BEFORE Astrid could even turn around. Someone had already hugged him from behind. The person behind threw his body at him with so much force that it almost felt like a cannon ball had hit him.
He didn't have to fully turn around to see the person behind. He just had to turn his gaze down a bit to know who it was.
What he first saw was a head full of silver hair. The eight-year-old boy raised his head and his sapphire blue eyes twinkled as he looked at him.
"Brother Aster, I missed you!"
Astrid unknowingly smiled. Although he quickly noticed the gaze of the people around focusing on them, and they would most likely recognized, or at least have a clue as to which family he was from, in a minute or so, he didn't care as much as he should have.
He crouched down a bit and gave the boy a quick, tight hug. "It's been too long, Nikki." He let go of the other and he acted like he was measuring his height. "Did you get taller?"
Nicol seemed to be very pleased when he heard that, as evidence of the huge grin that appeared on his face. "Yes. After all, I'm eight years old now."
Ah yes, the practice of adding a year to one's age with the onset of each new year was the way of counting age in this era. Similar to how some Asian countries in his past life did.
But the reason for that was because most of the people in this era were 'born' in a lab. So, technically, no 'birthing' was happening. The day the parents picked up their child in the lab would be the date of their official birthday. It would be the one put on official documents.
That's why celebrating one's birthday was not really a big deal in this era. Although most nobles did do parties and stuff, it's not really for the sake of celebrating one's birth but rather just another reason to show their family's opulence to other noble families.
The funny thing was, he's not from some collateral branch, but a direct like. The duke being his grandfather and all.
He's not blaming Nicol though. He's a kid. He's just excited to see a big brother he liked very much. Besides, how could he even think how his words could potentially affect him?
Although he couldn't help but remember that one instance during the launch party of EMMA's new perfume line. This situation was almost a copy of that.
Before he could think of how to do some damage control, a voice that's not too loud and yet still carried authority echoed in the manor's lobby.
"Nikki, you should not hound Mr. Townsend. He's still at work."
Astrid turned his gaze to the duke. The other was no longer wearing the overalls he was wearing earlier, but rather a comfortable, but still obviously high-end shirt and slacks. With his silver hair not styled, he didn't look much like a grandfather of three.
Sometimes, Astrid couldn't really get used to how people in this era who were the same age as the other could look like they were in their early 30s or something. It's like being in a twilight zone or something.
The duke walked in their direction. The staffs who were still loitering around immediately felt intimidated as he walked passed by them. Even if they hadn't seen a picture of him online, with how he carried himself and that intimidating atmosphere, surely they would recognize who he was.
Seeing as how they didn't know whether to bow or what, it's already clear that they had recognized him.
"My apologies, Mr. Townsend, for my grandson's overenthusiasm. You know how much he likes you," the duke said. "That last time at the launch party, I wasn't able to properly thank you. It's a good thing that Cassius arranged this. Now I can finally say thank you." He looked straight at Astrid, his eyes softening.
"Thank you for saving my grandson."