Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Lady Merse stood calmly in front of her sister, Empress Cecilia of Golden Camellia. The Empress looked very haggard and immediately stood up and hugged her older sister.

"Sister! Oh my god! I'm sorry, I will hunt the assassin and punish the guards!" Empress Ceci held Lady Merse's hand and led her to a sofa. She had the maid prepared tea before because their talks would usually led to private matters. Thus, in this room, there were only Lady Merse and Empress Ceci.

Empress Ceci poured the tea for her sister. She was worried sick about her sister wellbeing after the message of assassination attempt last night was delivered to her. When she saw bandage covered half of her sister's face, she realized that it was very bad.

"Sister... oh god... I really don't know what to say..." Empress Ceci once again saw the bandage that had reddish blot around it. It was obviously her blood. "Was it painful? You should rest if you can't come now. I will let my guard escorted you back," Empress Ceci suggested.

"No need. Beatrice, our schedule is right now. I don't want to delay any longer," Lady Merse said coldly.

Empress Ceci realized that her sister looked and sounded cold. She thought her sister was mad because of the assassination attempt and the fact that her face was severely damaged. But when her sister looked at her with sharp gaze, the gaze of someone who wanted to kill.

"Sister? Was there something wrong?" Empress Ceci asked, she was uncomfortable with such gaze.

Lady Merse didn't answer immediately. She sipped her tea and then opened the conversation. "Beatrice, what are you scheming now?"

"Scheme?"

"What is your grand importance for you to eliminate your own sister?"

"Sister, I don't understand..."

"Answer it, or this means that you are severing the ties of our house and our family bond," Lady Merse asserted.

"But, I really don't understand..."

"Then, maybe this will fix some loose screws in your head." Lady Merse took the guard medal the assassin dropped before and place it on the table. Empress Ceci observed the small keychain made with diamond and then jolted.

"Thi-this..."

"There was only one person in this empire who have such exquisite guard medal. It was made with precious diamond and engraved with symbol of crown behind it. It was the guard medal owned by Empress Cecilia of Golden Camellia. It's your guard medal," Lady Merse said.

Empress Ceci knew that this was her guard medal, but how could her sister get this medal. It was extremely secretive and not even her private maid knew about the people who she gave the guard medal to.

"How did you get this?" Empress Ceci asked.

"How? Of course your assassin dropped it when my guard attacked him! Don't play dumb Beatrice, tell me what you want and I will comply."

Empress Ceci felt that this conversation would go in a very wrong direction. Empress Ceci tried to shift the conversation, "Sister, I'll investigate this soon. How about we talk about the family matters you wanted me to know. I can help about anything for our family."

Lady Merse chuckled, "How funny, Beatrice. Now I caught you red-handed, you tried to run away. Don't worry, I am less of a threat and more of a benefit for you, as long as you tell me your intention, I might spare you."

"Sister, I will investigate the people who I gave my guard medal to, then I will punish one of them. But I really don't know..."

Lady Merse finally slammed the table until the tea set and everything on the table fell to the ground. "Beatrice! You already made my face like this, got caught red-handed, and you still trying to play some idiotic game! How cruel can you be to target your own sister and an innocent boy?!"

"A boy?" Empress finally noticed a red thread on this misunderstanding.

Lady Merse's anger was lit up. How could this woman tried to play dumb even up to this point. Lady Merse replied harshly, "You didn't know or you tried to play dumb? The boy whom you punished harshly and you threatened in this palace! He was a kindhearted and innocent boy, but your nasty heart dared to consider him as enemy!"

"Sister, is he--"

"Yes, Aster di Arlingdon, the Young Lord of Grand Duchy Stormhill. Beatrice, what is wrong with your mind? He is just a young boy!" Lady Merse snarled.

Empress Ceci conclusively realized that the 'Aster' she saw before wasn't just a mirage. The deep eyes hidden with intention, the oppressive words he used, and the malicious aura that made her trembled.

Aster had played the game, and she and her sister were his victims.

Empress Ceci suddenly felt that she was unable to breathe. This trap set by this beautiful young man was very smart that it gave her no way out.

"Sister, I... please believe in me. But Aster isn't innocent. He... he might be the one who set this trap," Empress Ceci tried to explain, but her words didn't sound convincing and she couldn't stop trembling.

"Do you expect me to believe that a fifteen to sixteen years old boy able to plot such deliberate plan to assassinate me and frame you? He came from Grand Duchy Stormhill, that duchy didn't even have a proper guard!" Lady Merse scowled.

"No! I gave Aster a guard medal few days ago. He--He must've recruited few trained assassins to do his bidding!"

"And he somehow able to find few trained assassins that killed almost all my secret guard I brought? Beatrice, you are a bad liar since we're young!"

Empress Ceci couldn't rebuke that. Because it also didn't across her mind on how could Aster found many trained assassins in such short time and able to execute such plan without any flaw?

Empress sat weakly on the sofa and looked up to her sister's mangled face. She felt bitter because her sister's face was severely damaged, but her sister decided to defend the culprit.

She also felt bitter because she couldn't do and say anything. She was stuck.

Lady Merse saw her sister finally didn't rebuke anything. "Then, I will accept your silence as confirmation. Beatrice, I thought we could mend our strained relationship, but it seems that you are the one who doesn't want to. To honor our sister bond, I will not do anything against you, but if you dare punishing Aster once more, then don't blame me for being cruel."

Lady Merse couldn't hold back her tears. She turned away and walked to the door, "From now on, House of Thana withdraws its support from Her Majesty Empress. May Her Majesty Empress found a better house to support. This lady excused herself."

Empress Ceci saw the door closed. She saw the broken teapot and cups, and then she saw the glimmering keychain made with diamond. The tears she had been holding finally fell. Empress Ceci cried bitter tears.

'I lost to him.'

***

Jain glanced to his master from time to time. After he went to Lady Merse's room, he seemed to be restless and hesitated over something.

"Young Lord, is there something wrong?" Jain asked.

Aster glanced at Jain and replied, "I was wondering if what I did yesterday is the right thing to do."

Jain sighed. His Young Lord must've been worried by the pressure. No matter how strong he was, he still needed time to adjust.

"Young Lord, my previous master once said, 'A man cannot be a monster no matter how ruthless he is, because deep down, he is still a human'. I believe Young Lord still needs time to pacify his own self." Jain said.

Aster didn't say anything, but stared deeply at Jain. The silence broke when a guard knocked the door and said, "Young Lord, Grand Duchess of Stormhill will meet you after lunch today."

Aster's eyes wide opened, he was taken aback.

'Mother!?'