Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 9

Chapter 9 Celestial Grace 

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Jane let out a startled gasp. “So, your name actually has that kind of meaning? No wonder it sounds all cultured and classy.” 

Ava’s eyes lit up with laughter. A tiny fang peeked out when she smiled. “Hi, Asnio. My grandpa’s the one who named me. I think it sounds really nice too.” 

Asher shook his head and sighed. “See? This is what happens when you don’t read enough. Total airhead.” 

Jane snapped and kicked at him. “Oh, please. You’ve got no right to talk. Don’t act like you ever passed ancient Terran Literature yourself.” 

“That’s still better than scoring an 8, genius. At least I got a 36.” Asher dodged out of the way, throwing her old failure right back at her. 

“Asher!” Jane shouted, fuming. “Christian, get him for me!” 

I may not win the fight, but hey, I’ve got a husband, and I sure know how to call in backup! 

Christian laughed as he ran after Asher, who was darting around the room, yelling dramatically and pulling the most over–the–top expressions. 

“Jane, that’s cheating! You can’t just call Christian when you’re losing!” Asher shouted. 

“Oh yeah? Then, go get yourself a wife, and I’ll have her come beat you up instead!” Jane shot 

back. 

Ava watched the two of them goof around, a soft smile tugging at her lips. She couldn’t help feeling a little envious. 

In my past life, I also had a brother, but we were 16 years apart in age and never this close. 

Asnio chuckled and explained to Ava, “Those two have been messing around like this since they were kids. And even now that they’re grown, they act like little kids. Honestly, Jane and Asher get along better than Jane does with any of her dozen brothers.” 

“You can definitely tell they’re close,” Ava replied. 

“You’re great too. Asher and Jane really like you,” Asnio added. 

The commotion finally settled after Christian grabbed Asher, and Jane gave him a couple of swats before letting him go. 

By then, the room was somewhat disorganized. Asnio had one of the androids tidy it up, then 

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led everyone into the sitting room. 

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“Asnio, Grandpa mentioned he wants to throw Ava a birthday party soon, so I came to see you about designing her dress. Before we left, Mom kept going on and on–saying Ava has to totally steal the spotlight that day. She said she trusts your skills the most. And Mom said she really misses you.” 

Asnio laughed so hard it looked like his grin might stretch from ear to ear. “Margaret actually said that?” 

Ava watched Jane effortlessly fluster Asnio with just a few words and couldn’t help grinning. She had to admit Jane was impressive. If Ava hadn’t known that Margaret never actually said any of that, she might’ve been genuinely touched by the performance. 

Ava leaned over to Asher and whispered, “Jane’s pretty something else, huh?” 

Asher smirked. “You have no idea. If you saw her with her husbands, you’d get goosebumps all 

over.” 

He shuddered exaggeratedly, like some awful memory had just hit him. 

Christian shot him a glare. “That’s what we call marital chemistry, you clueless single mutt. What the hell would you know?” His comeback landed like a clean knockout. 

Asher immediately ducked his head, covering his mouth as his shoulders started shaking from laughter. 

Asnio took Ava’s measurements and asked, “Any particular idea about the dress?” 

“Something simple and elegant,” Ava replied. “I’m not into flashy colors.” 

Jane rolled her eyes. “Ava, you just turned 18. Try something a little brighter, will you? Stop dressing like a middle–aged widow. It’s either black or gray with you.” She sounded utterly exasperated. In her eyes, Ava was like a flower that hadn’t bloomed yet. Ava should’ve been dressing to show it off, not hide it. 

Asnio tilted his head, studying Ava. “You have what I’d call a Celestine elegance. You might like a silk dress inspired by the styles once popular in the Celestian Empire of ancient Terran. If you’re interested, I can introduce you to a silk dress artisan.” 

Jane quickly pulled Ava aside, whispering in her ear, “Don’t even think about it. Those dresses look gorgeous, but they only work on people with that kind of poise. On anyone else, it’s a total 

disaster.” 

Ava’s lips curved slightly, a trace of nostalgia in her eyes, “I’d like to try, Asnio.” 

They were still talking when a group of people burst into the shop, laughing and chatting 

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loudly. 

“Looks like more customers,” Ava said. “Asnio, go ahead. We’ll just browse around.” 

⇨5), 

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Jane peeked outside, then came back, rolling her eyes. “Oh, great. It’s them,” she muttered under her breath. 

It wasn’t hard to tell she didn’t think highly of whoever just walked in. Judging by her tone, things between her and those people were anything but friendly. 

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s take a walk.” 

After stepping out of the reception room, Ava noticed a circle of men outside the shop, all looking like bodyguards. Inside, three young, gorgeous girls were hanging around, and Asnio was deep in conversation with one of them–a girl in a beige coat. 

Ava caught only a glimpse of her profile before quickly looking away. 

“Jane!” A girl in a black leather jacket with smoky eye makeup spotted them immediately and called out. 

“You need something?” Jane’s tone was sharp, not at all friendly. 

Julie Gilmore shot Ava a casual glance and then looked away. “Can’t I call you if I don’t need anything?” she said, her eyes flicking over to Asnio as she spoke. 

The way she looked and moved made Jane’s skin crawl. Anger flared in her instantly. She opened her mouth to respond, but Ava grabbed her hand. “Jane, Asnio has guests right now. Let’s come back later.” 

“This is infuriating! That Julie, such a sycophant. Does she really think I’m scared of her?” 

“They’re still guests. If we start a scene, Asnio’s going to look bad,” Ava reminded her. 

Jane scoffed. “She’s just a simp. Thinks because she’s cozying up to the Clark Family heiress, she’s a princess too? Not even close. Look at who she is! 

“Tylissa Clark has a grandfather who’s a head of state, a heroic father, and a duchess for a mother. Julic? She’s the heiress of some second–rate family and actually acts like she’s the main dish.” 

Her fury was barely contained. 

I swear I could tear that little b*tch’s face off. She actually has the nerve to give Ava and Asnio that sideways look. 

Even though Asnio carried the title Style Sovereign, that was really just a label within the 

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fashion world. His background wasn’t exactly high society. Back in the day, this nobody from a modest family somehow became one of the husbands of the heiress of the Morrens. It shocked many people, and behind the scenes, plenty mocked him for marrying up and living off a wealthy wife. 

Ava remembered the brief glimpse she’d caught earlier. “That girl in the beige coat… that’s Tylissa, right? She looks so gentle.” 

The name Clark. Even I, a bookish country bumpkin who never pays attention to the world outside, know it. Isn’t the current head of state a Clark? I’m honestly surprised. Someone this high up, with real celestial grace, is actually out here shopping at the mall? 

Jane nodded. “Yep, that’s her.” 

Then she leaned close and whispered in Ava’s ear. “Tylissa is such a show–off. You’ll see soon enough. She loves painting herself as this genius type. Honestly, it’s exhausting. Her dad’s a hero and her mom just got promoted to a duchess. They’re anything but low–key. 

“She’s on the news all year long. Remember her birthday a while back? That whole month was basically nonstop Tylissa news. It was insane.” 

“Jane, is it really that hard to admit she’s talented?” Asher interjected. “She published a poetry collection at 12. She writes lyrics, music, poems, essays, novels, plays. Every single thing she touches has some work to show for it. Saying that makes you sound biased.” 

Jane waved him off. “Those poems of hers? ‘Softly I leave, taking nothing but clouds‘ or ‘my black eyes…‘ It’s all so over the top, just melodramatic whining. And her eyes aren’t even that black. Whatever. Honestly, compared to her heroic parents, she’s just… normal.” 

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