Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 220: The Last Winter Feast II

Aster's carriage paced through the street full of people, they were already feasting on the food that was free for them. Just like what he did during the Winter Feast last year, he also generously provided food that was lined neatly on the side of the road of Dionde City's main square.

People were free to take as much as they wanted, and the food would always be supplied on the table until the Winter Feast ended. Everything was neat this evening, the people were lined up peacefully for food, and most of them were taking small portions and chatted with their friends.

When they saw the carriage of the Grand Duke paced through the road, they sang tons of compliments to Aster, thanking his generosity and hard work. Because Grand Duchy Stormhill was better than ever after he took over the control of the duchy.

Everything was really neat, and the people were really peaceful.

Which only set anxiety inside Aster's heart. He looked outside, and noticed that, while the streets were packed, they were all dressed properly and properly lined up for food, properly eating their food, properly chitchatting. There was no mess at all.

'All of them all of them are Diondian!' Aster observed their expensive clothing for a peasant, their clean appearance and their manner. They were all the people of Dionde City.

'Where are the people from the countryside? Where are the people from my other regions!?' Aster already announced that the Winter Feast was free for every resident inside Grand Duchy Stormhill's area. He predicted that the people from the countryside would gladly enjoy the Winter Feast, because they could take many foods home and store them as stock during this harsh winter.

But what he saw was that everyone around the street were the people of Dionde City. They were all too clean and preppy, almost like a semi noble.

Aster's hand started sweating, he used his handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead, 'There is no way people would miss this event, did Charles do something to prevent people outside of Dionde to enter the city?'

The carriage slowed down, and then stopped in the middle of the road. Aster looked outside, they were still midway to Dionde City's Grand Hall, where the nobles were gathering for this Winter Feast.

Aster opened the glass that separated him from the coachman, he slid the small curtain and asked, "Why did you stop--!"

The real coachman that came with Aster was nowhere to be seen, presumably already ran away because of this man that replaced him as the coachman. The man turned his head, with his perfectly sculptured face, he grinned and said, "Pardon for the inconvenience, Milord."

Aster propelled back to his seat out of reflex, his heart was beating crazily, "CCharles, what are you doing here?!"

"I'm just thinking it would be better if I escort you personally to the Grand Hall, this year's national Winter Feast is being held in your city anyway. Wouldn't it be a great honor if the Crown Prince escorts you to the Grand Hall personally?" Charles grinned. The carriage started running again.

"I WWhat did you do?!"

"Hm? What is it?"

"How in hell the people outside of Dionde City cannot enter the city at all?!" Aster was breathing heavily, trying to muster up his courage, "You threaten them, didn't you?"

Charles smiled, he said nothing and spurred the horse, so the carriage moved faster. Not long after, they were in front of the Grand Hall. Charles finally turned his head to Aster and saw him sitting on the corner with an anxious expression, like a cute little rabbit that had been trapped by the hunter, 'Cute,' Charles thought.

"Looks like you haven't been paying attention, I never threaten them. They are free to leave their villages and towns, after they passed the security check, of course."

"Security check?"

"I ordered some of my men to guard around every region of Grand Duchy Stormhill, so your people are now trapped inside their own villages and towns until the Winter Feast ends," Charles said lightly, "Oh, don't take it in a bad way, I'm just protecting your region, free of charge."

"You are imprisoning them!" Aster was mad, he pointed his fingers at Charles, "I held this Winter Feast, so they can stock their ration during this harsh winter, while enjoying the festival!"

Charles' gaze deepened when Aster said that, he smirked, "Are you sure that is your only intention? Because what I see, you are trying to cram as many people as possible inside Dionde City, so when I raid Dionde, you will have many volunteers to defend the city, right?"

Aster's pale skin grew even paler, he was almost as pale as the snow. His bloodless lips trembled. He wanted to curse, but at this point, he finally realized that he was trapped by Charles again. With a simple flick, all his plans were blown away.

Charles sighed when he saw the scared Aster, 'Aster is really cute when he is scared, it makes me want to bully him more. But I guess I shouldn't make him cry, he needs to attend the feast anyway.'

Charles got off from the coach seat and then opened the carriage door, he entered the carriage and then kneeled in front of Aster. He took Aster's hand and said, "Just enjoy the party tonight, it will be painless."

"Do you plan the whole thing? Including Ramuja and Merry? Do you already plan everything, including that girl's song in this Winter Feast?" Aster asked, which Charles only replied with a nod, "I see" Aster seemed to be in deep thought for a moment and nodded, he brushed Charles' hand rudely.

"If you want to assassinate your father here, I don't mind, but you shall never touch Ramuja or Lantern Palace," Aster said. He left the carriage and walked toward the Grand Hall to meet other nobles.

Charles could feel that Aster's hand was sweaty, probably because he was actually very scared in his heart. Charles chuckled, his golden circle showed a trace of madness, the golden circle flickered and took over his pupil until his pupil turned pure gold, but there were black dots that started thickening beside his golden pupil, gradually condensing into another ink black pupil in the same eyes. 

Each of his eyes now had two pupils, a golden pupil and an ink black pupil, lining side by side.

Charles grinned maliciously, "It will be more than that, my sweet Aster. You shall be mine, today is the day where I can finally have you. I will destroy everything, so you have nowhere to run. Including that filthy slave of yours."

***

Aster entered the Grand Hall and saw nobles chattering together. When they saw Aster entering the Grand Hall with his gorgeous ermine coat, the nobles were clapping and also praising his capability and beauty, though, many were still dazed with his appearance as always. They just couldn't get used to Aster's beauty.

Aster saw that Emperor Audric IV already sat on their designated throne, while Golden Princess Rosalie sat on the VIP section with Florentino Viete. Aster sneered in his heart, 'Do these people know that everything will be bloody soon?'

Aster saw his uncle, Emperor Ludwig sitting solemnly on his seat. When their eyes met, the Emperor gave him a light smile. Aster almost chuckled in irony, 'You are going to die soon, why give me a smile? Was that a farewell?'

Aster felt that someone circled his hand around his waist, he looked at his right side. Charles smiled at him, his handsome face was beaming with happiness, as if tonight would be his best day.

Aster played along, he smiled at Charles, tiptoed and kissed his cheek gently, "Let's go," Aster said.

Charles felt that he was flying around the cloud right now, everything was just pure bliss today, 'Ah, my sweet Aster. You even kissed me gently, I should've done this since the very beginning. I should have destroyed everything since the very beginning, I was too softhearted. You are like a cute rabbit that jumped around elusively, waiting for me to hunt your cute little bunny butt.'

Aster was solemn as he paced through the crowd, he sat on his throne, side by side with Charles and his Uncle Emperor. Aster could see the whole hall from his seat, he took a deep breath and showed his gentle smile to the people, "Honorable ladies and gentleman, welcome to the Winter Feast in Dionde City. I, Grand Duke Aster, feel very honored to have hosted the feast tonight. Please enjoy the food and the music, we will have a special performance. Thank you."

Merry who was sitting on her chair, preparing for her performance grinned mysteriously, this was the time for her to shine. As soon as she sang what the Crown Prince had ordered, she would have everything, including Ramuja.

'Oh, I forgot about the Grand Duchess' note, she said I should sing something about me and Ramuja dating, it should be sung without changing any word at all,' Merry fished out the piece of memo from her pocket, this was the memo from the late Grand Duchess.

She read it carefully and nodded, 'Alright, the note said Aster will faint after hearing this, I guess it will make everything easier for the Crown Prince! He should reward me with more gold! Hehe~'