Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Aster saw those eyes wildly inspecting his body, from the strand of his hair up to the point of his shoes. He saw some of their chest undulating, as if they were seeing something very desirable, very tempting. Aster could see those hungry eyes.

It disgusted him.

'Unlike my servant, these eyes… they are nasty, blasphemous.' Aster remembered the eyes of his servant. That pure eyes staring at him with awe and worship, no such thing as disgusting desire flashed in his eyes, not even once. Ramuja was the only one he would allow staring at him indefinitely.

A flash of disgust clearly shown in his face, as his light smile almost disappeared, turned into disdain. Rosalie noticed and immediately nudged his hand.

Aster awkwardly kept his light smile and walked to the nearest table to eat a cake. Those eyes still stared at him until Aster cleared his throat and immediately wakened some of the dazed eyes.

People shifted their gaze, but the still stole glances here and there to him. Aster was extremely uncomfortable, but he was here for a mission. He bore his uneasiness and ate as if there was nothing bugging him.

Now, his objective was to seduce that guy, Lord Gamasiel who was the current king of vassal kingdom Rhea. Aster searched the crowd until he saw him standing while eating a snack. He absentmindedly eating his croissant, but his eyes were focused solely on Aster.

When their gazes met, Lord Gamasiel nervously shifted his gaze. Aster gritted his teeth, he was very reluctant to approach him, but this was for his mission. Aster walked towards his table and stood in front of Lord Gamasiel.

Gamasiel was taken aback, he was imagining this cold beauty kissing him with that rosy lip as his hands slipped through his loose shirt and then pleasurably ravishing him. But the real person approached him, right in front of his eyes.

Gamasiel was unable to move away as this beauty smiled at him and said, "Pardon me," he sidestepped Gamasiel and took a croissant on the feast table behind him.

Gamasiel attentively saw this man, Aster Di Arlingdon, the only son of Grand Duchy of Stormhill, the richest house in the empire. He inherited his mother's beauty, but was even better than his mother. He exuded cold aura that unconsciously drew people in, unable to touch him, but admiring his god-sculpted face.

Now, he stood besides Gamasiel, mindlessly eating a croissant.

Gamasiel hadn't move from his position and his eyes absentmindedly staring at Aster, soon, he was almost unable to resist his desire.

Aster opened his lips and suddenly initiated a conversation with him, "Lord Gamasiel, the King of Rhea, right? I believe we've met in an event, pardon my impertinence for ignoring you before," Aster said.

Gamasiel was flabbergasted, this rich young lord actually talked to him, he immediately answered, "Yes, Young Lord Aster from Grand Duchy Stormhill. It is no problem, as Young Lord must've been busy with other guests before."

"Oh, don't call me Young Lord. You're a king and I'm just a young man. Please call me Aster…" Aster said with a smile.

"If that doesn't trouble you, then, pleasure to meet you… Aster," Gamasiel swallowed his saliva when he said that name. He was allowed to call him with his personal name, wasn't that the best thing that could happen for now?

Gamasiel already imagined having this beauty under his strong body, crying and begging for mercy while he ravished him, such undeniable pleasure that almost made him unable to think.

Kingdom of Rhea was actually a prosperous kingdom under Empire of Golden Camellia and with the support of the second richest merchant in the empire, Claudia's family, his kingdom wasn't poor at all.

But this wasn't about gold. This untouchable young man in front of him, was the most desirable man in the entire empire. The great golden camellia blood ran in his vein, he was also the richest since he was the only son of Grand Duchy Stormhill, and the most important, his beauty.

Even if this man didn't have those backgrounds behind him, his beauty was enough to shake the empire. Even if he was a man, his beauty transcended gender, as almost every men and women wanted him.

Now, to be able to speak casually to him, in this very close position with their shoulder almost brushing, made Gamasiel felt extremely grateful already.

"Lord Gamasiel is not with your spouse?" Aster asked. "Lady Claudia seems to be lonely there." He said while pointing a spot with his chin. Gamasiel shifted his gaze to that spot and saw Claudia, his current lover sitting quietly with her eyes casted to the ground.

Lord Gamasiel wasn't in love with this girl, but the support from her family really helped his kingdom. Gamasiel frowned, this girl wasn't beautiful, but she wasn't unbearable either. But now, he felt that Claudia was a thorn in his eyes.

Aster smiled, "Though I have interest to know Lord Gamasiel better, isn't it better for you to be on her side? I can talk to other people here…"

"No! I--She… she wouldn't mind," Gamasiel replied. He wanted to make Aster stay.

"Oh... then, does Lord Gamasiel mind if we have a small talk somewhere? Maybe walking to the palace garden?"

"… I'd love to."

"But you can't go with me together… some people might… think that I represented my house to support your kingdom. Can you follow me after maybe… ten minutes?" Aster asked softly.

Gamasiel understood that every relation and talks were very important to their respective houses, Aster might bore some resentment for being close to a king like him. Thus, Gamasiel nodded.

Aster left the feast first, then ten minutes later, Gamasiel followed Aster's path to the palace garden.

Aster arrived in the palace garden. The garden was clean, but lacked careful arrangement like in his mansion. There was Rosalie's maid waiting him there.

"What is the plan?" Aster asked coldly. He was extremely disgusted by Gamasiel's hungry eyes, his gesture trying to eat him and the fact that he betrayed his own lover, Claudia. What a waste of a king.

However, he had to bear it, this was the only way that Aster could deter Empress' power slowly.

"Young Lord just needs to seduce Lord Gamasiel to embrace you forcefully, as if Young Lord is reluctant to him. There will be Miss Claudia and some other people witnessing the act, people will form an opinion that Lord Gamasiel is trying to harass the heir of Grand Duchy Stormhill."

Aster felt something was familiar in this scenario… garden… witness… scandal.

'This… is similar to my scandal with Charles and Ramuja…'

"Who make this setup? Rosalie? Charles?" Aster asked.

"This plan was initiated by Crown Prince Charles, and Golden Princess followed this idea…"

'Charles…' Aster's face became really ugly for a second, then returned back normal.

'If Charles really initiate this, then did he also created that scandal with him, Ramuja and me in autumn banquet? He… set that scandal to trap me here?'

Aster was full of question. Partly, he had doubt if Charles really set his scandal, but if he was the one who initiated this, then Aster had the right to be suspicious.

'I have no proof that Charles was the one who set me up, but I need to be careful.' Aster said in his heart.

"Lord Gamasiel is near, this servant will leave now," Rosalie's maid said.

Aster resumed his sweet face and after a while, Gamasiel really came to the garden with him. Aster's eye observed the surrounding, this garden is a bit dark, but if he saw clearly, he could see Miss Claudia with other two noble ladies hiding not far from them.

Gamasiel wasn't aware of his surrounding, all he could see was beautiful Aster smiling at him.

"Lord Gamasiel really came, I am honored." Aster said amiably. His face shined under the moonlight.

Lord Gamasiel was dazed, he absentmindedly nodded.

Aster talked about random things for a while until he felt that the situation was suitable enough for Miss Claudia to be suspicious, he then said to Gamasiel softly, so that Claudia wouldn't hear him talking. "Gamasiel, Aster is a bit… cold."

"Cold?" Gamasiel immediately caught the bait and drew near Aster closer. "Where do you feel cold? Is it here… or here?" Gamasiel slowly touched Aster's face and then his chest.

Aster took a step back. "I felt cold everywhere… but this is inappropriate..."

Gamasiel was enchanted with such beauty, he saw Aster's reluctant face as an invitation. "I could help you warm up… from here… all the way down here…" Gamasiel boldly touched Aster's neckline, his chest, stomach before he could touch the lower part of his body, Aster take another step back.

"Lord Gamasiel… this… you have a lover," Aster warned him.

"Oh! Screw Claudia!" Gamasiel roared, as he was getting impatient. He stretched his big hands and embraced Aster deep in his chest. Aster could feel his wide chest, hot skin and wild heartbeat of Gamasiel. He frowned inside Gamasiel's embrace, it was extremely disgusting.

Gamasiel leaned his lips closer to Aster's ear and whispered, "See, I am warm, aren't it?"

Aster nodded and softly said. "You are. Thank you."

"Thank you?" Gamasiel asked.

"Yes, thank you for helping me. Lord Gamasiel," Aster smiled again. Gamasiel's breath was disordered as he tried to kiss Aster's nape, but Aster suddenly struggled hard.

Gamasiel reluctantly let him go.

"I can't! This is inappropriate! I'm sorry!" Aster said in louder voice, so that Miss Claudia could hear him.

Aster ran away from Gamasiel and returned back to the feast.

Gamasiel stood in the garden, dazed. But that sweet aroma that supple skin, that beauty, it was unfortunate that he couldn't take Aster now. But it was understandable, since they knew each other just now. Gamasiel was satisfied.

"I could take him under me soon." Gamasiel said.

Claudia just stood there, witnessed everything. She felt like the world was crumbling in front of her.

Her beloved Lord Gamasiel, the handsome, strong Gamasiel she always worshipped, trying to harass the weak Young Lord of Grand Duchy Stormhill.

She rarely felt this, but her heart was blazed with anger.