"Young Lord, what happened to you?"
Aster didn't hear what Ramuja said, he pressed Ramuja's hand with his boots even harder. He didn't even hear Ramuja begging for forgiveness. There was nothing but simple desire, a desire to ruin, because he felt disappointed of him.
It was something that he didn't understand, but he followed his instinct anyway.
'Why do I need to use logic here? All your actions are illogical.'
'Or maybe it's just me who is being stupid'
Ramuja winced in pain, but he stopped begging because Young Lord wouldn't let him off anyway. Then, a silhouette appeared behind Young Lord and with one movement, Young Lord instantly fell unconscious. He fell into Jain embrace. Jain checked Aster's breath and was finally relieved when he found that Young Lord's breath was stable.
He glared at Ramuja, then scoffed, "I knew you can't be trusted, filthy slave."
Jain disappeared with his Young Lord, leaving Ramuja stupefied alone. He saw the handkerchief was torn already. He held his tear and hugged the torn handkerchief from Aster gently. No matter how ugly this handkerchief had become, anything that Young Lord gave to him meant everything. Because it was his beloved treasure.
"Because I will never have you, but least, you leave something for me, Young Lord"
***
Aster woke up on his bed, his eyes looked around and instantly realized that he was in his room. He looked left to see Jain nodded respectfully to him. Aster frowned, "What happened?"
"Young Lord fainted in the garden," Jain replied short.
Aster frowned even deeper, "But Ramuja? I remembered I saw Ramuja handing me a handkerchief, but then" Aster tried to shake his head, but he really found nothing other than his memory waking up here.
"Yes, Young Lord saw Ramuja and then you just fainted." Jain reassured him.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Well, alright then" Aster suddenly realized something and said, "Order one of your men to protect Ramuja. I'm not in good term with him right now, but I don't want him to get harmed by my mother, or bullied by other servants."
Jain clenched his fist silently. He was angry, really angry. That slave already betrayed his master and also made him lied to his master. He hurt his master so bad, but somehow, Young Lord still tried to protect him almost subconsciously.
"Young Lord, this subordinate believes that you shouldn't care much about him, he is perfectly safe," Jain said.
Aster's eyes went cold instantly, "This is my order, just do what I ordered you to."
"Understood, Young Lord," Jain bowed his head while gritting silently. This almost made him snap. To protect such disgusting animal, even Jain doubt that his disciples would accept that order.
Aster stared at Jain and sighed, "Jain, kneel." He said softly. Jain was surprised, but he did what Young Lord ordered. He kneeled in front of Young Lord.
"Raise your head," Aster ordered. Jain raised his head and his cheek was caressed by his master's soft hand. He shuddered and his face went hot instantly. Aster touched his cheek, ears, eyebrows and neck and sighed even deeper.
"You are still wounded" Aster said. There was grief and guilt in his tone. "Open your suit."
"But, Young Lord"
"Open it."
Jain undressed his top. The bandages were still wrapped tightly and there were still red patches in it. "I told you to rest!" Aster warned, he raised his voice, but he looked worried.
Jain shuddered when Young Lord touched his bandages. Young Lord touched his abdomen, lower chest, his stomach. He didn't feel any pain, he was used to do arduous and deadly training since he was young. Wounds like these were nothing. He could rest for few days and he would recover.
The wound was superficial and the pain was almost nonexistent.
He shuddered because Young Lord touched his body with his delicate hand, it almost felt like he was tickled with a soft feather. "YYoung Lord, you don't need to inspect more."
"Ah, really? But I'm worried," Aster said. He touched one of Jain's bandage near his belly button gently and Jain immediately inched back.
"This subordinate is fine, I was trained as an assassin, this wound is superficial," Jain said.
"You shouldn't push yourself too hard. You protected me bravely, if you didn't arrive, I would" Aster lowered his head and decided to shut his mouth.
"It is this subordinate's duty to protect my master, but Young Lord should consider moving to another place for now."
"Moving? Why?" Aster was puzzled, "This place is the administrative and business capital for Grand Duchy Stormhill. I don't see any other place more worth it than this."
"Young Lord need a new place to refresh his mind. This subordinate suggests you to move to Grand Duchy's small mansion near Clearwater Academy. Since Young Lord also have long administrative work regarding the annual investment for Clearwater Academy."
"Ah, true," Aster pondered for a while, then ordered, "We will be leaving tomorrow, notify head servant to prepare, and don't forget to notify Ramuja, so he can prepare earlier."
"Young Lord, this subordinate suggests that you shouldn't bring him in this trip, since this is only a month trip."
"Huh? Why?"
"Bringing him around would make other servants understand the importance of him to you. He might get bullied by other servants, even though this subordinate has competent disciples, they cannot protect him every hour," Jain gave a reasonable reason. Which made Aster felt that he was tongue-tied, because what he said was true. Ramuja might get bullied by other servants or even alerted his mother due to favoritism.
'Besides, he still lied to me'
Aster's eyes dimmed, and the nodded in agreement.
"Fine, I will leave him here, but you shall protect him," Aster ordered. Jain nodded silently.
"Young Lord, may this subordinate request something?" Jain asked.
"What is it?"
Jain took his guard medal from his pocket and showed it to his master, then put it back, and he said firmly, "This subordinate believes that Young Lord should reveal your guard medal subordinates to your mother, Grand Duchess Camille."