The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

She truly hadn't expected this—a confession so raw and honest. It unsettled her in ways she didn't want to admit. She had always thought of the prince as arrogant, reckless, and far too sure of himself. But now, listening to him speak about Astrid, she saw a side of him that made her uneasy, because she couldn't just dismiss it.

The prince wasn't the man she had imagined, or at least, not entirely. He seemed… different when he spoke about her son. It was clear he cared, more deeply than she'd thought possible for someone like him. As much as she wanted to doubt his words, to hold on to the belief that he wasn't good enough for Astrid, she couldn't dismiss what he had said.

Nor could she ignore how his expression only softened when he spoke about her son, a clear shift that wasn't there when he talked about anything else—it didn't seem forced in the slightest.

Emmy didn't want to believe it. She had been so ready to reject him, to protect Astrid from someone she was sure would only hurt him. But the more she listened, the harder it became to hold on to that certainty. This guy wasn't playing a part; no, he was laying himself bare, showing a vulnerability that surprised her.

A part of her still wanted to resist, to tell him that he'd never be good enough for her son. But, as much as it pained her to admit it, she could see that he did love Astrid. The stubbornness in her chest twisted with reluctance, but she couldn't deny it any longer.

With a long, drawn-out sigh, Emmy leaned back slightly, crossing her arms as if bracing herself for what she was about to say.

"Fine," she said, her tone grudging yet firm. "I can see you care about him. I don't like it, and I'm still not convinced you're the right one for Astrid. But… I can't ignore what you just said. Just know this—if you ever hurt my son, prince or not, you'll have to answer to me."

Wulfric secretly let out a quiet sigh of relief, feeling the tension in his chest finally begin to ease. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He had expected outright rejection, prepared himself for Emmy to shut him down entirely. But her begrudging acceptance, while not ideal, was a relief. It wasn't full approval, but it was something—and that was enough for now.

He knew this was only the beginning. He still had a long way to go to earn the trust of both of Aster's parents. But he was determined to prove that the chance they had given him today wouldn't be wasted. He would work hard, not just to show them he was worthy of their son, but to show them that he was capable of the kind of change Aster had already started to bring out in him.

He stood up and gave a respectful bow toward Aster's mother. "Thank you, ma'am. I promise I won't give you a reason to regret this."

Emmy raised an eyebrow. Ma'am? This didn't sound like the same guy who had boldly called her "mother-in-law" earlier. Still, she'd much rather be addressed as "ma'am" than "aunt" by him. He had a long way to go before she'd ever be comfortable with that.

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Unbeknownst to them—or perhaps not entirely—there were others inside the house, quietly listening in on their conversation.

It wasn't exactly intentional. All four men inside the house possessed heightened physical senses, and with the back garden not too far from the house, it was impossible for them not to overhear Emmy and the prince's conversation. So, of course, they heard everything.

It was doubtful that Emmy didn't know they could hear. Choosing the back garden for this conversation almost seemed intentional, as if she wanted them to listen in. And the prince? He was certainly aware they were overhearing every word. The way he spoke, with such ease and confidence, without the slightest hint of hesitation, made it clear he wasn't embarrassed at all.

In fact, knowing his personality, he was probably proud—proud for everyone to know exactly how he felt about Astrid.

Which made them feel very complicated. Especially after hearing Emmy's final verdict on the matter.

"Brother-in-law, are you... also fine with this?" Casey asked Gage.

After Emmy left the study, they remained behind, quietly processing the conversation they had just had with her. It was still hard for them to believe they were being given another chance to be part of her life. Grateful and relieved, they were simply thankful for the opportunity to make things right.

A few minutes later, Emmy's husband entered the study. The initial greeting was awkward. With both his father and brother standing stiffly, Casey realized he had no choice but to take the initiative and strike up a conversation with his brother-in-law.

Casey had never met Gage before, so he wasn't sure what to expect from him. But during breakfast, he got the impression that Gage was fairly easygoing. It was also clear that he was a devoted husband and father—the kind of man who would spoil his wife and children senseless.

That was all that mattered to Casey, because it showed that his sister was truly loved and cared for.

He had hoped to talk more with Gage, but when Emmy and the prince began their conversation, all four of them remained silent, deciding to quietly listen instead.

And that brought them to Casey's question.

Gage shrugged. "'Fine' is not exactly the right word to describe it. More like both Emmy and I are probably in the 'wait and see' stage. If the prince proves his sincerity through his actions, then that's great. But if he fails and ends up hurting Aster... well, there's always the option of assassination."

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