

"Hello. I'll be in your care for today," Astrid greeted the two with a warm smile.

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The petite woman, who had frozen upon seeing him, suddenly screamed and rushed up to him.

"Oh, my god! I can't believe I'm really seeing Aster right now," she said, her eyes shining brightly. "I'm Janey, by the way. I will be your make-up artist for today. And I'm also a huge Starlight."

She said that last part with a proud smile on her face. Her smile was so infectious that it even brought a genuine smile to Astrid's smile.

"Nice to meet you, Janey," he said. "It's always a pleasure meeting a Starlight."

Although it probably sounded cringey to anyone who's not a fan, that wasn't the case for Astrid. Because just like he said, meeting a fan was always a pleasure. Especially a genuine fan. They're always welcome.

Janey squealed as if she couldn't believe that Astrid just spoke to her.

"Janey, let's not embarrassed ourselves," the tall woman said, pulling Janey back. Then she smiled apologetically at Astrid. "Sorry, she's just too excited."

"It's alright. I don't mind," Astrid said.

Miss Turner clapped her hands to get their attention. "Okay, okay. let's start dolling up our model, shall we? We have a long day ahead of us."

After that, both Janey and the hair stylist started prepping him up.

-----

The first photo was taken at the grand staircase.

Astrid was wearing a bright purple coat that almost looked like a cape because of how it trailed back.

He stood near the top of the grand staircase. His presence as he stood there was nothing short of captivating. He struck a pose that exuded confidence and elegance. With one hand casually resting on the ornate railing, he arched his back slightly, allowing the bright purple coat to cascade elegantly down the stairs, creating a dramatic and visually striking effect.

His makeup was artfully done to enhance his features without overshadowing the bold choice of the coat. A subtle smoky eye accentuated his eyes, framed by long, voluminous lashes. Astrid's lips were adorned with a deep plum shade, complementing the regality of the purple coat.

The makeup artist had skillfully achieved a balance, ensuring Astrid's natural beauty shone through while harmonizing with the overall aesthetic.

The photographer was very happy with this and couldn't help but take more and more photos.

"That's it, that's it! Look to left and raise one of your arms."

After the grand staircase, the next photo would be taken at the library. Of course, Astrid had to change into a new set of clothes. All the clothes in this new collection were bright and colorful, thus the name - Chrome Collection.

The clothes he next changed into were a structured blazer in a bold tangerine hue, paired with tailored culottes in a deep turquoise. They also added a pair of glasses as an accessory, probably to add a touch of 'studiousness' to him.

The whole ensemble might have come off as over the top because of the bold colors. But Astrid made it work and made it look expensive.

After the library, they moved next to the garden.

The clothes he's wearing now was a knee-length, A-line shirt dress in a lively coral blue shade. A belt that looked like green vines was tied around his slim waist. The hem of the dress shirt was also etched with beautiful floral embroidery. Underneath, he was wearing loose-fitting trousers.

They all moved into the garden. Astrid stood at the center of a pink rosebush. As he was waiting for the photographer to signal the start, his gaze landed on a gardener tending on some blue flowers at a distance. It seemed to be roses, but he wasn't sure.

He was about to take back his gaze when the gardener stood up and he was able to see the other's face. When he did, his eyes widened like saucers.

The 'gardener', wearing overalls and even a strawhat, happened to look so much like Duke Grimaldi.

When their gazes met - sapphire blue eyes meeting black ones - Astrid was more than certain at that moment that the other was Anthony Grimaldi.