Gardenia of Blooming Desire

I stood in front of Grand Duke's office early morning. Today, Crown Prince Charles should come to this logging business owned by Grand Duchy Stormhill and I was the one who needed to attend him.

I shivered. Terrible thoughts flashed through my mind repeatedly, this felt like someone who was waiting for his death sentence. Because I had met Crown Prince only twice, and both meeting ended with me almost dead. The first was when he visited Young Lord and he ordered his shadow guards to beat me until I felt almost numb. The second was in autumn banquet, he saw me and Young Lord in the grand duchy garden and he almost cut my head off with his sword.

'What a ruthless man...' I said in my heart.

However, this ruthless man was able to met Young Lord often in the palace, talked to him and...

'... and they might already became intimate, and...' I had no strength to continue my pondering. I knew the outcome is obvious, but my heart refused to admit that.

Two hours of waiting, and finally I saw a blue-silver carriage with two strong horses in front. There were four other carriages, two in front and two behind, guarding Crown Prince.

The blue carriage stopped in front of me. A guard opened the carriage door and a striking man sat solemnly in his cushioned seat. He had shoulder-length brown hair, tied behind with silver ribbon in the end of the hair. He had striking feature, sharp eyebrows and blue eyes with golden circle around the pupil, straight nose, and chiseled jawline. He wore a silver garment that contemplates his slightly bronze skin. Unlike Young Lord Aster who gave the aura of cold beauty, Crown Prince had the aura of handsome, domineering nobleman.

When I saw Crown Prince Charles again, the only thought in my mind was only self-pity, because I knew Crown Prince suited Young Lord. They were both high noble and gorgeous, perfect for each other.

I hid my bitterness and kneeled deeply. "This humble slave greeted His Highness Crown Prince Charles, May Golden Camellia prosper until the last eternal petal falls."

Crown Prince Charles looked displeased, as expected. His eyes observed around and then asked, "Where is the Uncle Duke or his attendant?"

"This slave answering Crown Prince question, Grand Duke had given this slave an order to be Crown Prince's attendant for today."

Crown Prince was even more displeased, his look was ugly and he lost his golden circle in his pupil. His eyes strangely turned had the shade of dark. He sneered, "Is this a mockery from Uncle Duke? To send me a stupid slave as my attendant."

I kept my silence and bowed my head, waiting for anything he wanted to do to me. But after he stepped down from his carriage, he just walked without saying anything. Thus, I just followed him from behind.

Crown Prince walked around and talked to his people whom he brought with other carriages. They seemed to talk about the situation of the logging business. The courtier opened a book and showed something to Crown Prince.

Crown Prince glanced to me, his eyes still had that shade of dark in his pupil and his displeasure was portrayed clearly in his face. He glanced back at the book and a sly grin appeared on the corner of his mouth.

I had a bad feeling about this, so I bowed my head.

"Slave, where is the accounting book for this half year? I need to see the expenses of each transaction and the whether the empire tax had been applied every month." Crown Prince asked.

I gulped. I never heard such thing and Grand Duke didn't inform me about this. "T--This slave begs Crown Prince's forgiveness, this slave doesn't understand..."

"Call Uncle Duke's attendant, he knows about this matter."

"Grand Duke and his attendant... is not here yet, Your Highness..." I answered weakly.

Crown Prince's grin raised and it looked like he was about to laugh.

"So, Uncle Duke really sent a stupid slave that had nothing to do, and no capability or whatsoever to assist me here. Assist me of what? I visited this place every year. If you just want to show me around, then you might leave now. I will complain to Uncle Duke that he had insulted me."

'Grand Duke is my only way to go back to Young Lord. If... If he dismissed me, then it's over... I'm over..."

I kneeled immediately in front of him. I knew this was just a way for Crown Prince to find reason to punish me. But if he said that to Grand Duke, the one who would get harsh punishment would be me.

"P--Pardon this slave's stupidity, this slave would do anything to compensate Your Highness Crown Prince's displeasure!"

"Then..." Crown Prince's eyes darted around the area and he pointed at some workers who watched them. "Guard! Call those workers!"

The workers gathered and kneeled with me in front of Crown Prince. "Serfs, this attendant has been displeasing to my eyes. Each of you shall punch him as hard as you could around his body, once per person," Crown Prince commanded.

I was shocked. I raised my head, "Y--Your Highness, this slave begs... begs..."

Charles chuckled. He stepped once and drew near me. He said in low voice, "I still remember the autumn banquet. Your skin touched my Aster's doublet. Your filthy skin dared touching my Aster's inner shirt. If you're not Aster's personal slave, I would've skinned you alive right now."

I was numbed. This Crown Prince still held a grudge over Young Lord giving me his doublet when I was really cold. He already had Young Lord, and he still felt vengeful to a slave like me.

I prepared myself for each fist landing to my body. It had been a while since I imagined myself being a sex slave, numbed by pain. Today, I needed to recall that moment back and numbed by consciousness.

One hit my torso.

One hit my back.

Other hit my stomach.

Few hit my shoulder.

Each hit accumulated and I was about to lose my consciousness. I staggered and fell directly in front of Crown Prince.

Clink!

When I fell, something fell off from my pocket. My consciousness that was about to disappear returned instantly. My eyes focused to Young Lord's pin on the ground. I reached it with both of my hands and gripped it.

'No, not this one!'

However, Crown Prince seemed to notice it. His eyes that were a shade darker finally turned pure black. His face that had hint of ridicule turned into unrestrained fury.

"YOU DARE!" Crown Prince shouted.

I clenched Young Lord's pin tightly and hid it in my hand while cowering. I couldn't let this pin taken by anyone. Not even Crown Prince.

Crown Prince's anger was about to explode. He kicked me over and over again while others watched. "YOU DARE STOLE ASTER'S PIN!"

"Crown Prince... this pin... was given by Young Lord..."

"GIVEN? HE WOULD NEVER GIVE A SLAVE LIKE YOU HIS PIN, DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID, HAH?!"

I knew Crown Prince wouldn't listen, so I kept cowering while holding this pin tightly. This was the only thing Young Lord ever gave to me.

Crown Prince already lost his patience, he unsheathed his sword and aimed it on my neck. I could feel the tip of the cold steel touching my nape. "This is your last repentance! Hand me that pin before I cut your neck!"

At this moment, I should've repent and gave Crown Prince this pin. It was only a pin anyway. But, my heart said no. Because this pin was the proof that Young Lord cared for me, even just a little, he did. A flash of my memory repeated itself inside my head, the moment when Young Lord gave me this pin.

'Bring this brass to the mansion doctor, it is one of the sign of my status. That doctor will treat you.' Young Lord once said that before handing this pin.

'Is this my end...'

"Stop this!" another voice interrupted Crown Prince. Everyone looked to the source of the voice, Grand Duke hastily interrupted Crown Prince who was about to slash my neck.

Crown Prince's expression eased, although it was still very dark. "Greetings to Uncle Duke, I'm just about to kill this slave. He dared to steal Aster's brass pin."

I opened my eyes my eyes, and Grand Duke's gaze fell upon me. There was pity hidden in his eyes, but it was mostly just a cold gaze. Grand Duke patted Crown Prince's back and said, "He is not worth your time. I was about to come anyway."

"Also, no one should be killed in my property. I already told you that." Grand Duke continued with a firm voice.

Crown Prince's spiteful eyes were still on me, but not long after, he left with Grand Duke.

Everyone didn't know what to do, so they just left me alone here. I was still cowering, holding this pin tightly. Even though my body was in state of extreme pain, I couldn't help but smile.

'Young Lord, did you see me? I am protecting your gift. I keep my loyalty even in front of Crown Prince.'

'Please, take me back, Young Lord. I have nothing but my loyalty and love to you, so please... take me back from here...'

'Young Lord...'