SWNOVELXO Chapter 686: HE HAD TO HAVE SOME SELF-RESPECT
WULFRIC found himself staring at the photos of Aster again. Somehow, Aster looked even more breathtaking than before—something Wulfric hadn't thought possible. A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips as he remembered pre-ordering every physical copy of the magazine. Just for this edition, of course. The thought of having them, of holding something tangible that captured Aster like this, was too good to pass up.
These days, publications rarely released physical copies of books or magazines. Everything had shifted to digital, and [Vivique] was no exception. They only ever printed 100 physical copies per edition, making them rare and highly sought after. This time was no different. Wulfric, determined to have every single one, had made sure to secure all 100 copies. It was excessive, perhaps, but when it came to Aster, he didn't believe in half-measures.
Besides, Wulfric couldn't shake the thought that there might be unsavory people out there who'd buy a physical copy and do who-knows-what while staring at Aster's photos. The idea made his stomach twist. While he couldn't do anything about the digital copies, he could at least ensure that every physical copy was in his possession. It was a small measure, but it gave him some peace of mind, knowing that no one else could misuse them.
At least, unlike some perverted bastard, he wouldn't do anything disrespectful with his physical copies. Well, maybe he would do something—he wasn't a saint, after all—but even then, he was confident he wouldn't sully them. The copies were precious to him, not just because they held Aster's image, but because they were a tangible piece of the man he adored. He'd keep them pristine, even if his thoughts occasionally wandered to somewhere not so innocent.
Anyway, with so much happening on Aster's side—the release of [Serendipitous Summer], the [Vivique] feature, and the upcoming EMMA collection—Wulfric felt compelled to do more to help promote him. He'd already instructed Samuel to organize viewing parties for the movie's release alongside the rest of the fan club, but it didn't feel like enough. Wulfric's mind raced, searching for ways to amplify the buzz, to ensure Aster's projects got the attention they deserved.
He considered the idea of putting up billboards across the Empire to promote Aster's projects, but he quickly dismissed it. He was certain Cassius Grimaldi, being the owner of EMMA, would already be covering that angle. If Wulfric did the same, it would be overkill. Instead of helping Aster, it might backfire, drawing unnecessary attention or even criticism.
As he continued pondering, an idea suddenly came to his mind.
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"What did you just say?" Casey's voice sharpened, rising slightly as he leaned forward. "Can you repeat that?"
His secretary hesitated, swallowing hard before answering. "All the physical copies of this month's edition of [Vivique]… they've already sold out. And it's all to one person."
Casey's eyes widened in disbelief. So, he was not having auditory hallucination. "Are you telling me a single person pre-ordered all the physical copies of [Vivique]?"
His secretary nodded. "Yes, milord."
"Who is it?" he finally asked after he managed to process that information.
His secretary quickly scrolled through his Terminal, his fingers moving swiftly as he searched for the name. "His name is White Wolf, milord. From what I've gathered, he's… a very ardent fan of Mr. Townsend."
White Wolf? Casey's frown deepened, a faint sense of irritation bubbling up. Why did that name bother him so much? It wasn't fear or danger he felt—just plain dislike. If this White Wolf was who he thought it was, then he really didn't like the guy. The thought alone was enough to make his mood sour.
"You said he's an ardent fan, right?" Casey asked. "How do you know that?"
The secretary cleared his throat. "Well, milord, Mr. Wolf has been… very vocal about his admiration for Mr. Townsend. Especially on [Cyberspace]."
Casey frowned. "How vocal are we talking?"
The secretary hesitated, then said carefully, "I think it's better for milord to see it for himself. His handle is @astridsnumber1fan."
That handle name didn't sit right with Casey. Part of him almost wished he'd thought to create an alternate account and claim the name for himself—though, admittedly, that was beside the point. If it were him using it, that would be one thing; after all, he was Astrid's uncle. But some random stranger? That didn't sit well with him at all.
He could only blame his lack of activity on [Cyberspace] for this. He'd never been fond of the platform, not after the whole Lancaster fiasco and Emmy's supposed death over two decades ago. Back then, their family had become the center of relentless gossip, and he'd hated every ignorant comment, every baseless rumor spread by strangers who knew nothing.
Since then, he'd mostly avoided the platform, not out of some grand vow, but simply because he didn't care for it. He'd log in occasionally, but never to dive into trends or engage with the noise—it wasn't his style. [Cyberspace] wasn't a place he actively participated in, and even now, the only reason he'd started paying any attention to it at all was because of Astrid.
Casey opened his Terminal and logged into [Cyberspace], typing in the handle @astridsnumber1fan. The profile loaded, and he immediately noticed the picture—a small wolf hugging a star. Below the name was the bio: [I'm Aster's number one fan. The number one Starlight in his heart.] Casey frowned. Was this guy serious? The level of delusion was almost impressive. But as he scrolled through the posts, his frown only deepened. Each one was more… intense than the last.
Wasn't this guy just an obsessive fan?!
Once again, Casey's mind circled back to his earlier guess. He could almost picture that annoying prince posting all of this. The thought made him grimace.
But then he shook his head. Surely not, right? No matter how unhinged the guy was, he had to have some self-respect. There was no way he'd stoop to something like this.
…Right?