Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Charles sat beside Aster. He had his left hand gently caressing Aster's slim waist. His eyes shone golden and greedily savoring the beauty beside him.

Aster didn't say anything and focused on his book. Although, he felt extremely uncomfortable and disgusted, he couldn't do anything. Charles was definitely in love with him, and with this aggressive advance from Charles, Aster could only yield.

Charles' eyes darted to the butler standing tall near the door. He saw all this intimacy between him and Aster with nonchalant attitude. However, Charles couldn't help but felt jealous.

'This butler is Aster's people, right? The one that he gave his guard medal to.'

'I didn't even mind to be his subordinate if that would mean I could be his only subordinate. Who cares about other unknown subhuman.'

Charles' eyes dimmed. He already thought about the possibility of Aster having an affair other than him. This butler wasn't bad looking either. Infuriated, Charles called him, "You, come here!"

Jain drew near and kneeled in front of Charles and Aster, "Yes, Your Highness, This one is at your service."

Charles was about to execute this butler for daringly accepting Aster's guard medal. But Aster would be extremely mad if he did so. Thus, he held himself. "Leave this room, I need to talk with my cousin alone."

Aster's focus finally shifted to Charles, then to Jain. He gave a light nod and Jain left the room.

"Cousin, what do you want to talk about?" Aster asked, directly trying to finish this talk as soon as possible.

Charles' hand on his waist was getting tighter. Charles frowned, "Why cousin? You can call me by my name, or by our lovers nickname."

"I don't remember that we have any lovers nickname..."

"Then, please remember this. From now on, you should call me darling, okay?" Charles smiled. He said it casually, as if it was a regular thing to say.

Aster knew that Charles would insist about this distasteful nickname until he said yes. He didn't want to spend much time with Charles, so he said with difficulty, "Yes, ... d--darling... what do you want to talk about?"

Charles seemed satisfied. He chuckled lightly. "A week from now, the spring festival will be held in the Roagelt city square. We have a plan, probably the last plan to end Mother Empress. Your participation is crucial here... so... would you join us?"

Aster closed his book and now listened attentively. He knew the spring festival would be coming soon. But he didn't know that Charles and Rosalie had already made a plan.

"What plan?"

Charles whispered something to Aster. Aster showed a surprise, but soon dissipated and he looked really cold. However, he nodded to every instruction Charles whispered. In the end, he said, "I will do it."

"Are you sure? This would... make people saw you as weak..."

"I am fine with it. I will do it." Aster replied with absolute certainty.

Charles was really not sure that this would be a good idea. Part of him didn't want Aster to be in danger, nor that he wanted him to be looked down by the other. But this was really perfect moment to frame Mother Empress.

"Then, if you say so. I will always help you darling," Charles said.

Charles stayed for an hour. Although Aster is unresponsive, Charles talked about anything he could think of in order to delay time. He wanted to indulge with this warmth he got from Aster.

However, with this atmosphere of spring and only two of them in this room, Charles' mind started going wild. He leaned his face closer to Aster's nape and smelled an extremely pleasant fragrance that made his mind floated.

Aster hadn't say anything, but he was obviously uncomfortable.

"Charles, let go now," Aster struggled when Charles' hand slowly descended to the hem of his shirt, attempting to unbutton it.

God knows how much Charles tried holding his desire right now. He didn't want to force Aster. He sighed and rose from the chair, "I'm sorry Aster. I need to leave now before I do something unspeakable."

"Please do." Aster said coldly. There was some disappointment in Charles' heart, but he should hold himself until they were married. He excused himself and left the room.

Not long after, Jain entered the room and kneeled in front of Aster. Aster's previous expression that was soft and meek in front of Charles turned into cold rage. He hated it. He hated the fact that Charles could touch his body easily just because of his status.

'Disgusting! Utterly disgusting!'

'Why does it feel so disgusting? It wasn't like this before!'

'Only Ramuja...' whenever someone touched Aster, he couldn't help but imagine Ramuja's face. Wouldn't it feel amazing if Ramuja was the one that touched him instead?

Aster tried to calm down and talked to his servant, "Jain, we will run this plan in the spring festival, and needed you to be stealthy. Unfortunately, we couldn't bring Irion to the spring festival. He would distract the plan by his instinct."

"Yes, Young Lord. However, this servant wondered about what exactly is the plan?"

"I will tell you later. For now, prepare my pen and ink, I need to write for Lady Merse," Aster ordered. "Also, prepare me a warm bath, I feel disgusted all over my body."

"Understood, Young Lord." Jain said. He prepared the paper and ink, then proceed to prepare warm bath for Young Lord.

Jain was outside the whole time. Thus, he wondered about what happened between Crown Prince and Young Lord. But based on the attitude of Crown Prince, it was obvious that Crown Prince had strong romantic interest to Young Lord.

'It seems unrequited though...'

He also wondered about the plan that Young Lord said. Since it would be held during Spring Festival, he imagined it would be a plan that emphasize on the public pressure.

'Whatever it is, since you have given me to Young Lord. I just need to believe that Young Lord is capable... right... old Master?' Jain said in his heart.

***

"Ramuja! Don't work too much, you are still recovering!" Jon rushed to my side and helped me carrying a log. My back ached whenever I did my routine. But I couldn't let Jon took my working portion just because I got beaten up by Crown Prince before.

It had been two weeks since that day and my body kept aching.

'At least, I still have Young Lord's personal pin...'

We finished the job today and head home. Alongside of the road, there were plenty of beautiful blooming flowers and fresh spring dew. Since winter had passed, this logging business had slowed down until autumn. Thus, we finished the job early.

Lisa and Merry were in the house, they were making something out of flowers they picked in the meadow.

"Ah! I just remembered that we will have spring festival soon!" Jon exclaimed. He left the house in a rush. I just stood there dumbly. I asked Merry, "Spring festival?"

Merry smiled and replied meekly, "Yes, each spring, there will be a spring festival in Roagelt city square. We saved enough money for cheap carriage to go there."

I nodded, "Then, I will take care of the house."

"Ramuja? Why did you say that, of course you are going with us too!" Lisa interrupted.

"But I have no money..."

"Sigh, I told you that you are also my child, right?" Lisa smiled. "There will be free food there, and we can watch many fresh blooming flowers."

"There will be many people too, even Emperor and Empress will come!" Merry said cheerfully.

I suddenly perked up. If Emperor and Empress were there, then there might be a chance to see Young Lord, even from afar.

"Then, how about noble houses?" Ramuja asked.

"Well, I think everyone that was not too far away from Roagelt kingdom would be attending that. It's one of the biggest festival in Golden Camellia!"

I felt the surge of happiness in my body. There was a chance of me meeting Young Lord there.

'So there is a chance that Young Lord will be there...'

'Even if it could just see you from afar, at least I could see if you are doing well, Young Lord.'

"Ramuja! Don't space out!" Merry said while giggling. She put a bracelet made by tree root and flower to my wrist. She seemed satisfied. "We will have the same bracelet!"

"Hahaha... Merry, you shouldn't say that too early, Ramuja might get embarrassed." Lisa laughed. Then, he faced Ramuja with tender eyes, "Lovers bracelet is a tradition during spring festival. Merry just want you to use the same bracelet as hers."

I stared at Merry, Lisa and the bracelet consecutively. Somehow, I felt guilty.