Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 216: The Singer of Winter Feast

Aster was busy preparing for the Winter Feast, there would be many things to accommodate. He barely had any time to rest, let alone a time to enjoy the scenery outside with Ramuja.

Speaking of Ramuja, the big boy was finally standing near the door, casting his eyes down in shame. It took him two more weeks until he finally left that playroom. It must have been shameful for him to be holed inside his master's room and played with countless toys until he finally realized that he had abandoned many things, his training, his duty, and his lover.

Aster messaged his temple, he closed his tired eyes and rested his back on the chair. He took a deep breath and glanced at Ramuja who was still standing shamefully, "Are you satisfied?" Aster asked casually.

Like a thunder on a clear sky, Ramuja jolted slightly, he approached his master slowly and then kneeled in front of him, "MMilord, I'm sorry for being unreasonable. My mind just blanks out when I see the toys, it is very childish of me to play with toys while you are busy with many things, I am sorry"

Aster chuckled, he patted Ramuja's head, "It's fine. As long as you are doing well, I know that your childhood must've been rough, since you were brought from your homeland to a foreign land as a slave. It must've been quite surprising for you to see so many toys."

Aster caressed Ramuja's face gently and pinched Ramuja's chin, he held the chin up, so their eyes could meet, "In fact, it's fine if you spend some more time there. I'm doing fine here."

"BBut, you are obviously very tired. Milord, I'm sorry for being ignorant" Ramuja stared at his master's flickering golden circle eyes. He noticed the dark eye bags under Milord's beautiful eyes and felt even guiltier, "Is there anything I can do, Milord?"

"Why? Do you feel guilty for ignoring me for almost a month?" Aster laughed, "Ramuja, it's fine"

"It's not fine!" Ramuja rebuked, he held his master's hand and immediately noticed his master's calluses, "Milord, how long have you been staying in this office? Your hand is full of calluses!"

Aster instinctively tried to pull his hand, but Ramuja held it firmly, there was a determination in Ramuja's face, "Milord, I will help you! Please order me to do anything!"

Ramuja's firm determination gave Aster a funny idea, he grinned mischievously, "Anything?"

"Anything!"

"Well, you see, my hand is full of calluses. Must've been because I write too much, I need a remedy," Aster said.

"I will go to the palace doctor"

"No need, just use your mouth," Aster said calmly. Which left Ramuja dumbfounded, he stared at his master as if he wanted to say something, but decided to keep his mouth shut. Aster almost laughed from Ramuja's funny face, he repeated, "Just use your mouth, lick it."

"Yes, Milord"

Ramuja opened his mouth, his red tongue touched the middle finger first. He put his master's slender middle finger inside his mouth and twirled around it with his tongue. Ramuja closed his eyes and did the same to all his master's fingers, one by one entered his mouth and Ramuja tried his best to not let his master's precious finger touch his teeth.

Aster bit his lower lip, trying hard not to make weird noises. Ramuja was extremely skilled with his tongue, the last time he used it to lick over his nipple, it made him almost faint out of pleasure, "Do you like it?" Aster asked.

"Hhike it" Ramuja replied with his master's finger still inside his mouth.  "Ramuja, I"

"Milord, I come here to volunteer!" the office door was suddenly opened without any regard. Merry was opening the door carelessly. She saw Milord Aster sitting on his office chair and Ramuja was kneeling beside him. He had Milord's fingers inside his mouth, while sucking it deliciously. As if it was a delicious candy.

The three of them were staring at each other. Aster drew his fingers from Ramuja's mouth and then wiped it with his handkerchief. Ramuja stood straight and instantly blocked Milord from Merry's sight.

"What are you doing here!?" Ramuja yelled fiercely to Merry.

It took a while for Merry to process the whole thing, after she finally reacted, she pushed Ramuja, but Ramuja didn't budge at all.

"I'm here to talk with Milord! Move!" Merry yelled back.

"I will not let you see him!"

"Ramuja," Aster called him in a firm tone, and then said, "She wants to meet me, go stand on the corner."

Ramuja turned his head to his master, his eyes were a bit confused. As if begging, he wanted to persuade his master to kick Merry away. But Aster firmly said, "She wants to meet me."

Ramuja grudgingly stood in the corner, with anxiety in his eyes. He saw Merry clenched her fists tight before loosened it and put on her innocent face again.

"Milord, I'm here to volunteer!" Merry said.

"Volunteer? For what? You are just a simple maid here," Aster disapproved, he was already displeased because this girl had no manner at all. This office was his private office, but she barged in without any permission, "Also, remember, this is the Grand Duke office, you are prohibited to enter without my permission. You might get prose--"

Merry didn't seem to care, she cut Aster's sentence halfway, "I'm here to volunteer as a singer!" Merry said proudly. She glanced at Ramuja who was fuming in rage on the corner and her lips perked up, "I'm a very good singer, Milord can ask Ramuja about that."

"Ramuja? Why would I ask him?" Aster glanced at Ramuja and then Merry suspiciously, "Did he ever hear you singing?"

"NNo! Milord, I never heard this girl sing, never!" Ramuja rebuked immediately, while Merry said nothing, but still kept her prideful posture.

Aster was a bit surprised with Ramuja's overreaction. He asked Merry, "Well, to be the Singer of Winter Feast, you need to be really good and really popular. I don't think you fit for the second requirement."

"I do! If you go around Dionde and ask the people if they know about Merry Wood, the Dionde Diva, they will say yes! That's why Ramuja is lying to you, Milord! I am really popular in Dionde! He is lying if he said he never heard me singing!" Merry said confidently.

"Really? How come I've never heard of you before"

"Maybe Milord has some screw loose? How come you don't know about me! That means you are not a good lord!" Merry said, half insulting to Aster.

"How dare you insult Milord!" Ramuja wanted to push this girl out, but Aster stopped Ramuja;

"Stop right there, you have no right to intervene," Aster ordered.

He was actually quite angry when Merry insulted his capability, Dionde City and all regions under Grand Duchy Stormhill were like his children. He took care of them really carefully.

But if it was true that Merry was really popular in Dionde, how come he never heard of her? Not even once.

Aster observed Merry from head to toe, and then nodded solemnly, "Alright then, I will allow you to be the Singer of Winter Feast. Just don't do something stupid, and don't embarrass me. The Emperor and Crown Prince will attend the Winter Feast in Dionde this year."

"Trust me, you will not be disappointed!" Merry said smugly. She then turned her back and walked off without any permission. As if she didn't put Aster in her eyes.

Ramuja gnashed furiously. This girl was very different from the sweet Merry he had known for a long time. This girl had no manners and she didn't have any respect for Milord Aster at all.

"Milord, please excuse me for a bit," Ramuja said rashly. He disappeared instantly.

Aster was alone in his room, he tried to put his suspicion at rest, but looking at Ramuja's overreaction, it only sprouted the seed of doubt in his heart, 'Why is Ramuja acting so anxious whenever that girl is around?'

'Was there something I missed? Did I really forget something?'

Aster sighed and then rested his back on the chair again. He looked at his fingers that had been licked by Ramuja, then he clenched his fist, "I will not forgive anyone who lied to me."

***

Ramuja rushed out to find Merry who was humming lightly on the corridor, she didn't notice that Ramuja rushed to her with his speed. In a split second, Merry could feel that her waist was gripped and she disappeared from the corridor.

She felt like she was flying, not long after, she appeared again in the private garden of Milord Aster. She looked around confusedly, but when she turned her back, she saw Ramuja with his furious eyes.

"You dare to disrespect Milord like that," Ramuja said in a low, almost grunting voice.

Merry didn't seem to be scared of Ramuja, she put her hand on her hips and her chest rose proudly, "Of course! Who would respect a bitch lord like him anyway! I can be much more than him, hmph!"

"Apologize before I kill you!" Ramuja gnashed in anger. But instead of yielding, Merry smugly said;

"Crown Prince Charles said to me that he will give me a lot of money and noble position as long as I help him! I can be more than Aster! We can be rich and powerful together!"