Chapter 145: How do you...?

SOON, they arrived at their destination.  The aircraft slowly descended on the building's rooftop parking space.  Every building in this era was required to have a rooftop parking space where private aircrafts and small flying cars could hover on them and let their passengers get down. 

The Townsend twins had already come down from the aircraft.  Of course, Wulfric followed behind.  While the other two – Hildred and Edmund – remained in the aircraft.

Hildred was actually wondering at the moment how the twins' parents, particularly their mother, agreed for the two to study here at the capital.  Not only that, but take on careers that were basically high-profile.

If his guess was correct and the twins' mother was indeed that Emmaline Grimaldi, who was presumed to be dead, then shouldn't she be more wary that having her kids out here could reveal that she was still alive.  If that were to happen, then a storm would definitely blow into the Empire.  Especially if the Grimaldis actually helped in concealing that.

Considering that she had managed to hide this long and even make her own family in the process, it would be weird if the Grimaldis had no hands in it.  If that was really the case and it was revealed to all, the Lancasters would surely have a fit.  No, that probably was an understatement. 

After all, the main reason why the Lancasters were punished by the former Emperor was because of the supposed-to-be death of Emmaline Grimaldi.  In short, she was basically the reason why the Lancasters' prestige had become what it was today.

It would definitely be an open war between the two families.

And yet, she still agreed on having her children go here where they could experience danger at any time.  In the short time that he was in the Townsend's house, Hildred could see that Emmaline deeply cared for her children.  So, it was a mystery for him as to why she approved of her children's choice of career.

But then again, she might be the type of parent who respected their children's decision.  The possibility of that was very high if one considered the strict upbringing nobles like her.  Especially a family like the Grimaldis.  That kind of strictness was probably one of the reasons why she would rather cut off her ties to her family and live a new life with a new identity than to continue living as the Grimaldi princess.

Hildred even had a hunch that her engagement with Cecil Lancaster was what broke the camel's back.  To break off that engagement, she probably did her best to look for dirt on Cecil Lancaster but ended up finding out that the other was actually a sociopathic serial killer.

He could already imagine the scenarios that actually led to the things that had happened between the two families.  No matter if his imagination was correct or not, there was no question that Emmaline Grimaldi was a vey tenacious woman. 

If such a person was confident enough to let her children enter the eyes of the public despite the problems that it might bring, then the legal documents proving the identity of those twins must be foolproof.  Even if someone did a background check on them, it wouldn't lead to the 'dead' princess of the Grimaldis. 

No matter if that was the case or not, it's really not Hildred's problem.  But he also wouldn't go telling everyone what he just discovered.  He's not so bored to the point that he would do that. 

Should he mention this Wulf just in case?  He smiled wryly thinking of the other's reaction towards Astrid.  Hildred was already lucky enough that the other didn't beat him up for not mentioning to him that he saw a post about the teenager on [Cyberspace]. 

If he hid such an important information from Wulf for the second time, that guy would definitely throw him on an abandoned planet.  Not only that, he would also do so without giving him any supplies and materials that could help him fend for himself.  He didn't want such a dark future. 

"Hil, why do you think the General is so concerned about Astrid?" Edmund suddenly asked, cutting off Hildred's current train of thought.

Hildred glanced this oblivious baby and couldn't help but flick the other's forehead.  "Once you find out why I love to tease you, then you would also know the answer to your question."

Edmund touched his forehead and just felt confused.  What Hildred said was like giving him a very an unsolvable mathematical problem.  Because ever since they met, he still couldn't understand why the other loved to tease him.

At this time, outside the aircraft…

"Thank you for sending us back here, Your Highness.  You can leave now," Reas said.

The corner of Wulfric's eye twitched when he heard such a disrespectful speech.  Even the way the brat said 'Your Highness' was like he was biting onto something.  But he ignored that and just focused on Aster.

"Can I visit your place?" he asked tentatively.

When he first saw the building, his first thought was 'how old', then after that was 'how small', and then lastly, 'should Aster really stay in such a place?'.  That's why he wanted to see if the apartment unit was at least secured and adequate for Aster to live in.  If not, maybe he could suggest a much better place?

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but you can't."

Aster's answer shocked Wulfric.  "But- but I thought you'd let me eat your homecooked meal?"

Astrid tilted his head and looked at Wulfric innocently.  "If I remember correctly, I didn't promise that to Your Highness."  He almost laughed when he saw the other's shocked expression, almost as if he was hit by lightning or something.  "Your Highness and I are not really in a relationship where I would want to cook for you."

"Then- then what kind of relationship should it be?" Wulfric asked, not even noticing the confusion in his tone.

"Hmm… friends, perhaps?" Astrid said and smiled.  "Well, then, good night, Your Highness and be careful on your way back."

He turned around and pulled his brother with him.  Reas glanced back at the prince and sneered at the other before walking in sync with Astrid.

Wulfric didn't move until the two were gone from his sight.  He then walked back to the aircraft.  Then he asked his two captains;

"How do you become friends with someone?"