Gardenia of Blooming Desire - Chapter 172: Marry Me, Save Me

“Why are you here again? You were here three days ago,” Camille glanced at the man who approached her in the garden. The same man whom they called the business devil. He had been returning to the golden palace almost fifteen times in three months.

The man approached her nervously, while holding the flower in his hand. True, he visited the palace very frequently for many reasons. Most of them were actually unnecessary reasons, and Harion didn’t like to lie either. But if it was the way for him to meet the Golden Princess, then he would prepare a thousand lies.

He was in awkward silence, then Camille asked, “What flower is in your hand?”

“Oh, I bring you a bouquet of Aster,” Harion replied quickly. He handed the bouquet to Camille and scratched his head awkwardly. He didn’t have anything to do here honestly. He purposely finished all his work earlier even though he had to stay awake for days. So, he could visit Camille sooner.

“Aster? You picked so many colors here,” Camille frowned. In Golden Camellia, presenting any kind of flower had its own meaning. Harion gave her a bouquet full of colorful aster.

“Yes, I—I just want to show you that… uh… you have a lot of meaning for me…” Harion stood in front of the mirror for hours to say something charming for Camille. But he was always tongue-tied in front of her. Harion lowered his head in shame.

Meanwhile, Camille was amused, “Let’s see, red aster as the sign of undying devotion, purple aster as wisdom and royalty, white aster as purity, and pink aster as… symbol of sensitive love. You really know how to flirt, huh?”

Harion Jolted, he took a step back and shook his head slowly, “I—I swear I’m not a flirt! I—I’m just… I’m not sure what a Golden Princess takes as an acceptable gift.”

“This is an acceptable gift, more than just acceptable, honestly,” Camille smiled.

Harion was surprised, but then, he took a relieved breath. He dared himself to glance at Camille, but he was greeted with Camille’s gentle face. Then he lowered his gaze.

“Why do you keep lowering your gaze? Am I unpleasant to look at?”

“Not at all! You are just so… beautiful, I can’t help it.”

“If those men and women who adored you knew that the business devil was just a shy little rabbit, they would be disappointed.”

“That… I don’t care much about their opinion,” Harion said, “I care about yours though…”

Days by days, talking with this man was getting more pleasant. Maybe because deep down, they knew each other’s true nature. They were a capable individual able to turn the country upside down. Maybe that was why they could connect well.

“Well, I don’t have much time today, but thank you for visiting me,” Camille said, she sidestepped Harion and whispered something before she left;

‘Harion, treat this as my gratitude.’

Camille kissed Harion’s cheek. She giggled and left the garden.

Harion was stupefied, then, his smile bloomed widely. As if he just received something better than just money. He touched his cheek gently, and giggled. He then left the garden, readying for his next visit.

From afar, a woman in her late thirties was looking at the couple in love with raging fire in her eyes. She glared at the scared maid beside her and said, “Call Apercino Viete now! I have to make this fast before it’s too late!”

***

A week later, Empress Eva was sitting in front of a man in his early thirty. He was tall and handsome, but people could feel that this man was not right. Because he was the famous debauched man that hosted sex parties in his velvet castle frequently.

But he was untouchable, because he got the support of the Emperor and Empress. He was indeed talented in governing, although he was a bastard to many.

“Why do you have that obvious smirk in your face, I haven’t said anything!” Empress Eva scolded him. But he just chuckled.

“Well, Has Your Majesty Empress decided to summon me for our deal?”

“Yes, I need you to do it now, today!”

“Today?!” Apercino was surprised, how could he do that without any preparation? What if someone caught him red handed?

“Don’t you fret over random things, I’ve prepared the room for you to execute the deal,” Empress Eva said. “Go stay inside Camille’s room now, I’ve cleared the guards around her room.”

“She is inside her room?” Apercino asked.

“Yes, defile her. Then you can marry her,” Empress Eva smirked, “You can also obtain all her wealth and control her all you want. I will persuade my husband to let her go easily.”

Empress Eva was dead serious with her offer, and Apercino himself was very eager to get this woman. Camille was really the most perfect one for him, if he could get her, he could use her as the main show in his parties. They would do many things, many positions and many toys in front of many people.

It would be fantastic.

“My gratitude, Your Majesty,” Apercino bowed and left the room. Empress Eva smirked maliciously.

“Just because you toyed me for so long, do you think I can’t ruin you? Camille, I will destroy your life. Just like your filthy mother, You should be a filthy woman too.”

***

Camille was sitting in front of the mirror for a while. She couldn’t keep that man away from her thought for at least a day. She kept thinking about him!

‘I thought it was just a fun game, until I realized that I had this feeling…’

‘What is he thinking about me anyway? Did he just admire me as a golden princess? Then what’s the point? He already knows my true color anyway.’

Camille sighed again.

Knock! Knock!

Camille’s attention was shifted to the door. Before he could ask who was outside, the door was opened and a tall man was standing in front of her, then he closed the door.

Camille was alerted instantly, she took a few steps back, “Sir Apercino, did you enter the wrong room? This is improper for a noble man to enter a lady’s room without permission.”

“Oh, I didn’t enter the wrong room,” Apercino smirked, “I want to enter Golden Princess Camille’s room. Or should I say, my future wife’s room.”

“Sir Apercino is not in the right mind, please leave.”

“I will leave, after I get what I want,” Apercino replied. He took a step forward.

Camille had the bad feeling about this, Apercino started unbuttoning his shirt and Camille finally screamed to the guard, “Guard! Guard!”

But no one outside was replying. She just realized that the guards outside were nowhere to be seen. Camille was scared. She took a few steps back until her back hit the wall.

“I told you before, right? I want you to be my wife, if taking your purity here is the only way, then I will do it!”

Apercino rushed to Camille and grabbed her hands. Camille struggled and tried to kick his groin, but he dodged it, “Camille, you know, I’ve had many virgin women who tried to resist, they did the same thing like you! Don’t worry, you won’t resist any more after this!”

Apercino kissed Camille’s neck, and then sucked and bit it until a red bite mark was visible. He then ripped Camille’s gown and her upper body was exposed.

“Beautiful, perfect indeed~” Apercino chuckled.

Camille was so shocked that her struggle only lasted so long when Apercino lost his patience, he punched Camille’s stomach hard. Camille staggered.

“Why resist? How did you not realize that our marriage would be a great marriage full of money and fun!”

“YOU FILTHY BASTARD! ANYONE, SAVE ME!” Camille screamed out.

There was a bang on the door and a man appeared with a knife.

“CAMILLE!” Harion appeared on the door. His eyes became sharp when he saw the scene as he lunged his knife toward Apercino Viete.

Apercino let go of Camille’s hand and dodged Harion��s knife. He punched Harion’s chest and Harion took the blow. He staggered and took a few steps back.

“What is this? You don’t even know how to use a knife! Is that knife even real?” Apercino mocked. Harion didn’t seem to care and then attacked him again with the knife. But again, Apercino dodged and punched Harion on the stomach.

“You just ruined my mood! God damn!” Apercino was going to smash Harion’s face with his boots, but he stopped midair.

Camille used a glass vase to hit Apercino’s head. The man fell unconscious instantly.

Camille’s hand trembled, the vase on her hand fell to the floor and shattered instantly. She saw how Harion was wounded and helped him. Camille saw the man who tried to save him was probably half conscious now. She could feel the light blow from him was hard enough to almost make her puke.

“C—Camille, are you okay?” Harion said. His hand gripped Camille’s sleeve tightly.

“I am.” Camille said, but she couldn’t hold her tears and it fell to Harion’s cheek, “But I can’t get married in the future.”

“Why?”

“That bastard already kissed me, he already groped me, he already defiled me! I am a filthy woman now!” Camille couldn’t hold her tears and cried in Harion’s chest.

Harion gently caressed Camille’s golden hair and said, “I will.”

Harion took out something from his pants pocket and presented it to Camille, “I’ve been keeping this pair of rings for three months, hoping to propose to you. If you think no one would marry you after this incident, I will, and I want to. I will marry you, and save you.”

Camille stared at the bruised Harion and the rings on his hand. He was still laying on the floor, because Apercino hit him too hard, but he smiled and raised the ring.

“Will you marry me, Camille?”

Camille was staring at Harion silently, she tried to find a hidden meaning, hidden hostility in Harion with her golden circle eyes. But Harion was indeed sincere to her.

She took the smaller ring and put it on her finger, “I accept. I will be your bride, marry me, save me, Harion.”

Camille’s face drew closer to Harion and then they kissed for the first time.