Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 218: Preparation for the Bloody Winter

Charles was standing still in front of his army. He stood on a podium, if one saw the wave of army troops flooded a very wide meadow with their presence, they would be surprised that Crown Prince Charles owned all those vigorous soldiers. Most of them were following the Crown Prince by their own willingness.

Crown Prince Charles was famous for his military tactics against skirmishes with other countries. He could also recolonize many countries that broke away from Golden Camellia's restraint. Those small countries had had their short-lived freedom until Charles came and massacred them ruthlessly and recolonized them again, just with a steel hand.

He was quite different from Emperor Leopold or Emperor Ludwig, Charles was ruthless to the bone, naturally cunning, since he could break the trust of many countries and create internal conflict in ease.

Charles was also a golden blood that had enormous pressure aura, all that traits combined, he made an exceptional leader for many. Thus, many people volunteered to be his underlings, Charles was that charismatic.

Charles inhaled deeply and said with a firm, deep voice, "My loyal soldiers, we are here to prepare ourselves to a new age. I am deeply saddened to tell you this, but our beloved Golden Camellia has been rotting under the rule of my father, Emperor Audric IV. His rule is flawed, because he is very lenient to everything. Corruptions are rising, abuse of law occurs everywhere, and our glorious Golden Camellia has been slandered by other countries because we are not as strong as we were. Rally with me, I shall put your trust on my shoulder and carry it with pride, with your power, Golden Camellia shall bloom as the jewel of the earth!"

The soldiers' chest was raising with pride, they were hypnotized with the charisma of Crown Prince Charles, they yelled the war cry of old Golden Camellia, "LONG LIVE OUR GOLDEN EMPEROR, LONG LIVE THE JEWEL OF THE EARTH, GOLDEN CAMELLIA SHALL BLOOM!"

Charles' golden circle glinted, he saw the wave of soldiers who cheered up his name in this wide meadow, this was not even half of his real army. Because he stationed many of his armies to colonize many new countries.

'Aster, if you see this, will you understand the disparity of our power?'

***

Ramuja was frustrated with his master's confusing behavior. He kneeled in front of his master and asked, "Milord, what will you do to Merry? She is going to be the Singer of the Winter Feast."

"What will I do? Of course, accommodate her job as the Singer of Winter Feast, what else?" Aster raised his brow.

"But what if she starts slandering you to the crowd while in Winter Feast? She is quite an unstable girl, Milord. I don't want anyone to think bad about you."

"I've been slandered my whole life, when you live a life better than the majority of the people, you are bound to be slandered by the envious. But doesn't mean that I got deterred because of that."

Aster laughed and put the document down. He patted Ramuja's hair and continued, "In fact, if she dares to slander me in Winter Feast, I doubt anyone would believe her. She has no credibility, no nobles or peasants would be stupid enough to believe her."

Ramuja was silent, listening to Milord's explanation made him feel even more doubtful, 'Milord made too many holes, as if he was setting up on something.'

Aster saw that Ramuja was dazed, he said gently, "Ramuja, what is in your mind right now? Do you have any new ideas? Tell me then."

"It's It's nothing, Milord. I just want to make sure that you are alright," Ramuja evaded. He rose from his kneeling position and took a few steps back, "Milord, I believe that you have the best judgement, I will not doubt you."

'But you doubted me just now, it's clear in your eyes,' Aster's mood was low, but he put up a mirthful smile and said, "Ramuja, can you call Irion? I want to talk to him about something. Also, you should do more, you've been accompanying me every day, you should stay in shape."

" yes, Milord."

Not long after, Irion showed in the office. He kneeled in front of Aster and asked, "I'm here to serve, Milord."

Aster saw the rugged look of Irion and few wounds, and then asked, "What happened to you?"

"I had just returned after I spied on the Crown Prince's mass soldiers, I scouted with two of your shadow guards. We escaped after the Crown Prince noticed us, but one of the shadow guards was wounded quite severely."

Aster frowned, he said to Irion, "Go bring that shadow guard to the palace doctor."

"I already did, Milord," Irion replied, then he continued his report, "Crown Prince is ready to usurp the throne Milord, his mass soldier has been scouted camping in Grand Duchy's region, in a side meadow near the border with Viete."

"I see, I guess my prediction is correct. Charles will raid the Winter Feast," Aster nodded and then took his quill to write a new announcement for the people of Grand Duchy Stormhill. Then he handed it to Irion.

"Give this to the city secretary, make it an announcement for the people. That visiting Dionde City during Winter Feast is obligatory. We will give the people who participated a ration of food for the winter."

Irion was staring at the paper for a while, he was what was his master planning right now, but it was his duty to trust his master, "Certainly, please excuse me, Milord."

Irion disappeared and Aster finally slumped on the chair again. He was tired, very tired about many state affairs, and even more tired thinking about Ramuja. Because his head and his heart were conflicting against each other.

'My heart said that I should trust Ramuja, but it is logical for me to doubt him. Everything feels too sketchy about him and Merry'

'Ramuja never trusted me, he was always inside his little bubble, doubting whether I hate him or not' Aster noticed that the more he interacted with Ramuja. There was no doubt that Ramuja's love was true, but Ramuja didn't trust him at all.

'What should I do to get his trust? I keep telling him that I will always trust him and love him no matter what, why doesn't he believe in me?'

'And now, Charles is going to raid the winter feast. At least I know that Merry wants to slander me during the winter feast with her song, for that I have a plan.'

'About Charles As long as there are so many people when Winter Feast starts, I think it should've deterred him, at least he won't go all out.'

Aster looked at the window and saw Ramuja training hard. Aster's hand touched the window and then he said, "Ramuja, please give me your trust. I promise I will never get angry at you"

***

King Tuskan was talking to a man in his ship, since the Winter Feast is going to be held in Dionde City, he said to Charles before that he would be attending the Winter Feast for a short time before leaving Golden Camellia.

He had been helping Charles with many things, especially his military coup and giving pressure to many smaller houses, so they would take Charles' side instead of Aster or Emperor Ludwig.

Of course, he was feeling guilty, because he helped Aster's enemy, but a contract is a contract. Tuskan was sitting on the deck while the ship crews were checking the condition of the ship. He was dazed, thinking about Aster the whole time, 'I have yet to meet Aster again, it feels very shameless of me if I dare show up in front of him after aiding Charles to almost everything up until now.'

'I miss him though'

"My King, a man wants to talk with you, he said he is Grand Duke Aster's subordinate," his guard commander's words snapped him out of his daze instantly, he replied, "Let him in."

Irion was bowing in front of Great King Tuskan, he cut short all the unnecessary greetings and went straight to his point, "Your Majesty, I am here for a request."

"A request? Did Aster need something from me? I will definitely try my best to help him!" Tuskan said excitedly.

"No, Your Majesty, this is my request, because there is a growing uncertainty to what will happen in the Winter Feast, I have a request based on my prediction, this is for Milord Aster's safety."

Tuskan was startled, "Did something happen to him?!"

"No, Your Majesty. At least, not yet"

Tuskan inhaled deeply and said, "Tell me, as long as it's about Aster's safety, then I will help him."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I'm begging you to take"

***

Five men were sitting in a room inside an inn. They were the trained soldiers that had the important mission to escort Prince Rama back to the Sun Kingdom.

"Everything has been set, we will rescue Prince Rama when the time comes. Leave no error, failure means death, understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

"This is for Prince Rama, for the Sun Kingdom. We shall rise under the rule of the true monarch."