Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 213: Under the Asterite Tower

"My prince, you should not be filial to a man."

"Who are you?!" Ramuja fixed his stance, ready to fight whoever this guy was. But the guy only stood still and continued;

"A man is for pleasure, no matter how beautiful or handsome he is. My prince, please reconsider"

"I said, who are you!?" Ramuja directed a punch to this guy, but he evaded swiftly, which surprised Ramuja. The guy dressed in black calmly said, "This one shall return. Again, please reconsider your choice, my prince. You need to have a descendant for the throne."

The guy disappeared from the sight, which caught Ramuja off guard. Because the way this mysterious guy disappeared was different from Jain's technique that he learned from Irion. Jain would sidestep and create a small mirage and then disappeared, while this guy took a step back and casted a small ball filled with a dizzying essence and then disappeared.

'He used an essence ball!' The essence ball on the floor made Ramuja hallucinated slightly, he kicked the essence ball and gradually regained his consciousness.

'Essence ball that guy must be from the faraway southeast, Irion said that they use essence balls because disappearing technique hasn't had an advance development there, but poison and potion are very prominent, because they are rich in natural resources to make all of those.'

'What is someone from faraway southeast doing here!?'

Ramuja got alerted instantly, he rushed to his master, he was afraid that guy was targeting Milord. But he saw Milord enjoying his white wine while watching over the Asterite Tower from his seat, nothing happened.

Aster turned his head and smiled sweetly at Ramuja, "Sober?"

"Y yes, Milord, are you okay?"

Aster raised his brows, "Of course, I am!" he laughed, "You said you are sober already, but I see you are still drunk."

"No, Milord! There is"

Something felt off for Ramuja. He looked around and saw no one except the waiter stood at the same position. He got confused himself, "There is no one leaving the bathroom before me?"

Aster was bursting into laughter, "Ahahaha! Of course not! Silly, we are the only one in this restaurant, remember?"

"Yes, but" Ramuja looked around again, checking every corner, in case he was still hallucinating. But there was no one, just like what his master said. Ramuja gulped, 'He called me prince Did he really refer to me as a prince?'

'Who is he?'

Aster looked at the confused Ramuja and giggled funnily, he stood from his chair and then walked towards Ramuja. He held Ramuja's hand gently and said, "Why don't we have a night stroll? I'm sure you will be fine after a few minutes of walking."

Ramuja stared at his master who looked very sincere, he finally nodded, "Yes, Milord."

'Milord is fine, as long as he is fine maybe that guy is just bluffing, or he got the wrong person.'

Aster wore his coat and hat, and they left the restaurant. Aster ordered his coachman to just go to Asterite Tower and wait for them there, because he wanted to take a walk with Ramuja, and the carriage set off.

Aster and Ramuja paced through the crowd in Dionde City main square. Nobody recognized him at night, because the people were busy with their dinner or just rushing to go back home. Dionde City never slept.  

Although Ramuja said it would be fine, the accident was something that would linger in his mind for a while, because faraway southeast was his hometown. The origin that always stuck in his mind, his real home was not in Golden Camellia, it was a small village in faraway southeast.

Aster glanced at Ramuja who was dazed, he sighed and then held Ramuja's arm tightly, like the other couples in Dionde City's street, he leaned towards his lover gently and said coquettishly, "Ramuja~ why are you ignoring me?"

Ramuja finally snapped out of his daze and saw his mighty master, who usually looked serious with all his documents in the office, clinging in his arm and clawing it slightly, like a kitten begging to be petted.

Ramuja smiled and patted Aster's head, "I'm sorry, I mused about something just now. What do you want for compensation?"

Aster was slightly surprised that Ramuja actually acted like a real boyfriend, instead of kneeling and asking his need like a servant he was. It was delightful for Aster and increased his mood instantly, he leaned closer and pouted, "Well, I'm a bit tired, can you carry me to Asterite Tower?"

Ramuja chuckled, he bowed and scooped Aster's leg, "Wha"

Ramuja carried Aster in bridal style, much to Aster's dismay, "Pput me down!"

Ramuja laughed mischievously, "Why? You said you want to be carried to Asterite Tower."

"Not like this!" Aster protested. Dionde City was the city of love in Golden Camellia, there were countless couples that showed their romance in public every day and nobody batted an eye. But still, Aster's protest attracted few eyes.

Probably because they noticed his voice, the voice of their mighty ruler.

Knowing many eyes were at him, Aster blushed and hid his face in Ramuja's chest, "Go" he said slowly.

"Eh? I was going to put you down," Ramuja teased Aster even more.

"JJust go!"

"Alright, kitty, no need to roar like that," Ramuja giggled happily. He carried Aster like this while Aster hid his face in Ramuja's face in embarrassment. Aster could feel the warmth of Ramuja, alongside his quick heartbeat.

It gave him assurance in his heart, 'He feels the same as me Ramuja, you feel this too, right? This heartbeat only to you, my heartbeat would pace like this.'

Ramuja paced through the crowd who glanced at this cute couple, he hummed lightly and after a while, stopped right in front of Asterite Tower.

The Asterite Tower was a big tower symbolizing the purity of love in Golden Camellia. If the Golden Palace in Roagelt symbolized undefeated mightiness of Golden Camellia and the royal bloods, the Asterite Tower symbolized the purity of love with its big diamond-like stone on top of the tower, the stone was called Asterite, which was more expensive than diamond. Nevertheless, both Golden Palace and Asterite Tower basically showed how wealthy Golden Camellia really was.

The tall tower was lit at night, which created a romantic atmosphere, many couples would come to Asterite Tower and confess their love here. 

The garden around Asterite Tower was not crowded right now, because there were no special events whatsoever. However, the garden was still filled with few couples at some spot.

Ramuja found a good spot, he could see the tall tower and there were no other couples around them, he put Aster down gently and then said, "We are here, Aster."

Aster finally raised his head, the beautiful Asterite Tower was in front of him. He gazed at this beauty for a while. It had been a while since he last visited this tower, "It's so beautiful, isn't it? My parents donated the Asterite on top of the tower to boost our economy back then."

"Yes, it is," Ramuja smiled, "But it's not about the economy, it's about the symbolism. I believe Lord Harion and Lady Camille put Asterite on top of the tower, because they wished that you will be the light for everyone in this city."

Ramuja lowered his head and kissed Aster's forehead, "Which I believe, their wish does come true."

Aster felt like his heart was beating rapidly, he was staring at Ramuja's sincere eyes, there was no ambition, no greed, no conceitedness. There was only purity and sincerity in Ramuja's eyes.

"Ramuja, why are you so kind to me"

"Eh? Because I love you," Ramuja found the question a bit funny, "Aster, you are the one who saved me, the one who nurtured me, the one who protected me. But maybe At some point, I fell in love with you simply because it's you. I may have fallen in love with you at first sight."

"Ramuja, I've met many people, many nobles in my life, but none make me like this. Nobody thawed my heart like this"

Aster and Ramuja intertwined their hands together, they shared their warmth in this cold autumn. Aster couldn't stop staring at Ramuja's eyes, his eyes slowly turned golden, but it was different from Charles' condensed golden eyes.

Aster's golden eyes looked very clear and soft, there was no greedy obsession in his eyes. He smiled at Ramuja, "I love you."

Ramuja had seen Aster's golden eyes many times, but this time, Aster's golden eyes were very soft. It was not pressuring, not choking him with his golden blood aura. But it made his heart beat rapidly, he felt hot all over.

'Is this your true golden eyes, Aster? If it is, I beg you to only show this in front of me, not to other men.'

"I wonder if I can fall in love deeper than this, I love you Aster."

Aster shed a few tears, he smiled, and they kissed under the luminous Asterite Tower.