Another Star Is Born

The last rays of the setting sun sank behind the distant mountains, and tiny stars began to speckle the deep blue sky.

The villa's garden unfurled in the dusk. Its broad lawn was like a vast expanse of dark green velvet, spread quietly beneath the embrace of oak trees and rose bushes.

The evening breeze stirred, carrying the sweet scent of soil and night-blooming jasmine. Dew had quietly formed on the tips of the grass, glimmering faintly in the deepening night.

After dinner, the grounds, which had been quiet until then, suddenly grew lively.

After enjoying a feast of crispy roast pork knuckles, Reneg and her team got to work.

They brought out the machines covered in velvet, along with the precious film reel.

Bartosch carefully hung a white screen between two oak trees. It billowed gently in the breeze, like a cloud suspended in the darkness.

Curis and Brecht adjusted the projector. Its gears and lenses gleamed with a cold sheen in the light.

Reneg took a deep breath and opened the metal film canister. Inside lay fifteen minutes of dreams, the culmination of months of hard work.

Gradually, people began gathering in the garden.

After Frederick notified them, the villa's servants set aside their chores, while the guards relaxed their stern expressions for a while. Some began moving chairs and tables; others gathered in small groups along the edge of the lawn.

Frederick arrived in the garden with Maria, Susan, and Lilu. Everyone was dressed in smart casual clothes, chatting and laughing as they glanced toward the screen from time to time.

Everyone waited in silence. An air of curiosity and anticipation spread wordlessly through the crowd.

Tony brought over several wicker chairs and placed them in the best spot. Someone else carried over a table and set