Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 173: Marriage of The Year

The news about the marriage between the Duke of Stormhill and the Golden Princess of Golden Camellia swept the empire like a thunderstorm. People were shocked because they were still very young, only twenty and eighteen respectively. They had many years ahead to explore things in life before marrying.

But it seemed it was the final verdict and the marriage was rushed. They were not engaged, they were married instantly. There was a rumor spreading around that Golden princess Camille was actually pregnant with Duke Harion's child, thus, they had to marry to cover the truth.

Camille and Harion was sitting in the garden after preparing for everything. They laughed together when they listened the rumor. Because they hadn't even had a real proper date since their first meeting.

"Did they really think we had an illicit affair and produced a baby?" Harion asked, he was chuckling out of wilderment. Because it was baffling that people really spread the rumour that he was actually using his business, a debt trap, to sleep with many unwilling women.

"Well, if they really think you use debt traps to make many women sleep with you, I guess you have to find a way to trap me~" Camille teased him.

"Ridiculous!" Harion refuted. But not long after, they laughed again.

They had finished the wedding preparation, the wedding was supposedly going to take place in the Golden Palace in three days. Since Harion's parents had died and he had no other relatives, he didn't need to ask for permission. For Camille though, she had to ask her father, Emperor Leopold for his permission.

It was relieving that Emperor Leopold sent a royal letter to Camille and gave his blessing for them.

- Dear my beautiful daughter, Golden Princess Camille Anna Camellia

With this letter, I, Emperor Audric III, give my blessing to your marriage with Harion di Arlingdon, Duke of Stormhill. I cannot attend the wedding because I am still too far away, but the wedding shall be held in Golden Palace and will be personally funded with my personal treasury.

Your father loves you very much, my daughter Camille. I will send a gift for your wedding.

Your Father,

Emperor Audric III

Camille put the letter down, the smirk on her face bloomed beautifully. Tomorrow was the wedding day, they would tie their oath under the sacred Oath of Gardenia. In order to get his father emperor's blessing, she had to block all means of communication between Emperor and Empress.

Because if the Empress dared to send some letter of accusation to the Emperor, he would still believe his crazy wife more than her.

"Told you, I will obtain his blessing," Camille darted her eyes towards the woman in front of her. She was reprimanded by two shadow guards and her hands were tied. She was looking at Camille with unending hostility.

"Wait until Leopold returns home! I will tell him about your"

"About what? Tell me, what kind of trick will you be playing now?"

Empress Eva said nothing, she just growled and looked away. Camille smiled and stood from her chair, she approached Empress Eva and slapped her cheek hard.

"Listen, you insecure lowborn," Camille was looking down at Empress Eva with her golden circle turned completely black, "I know you are trying to protect Apercino because he knows your secret. I will deal with both of you after that trash emperor returns home."

"If it's not because of him, I'd skin you alive right now."

Empress Eva tried to fight back, "Hah! You still need Leopold, right? Then I will tell him about what you did to me! I will ask him to execute you right in front of my eyes!"

"Can you?" Camille smiled maliciously. Empress Eva shuddered seeing Camille's ink black eyes. It felt like she was being eaten slowly by fear.

"Do you think I will let you two alive for so long? The throne will fare better when my brother is in position," Camille grinned. "Empress, don't you think your son deserves the throne faster? How about this, I will kill both of you in an assassination attempted by your own son. It will kill you and the Emperor, and Ludwig will have a tarnished reputation before he even sits on the throne."

"You! Don't touch Ludwig!" Empress Eva snarled.

"If you can control Emperor Audric III with your words, then I can control Emperor Audric IV with my words. Let's see what kind of despair will your son's future see."

Empress Eva was utterly frightened with Camille right now. True, Camille could really end Eva's life if she wanted to, but she still needed her father, Emperor Leopold to recolonize many countries to stabilize Golden Camellia in the long term.

It was her only saving card.

Camille let Empress go after she finished talking. After the door was closed and the shadow guards had dispersed, Camille was staring outside. Servants were busy preparing for the decoration for tomorrow's wedding.

'Mom, are you watching me from heaven? I will never yield to anyone, trust me.'

***

The morning of the wedding day, people already gathered in the Golden Palace's main garden. Harion wore the classic black suit, waiting for Camille down the aisle.

Camille showed up with Lily Berzhenia and Beatrice Wildbrush, two of her supposed best friends. Because Emperor Leopold was still overseas, and Empress Eva refused to attend the wedding, Camille was accompanied with her best friends instead.

It roused pity in the audience. For such a gentle, smart and beautiful Golden Princess to have no other relative during her wedding day. Harion didn't have anyone on his side either, it could be said that both Harion and Camille were two lonely individuals that found warmth in each other.

Harion and Camille faced each other, they smiled and the priest who was between them started reciting the Oath of Gardenia.

"We are here to bless the love between a pair of young couples. Harion di Arlingdon, from House of Arlingdon, Duke of Stormhill. And Camille Anna Camellia, from the Royal House of Camellia, Golden Princess of Golden Camellia. They met in Golden Camellia as business partners, and soon developed interest in each other. Please, tell your spouse about the love inside your heart."

Harion started first, he stared at Camille with his brooding eyes, but inside his eyes, there was a deep love that was visible to everyone including the audience. It made them jealous, because Harion was indeed a fine man. Young, rich, handsome and aside from his ruthless business record, he was a proper man inside and out.

So did Camille, it made people jealous of Harion, because Camille was the best Golden Princess to ever grace Golden Camellia. Many bachelors and bachelorettes were heartbroken with their marriage.

Harion opened his mouth, "When I look in your eyes, I see a certain future that I would gladly accept. My goddess Camille, you are a perfect partner for me, the woman that I love, and uh just please accept me, because I would never marry if it's not you." Harion said awkwardly.

The audience laughed, Camille giggled and then opened her mouth, "Our first meeting was filled with debate over business. Maybe just like the rumor said, you are trapping me in a debt trap, and you forced me to marry you," Camille smiled, then glanced at the audience for a second, "For that, if it really happens, you don't need to force me. I know your sincere heart and I will gladly marry you, Harion di Arlingdon."

Camille's love confession was filled with a sarcastic remark for the people who dared to spread weird rumors about Harion. It was effective to make some of the guest's faces turn pale.

Harion grinned, he nodded gently.

"Then, please recite the Oath of Gardenia together, and perform a Gardenia of Blooming Desire Kiss."

  --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.

Camille and Harion recited the Oath of Gardenia together, then, Harion took the real Gardenia of Blooming Desire flower in a glass box. It was a fresh gardenia of blooming desire, which signified the wealth or status of the pair who got married today.

Because Gardenia of Blooming Desire was a rare flower that was hard to find, and hard to preserve. It also died fast after it was picked. Thus, to be able to perform the gardenia kiss with a true Gardenia of Blooming Desire, it showed how important this pair of lovebirds were.

Harion put the bottom of the flower on Camille's lips. Camille bit it with her lips. Harion closed his eyes and kissed Camille with the Gardenia of Blooming Desire between their lips. Gradually, their kiss turned hotter, more passionate and intense. The petals were scattered one by one and fell to the ground.

With the last petal finally falling, their lips finally met and they did a deep kiss.

The guests were clapping loudly and were mesmerized, because they just saw probably the most beautiful Gardenia Kiss ever. It was intense, passionate, yet gentle at the same time. It was the way it should've been.

Camille finally took her husband's surname. Because she never liked to be associated with the royal family anyway.

She was now Camille di Arlingdon.

Camille moved from the Golden Palace to the Lantern Palace in Dionde City with Harion. But before that, she went to Golden Princess Elena's palace. She was almost ninety now and she couldn't get up from her bed anymore. When she saw Camille, she cried with joy.

"Oh, Camille, you are here, I heard you got married," Elena said with her hoarse voice.

"Yes, ma'am," Camille sat on the edge of the bed. She held Elena's hand gently, "Are you fine nowadays?"

"I'm already this old, of course I'm not fine," Elena chuckled, "But don't worry, I can survive for a few more years. Also, I want to tell you something."

"What is it, ma'am?"

"I think I need to write a last will and inheritance, but I have no one to inherit."

"You can always give it to charity," Camille smiled. Although, she already knew the trajectory of this conversation. She didn't really want inheritance from Elena.

"No, no, I need to inherit it to someone I know," Elena rejected the idea. She then tightened her grip in Camille's hand. "I know you won't accept my inheritance, but I will give it to your child instead. I will write the will later."

Camille said nothing, because Elena was a tough, stubborn woman. She only nodded.

"One more, Camille, I have one request."

"Tell me."

"Please call me mother, at least once."

There was silence in the room, it took a while until Camille opened her mouth and uttered two words, "Yes, mother."

Elena smiled, she caressed Camille's face gently, "I've always wanted a daughter."

Camille finally left the palace. There was a lingering feeling in her heart. The feeling of warmth. She just realized that Elena really treated her like her child. Camille held her chest.

'Mom, is this the warmth you kept talking about when I was a kid?'