Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 197: The Great King Courting II

Aster had a nice dinner with Mariette and Tuskan. They talked about many things, but mostly about stress-free topics like hobbies or such. None of them were comfortable enough to talk about the politics of Golden Camellia and Great Arctyr.

"You should try the mango dessert, this is the recipe of my late mother, she often made one herself when I was a child," Aster mentioned. Mariette and Tuskan looked at the ice cream and pudding dessert with diced mango, the ice cream was also made with mango and there was cream cheese to thicken the composition. It was sour heaven indeed. But they were silenced for a while.

"What's the matter?" Aster asked. Mariette and Tuskan were talkative during the whole dinner and now they were suddenly silent? Aster pondered and then continued, "If the mango dessert is not within your liking, then I can order another dessert from the chef."

"No, it's not that," Mariette sighed. This mango dessert was indeed rare to find in Golden Camellia, because this was the royal family of Great Arctyr's signature dish. Only the royal chef and some noble knew how to make this perfectly. Mariette took a spoonful to taste the dessert and she nodded again.

'His late mother must've known about this recipe from late Aunt Celine, father said that she was a great cook when she lived in Great Arctyr.'

Mariette said in a low tone to Aster, "Aster, after this, can we talk to you privately? Only three of us though" Mariette glanced at the big servant that had been staring with obvious hostility at Tuskan.

Although Tuskan himself didn't seem to take him in his eyes, instead, Tuskan didn't move his sight from Aster, not even a second.

Aster hummed low and then nodded, "We will talk on my balcony after this, is that okay?"

"Sure," Mariette smiled. They finished their dinner and then headed to Aster's room, Ramuja wanted to follow, but Aster ordered him to return to his room instead.

"But Milord, I'm here to guard you" Ramuja said, almost whimpered.

"What attack? Just leave now, Ramuja. I'll call you back tomorrow morning," Aster commanded him. Ramuja glared at Tuskan again, but that guy didn't seem to care at all. He still had his hot gaze at Aster.

Ramuja gritted his teeth and then left them. Aster sighed, he invited Tuskan and Mariette to his room and they sat in the balcony, "So, what is this all about? Is it something important?"

"Yes," Mariette replied, "I know this might be sudden for you, but you must know the origin of your late mother. She was a half-blood, she was both a royal Camellian and Arctyrian."

"So, you are part of our family, your mother is technically our cousin, so you're our nephew" Tuskan added.

Aster didn't seem to be surprised, he just nodded and replied, "Well, that's not really a surprise anymore for me."

Mariette and Tuskan jolted, they really didn't see any trace of surprise from Aster. Aster laughed low and then came inside his room, he opened the drawer and took a silver ring that shaped like a lion head and the eyes were two sapphires.

"This is my mother's ring, she gave it to me after she died"

Aster gave it to Mariette and Mariette inspected it, she compared it with hers, 'The shape, the material and even the sapphire eyes, it's all similar like mine. This ring is the legit signature ring for a Great Princess of Arctyr.'

"Well, she said in her book that this was given by his mother, or should I call, my grandmother, Great Princess Celine Hessel Signe," Aster added.

Sure enough, Aster was the legit holder of this ring. Based on his position, if he returned in Great Arctyr, he would be lavished with wealth and protection, "Why didn't tell you tell us sooner!" Mariette asked excitedly. She hugged Aster warmly, there were tears in her eyes, "You are our last remaining family, we will protect you. You can just ask, right, Tuskan?"

While Mariette was excitedly hugging Aster, Tuskan froze on his seat, he nodded hesitatingly. And then said, "Aster, there is some setback about this, but I want to talk to you about something privately, without Mariette."

Mariette stared at her brother suspiciously, "Tuskan, don't say that you"

"Yes, I did."

"You!" Mariette wanted to curse her brother, but she sighed and held Aster's hand, "No matter what, I always support you, okay? We are family, well you are my nephew technically, but we are at the same age, so let's just drop the formality."

Aster was also suspicious with Tuskan, but he nodded to Mariette, "I'm glad that I still have some loyal family with me," Aster put a pressure on the 'loyal' while side-eyeing Tuskan. Tuskan's expression was solemn, but he said nothing.

Mariette and Tuskan left the room, but before Tuskan closed the door, Aster said, "Stay for the night, I've prepared the room for each of you. And, Tuskan, meet me in the south garden at dawn."

"Yes," Tuskan nodded. There was still no expression in his face. He was really solemn, and somehow, looked slightly guilty.

Aster closed the door, his intuition said that Tuskan's deal must've been very one-sided with that guy, 'Let's see how he would explain this'

***

Tuskan was sitting near the fountain, his brain was thinking hard on how to tell Aster about this one-sided agreement with Charles. It was partly his fault too, since he lost the debate against Charles, 'That guy is scary to the bone.'

He was known to be the ruthless great king that would trample any enemy for his country, but against Charles, he found himself losing. Charles was extremely overpowering and he could flip the table with many arguments and choices that bind Tuskan.

"Oh, have you been long here?" Aster approached Tuskan alone.

"You are not with that big servant of yours?" Of course, Tuskan noticed that big guy was glaring at him with overpowering hostility. Not that he cared much about it, 'Well, maybe slightly. Since Aster is too breathtaking, maybe that servant also has feelings for him.'

"No, I told him to stay outside the garden," Aster grinned, "So, what explanation awaits me here?"

Tuskan sighed, he scratched his head and stayed silent for a few minutes until he opened his mouth, "Remember when I said that I will have a contract with Charles so he would help me retook the crown? I did, and it's very one-sided."

"What kind of one-sided?"

"The contract stated that I should not meddle with the politics of Golden Camellia, and I should obey all his instruction as long as it didn't harm Great Arctyr, but it's only for ten months."

"Ten months? So Charles will declare a coup against his father during next spring"

"Presumably, that's why I know that you are not allied with Charles, but I feel helpless myself, because I can't directly support you," Tuskan took Aster's hand and kissed it gently, "I'm sorry."

Aster chuckled, "Is this part of that Great Arctyr's tradition?"

Tuskan blushed, "WWell, not really"

Aster smiled and replied, "It's fine. I know your position back then, I know that you are desperate to take over your kingdom again. So, I could see how you would accept such a burdening contract with Charles. I know how pressuring Charles can be."

"I can still support you through Mariette though, she is still neutral. I am the one that is bound by contract with Charles, not her," Tuskan tried to compensate Aster, and Aster only nodded, "I will consider it."

Aster grinned mischievously and changed the topic, because he thought that his topic was too heavy, "Well, since our Great King Tuskan is now probably the best eligible bachelor in Great Arctyr, do you have anyone in your mind? You need a queen to control the people anyway~

Tuskan's cheek grew even hotter, he lowered his face in shame, "NNothing in particular well, there is one" he glanced at Aster, but lowered his head quickly. He cupped his hands together out of nervousness.

Aster was oblivious, and he chuckled, "Wow, what kind of woman is able to charm the great king like this? What an amazing girl!"

"He is indeed amazing" Tuskan approved. Aster raised his brow, "Great King is in love with a man? Well, it's okay~ In Golden Camellia, everyone can have a beautiful love as long as it's mutual."

"Really?" Tuskan asked, he raised his eyes, looking hopefully at Aster. Aster smiled and nodded, "Yes, because love is love. There is no social boundary as long as it's mutual."

Tuskan was gazing at Aster's profile, he was indeed breathtaking. But it was not only his great beauty, his demeanor, his way of speaking, his status all added to this one dream called Aster. The dream that came to him whenever he tried to ignore his feelings.

Aster laughed when Tuskan was staring at him with his sparkling eyes. He was at the same height as Ramuja, but Tuskan had beautiful green eyes and auburn short hair. He was handsome, he showed what kind of man that would be the best to represent the Great Arctyr.

Aster said, "Sit on the bench."

Tuskan obeyed and he sat on the bench while he saw Aster was looking around, trying to find one particular flower, just like last time in Velvet Castle.

When Aster found it, he put the purple flower in Tuskan lips and then kissed it gently. Tuskan didn't fight, nor responded to it. He was simply drowning in Aster's deep eyes.

After Aster put a gentle kiss he said, "Well, the flower kiss today is my gift for you. You might find this disgusting, but it's a custom in Golden Camellia. I kissed you with a purple peony, a flower symbolizing nobility and value. Because you are you are still the best aristocrat I've ever seen. You are gallant, responsible, and wise. I know you will be a great king."

'And you make the perfect queen' Tuskan listened to all Aster's words and he finally realized that he couldn't escape anymore, 'I fell in love with you, Aster.'

Tuskan got up from the bench and smiled at Aster, "I will show you that I will be a great king, please wait for me, okay?"

"Huh? Of course, I will wait for you, in fact, you should take your time. I will always accept you two with an open door here, we are family."

'Yes, we are family. But Aster, I have more than that in my heart.'

Tuskan nodded and he left Aster with a relieved, yet determined heart.

Aster laughed heartily, "He really is, the best noble I've ever seen. If only I could be as strong as him"

Aster had admired this guy's honesty, nobility and virtue after they met in Velvet Castle, "At least I'm better than him on social skills, if he is 0, at least I'm 20, hahahaha."

Ramuja's gaze darkened. He saw everything as he hid on a tree in the garden. His master ordered him to stay outside the garden, but how could he let his master alone with that guy?

'Sure enough, he would do something like that, he charmed everyone.'