Chapter 1066 – A Personal Visit

"Are you sure? Heading back to London now is practically delivering yourself to their door. They're all waiting," Matthew Dunlop's voice, cool and steady, came from behind Renly as he browsed the bookshelf. Renly was picking out a book to carry with him—a book he could read while waiting for the flight. The flight itself? He'd be deep asleep, as always.

Renly didn't turn around, but his response was light and teasing, "In their lives, there's little to look forward to. A topic this hot won't cool down for months, maybe even a year."

The implication wasn't lost on Matthew, and the subtle jest was clear—Renly was poking fun at the aristocratic life, where drama and gossip were often the only excitement. Small scandals could be spun into lengthy discussions, while something truly monumental like "Hollywood" would stir the upper crust for ages.

Renly continued, "My news was fresh two months ago, but now it's old news. They're already moving on to new things."

Matthew's lips quirked into a smile, a silent acknowledgment of Renly's remark.

But the current topic of the moment wasn't Renly—it was Edith Hall.

After attending the premiere of Edge of Tomorrow with Chris Evans, Edith had become the center of attention in London's high society. Once seen as a beacon of modern independence, with her charitable work for the United Nations, Edith was suddenly at the center of scandalous whispers. Her relationship with Chris Evans—a public affair that turned heads—had caught the attention of the elite, and the contrast with her previous image was jarring enough to make headlines.

This was a far cry from the image of Prince Harry, who'd long been known for his controversial relationships. Yet, Edith was held in much higher esteem by the aristocracy. Now, this transformation was both shocking and captivating.

Renly's voice shifted, dropping into a more serious tone. "Edith's battle is her own to fight. I'm here to support, but she has to face it on her own terms, just like I did with mine."

Matthew nodded, acknowledging the depth of Renly's words. Edith had been a significant part of Renly's life, and while Renly wasn't exactly pleased with the way the aristocracy treated her, he knew it was her moment to rise or fall on her own merit.

Renly sent Edith a brief text before she boarded the plane: "See you in London in four days." Simple, unadorned, but filled with meaning.

Three days later, Renly was back in London, energized and ready to return to the stage. The Almeida Theater called to him, and he couldn't wait to dive back into the world of live theater. But for now, there was a lingering conversation with Matthew.

"Are you sure you want to go now?" Matthew's voice had a knowing edge. "You know they're all waiting."

Renly chuckled. "I'm not going back to London to deliver myself on a silver platter. But Edith's life… the aristocracy... it's all they have to talk about these days." He gave a sly glance at Matthew, who only shook his head with an exasperated smile.

Matthew was having none of it. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

As the conversation wound down, Nathan, sitting quietly beside them, was increasingly confused. He kept darting his eyes between the two men, trying to make sense of their banter. Finally, unable to hold back, he leaned over to Matthew.

"Matthew, I have to ask. Are you... like Renly? I mean, aristocratic background and all?"

Matthew gave him a measured look, and then with a deadpan expression replied, "No. Renly's a beast. I'm a normal human."

Nathan froze, unsure how to respond. The black lines appeared on his forehead, a visual indicator of the mental struggle to comprehend the exchange.

Renly, sensing Nathan's confusion, added with a grin, "Are you sure you're not 'Beauty and the Beast'?" His quip broke the tension, causing Nathan to laugh awkwardly.

Moments later, Renly handed Nathan the book he'd been holding. "We're ready. Let's go—Andy and Roy should be downstairs by now."

The trip to the airport was imminent. Renly had made arrangements to stay in Matthew's Notting Hill apartment during this time.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Matthew quipped, still doubtful about Renly's ability to take care of himself. "And the Foundation, I'll email you. Don't forget to check your inbox."

Renly gave him a nonchalant nod. "You know me. I'll handle it, just make sure to remind me when I'm back."

With that, Renly headed downstairs to the waiting car, where Andy and Roy stood ready to escort him to the airport.

As they prepared to drive off, a shout echoed across the street. "Renly!" The voice carried through the air, a sharp contrast to the quiet London morning. The Coen brothers—Joel and Ethan—were standing by a dark brown car, looking as though they had been waiting for some time.

Renly paused, a bit surprised. He had no prior contact with them.

"Renly, do you have a moment?" Ethan called out, looking slightly more disheveled than usual, his hair wild and unkempt.

Joel stood half a step behind, a picture of his usual eccentric self.

Renly tilted his head, slightly confused, but smiled. "Sure, but I'm heading to the airport in a bit. I don't have much time."

The Coen brothers exchanged a quick glance, surprised by the timing. They'd assumed Renly would still be in North America promoting Edge of Tomorrow, but clearly, he was already preparing for his next project—his return to the West End.

Renly chuckled, sensing their surprise. "If it's work-related, talk to Andy. He's my agent. We can schedule something later." He turned to Andy, "But if it's personal, feel free to call me. Just don't mind the time zone difference."

Joel scrunched his face, visibly unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, a little disgusted by the lack of formalities.

Renly laughed again, shaking his head at the quirky brothers. "All right, I'll leave you to it. I'm off to the airport."

With that, he turned to leave, offering them a friendly wave before stepping into the car and heading toward the airport, the next chapter of his career—and life—awaiting him.