Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 202: How to be A Lord

Charles let Aster go soon after he left the room. Aster immediately packed all his things and then left the castle. He shuddered all the way, imagining the scary Charles who would swallow him without even spitting the bones. It made him only want to run away as far as he could, maybe to the point that he just wanted to be invisible in front of Charles.

Aster was that frightened.

Aster returned to Lantern Palace after the whole day of travel, but he didn't sleep at all. He was guarded all the way until Dionde City and he could finally take a relieved breath after his carriage entered the Lantern Palace.

Aster rushed to his room and then took a warm bath, he ignored every servant who greeted him or asked him. He even ignored Ramuja and Irion who followed him and asked what just happened. He just wanted to hide right now.

'I am really weak, useless a fool' Aster was dazed in the bathtub, he kept having the nightmare of Charles destroying everything and then chained him. It was even worse when he saw Ramuja's death in his nightmare.

'I will not let that happen! But what can I do I'm so weak and powerless'

Knock. Knock.

"Who?!" Aster was alerted. There was a brief silence and then he replied, "This is Irion, Milord. You've been inside the bathroom for almost an hour, it is not good for your skin"

Aster had just realized that his skin started turning red and painful, he was so observed in his fear that he forgot about his skin condition. He immediately dried himself and then wore a thin garment.

He opened the bathroom door and saw Ramuja and Irion kneeling in front of the bathroom door. Their expression was solemn.

"Milord, what happened?" Irion asked first. Aster was silent, and then shook his head, "I'm fine, I'm just tired"

"Milord, you are not fine," Ramuja added, "This subordinate knows that you have something in your mind"

Both Irion and Ramuja stared at him as if they were really worried. Aster sighed and then said, "Ramuja, leave the room first."

Ramuja was startled, he wanted to plead, but looking at his master's solemn expression, he nodded obediently, "This servant will return"

There was only Irion and Aster in this room. Irion was kneeling obediently, waiting for his master's words.

"IIrion, why do you want to follow me?"

"This subordinate doesn't understand."

"You are a strong knight, you have a good position in the palace. But you decided to resign and become my unknown guard medal subordinate instead, why did you do that?"

Irion finally looked up at Aster and then smiled, "Milord, don't you remember our first meeting when we were young?"

"We've met before?!" Aster was startled. Irion nodded and continued, "It is understandable for you not to remember, because you never put other noble kids in your eyes. Back then, when my house was still an Earl house, you were invited to a party in Duchy of Silvor. You are cold and aloof, you didn't take anyone into your eyes, as if everyone was just a speck of dust."

Irion's gaze slowly became gentler, "I was a rough bully back then. Since my family had a great position, I could bully other kids without any consequence. So, at that party, I bullied other kids too"

Irion lowered his head slightly out of embarrassment, "Seeing you cold and aloof like that, I decided to approach you to give you a lesson, but instead of being scared, you didn't show any strange emotion, in fact, you didn't show any emotion at all."

***

'You, Sissy boy! Just because you are from Grand Duchy, you didn't even look at me? Huh?' Child Irion raised his fist to threaten Child Aster who was petite for his age. But Aster didn't even flinch.

'Do I know you?' Aster asked lightly.

'You!' Irion directed his fist towards Aster, but his fist stopped when it was only an inch away from Aster's cheek. He stopped because he was paralyzed by Aster's eyes. The golden circle in his eyes slowly dissipated and the blue pupil turned black.

Child Aster slapped Irion on the cheek, it wasn't even a hard slap, but Irion staggered and fell on his knees. It was not the physical pain that made him yield, it was the pressure that Aster gave which frightened, yet, fascinated him.

'You are unworthy of my time, filthy mongrel.'

Child Aster left just like that, as if nothing had happened. Irion was looking at his back, and at that moment, he felt like this person was so powerful and domineering in his eyes.

***

"I'm sorry for slapping you back then" Aster apologized, but Irion frowned instead.

"Why is Milord apologizing? You are my master, and I am your humble subordinate. In fact, if it's possible, I would beg you to recite the line and do it to me again," Irion laughed.

"I I just got overpowered by Charles. I feel like I'm going to disappear, I was so scared of him, that's why I don't want Ramuja to show this fragile side of me" Aster finally confessed.

Irion was stunned for a moment, then he looked angry, not at Charles, but at him, "Milord, you are as powerful as him! Why are you scared of another golden blood?! What you just said is disgraceful to me, Milord! Because I only follow the powerful Aster Di Arlingdon, not a weak kid!"

Aster was silent in front of Irion. Then he shuddered, "But I compared to him, I'm just a kid"

"But you are indeed a kid, Milord. You have been well protected by your mother for so long, now you are thrown into the politics of Golden Camellia. But that doesn't mean you should yield in front of the enemy!" Irion's countenance was tense, as if he was holding a lot of anger.

"What can I do anyway maybe I should just yield and admit defeat"

"Milord! Pull yourself together!" Irion finally couldn't contain his anger. He hated this self-deprecating kid in front of him. This was not his powerful lord, "You are still a kid, but you are able to scheme against Empress Ceci, against Gamasiel, and you are able to command many to reoccupy your rightful position! You are not weak!"

Irion stood and gripped Aster's shoulders tightly, "Milord, I admire you and I will follow you forever. But I only follow a master that will stand up again after he falls! Please keep it together!"

Aster never knew that Irion could be this forceful, yet, when he saw Irion looking frustrated, there was a light in his heart, 'Does he really trust me that much?'

"Will you follow me even during my hard times?"

"I will die for you, Milord!" Irion said unhesitatingly, "But I will only die to a master that will not fear, even when facing the storm!"

Irion showed his guard medal and earnestly said, "I keep this guard medal close to me in case I died when protecting you, so you can give this to someone else. Milord, I devote myself to you because you are the epitome of power for me, calm and dangerous as a deep lake. Unlike Ramuja, he will die for you because he loves you. But I will die for you because I want to protect my honor!"

Aster was stunned when he saw how passionate Irion really was. Sometimes, he thought that Irion didn't have any reason to stick with him except for his weird fetish. Turns out, he was indeed fiery enough to burn the land.

Aster clenched his fist and resolutely nodded, "I'm sorry for doubting you, and doubting myself. I will not fear."

Irion nodded passionately, he finally had a relieved laugh and then said, "Milord, you can be kind to some people that are important to you, but don't be soft. You are a Lord, our life is in your hand. Use it as you wish because we trust you."

'He really trusts me like this' somehow, Aster felt ashamed of himself. Because at some point, he just wanted to hide because he was so scared, "Thank you," Aster said.

"Um if Milord wants to thank me, can you recite what you said when you were a kid?" Irion looked eager and he kneeled in front of his master.

Aster felt funny, because Irion was very fiery before, and then suddenly kneeled and begged for Aster to mock him again.

'I am the prideful lord of Grand Duchy Stormhill after all.'

Aster's eyes turned sharp as he stood up and looked down at Irion, "You are unworthy of my time, filthy mongrel."

Aster recited it cold and unfeeling tone, just like what he said when he was a kid. Irion was dazed, his mouth was open and he drooled. Soon, he trembled out of excitement. It took him a few solid minutes to recover.

He wiped the drool on his handsome face and then thanked his master, "Milord, thank you for your reward!"

"Go now, call Ramuja. I got tired seeing you for too long," Aster was still doing his cold demeanor, and Irion couldn't help but squeal happily as he walked with a big smile on his face.

When Ramuja saw Irion with dazed expression and few dumb laughs, he got suspicious. He entered the room and then kneeled in front of his master, "Milord, what happened to you?"

Aster's gaze softened immediately, he asked Ramuja gently, "Ramuja, do you ever think that I am just a weak kid in your eyes?"

"Never, Milord."

"Do you ever think of me as undeserving for this powerful title of mine?"

"Never, you deserve this more than anyone."

"Will you ever leave me against the monster that could kill us?"

Ramuja finally looked at his master and he resolutely said, "Milord, my breath is yours. I will never leave you."

Aster smiled satisfied and then patted Ramuja's head, "That's enough reason for me."