The Crown's Fire - Chapter 227

Chapter 227: To Settle Down
‘Did he think I would make things easy for him just because he gave me the Celestial Quartz and promised me that I’d have everything he has?’ Asura thought with a twitch of her mouth as she walked alongside Kasper, scanning the area for something to hunt. She hadn’t given him an answer yet, but she had accepted the Celestial Quartz since she had been dying to have it.

“Get me five stags and five boars!” she commanded Kasper, her tone challenging. She had no intention of making it easy for him, despite his promises.

“At your service, Milady!” Kasper hummed excitedly as he readied his bow and arrow. The rules were strict, no magic was allowed during the hunt. Every animal marked for the hunt had a spell on it that would notify the Sorel Guild of any cheating.

Kasper took off into the forest with a spring in his step, eager to impress Asura. She followed a little behind, watching his every move with a mix of amusement and curiosity. He moved with surprising grace, his eyes sharp and focused as he tracked the animals.

Within a short time, Kasper had already bagged a stag. He carefully aimed and released the arrow, hitting the animal cleanly. Asura watched with raised eyebrows, mildly impressed by his skill.

“That’s one,” he said, glancing back at her with a proud smile.

“Four more stags and five boars to go,” she reminded him with a smirk.

Kasper nodded, undeterred. He moved swiftly through the forest, his eyes scanning for the next target. Asura found herself enjoying the hunt more than she expected. Watching Kasper work so diligently, so determined to meet her challenge, was surprisingly entertaining.

As he took down another stag, Kasper glanced back at her again. “Two down, eight to go,” he said, grinning.

“You better keep up the pace,” Asura teased. “I don’t want to be here all day.”

Kasper laughed. “Don’t worry, Milady. I’ll make sure you’re not disappointed.” He continued on, his enthusiasm undiminished.

Asura felt a strange warmth in her chest as she watched him. She had been skeptical of Kasper’s intentions, but his dedication was starting to wear down her defenses. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to him than she had initially thought.

Finally, after what felt like hours but was only a short while, Kasper returned with the last of the stags and boars. He was panting slightly but grinning from ear to ear. “All done,” he declared, dropping the last boar at her feet.

Asura raised an eyebrow. “Not bad,” she admitted, unable to keep the admiration out of her voice.

“Does that mean I’ve earned a bit of your favor?” Kasper asked, hopeful.

“We’ll see,” Asura replied, trying to sound nonchalant, though her heart was beating a little faster. “You’ve certainly made a good start.”

Kasper’s face lit up with a smile. “That’s all I need to hear, Milady.”

Asura couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a bit more warmth towards him than before. Maybe this hunt wasn’t just about the animals after all. He carried his magical pouch with him, and Asura couldn’t help but wonder if Kasper would willingly hunt more for her.

But then she wasn’t that heartless, seeing the beads of sweat on his face. She grabbed her handkerchief and said, “Wait.” Kasper, who was walking a bit ahead of her, turned around and Asura wiped the sweat from his face.

“Let’s rest for a bit here…” she suggested. She could sense Kasper staring at her closely, and she simply ignored the wild beating of her heart, maintaining her nonchalant expression.

“You’re so breathtaking,” he murmured. Her face blushed, but she scoffed, “I bet you said the same to Lady Lena, or maybe you have even more flattering compliments for her.”

“Hmm, I did. I told her before that she’s ethereal…” Kasper replied.

Asura’s face crumpled, and she hissed, “I want to sit. Create a makeshift chair.” Kasper quickly used magic to make a bench for the two of them under the shade of a big tree. He called their horse with a whistle, put the magical bag on the horse, and tied it to a nearby branch.

This man was infuriating. He made her heart flutter, but in the next second, he made her want to shake him. Still, she preferred his honesty.

“So, she’s ethereal and your dream woman,” she murmured dryly.

“You don’t have to be jealous of her. She’s just part of my past now. I adored her before, but my feelings for her were different. I was more focused on the idea that she embodied everything I wanted in a woman…” Kasper explained, offering her a banana from his magical pouch.

“I have pears too and an orange. I promise to peel them properly this time,” he said with a smile, watching her eat the banana with a sour expression.

Kasper moved closer to her until their arms brushed against each other. Asura remained quiet, observing him. She still felt bitter hearing him praise another woman.

“I’m not good with women, to be honest. Maybe because I’ve been practicing celibacy my entire life, or maybe I just suck at approaching women. But I want to make things right. I’ve lived long enough to keep my young appearance. I want to settle down now, with the woman I like, and build a family.” Kasper sighed heavily.

Asura turned to him, seeing his earnest expression. “You may not be my type, but I like you very much, Lady Asura. I find myself drawn to you in ways I can’t explain. I feel different kinds of emotions with you that I haven’t felt with other women. And my feelings and attachment to you are getting deeper,” he murmured, his face getting closer to hers.

Normally, Asura would have surrendered to her instincts and let him kiss her, but not this time. Her past relationships had left her wary of men who only wanted one thing from her… sex.

She quickly turned around and got up, saying, “Let’s head back now.” Kasper blinked, taken aback by her sudden movement.

“Asura, wait,” he called out, standing up to follow her. She didn’t slow down, and he had to quicken his pace to catch up.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern as they walked back towards their horses.

“Nothing,” she replied curtly, refusing to meet his eyes. She focused on the path ahead, determined not to let her emotions show.

Kasper sighed, sensing her unease. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said gently. “I just wanted to be honest with you.”

Asura stopped and turned to face him, her expression softening slightly. “I know,” she admitted. “It’s just… I need time to process everything.”

He nodded, understanding. “Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”