Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Aster's lip curled while looking at the guests that started appearing one by one. He was still on the balcony of second floor, silently checking on every guest had exited their carriage while commenting on each of them. He couldn't greet them because of the custom for birthday party. He had to stay still here until a servant called him.

'Lady Berzhenia, The Duchess of Silvorè. She was getting fatter each time I saw her.'

'Marques of Viete, Florentino. Hah, he still looks the same, just even shallower than before.'

'Lady Merse, Duchess of Arion...' Lady Merse arrived with her dark green dress. She looked elegant, though not beautiful. She had her half face covered on mask because of the permanent scar Aster inflicted during that staged assassination attempt.

There was uneasy feeling inside his heart. Aster was unsure if what he did against Lady Merse back then was necessary. Something made him felt guilty, yet at the same time, scared that Lady Merse might know about it.

Aster shook his head. There was no benefit of regretting, what he could do now was to develop better relationship between them.

'Helene with... is that her little sister?' It had been a while since he met Helene. She was twenty-one years old now, the same age as Charles. She brought her little sister, probably the same age as Aster.

There were many guests arrived with their carriage on the Grand Duchy's yard. But whenever a carriage door was opened, Aster's smile dimmed. It wasn't him. It wasn't Ramuja.

'Damn, where is he?'

He nervously tapped the table. Ramuja should have arrived already. He waited until a golden carriage entered the Grand Duchy's yard, Uncle Emperor, Emperor Audric IV and Golden Princess Rosalie had arrived.

Aster's smile faded. With Uncle Emperor and Rosalie here, the party will start soon, and Ramuja wasn't here.

Not long after, a servant approached him, "Young Lord, His Majesty Emperor is here. The party will start soon."

Aster nodded, but the displeasure on his face was obvious. Aster descended to the first floor. He took a deep breath and opened the door.

He stepped and stood at the center of a bifurcated stairs, people looked up and shifted their attention to the spotlight of that staircase. Under the bright lighting of chandeliers, a man with glinting white-gold doublet emerged, the shoulder wasn't padded, and thus making the man looked slender and tight fitting in that doublet.

The white gold reflected the shine of chandelier, it was obvious that the doublet was sewed with pure gold thread, signifying the wearer's wealth. He wore a fitting black pants which both sides were also threaded with gold thread and black boots.

He had a diamond earring shaped like Camellia flower dangled on his left ear, symbolizing his identity as a nobleman.

He wore no make up, but his features were already perfect, combined with Golden Blood's signature trait, he was breathtaking enough to make the whole audience dazed and made few people drooled unconsciously.

Aster frowned. He always hated this kind of event. Because everyone acted the same whenever they saw him. It was even worse nowadays, compared to two years ago. His eyes looked down on them, it showed contempt, but none seemed to be intimidated. He even saw few people blushed.

'Disgusting.' Aster said in his heart. Their stares were very different than his servant's. Ramuja would stare at him adoringly, and Aster could feel the tenderness inside his eyes.

'Unlike these wolf eyes.'

Grand Duchess was the first one to approach him and stood besides him. She clapped twice, snapping people out of their daze.

"First, I would like to offer my gratitude for all the honorable guests, especially Golden Camellia Emperor, Emperor Audric IV, may Golden Camellia prosper until the last eternal petal falls." Grand Duchess smiled.

Emperor Audric IV who was flat-faced the whole time finally showed a warm smile directed towards his sister. He replied shortly, "It is my pleasure."

"Today, my son, Aster Di Arlingdon celebrates his seventeenth birthday. He will be an adult soon. As our only son, Aster will be the one in charge after me and my husband retire," Grand Duchess held Aster's hand gently, and winked to the guests below, "Naturally, he is also eligible for engagement."

Aster's eyes widened. He turned his head to his mother. He wanted to ask about the meaning of her words, but Grand Duchess ignored him.

"My son is a handsome, well mannered and intelligent man. It would be my pleasure to entertain a suitor for my son."

Many young maidens who stared unblinkingly at Aster blushed when they heard Grand Duchess' sudden proposal. They didn't seem to catch the obvious displeasure in Aster's face, while drowning in their own fantasies.

Aster gritted his teeth, there was no talk about engagement before. Why would his mother announce such thing deliberately in his birthday party?

"That is all, please enjoy the party, we have the best musician and many delicacies that would suit your tongue, thank you." Grand Duchess smiled and turned around, then walked away. The smile on her face turned into a smirk.

'Let's see if your pea brain understands my warning, filthy slave.'

***

Aster was in a bad mood. He was standing on the corner while being swarmed by many young maidens and few men. Usually, Charles was the one who kept him out from other people, but he wasn't here. They were all asking about random stuff just to catch his attention, but Aster was simply uncomfortable. There were few moments when he just needed to step back because these people kept getting closer to him.

However, Aster noticed a maiden who was standing alone behind these flock of people. She didn't approach him, but stared at him attentively. When their eyes met, her face turned red and she casted her head down.

'That's Helene's little sister... right?'

'I think she could help.'

"Excuse me, I have to meet my friend," Aster smiled and dazzled everyone. He was frowning the whole time, seeing him smiling like this made them gasped.

Aster made his way to this young woman, probably around his age or a bit younger. She had long, auburn hair and wore a thin eyeglass. She was quite similar to Helene, but looked feminine and soft.

"I have been expecting you," Aster said, while holding her hand. The maiden was taken aback, she tried to pull her hand from Aster's grasp, but the grasp tightened. Aster kept his expression and said, "Let's go."

Aster kept holding her hand and led her outside to the west garden. After there was no one who followed them, he let go of her hand.

"P--Pardon me, Young Lord Arlingdon, but why are we here?" the maiden asked. She seemed jittery. Aster chuckled.

"I just need to escape those flock of people, it's uncomfortable."

"T--Then, I will leave--"

"No, I should thank you for helping me," Aster grasped her hand. "I know your sister, I should know your name too, I suppose."

"Um... my name is Esther Yvette, Second Princess of North Fort Kingdom," Esther replied.

Unable to bear the soft gaze of Aster, Esther casted her eyes down.

"I'm Aster di Arlingdon, Young Lord of Grand Duchy Stormhill," Aster said softly, "It is my pleasure to know Miss Yvette. As for my gratitude, I shall invite you sometimes later."

"I--Invite?!" Esther's mind wandered off wildly.

Aster laughed lightly. "I mean, we can have a nice chat later."

"Ah... I see," Esther finally calmed down. Her face was still red and Aster still held her hand. "I--I would love to... um... Young Lord, I need to return to the party again."

"Ah, I'm sorry for holding you. Please enjoy the party," Aster let go of his grasp and Esther scurried inside.

Aster's smile disappeared instantly. It was very uncomfortable holding someone's hand. But he had to do it.

Aster fished out his handkerchief and wiped his hand.

He was about to call Jain, but he heard someone from behind. "Did I disturb your moment with that lady, Young Lord?"

Aster turned around. A man with medium build, a head taller than him, wearing a dark blue vest smiled at him. On his chest, there was a lapel pin shaped like a peacock, the signature lapel pin owned by Kingdom of Rhea's royals.

With devilishly handsome smile, he took Aster's hand and kissed it gently. "My name is Gaum Cresthold, Second Prince of Kingdom Rhea."