Gardenia of Blooming Desire

Chapter 256: Last Resort

"Tuskan, you've failed to protect Aster," Mariette said. Tuskan was dazed with his twin sister's words. As if she was blaming everything on him, he glanced at Aster who was bruised badly and the scratches around his body was quite horrendous. Because Aster had a very thin skin, it made him look very pitiful.

Tuskan gulped, he approached Aster and Mariette slowly, and then kneeled in front of Aster who was still in Mariette's embrace. It must have been a very scary experience for Aster, because he couldn't see anything except a black figure who screamed and attacked him.

"Aster, I'm sorry"

Mariette glared at her brother again. Tuskan was indeed careless, he was the one to blame in this, because he got tricked so easily by Emperor Charles, "Tuskan, are you really the Great King? Because what I see is a fool that got deceived easily by Charles."

Tuskan lowered his head, facing Aster who was still burying his face in Mariette's shoulder was already hurtful enough for him. And now, he had to face the wrath of his twin sister.

But it was indeed his fault, he got tricked so easily by Charles. When the Golden Camellia ship arrived, his commander noticed that Golden Camellia brought a lot of soldiers, probably to guard this distinguished noblewoman. Tuskan didn't want to scare other guests and civilians by dispatching many soldiers around the Golden Camellia ships, thus, he dispatched his shadow guards instead.

Tuskan dispatched almost all his shadow guards and regular guards to watch around the Autumn Festival. Because he thought nobody would ever come to the farthest side of the palace once the festival started, he didn't give Aster any watchman.

Little did he know that Charles had predicted everything, probably due to his past experience visiting Autumn Festival twice.

Tuskan felt angry and disappointed at himself, he wanted to beg for forgiveness, but at this point, it was too late. He glanced at Aster again and then Mariette who still had that disappointed look at him, "Why are you weeping like a little kid here, go call the palace doctor!" Mariette scolded him again.

***

The Autumn Festival was cut short due to the sudden intervention of Golden Camellia's shadow guards. It was deemed unsafe for the nobles. However, Tuskan compensated the guests with Great Arctyr's hospitality, he gave them a luxurious hotel to stay for a while. 

The commander was summoned to face Tuskan. He was also scared, because it was partly his fault, he also overestimated Golden Camellia's soldiers, but didn't expect shadow guards at all. He kneeled in front of Tuskan;

"Your Majesty, this guard has failed to protect the palace, asking for punishment!"

Tuskan sighed, "I don't blame you, it is all my fault for being nave. Golden Camellia ship has left early, right? Sweep the city and check whether there is any Golden Camellia's shadow guard left in our city."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After giving orders, Tuskan returned back to Aster's room. He was standing stupidly, watching Aster lying on his stomach while the palace doctor smeared alcohol on his back. Because the grievous scratches on his back were really horrible to look at, He bit his pillow hard to bear the pain.

Mariette couldn't bear to see Aster in so much pain because of her brother's carelessness, she pulled Tuskan out of the room, "Tuskan, what is in your mind, really. How could you be fooled by such a cheap trick?"

Tuskan lowered his head, "I didn't expect that woman from Golden Camellia to be so willful, she tried to seduce me and disturbed my talk with other kings. So I just advised her to look around, maybe she already planned everything."

Mariette snorted, "Well, you see how bad Aster wounds are. But it is too late to ponder about something that had happened, we should think about the aftermath, Emperor Charles must have been preparing to attack Great Arctyr soon, because he wants Aster back."

"I will not allow that!" Tuskan refused wilfully. He already promised to himself that he would protect Aster at all cost, "If we have to go to a war, then so be it! I will not yield!"

Mariette looked at her brother, she understood that Tuskan loved Aster. And he already planned almost everything to propose to Aster. She knew that Tuskan already purchased a small home near the lake at the outskirts of Noire City for his 'honeymoon' with Aster.

But to wage a war with Golden Camellia again

"Tuskan, I also love Aster dearly, but think logically, we are still rebuilding the Great Arctyr after our uncle ruled the country with an iron fist. We have a small chance to win against Golden Camellia, but even if we win, the people will suffer horribly," Mariette said.

"But the people love Saintess Celine and all her descendants! They will fight for Aster! Don't you see, Mariette? Our failure to bring back Saintess Celine and Lady Camille alive to the Great Arctyr has a great impact in people's hearts. If we have to burn to protect Aster, then we will burn!" Tuskan said stubbornly.

Aster heard everything that Tuskan said. When the doctor went to the bathroom to wash his tools, Aster took his walking stick and went to the door. He grabbed Tuskan's hand and replied immediately, "What did you say? You want to wage a war against Golden Camellia?"

Tuskan and Mariette were startled with Aster's sudden appearance, "AAster, you are recovering! Don't leave your bed, yet!" Mariette scolded Aster and escorted him back to the room.

The doctor came out of the bathroom, he was surprised when the Great King and Great Princess was inside the room. Tuskan looked at the doctor and asked, "How is his condition?"

"Milord is fine, Your Majesty. But he has many deep scratches, and he has a naturally thin skin. Although he will recover, it will leave scars" the doctor explained, "Milord also needs to rest, because that woman actually stabbed Milord's stomach with the walking stick. It hurt his kidney."

Tuskan's breath was heavy. He felt horrible, so horrible that he just wanted to repeat the time and guarded Aster forever.

"I already prescribed medicine for Milord, it will help him. Please excuse me, Your Majesty King, Your Majesty Princess," the doctor bowed and left the room.

Mariette and Tuskan sat on the edge of the bed, "Aster, I'm sorry" Tuskan said.

Aster shook his head and chuckled lightly, "It happened, I know that you tried your best, Tuskan. But I guess Charles is just way too cunning. I also didn't expect that Merry would find me here."

"I know that Charles will come to Golden Camellia soon to take me back, thank you for your protection in Great Arctyr. I appreciate it," Aster said. He already resigned to his fate, because Charles would massacre the Great Arctyr if he refused to surrender.

However, Tuskan seemed to have another thing in mind, "No, you will not leave the Great Arctyr. If Charles is going to wage a war against us, then so be it. I will fight." Tuskan said.

"No, I will not let you," Aster sighed, "You are doing too much for me, I will not let the civilians die because of my own ego. I would rather die myself than instruct hundreds of thousands of people to die for my name."

Aster smiled and reached Tuskan's hand, "You are a really kind person, but I'm not worth it."

Tuskan couldn't hold his tears, Aster's word made him realize how he had failed as a king and a lover. Mariette bit her lips and then stood from the bed, she left Aster and Tuskan alone, 'Tuskan you are a great king, and Aster knows that. Think carefully.'

Tuskan held Aster's hand tightly and kissed it, "You are worth it. You are worth everything for me, Aster."

Aster could feel Tuskan's tears fall on his palm, he shook his head, "It takes more than feeling to be a Great King. You know that well, use your logic, Tuskan. I would rather kill myself than letting you killing hundred thousands of people like this."

Tuskan felt that his chest had been stabbed with thousand swords, the more Aster tried to warn him, the more he felt useless, "But I promised that I will protect you, I will not let anyone hurt you"

"Then, I will be the one that breaks that promise," Aster smiled, "You've kept your promise well. Tuskan, I am ever so grateful," Aster pulled Tuskan's hand gently and then kissed it.

'No it shouldn't end like this. I am alright if Aster married someone else, as long as he is happy. But I will not let him marry someone like Charles and be locked like a caged canary forever.'

'Aster, I may have failed. But I will not let you suffer. I will protect you.'

Tuskan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes, his determination was solid, because this was the best way to protect Aster without hurting the people, "Aster, I can protect you from Charles without hurting anyone, and you will be able to stay in Great Arctyr forever."

Aster frowned, "Is there such a way? You don't need to comfort me like that. I'm alright, really."

"There is a way," Tuskan held Aster's hand, and then he kneeled in front of Aster. He kissed Aster's hand again and said, "You can live in Great Arctyr forever, you will be protected forever. As long as you are the ruler of Great Arctyr, Charles cannot touch you at all."

Tuskan took a deep breath.

"Aster, I want you to be my queen, the Great Queen of Great Arctyr."