Gardenia of Blooming Desire

The sound of Aster screaming broke the silence of the night. The guard who stationed around the palace rushed and gathered around the room of Young Lord. The guards saw the door had been opened and there were pool of bloods everywhere, two corpse with their heads decapitated laid on the ground, from their uniform, they were House of Thana guards. The Young Lord held a guard's hand and his expression was terror-stricken. Even in this middle of the night, the guards could see that Young Lord was trembling. He kept calling for help even though the guards had been standing in front of him.

"By God! What happened?" a guard asked Young Lord.

Aster's eyes finally focused on the guard and he couldn't hold back his tears. "Irion! Save Irion! His wounds are severe!" he kept pointing to a young guard who was red from head to toe. The guard noticed wounds in various locations around his body. Stabs, slashes, even would that almost hit vital points.

"Young Lord, my subordinate will take this man to the palace doctor," one guard with a red badge in his uniform approached disordered Aster. He held Irion's wrist and still could feel the pulse. He ordered his subordinate to take Irion to the palace doctor to treat his wounds.

"He lost so much blood, but it seems that his wounds weren't fatal, Young Lord should calm down.," he said.

Aster nodded, he let go of his hand from Irion and let the guards carried him to the doctor.

"My name is Herbert Gallace, I'm the commander of the palace guards who patrol during the night. Young Lord, please tell me what happened."

Aster took deep breaths few times, but he couldn't control his tremble. He opened his mouth and his voice sounded hoarse, "I--I don't know, there was a hooded man who opened the window even though I already locked it. He tried to attack me, then--then Lady Merse's guard and mine opened the door. They tried to protect me but... th--their heads just rolled off like that!" Aster pointed at the two dead guards.

"Where is that hooded man? Did he run away?" Herbert asked.

"My--my guard, Irion, tried to protect me while fighting that man. That man also got fatal wounds in his stomach, so he jumped from the balcony," Aster's tears welled up in his eyes, he continued, " My guard, he will be okay, right?"

"Yes, he should survive. His wounds didn't seem to hit vital parts." Herbert pacified this Young Lord. This Young Lord still trembling while sitting on the chair. His hands clutched the chair, like a small, frightened creature.

"Young Lord shall wait, I will order the maids to prepare a new room for you soon, I will take these two dead guards out of this room. There will be few guards outside, if you need anything, you can ask the guards outside." Herbert said.

"Y--yes, I will try... Thank you, um... Sir Gallace." Aster bowed. Herbert

Before Herbert could say anything, a guard rushed to the room and reported, "Commander! There was an assassination attempt to Lady Merse! She has been wounded!"

"WHAT?!"

Aster seemed to be dumbfounded, his expression changed fast and his already pale face became even paler. "This... L--Lady Merse..." Aster said.

Herbert wanted to ask about what happened, but he couldn't wait here. "Young Lord, please excuse me," he left the room hastily. Few maids and butlers arrived to Aster's room shortly after and escorted him to the new room. Aster hid himself in a blanket, and the butler who closed the door could just sighed. This pitiful Young Lord had been through harsh situations, he must've been traumatized.

Aster tried to hold his smile so many times, after the door has been closed, he opened his blanket and his satisfied grin couldn't be hidden.

"Ah, a step closer to my Ramuja."

***

Aster looked really weak in the morning, Jain who carried his breakfast opened the conversation by asking; "Young Lord, is everything alright?"

"I didn't sleep for the whole night." Aster said while eating his breakfast.

"Pardon this servant's question, but is this because Young Lord has to face Lady Merse after breakfast?"

"I need to be believable. That hag Merse should see me worrying so much about her, so I can erase any last trace of doubt within her heart about me," Aster explained. "How about Irion? He is fine, right?" Aster asked.

"Yes, Irion is fine, Young Lord."

"Then, everything is perfect." Aster said. He ate his breakfast and then prepared himself to meet Lady Merse.

***

Lady Merse sat on her bed with bandage covered her fac. She had deep slash from under the right eye to her ear, it was fortunate that she didn't lost her eye. She seemed to clutch something in her hand and refused to eat anything except for medicine.

'Beatrice...' Lady Merse was unresponsive even when the doctor tried to replace her bandage. She finally reacted when the guard opened the door and saw a young man with curly bright blond hair, small nose, and eyes that could capture everyone's heart approached her. He had black eye bags under his eyes and his complexion was very pale, but his face was still very beautiful and refreshing.

Lady Merse's lips curled up subconsciously. She said, "Boy, why are you here? The commander said that you were also attacked, but gladly, you are safe."

Aster approached Lady Merse and kneeled besides her bed. He said, "L--Lady Merse, I'm sorry..."

Lady Merse raised her eyebrows, "What are you sorry for?"

"This... because Milady tried to help me, you also being targeted..." Aster lamented. He had his eyes casted down, "Milady wouldn't get hurt if not because of me... and your guards... they are..."

Lady Merse sighed. Aster was too pure, it is a wonder why would her sister targeted this kid. Lady Merse rubbed Aster's soft hair intimately, but this time, there was no feeling of lust within her. It was just the feeling of... motherly love.

"The guards served what their duty, their death wasn't in vain. About my scar, do you find it ugly?" Lady Merse asked with half joking tone.

'Yes, you're a wretched ugly hag, I just give you the face you deserve.' Aster said in his heart, but he shook his head.

"How come I find you ugly. Milady, you're a kind person... People with kind heart was never ugly," Aster said.

"Cute boy, now that you say something sweet, how come I would be angry to you? I don't blame you," Lady Merse said.

"Lady Merse, did I do something wrong? Why am I being targeted like this..." Aster lamented. His shoulder drooped and he inadvertently placed his head on Lady Merse's lap. "Milady, should I die? My problem just harms you..."

Lady Merse slowly brushing Aster' hair and said, "Boy, we're nobles. It is inevitable that some people would want to harm us. But fear nothing, if your duchy can't protect you, I will."

Aster raised his head and looked up to Lady Merse mangled face. He almost couldn't hold back his disgust, but he calmed down and asked, "Milady, we've only met twice, why are you so kind to me?"

Lady Merse stopped brushing Aster's hair. She thought about it again. She had only met Aster twice, and their first encounter wasn't a pleasant one. But she felt different attachment right away to this boy after they talked once.

'Maybe because I wanted a son, someone that I can protect and love.'

'He didn't feel disgust to me, even with this mangled face.'

Lady Merse sighed, "Boy, I am sorry that I did something unspeakable to you when we first met. Please don't think strange things, because now, I just want to protect you..."

"Cute boy, I have no child, so I want to have one. You don't need to do anything, I will be on your side," Lady Merse chuckled, "Well, you should invite me to tea party or something for time to time, I just want to make sure that everything is alright for you." She said with light laugh.

"...?!"

Aster was speechless and his mind blanked. This answer from Lady Merse was different from what he expected. He thought she would want his body like before. This...

A guard approached Lady Merse and Aster then reported, "Milady, Her Majesty Empress would want your attendance in her chamber."

Lady Merse's lighthearted smile turned into gloom instantly. She nodded and caressed Aster's cheek, "Boy, I'm going to meet my sister. Hold no worries, I'm going to protect you."

Aster wanted to say something, but he felt like he was tongue-tied. Lady Merse got up from her bed and followed the guard who escorted her.

'I... what just happened?!' Aster felt something was brewing inside his head. He felt... guilt.