Chapter 150 - The Man who Sacrificed Himself for a Servant

The palace of Rhea was greatly appalled with the sudden news that King Gamasiel suffered heavy injuries and is currently in vegetative state. The perpetrator was the servant of the vixen man who immediately surrendered to the guards, but when the guard was going to arrest him, the vixen man who seduced King Gamasiel protected him with all his might.

King Gamasiel was sent to the doctor. Since King Gamasiel was unable to carry out the judging, the guards brought the vixen man and his servant to Prince Gaum's chamber.

"What did you do to our king?" Gaum asked with heavy tones. He was still wounded himself, but he tried his best to sit on a chair while Ramuja was kneeling in front of him. Ramuja occasionally glanced at Young Lord Aster who was not allowed to approach him.

Thus, Aster watched Ramuja with three guards around him being judged by Gaum. The guards' spears were pointed around his neck, one wrong move and he would be dead.

Ramuja knew the consequence of hurting a king, his only way was death. But he didn't fear it at all, instead, he felt relieved. Because in the end, both his life and death was dedicated to his master.

"I just beat King Gamasiel until he comatosed," Ramuja replied. He didn't even bother to address himself as a servant, because he knew his verdict already. He worried nothing except…

Ramuja glanced at his Young Lord again, he was standing behind a few guards because he was not allowed to get close. Aster looked at him worryingly, he didn't want Ramuja to die, thus, he already prepared to beg for Ramuja's life in front of Gaum. He would do it at any cost, whether Gaum would want even more gold, all his gold, he could have it.

He wanted Ramuja to be safe and that was it.

Gaum breathed heavily, he glared at Ramuja and said, "You know that my verdict is absolute here, right? You are under the power of Kingdom Rhea. No one can save you here."

"I Understand. But your highness Prince Gaum, I have one wish before I get sentenced," Ramuja drooped his body lower and he prostrated in front of Gaum's feet, "Begging Prince Gaum to spare my master, he knows nothing about this!"

Gaum was stunned with this servant's last wish, he glanced at Aster who was also as surprised as him. A wild idea popped in his mind, he knew that Aster heavily favoured this servant. If he could create some friction for him to enter…

"Aster knows nothing about this? Don't kid me, it happened inside his room. Tell me, did your master order you to kill King Gamasiel? I can free you if you admit that Aster ordered you to do it."

Hearing Gaum's question, he nodded vigorously. He stared at Ramuja expectantly, hoping that Ramuja would say yes and he would be free instead.

'Please say yes, please say yes!' Aster knew Ramuja didn't stand a chance if it was him who became the perpetrator, but if it was Aster, he could negotiate with Gaum in order to escape the punishment… hopefully.

However, Ramuja shook his head with certainty, "It is I who did it, Young Lord Aster tried to stop me, but I was blinded with rage."

"Why do you get blinded with rage? Did King Gamasiel do something unspeakable to you or your master?" Gaum had predicted that his brother must've had touched Aster inappropriately or forced him to do something. Because he had become unstable each day.

But Gaum was inexplicably jealous when Aster expected this servant to lie, so he could be saved, while Aster might face terrible consequences instead.

'To have this kind of privilege from Aster, how fortunate…'

As long as he blamed Aster once, their relation would fracture.'

Aster's face paled, and Ramuja bit his lower lip before shaking his head again, "I was just angry that he entered Young Lord's room without permission. This is all my fault."

Gaum inhaled deeply, "Alright then, it is decided. You, a servant named Ramuja, has been guilty of almost killing our honourable king, I shall sentence you to—"

"Wait!" Aster yelled. He pushed the guards as hard as he could and kneeled in front of Gaum. This was the second time he ever kneeled in front of someone, first was to Uncle Emperor, and second was to Gaum.

But for this one, he didn't even feel shame. He only felt infinite worry about Ramuja's fate.

"It is me who ordered him to kill Gamasiel, but he failed! I—If Prince Gaum is a just ruler, it is natural for you to punish me instead!"

Gaum's hand gripped the end of the armrest, he couldn't believe that Aster actually jumped and protected this servant, even kneeled in front of him. Aster was technically his higher up, but he kneeled just to save this servant.

'Unbelievable! This is ridiculous!'

Gaum observed Aster who bowed deeply to him, instead of being happy that Aster finally obeyed him, Gaum became furious in his heart.

"So, Young Lord Aster admits that you intended to harm King Gamasiel, King of Rhea, this is not an easy crime," Gaum warned.

"Yes." Aster replied short. There was not even a doubt in his heart, because this was the only way to save Ramuja.

'HE DIDN'T HESITATE! GODDAMNIT!' Gaum was cursing and screaming in his heart, his countenance was getting heavier. 

Ramuja who was stunned the whole time finally interrupted, "P—Prince Gaum, Young Lord Aster is just bluffing, I did it all by myself."

"Shut up! Go now!" Aster yelled at Ramuja.

Ramuja didn't understand what was in his master's head. Why would he admit something he didn't do? He was the Young Lord of Grand Duchy Stormhill, if he died, the grand duchy would crumble. But Ramuja was just a slave, Young Lord would move on after his death.

"Y—Young Lord, please don't lie…" Ramuja tried to persuade Aster.  

"I said, I did it! Leave!" Aster insisted.

Gaum's face was red and blue, his patience ran out and he shouted, "ENOUGH!"

He glared at Ramuja and said, "Since Young Lord Aster has admitted his crime, I shall carry out the justice myself. I sentence Aster di Arlingdon… guilty of treason after harming King Gamasiel and his punishment will be done privately, now all of you can leave this room. I have the right punishment for Aster."

The guards were staring at each other, it was weird for Prince Gaum to have a private punishment, but since it was the order, they agreed and left the chamber. 

Ramuja tried to pull Aster to escape, he predicted he could kill Gaum and the guards, although he would definitely die after that, like Jain. Irion had been detained inside his room, probably because he was the one who was seen as the knight for Young Lord.

But Aster didn't seem to respond, he just said in a low voice to Ramuja, "Go now, I will be safe, don't worry."

Ramuja's heart dropped, he didn't want this, he didn't want his master to bear his sin. But the more he tried to struggle, the more Young Lord would be at disadvantage.

"… I am sorry…" Ramuja said in a low voice.

Aster smiled sincerely at Ramuja and patted his head gently, "It's fine, trust me, okay?"

With that, Ramuja left the room reluctantly. His eyes didn't leave his master who was facing Gaum right now. His heart ached terribly, because he was being protected by his master after he saw his master's fragile state a few hours before.

'Young Lord, why would you sacrifice yourself? You are everything for this world, and I'm nothing. You will have a better life without me…'

***

Aster was kneeling in front of Gaum. Gaum chuckled, because this entire ordeal was ridiculous. An honourable, high aristocrat sacrificed himself for a mere servant.

"You know that you look ridiculous, right?" Gaum said.

"It doesn't matter, now, tell me what is my punishment," Aster asked.

"Well, first, get up from your kneeling position and help me to get to the bed," Gaum said. Aster got up from his kneeling position and propped up Gaum to the bed. Gaum could smell the perfume Aster had today and it smelled sweet.

After Gaum was laying on his bed, he held Aster's nape with one hand and whispered, "Let's sleep here, together."

Aster reacted fast, he pushed Gaum's body and stepped back, "J—Just tell me, what is my punishment and how do I clear it? Gold? Land? Anything, I can give it to you later."

Gaum chuckled, "I don't need any of those. I just need you here to accompany me while my body is heavily wounded, then I will tell you your punishment."

Gaum's head turned and their eyes met. Gaum smiled sincerely, he was happy yet sad at the same time. This was also his first time to share a bed with someone, and he was sad because he had to do it by force.

"Do you think I would punish you severely?"

Aster thought of it for a while then shook his head, "You are not a bad person, but… I beg you, don't take my purity here."

Gaum's eyebrows raised, and his smile gradually turned into a smirk, "Of course I won't take your purity here. I'm not Floren."

'If it was me in the past, I would definitely take the chance and deflower him now, but…'

Gaum knew, if he did that to Aster, there was no way Aster would accept him as his lover.

'Beside, I don't want to see him cry…' Gaum realized that he didn't want to hurt this person at all. He didn't want to give him a false promise like what he did to those noble girls.

"Then, what is your punishment?" Aster relaxed a bit, but he still hadn't lowered his guard.

Gaum smiled, "First, after you regain your foothold in Grand Duchy Stormhill, Kingdom Rhea and Grand Duchy shall be bonded politically and I can ask for any kind of reinforcement from Grand Duchy."

"Th—that…"

"And second," Gaum's smug face returned, he giggled mischievously at Aster, "Second, Young Lord Aster shall accompany my sleep every day until he returned to his grand duchy."

"That--!"

Aster got up from the bed, but his hand was pulled by Gaum, "Don't worry, we won't do anything dangerous. I just want you to have a good sleep with me."

"I will not!"

"Then, I shall call that servant again and have him executed for treason, how?" Gaum smiled.

Aster froze on the spot. His body trembled, but imagining Ramuja dead with people booing at him made his heart ached. Aster reluctantly returned to the bed to Gaum's delight. Gaum hugged Aster and smelled Aster's hair and neck delightfully.

"You smell so sweet, you know that? What perfume do you use?"

"Nnn… I don't wear perfume, I ran away from grand duchy without anything."

'Then this is his natural scent? How fascinating.'

Gaum whispered at Aster, "Get used to me, because we will have to be like this for a while."

Aster was unresponsive for a moment before nodding silently. Gaum was delighted, of course. But he was saddened at the same time, because this was all temporary and the fact that Aster would rather sleep with a man rather than seeing his servant dead.

Gaum's eyes glinted under the light and he observed this subservient Aster in his embrace.

'Can I replace that servant in your heart?'

'Aster, do you know how in love you are with that servant? He is your strength and weakness at the same time.'

'But I will replace him, I definitely will.'