Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 208: Familiar Feeling

The next morning, Aster went to the garden before dawn, but did not find Ramuja at his usual spot. Ramuja would regularly stand near the entrance, waiting for him to enter the garden, but he was absent today.

'Eh? Where is he?' Aster pondered, he looked around, 'Does he get sick? Maybe he should reduce his training course, there is no one that can continue doing that crazy training regimen except Irion and Ramuja.'

Aster chuckled lightly, 'I will bring him some medicine later.'

Aster entered the garden alone. He hummed lightly and skipped around happily. He tended the flowers as always, making sure that all of them were in proper position and had that healthy glow.

He still had to meet Esther Yvette today, she was still in Clearwater academy, but she would graduate soon. This was the best time to recruit her.

He felt nothing for the first half hour, until he noticed something was watching over him, and it was not Ramuja or Irion, nor the shadow guards. He could feel that the one who watched over him didn't have any particular skill to hide themselves, otherwise, it would take a bit longer for Aster to notice this guy.

Aster darted his eyes towards the spot he suspected, his soft and beautiful gaze turned into an eagle eyes, he asked, "I know you are there, show yourself."

For a few minutes, there was no answer, until a silhouette appeared. Surprisingly, the silhouette was a head shorter than him, and she looked meek. Aster was surprised, so he approached cautiously.

"Who are you? This is the private garden of Lantern Palace, no one can enter this garden."

The silhouette stood still and replied, "It's me, don't you remember me?"

"I don't even know whether you are hostile to me or not, show yourself!" Aster said with a stern tone.

The silhouette slowly walked towards Aster and a woman appeared in front of her, a cute woman, probably around his age. She was wearing a regular tunic and her long dark hair was braided on her back. When this girl smiled, she exuded a cuteness that might have overwhelmed many men.

But not Aster, instead, he became even more cautious.

"Who are you?"

The girl lowered her head, as if she was really sad with Aster's question, "You really don't remember me? You said that I am your first friend in your life. You said that I am always welcomed here"

"Miss, you might be hallucinating here," Aster frowned, "I never have any friend since I was a kid because of my illness. Please try to fabricate something more believable."

The girl's shoulder trembled, "How could you forget? Don't you remember me? We are childhood friends!"

"No, I don't." Aster replied with a nonchalant curt tone. Sometimes, there would be some peasant who said that they were close friends, his uncle is Grand Duchess' close friend, her mother is Grand Duke's ex-wife and many more.

All of them only want one thing, money. They want to get some money from the rich Grand Duchy Stormhill. Aster scoffed, "Please leave before I call the guards."

"I am Merry. You said you wouldn't forget me"

Aster paused for one second when the girl mentioned the name 'Merry'. It felt familiar in his head, but he didn't remember anything. Aster shook his head, this girl might just want to take some advantage of him. Aster snorted, "I don't know how you could enter the Grand Duchy, let alone enter my private garden. But I will pardon your impertinence, leave now."

"I will not leave!" Merry said agitatedly, "I'm here to seek justice!"

Aster was taken aback by her overreaction, "Now you are being improper! Shadow guards!"

Aster called the shadow guards and two of them appeared behind Aster, "Yes, Milord."

"Kick this girl out, I don't know how she could enter my garden, but she disturbs my morning routine!"

There was an idea in Merry's head, she shook her head in desperation, "MMorning routine! Yes! Milord, don't you remember about your morning routine in your father's logging business when you were young? I am that girl you always met during your morning routine in the flower meadow!"

Aster's heartbeat skipped again. Something felt wrong, he felt like this girl did not lie at all, but he couldn't remember anything.

'Merry, Merry uh morning routine ghost. Goddamnit, I can't remember anything!' The shadow guards already reprimanded Merry. Merry struggled as hard as she could to no avail. When the shadow guards were going to escort her out of the garden, she yelled, "Milord! Please remember! I am Merry!"

"Hold," Aster ordered. The shadow guards halted their step, Aster seemed to be in deep thought and then said, "Let her stay, but you two must protect me in case something went wrong."

"Yes, Milord." The shadow guards nodded in tacit understanding and then disappeared. Merry was trembling all over. Aster watched her over and then sat on the bench, he tapped the spot beside him and ordered, "Sit here."

Merry sat beside Aster, her frightened expression seemed to create a memory inside Aster's head. Something scared of ghosts something about singing.

Merry was actually frightened, because the shadow guards gripped her arm tightly, she felt like she would be executed, 'This is not the plan she had ordered me to do! Who would've expected that Aster became this cautious! That dead bitch!'

"Tell me again, who are you and our background, because I don't remember you at all," Aster asked.

Merry opened her mouth meekly, like a pitiful peasant girl, she started explaining, "Milord, when you were five years old, your father brought you to his logging business because it was really cold, suitable for your skin, right?"

"Indeed."

"Don't you remember about us meeting in a flower meadow near your mansion? I thought you were a ghost, because you were so pale! You still are though"

"I don't remember, but please continue," Aster said.

"Well, a year ago, I came to Dionde City to meet my boyfriend. He worked in Lantern Palace, but when I got here, they said he already resigned from his job here."

"Why did you need to meet me then? Your boyfriend might still be in Dionde City," Aster frowned, "Do you want me to help you find him?"

"WWell, yes, and um I need a place to stay. Please let me stay, because I have nowhere to go."

"Miss, although we might be acquainted with each other when we were young, I don't think we are close enough for you to live here. Please leave," Aster said, he stood from the benched and turned his back. He walked away from the spot. But he stopped when he heard a beautiful voice that started singing a small song.

'An oblivious man who lives in his bubble,

Dancing without his knowing,

That many princes are eyeing him,

How could he know? Because his heart is owned by his loved one.

A lying loved one~.'

Aster was stunned, because the voice of this girl was incredibly soothing and beautiful. Like a mermaid that would bring you into an illusion, her voice was simply extraordinary.

'Singing beautiful singing' Still, Aster tried hard to remember whether he knew this girl or not, but nothing came out. However, everything about her was too familiar.

Aster stared at this girl called Merry from head to toe, and sighed, "You may stay, I will give you a servant room. But you have to work as a maid here. Remember, I still don't know who you are, but you are not unfamiliar to me. I will help you out of good will."

"Yes!" Merry nodded happily, "Milord, I can also help you to be a singer during any of your high aristocratic events! I was a popular singer in Dionde City for a while."

"Huh, if you are a popular singer in Dionde City, why do you want to be a maid here? I find that illogical," Aster eyed her cautiously. If what she said was true, then she had no reason to follow him at all.

"Um because there are many men, both peasants and nobles, that want me as their mistress, their kept woman. I was born a slave, so I don't have anyone to protect me"

Aster still eyed this girl cautiously, then he sighed, 'I will investigate this later.'

"Follow me, I will ask my head butler to give you a room."

"Certainly, Milord!"

Merry followed Aster obediently. She saw Aster was living well, and she had heard the rumor that Aster had a special relationship with his personal guard called Ramuja. Merry stared at Aster's back grudgingly.

'I wouldn't have accepted that dead bitch's plan if it's not because of Ramuja. But as long as it works.'

'Aster, you said you are best friends. But what kind of friend would steal his best friend's man! Did you use your body? Your power? Whatever you did, you must've seduced him! You are a backstabbing slut!'

'I will take Ramuja back from you!'