Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Aster stepped outside. The bright sun directly fell to his figure, and people gasped. Some were shocked and some were left in awe.

This year spring goddess was definitely the most perfect goddess the Empire had ever had. Bring golden hair, perfect facial feature, and aura that exuded the feeling of unreachable nobility. It was the perfect portrait of spring goddess. However, this spring goddess... also happened to be a man.

Aster held his shame when people stared at him. He looked up at the stair in front of him, there was a stage filled with sitting high aristocrats. He observed the expression one by one, Lord Gamasiel was still dumbstrucken with love in his eyes, Lady Merse looked at him with confusion, the others still gasped, unable to comprehend the sheer amazement and confusion.

Amazed because this spring goddess was perfect. And confused because spring goddess was also the symbol of female fertility, for a man to portray himself as spring goddess, it must've been humiliating.

Aster caught the sight of his mother, Grand Duchess Camille at the corner of his eyes. She was obviously surprised, but that surprise turned into sadness. She casted her eyes down, probably holding her tears.

'Mother... I'm sorry, I've bring our house a shame...'

Aster gritted his teeth, he looked at the Uncle Emperor and Aunt Empress, they were also dumbstruck, especially Empress. The hatred in Aster's eyes was almost unconcealed, if not because of the Empress spreading rumor that he had an affair with his servant, punishing him, making his life in the palace a living hell, he wouldn't be willing to do this.

'I will drag you down from that high throne, you bitch!'

***

Charles' eyes shone golden, he extended his hand, waiting for Aster to give his hand to him. Aster smiled and gave his hand. This scene was directly seen by the crowd and baffled them. Crown Prince was indeed supposed to be the escort of Spring Goddess every year, but he never smiled. At best, he would give a thin smile and then returned his serious demeanor. But now, the smile seemed to be permanent in his mouth.

Charles escorted Aster to face Emperor and Empress, as the yearly tradition should be. Aster kept his small smile, but he let a bit of pain slipped through his calmness. People who watched this would realize that this man was unwilling.

Aster kneeled in front of Emperor and Empress, then said, "This humble one is the spring goddess of this year, according to Her Majesty Empress Cecilia direct mandate. This humble one will serve as best as he can."

Empress Ceci was confused, she wasn't crazy enough to make a man becoming the spring goddess. And she definitely wasn't crazy enough to let Aster, the heir of Grand Duchy Stormhill to serve as one today!

The surrounding gazes turned sharp, these aristocrats tried to dig the intention of Empress. Many of them were Empress Ceci's supporting houses, but if Empress Ceci deliberately tried to shame the only heir of Grand Duchy Stormhill, then they might renounce their support after this.

Empress Ceci panicked, she handed this matter to her daughter, Rosalie. It was usually like that every year. She searched around, looking for Rosalie but then she realized that Rosalie was missing from this stage.

A bad premonition entered her mind. She had something that poked her brain, but she denied that hastily.

'No, this must be some misunderstanding. There is no way my daughter would scheme against me!' Empress reassured herself.

Emperor looked down on Aster solemnly. He said nothing, as the Empress usually did the official greeting.

Empress Ceci wanted to refute Aster's claim. But she realized something.

'If I refute him, then it'd be even greater humiliation for Aster.'

'And also, people will start questioning Golden Princess, because she takes this job if I'm too busy...'

'No... No! That would harm Rosalie!' Empress realized that she was in a deadlock. She couldn't refute this or else, Rosalie would take the blame. It wasn't good for her future, as people would see Rosalie as incompetent or evil hearted.

Whoever schemed this against her, she was destined to be trapped with no way out.

Empress Ceci took a deep breath. She had to take the fall for this.

"Yes, I accept your humility. You will do the spring ritual across the city as usual," Empress said bitterly. The nobles around her already confirmed that this was Empress' deliberate action to humiliate the Young Lord.

Aster nodded and was seated in his own special seat, decorated with various flowers. He sat and kept his dignified manner. The event started with Emperor giving speech and the people chanting some oath for the festival.

Aster lazily waited then noticed the peasants who watched from below. Their eyes greedily inspected his body, from hair to toes. He bore with it and looked down upon them with his cold eyes.

However, when his eyes lazily looked down, he spotted that man again. The same man that looked like Ramuja. Though, because their position was so far, Aster could barely identify him. He had the similar features like his servant, Ramuja. His golden circle flickered a bit.

'No, that couldn't be him. Ramuja wouldn't be here. The one I saw before wasn't Ramuja, he... wouldn't be holding hands with a girl.'

'Besides... he left because he felt unsafe around me. He wouldn't go to this festival just to see me...'

Aster kept his eyes on that person who looked similar to Ramuja, their eyes met for a second before someone tapped his shoulder. He turned his head and saw Charles smiling to him. He whispered intimately, "Aster, the spring ceremony for you will be starting soon, go with me."

Charles held Aster's hand intimately and escorted him out of the stage. Aster took the last glance at the person similar to Ramuja below, but he disappeared. His golden circle dimmed.

'Sure thing, it wasn't him.'

***

Charles escorted Aster to the starting point of the spring goddess flower shower ritual. In this ritual, Aster would walk through the city and chant a line repeatedly while throwing flowers on the street. These flowers is a blessed flower that was believed to be imbued with Spring Goddesses blessing, the peasants would scramble just to get these flowers.

It was fortunate that Spring Festival happened when the heat and the sun wasn't hot enough. Or else, Aster would've instantly developed his burning rash under the sun.

Aster held a basket of flowers in his hand that would be resupplied every time he run out of flowers. He saw the guards had lined up to clear the road for him to do the ritual. Charles was behind him, smiling proudly.

'It seems everything is set.'

Aster started walking and chanting his line, "Blessed with flower of purity, Oh--My Golden Camellia may prosper in justice. Blessed with flower of victory, Oh--My Golden Camellia may thrive with victory. Blessed with flower of fertility, Oh--My Golden Camellia may live long through centuries!"

He threw a handful of flowers to each side while walking. Behind the guards, the people were almost fighting against each other just to get those flowers. Aster caught a silhouette within the corner of his eyes. That silhouette again, that person who looked like Ramuja kept following him across his ritual. He didn't even bother to take the flower, he just constantly followed him.

Aster couldn't help but mumbled bitterly, "If it's the real you, how happy would I be..."

Aster saw the junction that was crowded with people, in that crowd, there will be Charles' subordinate acted as assassin who tried to assassinate him, and Charles would shield him.

He walked calmly, as long as everything was according to plan, then there would no be interference. Besides, he already stationed Jain to follow him in case of something went wrong.

When he was nearing the junction, his eyes observed around the crowd and saw Charles' person with regular apparel, but he noticed a knife hidden under his long sleeve. Aster acted as if he saw nothing and kept doing the ritual.

Suddenly, he heard a groan. That man actually stabbed a guard in the back and passed the fallen guard, his movement was very fast and he lunged directly to Aster.

Aster saw the man lunged with his knife aimed directly to his face. Even though everything was planned, it was still scary to experience it directly. Thus, Aster closed his eyes.

However, what he felt the next moment was a warm embrace. It was very warm and gentle, as if he was hugged with love. Aster slowly opened his eyes, he saw familiar face close to his, and familiar voice, "Young Lord... are you okay?"

That familiar man smiled before losing his consciousness. His body directly fell into Aster's embrace. Aster instinctively supported Ramuja's body, his hands reached Ramuja's back. He touched a sharp metal that cut his finger a bit, he also touched few wounds on his back. Four stabs and the knife were still planted in his back.

Aster heard someone said something around him, the crowd panicking, and the shout of Charles. But he felt like everything around was nothing but him and his servant. Aster focused his gaze to the unconscious Ramuja, his tears streamed down to his cheeks.

'Ramuja... why... why are you here?'

'Who... who hurt you? I--I...'

'Why did you protect me?!'