Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Gaum followed this slave to a tower and climbed the spiraling staircase. It was quite tiring, but he managed to reach the top with two guards on both side, solemnly guarding the door. The guards glanced at the slave and nodded, thus, the slave opened the door slowly.

Gaum was welcomed with a room without any edges in it, the floor was made out of expensive marble tiles, but there was nothing extraordinary in this room. No expensive furniture, antiques or something extremely valuable, even though this was supposed to be the room of Young Lord of Grand Duchy Stormhill. There were a bed, large wardrobe, sofa and wooden desk.

However, in that sofa, Young Lord Aster sat while reading a letter. His expression was solemn, but when he raised his head and looked at Gaum's direction, his eyes flickered and he showed a simple smile.

"Put that berry juice there," Aster ordered. The slave called Ramuja walked to the desk and put the tray there, then he stood near the door, silently waiting for another task.

Aster stood from the sofa and approached Gaum. He used a loose white shirt with tight fitting black pants. He wore pair of boots and that was it. Gaum had visited my nobles in his nineteen years of lifetime, but he never saw someone so laid back when meeting another noble.

'Yet... he looks... captivating.'

Gaum's eyes focused to the eyes of Young Lord who approached him, down to his nose, his cherry lips, thin and long neck, and his deep collarbone. Young Lord Aster was shorter than him, thus, when his eyes looked down, he could also see some of his smooth and pale chest. Gaum's Adam apple bobbed.

'Is this what Gamasiel see?'

'If this man lives in Kingdom Rhea, the barbarians would raid the palace and didn't touch any gold except this man.'

"This Young Lord greets Second Prince of Kingdom Rhea," Aster extended his hand. Gaum shook hit head a bit and responded by shaking Aster's hand.

'His palm is incredibly delicate.'

'I wonder if I grip his wrist, would it turn red? So cute...'

"Second Prince?" Aster called him.

"Oh-- Yes! It is a pleasure to meet such stunning man like Young Lord~" Gaum said cheerfully. Aster was startled by such enthusiasm, that he immediately pulled his hand.

"I--It is also my pleasure," Aster replied. However, Gaum seemed to get even more excited.

"Hm? I was about to kiss your smooth hand, may we have another handshake?" Gaum teased him.

Aster's face turned red, he turned his back and walked to the balcony, "Second Prince shouldn't say that, it would break many hearts of young maidens."

Gaum chuckled, he followed Aster to the balcony, "As long as I don't break your heart."

"I'm not a maiden!"

Gaum's chuckle turned into a unrestrained laugh, "Sure, Young Lord is not feminine at all. But you could capture the hearts of many men and women, including me," Gaum teased Aster even more.

"Y--You are not here to say such nonsensical thing! Stop it before I cancel today's meeting!"

"Oh? Don't be mad, I just can't hold myself. You are so stunning today and everyday, should I return to Kingdom Rhea and brought my Palace's marriage advocate?" Gaum giggled.

"W--Wha?! Don't say such thing lightly! Marriage is an important matter!" Aster was very flustered with such brazen flattery, since no one had ever boldly court him like this. It made him nervous and excited at the same time. Aster was so embarrassed that his face was beet red.

Gaum held his laugh after he saw Aster was about to cry out of embarrassment. He glanced at the butler who followed Aster. The butler looked calm, but it seemed that he wasn't just a regular butler, his eyes constantly side-glanced him with hostility, as if he was ready to kill Gaum if he dared to touch Young Lord Aster.

Gaum didn't understand either, it was almost like an instinct. He was always moderate in all occasions. He wouldn't flirt shamelessly to people he didn't know, he didn't even flirt to anyone except his past ex-girlfriend. But to this Young Lord, he just wanted to tease him again and again.

"I bring a gift for you," Gaum took something out of his pocket and took Aster's hand boldly. He opened his palm and hand the gift to Aster. "I hope you like it."

Aster examined the gift from Gaum. A well-preserved Pink Gardenia with slight tint of white on the edges of every petal. Pink-White Gardenia was extremely rare in this country. White Gardenia with slight pink was already uncommon, but if it was pink with slight white, it was so rare that only rich nobles could afford one or two of them. Thus, people called Pink-White Gardenia as the Gardenia of Blooming Desire.

In Golden Camellia tradition, parents would only give one Blooming Desire Gardenia to their son when they reached the adult age for him to propose to a girl. It could only be given to someone that you loved so much, since it held a meaningful message, pink for beautiful passion, and white for purity.

--To my loved one whom I would give my passion and purity,

Hold me tight until I lost my sanity,

Only with you I could be happy

Only to you, I swore my fidelity

For you, my gardenia of blooming desire --

Aster recited the Oath of Gardenia in his head, the oath of loyalty to your spouse. Giving a gardenia was already an honor, but to be handed Gardenia of Blooming Desire...

"It is a very... flattering gift, but I'm afraid I cannot accept this," Aster rejected the gift and tried to hand it to Gaum again.

However, Gaum raised his hands and cupped it together on the back of his head. He leaned on the wall and said, "I wont take it back."

"Second Prince, it seems that I misunderstand your intention. But this Gardenia of Blooming Desire is extremely rare and expensive, it is should be given to someone you see as your soul mate."

"But I see you as my soul mate~"

"Y--You!" Aster was speechless once more, how could he say something so sacred in the tradition lightly, "This is blatant disrespect! Do you know the Oath of Gardenia is very sacred in Golden Camellia Empire?"

"I know it is sacred, that is why I'm giving mine to you," Gaum walked to the table and sat on the chair, he was now sitting face to face with Aster.

"We don't even know each other more than ten minutes and you already give me this? Is this some kind of lunatic tendency?" Aster snarled harshly.

Gaum knew that he was very impulsive, and it was crazy for him to hand the precious Gardenia of Blooming Desire to someone he barely talked with.

'It's not even the original gift.' Gaum had prepared the real semi-formal gift to Aster and it was in his left pocket. However, he impulsively took the Gardenia and hand it easily. He and Gamasiel only had one each from their deceased parents. He carried this Gardenia solely as a token of reminder about his parents.

'And I just gave the only memory I have from my parents to him, how stupid.'

Aster went awry from his planned talk about business and partnership with Gaum. All he could think of right now was this Gardenia of Blooming Desire. He still hadn't had one from his parents, and it might take years until he got one.

'It is indeed so beautiful.'

'Why would he give this to me anyway...' Aster flashed a glance to Gaum before lowered his head again.

'Is this his declaration? How... bold.'

"I see that your mind is in chaos right now," Gaum chuckled, "No need to take it heavily, I don't expect an answer anyway. But I will keep trying," Gaum smiled cheerfully.

"I--I see, then..." Aster called Jain, "Bring me a box and put this gardenia in it."

"Yes, Young Lord." Jain nodded and took an empty jewelry box.

"Thank you," Aster nodded. He opened the jewelry box and carefully put the gardenia inside.

"You even put the gardenia carefully, I'm flattered."

"T--This Gardenia is very expensive and rare, it will be a waste if I throw this away." Aster replied hastily.

"Well, I'm still flattered that you might consider my feeling," Gaum sipped the tea served for him and finally calmed down, "Well, since Young Lord invites me here, I believe there is a matter you need to discuss with me. I'm listening."