Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Aster's grin disappeared after he left Empress' chamber. He went his room again and rushed to the bathroom. He washed his hand clean with soap. He frowned, even after he washed his hand, he couldn't get off the disgust staining his hand.

'Even gripping Empress' neck disgusts me. I could feel her wrinkly skin in my hand. Disgusting. Disgusting.' Aster frowned.

After he cleaned himself, he took the guard medal in his pocket and inspected it. It was a simple gold plated medal shaped like a shield. It was the official guard medal. There are only important ministers and few royals that could have guard medal. Because with this medal, you could take three people as your subordinate forcefully, even without their willingness.

If the guards you took betrayed you, then you have the right to execute them as their life was already in your hand.

However, guard medal couldn't forcefully make someone in high position, like another royal, general, or military commander under your rule. It was only usable for lower ranked officials, guards or regular citizen.

Aster smiled. He may know nothing about this palace. The Empress must have thought that he would take regular guards around the palace like an idiot.

'Let's see who will win.'

Aster's smile turned into a grin. He pocketed the guard medal again and headed to Rosalie's pavilion.

"I want to see Rosalie." Aster said. He wasn't as humble as before. Golden Princess' guards that guarded the door stared at each other before nodded. They opened the door for Aster.

"Oh, cousin. You hadn't said anything about visiting me," Rosalie greeted him. She had her eyes darted somewhere else, as she felt too guilty to face Aster. She was indirectly the one that set up the meeting between Aster and Lady Merse in the garden anyway.

"I am about to ask you a question." Aster said. He sat before Rosalie let him. Rosalie followed and sat facing him.

Aster took the guard medal from his pocket, "Tell me, whom will you recommend for me to use this medal?"

Rosalie gasped. She obviously knew what it was, because she had one herself. But Aster wasn't the royal family, and Grand Duchy Stormhill was already banned to have military power by late Emperor Grandpa's edict.

"H--How did you get this?" Rosalie hurriedly asked.

"That is not the answer I want," Aster replied short.

Rosalie was again, flabbergasted. She never saw Aster acted like this. He was always a bit naïve and soft. Now he looked very harsh and condescending, as if his personality had changed overnight.

She observed Aster's eyes and realized that he almost lost the golden circle on his pupil. It was still there, but faintly.

"Aster, I am sorry for--"

"I just need you to recommend me few people worthy as my subordinates. Nothing more, nothing less," Aster cut her words.

Rosalie sighed. He was probably very mad because of that incident with Lady Merse. Rosalie could only nodded and took a paper and pen.

She was about to write real recommendation with few special hidden people acted as regular guards and maids. But she decided not to write them.

'If Aster have real power to submit these important people, it would be troublesome. No, it would be disastrous. He might misuse them and got caught. I don't want to get dragged down too.' Rosalie thought.

If she wrote real recommendation, Aster might get caught easily. She secretly glanced at her cousin who stared at her seriously. Rosalie couldn't lie that Aster did have intimidating aura, something new for him.

But she couldn't trust Aster for these people. They were far too precious for a kid like Aster to play around with. Even she might get trouble if she was revealed to be the one who recommended these hidden guards.

Thus, Rosalie wrote fake one. She recommended list of servants, officials and guards that was either ordinary or will pose no threat for her. Rosalie glanced at Aster once more.

'This will be okay. Today Aster might look scary, but it is just because he is mad at me.' Rosalie reassured herself. She gave the list to Aster.

"These people are the one I recommend. They are quite good and will help you later." Rosalie said.

Aster nodded and thanked her. Before he left, he abruptly said to Rosalie. "Rosalie, I will meet Lady Merse tomorrow."

"What?! Why would you meet her again?"

"I have unfinished business with her. I want you to do something for me." Aster replied, but for this, he replied with a smile. Rosalie subconsciously gulped nervously. She was about to reject his request, but thinking about creating favor for Aunt Duchess, she nodded.

"What do you want me to do?" Rosalie asked.

Aster's smile turned into grin that shocked Rosalie. It was similar to that woman, Aunt Duchess. It bore the same maliciousness and intimidation. "I want you not to interfere about anything I do with Merse tomorrow."

"What?" Rosalie was unsure if she heard it right. "You want me not to interfere of what?"

"If my mother ever comes and asks about me, don't say anything unnecessary." Aster said.

Rosalie's hand trembled under her gloves. She swallowed her saliva again and again.

'Did he already know that I... collided with his mother?'

"I reckoned that my affair with Lady Merse might spread wide after this. If my mother ever comes to you, say that everything is okay." Aster repeated once more. He needed to make sure that Rosalie would shut her mouth.

"Aster, but... your mother never comes to me..." Rosalie replied.

"She will, after this." Aster turned his back and leave Rosalie's pavilion.

Rosalie took a deep breath of relief. Aster didn't know, he still hadn't found out about the agreement between her and Aunt Duchess, his mother. But she was still baffled to why would Aster meet Lady Merse with his initiative.

'Whatever it is, I cannot afford to offend Aunt Duchess. I'm sorry Aster, but I will interfere.'

***

Aster went into his room and opened the paper given by Rosalie. It was supposed to be the list of people recommended for the guard medal.

Aster snorted. He almost had the urge to torn the paper, but he still needed this list.

'Did Rosalie really think that I would be fooled? These people she wrote, they are all trash.' Aster laughed mirthlessly. There was no way that Rosalie would put the real list just to help him. This list of people was obviously the one that posed no threat for her and her people.

'Rosalie was someone who could set me up to a wretched old lady. She also could betray her own mother. Did she really think I would believe someone like her?' Aster sneered.

"Hah, Rosalie does help me indirectly. Now, I already have the list of useless people that I don't need. Well, I just need to summon the ones who are not in this list."

Aster had a moment of silence before he showed a mysterious smile. He called the guards in front of his room. Even though these guards were not his people, thus, he couldn't order them freely. But once Aster showed the guard medal, those guards scurried away trying to find the people who were requested by Young Lord of Grand Duchy. They were afraid that Aster would use the guard medal to take away their freedom, making them slaves under the medal forever.

'As I thought, power is indeed a nice thing to have.' Aster thought in his heart.