The Crown's Fire - Chapter 224

Chapter 224: Celestial Quartz
Asura woke up early, too excited for the morning hunt to sleep any longer. She immediately instructed the servants to prepare breakfast for King Ezekiel and Katelina, then quickly got ready, changing into her riding outfit.

Asura stepped out of her tent, her mind focused on the day’s events when she noticed Kasper lingering nearby, a hopeful look in his eyes.

“You’re up early,” he remarked, trying to sound casual.

“As are you,” she replied, equally nonchalant. This man was rather clingy, but she found herself amused by it. His possessiveness, ensuring no other man got her attention, flustered her. No man had ever shown such intense interest in her except for him.

Kasper smiled at her and timidly said, “I was thinking… perhaps we could have breakfast together?”

Asura arched an eyebrow, veiling her surprise behind a composed facade. “Breakfast? I thought you had other matters to attend to.” She was well aware of Kasper’s busy schedule, especially since King Ezekiel had entrusted him with an important task related to Helion’s list of individuals with demon blood. He was in charge of monitoring them well.

“Well, I could postpone them,” he suggested eagerly.

Asura sighed inwardly, realizing she would need to be direct. “Kasper, we’ve been over this. We have duties to fulfill, and personal matters should not interfere.”

“But surely one meal won’t hurt,” he persisted, a touch of pleading in his voice.

Asura finally relented, allowing a small smile to tug at her lips. “Alright, Kasper, I suppose a quick breakfast wouldn’t hurt. But just a quick one,” she emphasized, her eyes narrowing playfully.

Kasper grinned, his enthusiasm palpable. “Great! You won’t regret it, Asura.”

They walked to a nearby clearing led by Kasper where a servant had set up a table with an array of breakfast foods. The sight was impressive, fresh fruit, warm pastries, and steaming cups of tea. Kasper pulled out a chair for Asura, who accepted it with a nod of gratitude.

As they began eating, things took an unexpected turn. Kasper, trying to impress Asura, reached for a particularly juicy orange. “I heard you like fruits particularly orange,” Kasper commented as with a grand flourish, he attempted to peel it in one elegant motion. Instead, the orange squirted juice straight into Asura’s face.

She blinked in surprise, her cheeks and hair dripping with sticky juice. Kasper’s eyes widened in horror as he stammered, “Asura, I… I’m so sorry! Here, let me…”

In his haste to help, Kasper knocked over a pitcher of milk, which promptly spilled across the table and dripped onto Asura’s lap. She gasped, jumping up from her seat.

“Kasper! Seriously?” she exclaimed, half-laughing and half-exasperated as she wiped juice and milk from her face and clothes. She couldn’t believe that this ancient man could be this so clumsy!

Kasper, now thoroughly flustered, grabbed a napkin and began dabbing at her awkwardly. “I… uh… didn’t mean to.”

Asura couldn’t help but shrug at the absurdity of the situation. “I think you might need more practice in the breakfast department,” she mumbled, swatting his hand away gently and taking the napkin to clean herself. She didn’t know whether to laugh at the situation or scold Kasper nonstop for ruining her riding outfit. She had even woken up early to make sure she looked her best!

“Kasper, I can’t believe you!” she exclaimed, half-laughing and half-fuming as she wiped the juice from her face and the milk from her clothes. “I spent so much time getting ready!”

Kasper, now thoroughly flustered, looked genuinely apologetic. “I’m really sorry, Asura. I just wanted to make breakfast special.”

She sighed, her frustration melting into amusement as she saw the sincerity in his eyes. “Well, you certainly made it memorable.”

Kasper’s lips curved into a sheepish grin. “I promise, next time I’ll be more careful.”

Asura shook her head, still chuckling. “If there is a next time. For now, let’s just salvage what’s left of breakfast and get through it without any more disasters.”

They both settled back into their seats, eating the remaining food since Asura was hungry. “I’ll go ahead since I need to get changed,” Asura said, quickly leaving Kasper behind. He scratched his head, watching her retreating figure with a mix of regret and determination.

He couldn’t believe he had ruined things. He had prepared meticulously for this breakfast, hoping to make Asura’s morning special. Instead, it had turned into a chaotic mess.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel fortunate. Winning the card game yesterday had given him the chance to spend this time with her. Otherwise, he would have faced numerous competitors vying for her attention. Asura was the kind of woman who could easily captivate any man, and he hated it whenever other men’s eyes were on her.

“She already left,” Kasper murmured, turning the celestial quartz over in his hand. The crystal-clear gemstone captured the brilliance of the night sky, speckled with shimmering inclusions that looked like stars.

He noticed Asura eyeing it earlier, and despite winning it in the card game, he had planned to give it to her. But now, he felt he had ruined the mood.

“Maybe I can do it later during the hunt,” he muttered with a pout.

*****

After some time, everyone participating in the hunt gathered to confirm their attendance and register.

Kasper stood with Elijah, keeping an eye on those with demon blood on Helion’s list as part of their monitoring task. However, Kasper’s attention was divided as he kept looking around for Asura.

“Your neck will soon break. Why don’t you just go and fetch her?” Elijah remarked.

“I’ll look too clingy. Besides, I messed up our breakfast, and I don’t want to annoy her more,” Kasper responded.

“Master Kasper!” he heard a familiar voice from behind, making him gulp.

Kasper turned around and greeted Lady Lena. Elijah elbowed him, prompting a quick introduction.

“Lady Lena? The one who turned you down?” Elijah blurted out. Kasper wanted to knock Elijah down but controlled himself. Elijah was his drinking buddy most of the time. This former apprentice of his was honestly good at tracking him down.

Lena chuckled and said humorously, “Master Kasper wasn’t serious about courting me. He was just flirting, so I straightened him out…”

Kasper gulped and murmured, “But I was serious at that time. After all, you’re the woman of my dreams!”

Elijah elbowed him again, but Kasper ignored him, genuinely continuing, “You, Lady Lena, was the epitome of the woman I envisioned as my future wife. You have this-”

He was just explaining that Lena’s physical appearance matched his dream woman when Elijah whispered urgently, “That’s Lady Asura, right?!”

Kasper felt a huge lump in his throat and turned in the direction Elijah indicated. Standing just a meter away was Asura, arms crossed, clearly having overheard the conversation. But why was her face so dark?

Instantly, Kasper smiled and burst out, “And now, I’ve found the woman who isn’t just a dream but someone who makes me feel emotions I’ve never felt before!”

“Cut the crap!” Asura grunted, quickly turning to mount her horse.

Kasper blinked, confused. “Did I say something wrong?”

“You’ve always been weird since I met you, so I’m no longer surprised,” Elijah replied dryly.

“You should follow her and not let her go. I’ll be cheering for you,” Lena added with a chuckle.

Without wasting time, Kasper mounted his own horse and hurried after Asura, determined to ride with her.

He soon reached her and directly asked, “Lady Asura, why are you in a bad mood? Are you perhaps jealous?” He assumed that was the case since Asura had overheard him praising Lena. He was simply explaining to Lena that he had been serious about her before since she had everything he wanted in a partner.

However, he soon realized that feelings also mattered. That was why he didn’t pursue her anymore. But he admitted that his pride was hurt when she turned him down.

“Jealous?! Hah! Why should I be? I’m just annoyed to be stuck with you for the remaining days of my stay here at the Global Summit!” Asura barked at him.

Kasper gulped. They had a bet, and he won, so Asura couldn’t entertain any man aside from him during the Global Summit. Kasper cast a spell, stopping Asura’s horse. He dismounted his own horse and reached out to her. “Come down and let’s have a proper talk,” he demanded.

Asura didn’t move, so Kasper used magic to bring her down, ending with her cradled in his arms. “What are you doing!” Asura hissed.

“Carrying you,” he playfully hummed.

“I can walk!” Asura complained, so Kasper set her down gently. Without wasting a moment, he placed the celestial quartz in her palm. “I want you to have this,” he murmured.

Asura’s eyes widened as she looked at the celestial quartz, gasping, “But why?”

“Why else? I’ve already set my eyes on you. You’ll gradually have all that I have and all that is mine once you accept me as your man.”