Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Aster had read one-third part of the book from Rosalie. He thought Empress was such a menacing monster who had layers and layers of deceitful traps. After he read the notes, Aster concluded that it was only in his head.

Empress Cecilia was not a deceitful person, nor a woman with an extraordinary mind. She was just a mindless beast with power. Aster read some part of the notes and noticed some of her supposed traps.

'I will make that useless kid starve until he tries stealing food from the kitchen, then I can punish him again!'

'That kid, I don't understand how he could be in time for breakfast. Do you think I need to ask your father to tighten the security around his room, Rosalie?'

'We will let a girl seduce him, he's still green. He eventually will succumb to debauchery! Then we can toss him to the stake? Don't you think it's good, Rosalie?'

Aster sighed. He really overestimated Aunt Empress. Maybe because she always looked villainous, that it made Aster tremble.

Now that he understood the way of how Aunt Empress was thinking, her threat was no more than a bully. Aster continued reading until he read someone knock on the door.

It was still too early for his morning basin and food. Aster hid the book and silently walked to the door. He hesitated, but he was sure that it was not an assassin. Because there were two guards outside and honestly, there was no use of assassinating someone like him

Aster gulped and opened the door. He saw a slender, young, beautiful maid who looked worried. She brought a warm basin and a tray of food, similar to what he usually got from Rosalie.

"Who are you?" Aster asked coldly. He furrowed his brows, since the one in front of him was not the regular maid.

"T--this servant was worried that Young Lord might die from cold and starvation. This servant brought a warm basin and food for Young Lord," she said. Her body fidgeted, as if she was nervous.

"Who ordered you to hand these to me?"

The maid was stunned, as she didn't expect the other person would ask about it. She thought that this kid was a gullible kid that would appreciate any kind gesture given to him.

But this young lord, he wasn't even slightly moved. In fact, his eyes grew colder as she tried to persuade him.

"This--This is this servant's own intention," she meekly answered, "This servant just… didn't want Young Lord to die…"

Two tints of reddish color gradually appeared on her cheek, "This servant had long admired Young Lord."

She looked shy and uncomfortable. Her body kept fidgeting, but it only made her cuter. The face of this maid was indeed pure and beautiful, the type that one would use and discard.

But Aster was not unfamiliar with this kind of trap. Back when he lived in the duchy, this trap was almost like a daily occurrence for him.

Aster presented an amiable smile and said, "I see, then please go in."

The maid went inside the room happily. She put a warm basin under Aster's feet and handed two warm towels. Then, she opened the tray, it was plenty of food, even more than the usual food from Rosalie. Aster stared at the tray, it was indeed a nice gesture if this wasn't a trap set by Aunt Empress.

Aster still smiled, he glanced at the meek maid and said, "This is a kind gesture of you, what do you want for reward?"

"This servant doesn't want anything, this servant just admires Young Lord…"

'Did Aunt Empress really think I would die against this lame trap? I could see that all of these foods are poisoned.'

'Then, as you wish, I will play along.'

"I see, then, would you mind joining me?" Aster used a fork to fiddle with the diced fruits. He sat solemnly while staring at the maid with his deep eyes.

"H--how could I?" the servant was taken aback. She stepped back, but Aster suddenly gripped her wrist with his left hand.

"I don't have a powerful position here. This is the least I could do to pay your kindness," Aster grip lightened as the servant finally comply with his request. She sat besides the Young Lord of the wealthiest Grand Duchy and the sight of this dignified Young Lord sitting and staring at her had entranced her.

"Open your mouth," Aster picked one diced watermelon with a fork and offered it to the servant.

"Y--Young Lord, this is too much!" the maid blushed red. She could feel her blood rising and her face hotter.

"This is just a kind gesture, this fruit looks fresh too, unless… these foods are poisoned," Aster's smile dissipated and he furrowed his brows.

"Young Lord! This servant doesn't have a bad intention towards Young Lord," she cried.

Aster sneered, "Then, why don't you eat this?"

"This--this servant is just nervous, for Young Lord to make such gestures towards this lowly servant…"

'Hmph, let's see how long you would pretend until you're forced to eat poison.'

"Then, don't see me as a young lord. See me as someone who adored you and your cute face," Aster paused, and then continued, "Prove it, that this food isn't poisoned. I will grant you anything you want as the sign of my gratitude after you eat this."

The servant stared at the table full of fresh food. According to the order, what she needed to do was to seduce this kid and climb his bed. Someone had already waited somewhere to work as a 'witness' and her job would be done.

Then, the food should definitely be safe. She put a hurt expression, took one diced fruit and exclaimed confidently, "This servant is loyal and has admired Young Lord since the beginning, if this servant doesn't intend to harm Young Lord, this servant requests… Young Lord's willingness to spend the night with this servant."

"I swore under the name of Golden blood, your wish is my will," Aster replied with the oath of Golden Camellia. This was a sacred oath that would bind someone until she or he fulfilled the wish.

She ate the fruit and swallowed it. One second… two seconds… no reaction. Even after thirty seconds, still no reaction.

Aster was stunned. This servant really didn't intend to harm him, she would drop dead immediately if the food was poisoned.

'Is this… not a trap?'

'This servant was really just worried about me?'

'But I already accepted her request.'

Aster felt blood drained out of his body. He could feel the chill of his own mistake. If this servant really climbed his bed, someone would definitely act as a witness to such debauchery somewhere around here.

"Young lord, as you see, I--"

The servant had just opened her mouth until suddenly, she was unable to breathe. She coughed violently. She fell from the chair while her cough was getting more and more severe.

The servant, who was actually an assassin, finally understood that someone had poisoned the food before she brought it to Young Lord. This poison was the type of poison that would infect the throat, making the victim cough violently and unable to breath. It was however, a simple poison, as a glass of warm water would dissolve the poison from her throat.

She tried to reach a glass of warm water from the table. Aster who had realized what happened snatched the glass.

"Y--Young… lord… I beg… you…" the servant's voice slowly getting hoarse and she coughed uncontrollably until she vomited blood.

'No, she can't live, she can't...'

Aster breaths grew stiffer, as he watched the servant vomit more blood. Her face was blue and finally, she succumbed to her death. She lay motionless while blood leaked out of her mouth.

"I… I didn't kill… she died of her own…"

"I didn't kill someone, it's her… it's her own fault, she tried to poison me!"

Aster mind was in chaos, as he didn't understand anything. This was the first time he indirectly killed someone under his control. He trembled and the glass of warm water in his hand slipped and broke to small pieces on the cold floor.

'Why would she eat her own poisoned food?'

'Did she not know that the food is poisoned?'

'Is this a suicide?'

'She killed herself, right? I didn't do anything wrong, I'm innocent here!'

'In fact, she intends to poison me, I am the victim!'

Aster sat in silence. His eyes still glued to this dead girl in front of him. He realized that he could save this girl with just a glass of warm water, but his instinct told him that by letting this girl live, she would stir up more trouble for him.

"I am innocent…"