Chapter 257 - A True Love and Priority

"Milord got discovered?!"

The news shocked the whole Swordheart mansion in Golden Camellia. The news from Nate arrived late, because he got wounded after he fought against Emperor Charles' twin assassins. Although he and Prince Rama's spy were quite skillful, the twin assassins were proved to be too much for them to handle. They were lucky because they got reinforcement from Great King's shadow guards.

While Nate returned back to Golden Camellia as soon as possible, Prince Rama's spy, who introduced himself as Adah, stayed in Golden Camellia in case something terrible happened again to Milord Aster.

"Yes, Sir, Milord also got attacked by Countess Merry of Belleresse and he got many grievous scratches on his back, he had been treated, but the doctor said that it would leave scar and also his kidney is damaged because Countess Merry stabbed his kidney with walking stick…"

"Why don't you protect him!? What are you doing with Prince Rama's spy? You guys are dispatched to protect Milord! Useless f.u.c.ks!" Irion scolded, he was so angry at this point that he wanted to smash Nate's head to pieces.

"I'm sorry, Sir. But Emperor Charles already planned everything, he fooled King Tuskan and smuggled a few of his shadow guards with Countess Merry, including his famous twin assassins… It is my fault because I'm too weak, this subordinate deserves punishment."

Irion gritted his teeth, he turned his back, "At least you are brave enough to report everything to me, Milord Aster is the one that will give you punishment, not me. Leave now, I will think about our next move."

"Sir… I have one more piece of news…" Nate gulped. He glanced at Prince Rama who was standing on the corner, unmoving. But the way he looked at him, and his gesture, it was clear that Prince Rama was about to burst.

Nate had more respect than fear for Sir Irion, but it was reversed for Prince Rama. Nate was scared of him, especially when he saw with his own eyes, how Prince Rama killed countless soldiers as if he was crushing ants in Roagelt.

"What is it?" Irion gave his full attention again.

Nate gulped, he glanced at Prince Rama and Sir Irion consecutively, then lowered his head, "Great King Tuskan… have an idea to protect Milord from the incoming invasion from Emperor Charles. He… he proposed Milord Aster to marry him and becoming the Great Queen of Great Arctyr, he said, there is a treaty among the nations in this continent that high aristocrats or royals that were married to another country and became a ruler, be it for a better diplomatic relation between two countries, or simply because of love, cannot be retrieved back once he or she wedded to another country. If one party wanted to forcefully retrieve the high aristocrats or royals back, then he would face other countries' wrath too."

"Great King Tuskan said that if Milord got married to him, he would be eligible for this treaty. Emperor Charles would think twice before invading, because this treaty was quite important, in order to maintain order and stabilization throughout the nations."

"But… Milord Aster cannot leave Great Arctyr at all after he got bound by this treaty. He would stay in Great Arctyr forever, his legacy in Golden Camellia may continue, and he may visit the country from time to time, but he is, by the rules, will forever be a Great Arctyr ruler."

BOOM!

Irion and Nate were shocked by the sudden shock around the room. They looked at Prince Rama who hit the wall behind him with his b.a.r.e hand until there were cracks trailed from the epicenter. Prince Rama side-glanced Nate and said, "Leave."

Without thinking twice, Nate immediately fled from the room. Prince Rama cracked his neck and then headed to the door. Irion immediately blocked the entrance and asked, "Where are you going?"

Prince Rama glanced down at Irion who was slightly shorter than him, "Isn't it obvious? I will go to Merry and crush her head for hurting Milord. I will kill Charles and then head to the Great Arctyr to kill Tuskan and all his men. I will return back to Sun Kingdom with Milord."

Prince Rama said it lightly, as if what he said wasn't crazy enough. Irion actually shivered a bit, because although Prince Rama said it lightly, he had all the determination enough to crush a mountain.

"You will not be able to do it, Charles is much stronger than you think."

"It is possible. I will make a deal with my own devil, I will burn my sun emblem. I can crush Charles in a split second. As long as Charles is dead, then nothing will hurt Milord anymore," Prince Rama said determinedly.

"Are you crazy? Last time you went berserk, you lost control and killed a child! You will kill everyone if you do more than that!"

"It doesn't matter," Prince Rama said, "Nothing matters if I cannot see Milord."

Prince Rama clenched his fist, "I would rather destroy Golden Camellia and Great Arctyr rather than seeing Milord marrying someone else."

"Milord will not like it," Irion's leg trembled out of fear. The more he stood in front of Prince Rama like this, the more he could feel the same dark scarlet hue at Roagelt. But this time, it was a lot thicker. As if Ramuja was in desperation himself.

Prince Rama finally hesitated, Aster was like a magical word that could stir Prince Rama easily, "Prince Rama, your love with Milord is very deep, I know that. That is why I let you with him, because I know that your love trampled above everyone who courted Milord. But your current condition will scare Milord."

"Remember, Milord Aster fell in love with you because of your tenderness. He is also forged by the bloody Grand Duchess. You know that he hated unnecessary violence more than anything."

"I researched more about Milord's current blindness, although it is only a legend, it is said that once the Golden Blood became blind out of his own choice, he wouldn't be able to love his golden circle anymore. Because the one that could make him blind was his own golden circle. But look at Milord right now, he still loves you wholeheartedly, his love doesn't come out of his bloodline, his love to you is not a curse like Emperor Charles has."

"Prince Rama, Milord Aster's love towards you is pure and true."

The dark scarlet aura finally disappeared, but Prince Rama was still standing still. His heart was heavy, remembering Milord's calluses because he held the walking stick a lot, it hurt his conscience.

'Milord, your pain is double my pain, and you suffered too much. I cannot bear with this anymore.'

Prince Rama closed his eyes, and reopened it. He already decided something in his heart. He pushed Irion to the side and then opened the door, "Hey! Where are you going?!" Irion tried to stop Prince Rama gain, worried that he would do something stupid.

"I will go to Great Arctyr, alone. Don't worry about me, I will not hurt anyone… probably," Ramuja said.

***

Mariette told Aster about the ultimatum from Emperor Charles. Although Tuskan tried to hide it, Mariette thought that it was unethical to hide anything from Aster at this point.

Aster was sitting on his bed right now. It was autumn night, he hadn't met Tuskan for almost a week now, he said that he needed time, and Tuskan tried to contain his own nervousness by not appearing in front of Aster, although he still waited for his answer.

'Charles wants me to return to Golden Camellia by myself, or else, he will abolish Grand Duchy Stormhill because I got sentenced for Treason by the court. What is the difference anyway? If I return back to Golden Camellia and marry him, he will still abolish Grand Duchy Stormhill slowly, so I don��t have any place to return other than him.'

'But I don't want to marry Tuskan. I don't love him at all,' Aster bit his lips, 'But if… if I marry Tuskan and become the Great Queen, there is a possibility for Charles to back off, because Great Arctyr is on par with Golden Camellia in military, and other nations will help Great Arctyr because of the treaty too.'

'I am also able to protect Grand Duchy Stormhill because I represent the duchy in Great Arctyr, this is a way to announce a forced diplomatic relation between two countries…'

In a normal situation, Aster wouldn't think twice about it, he would immediately accept Tuskan's proposal. Because his duty as Grand Duke of Stormhill was the priority over everything. But there is his true love now, Ramuja.

Aster gripped his heart who was in pain again, he couldn't imagine how heartbroken Ramuja would be if he got married to someone else.

'Is this your way to tell me that my duty as Grand Duke is still a priority over my true love, mother? You often said that my duty involves the livelihood of a hundred thousand people, I cannot be an egoist.'

'But it hurts so much.'

Aster bit his lips, he whimpered as his sweet memories with Ramuja kept flashing in his mind.

'Ramuja, I love you. I love you truly. I love you whether you are a prince or a slave. But I have to save the lives of my people. My duty is of the utmost importance.'

'If there is a next life, I wish I could meet you again. I wish we could be two regular peasants, and we will marry and live together forever in our small home. Because this glimmer of nobility is worth no more than my love towards you.'

'I love you, Ramuja, my first and only love.'

Aster opened his mouth and called Adah, Ramuja's spy. Adah finally appeared in front of him, "How is your wound? Have you recovered?"

"Yes, Milord, I have recovered and will not leave my spot. I'm sorry for being useless when that woman attacked you…"

Aster chuckled, "It's alright, I am fine anyway. But I have one more request for you."

"Yes, Milord, I am ready."

Aster smiled deeply, he had to do this before Charles burned everything to the ground, "Go back to Golden Camellia, and tell Prince Rama that he should return back to Sun Kingdom and marry someone else. I love him truly, but my duty involves the lives of many people. I hope he understands."