"It looks like you two had a good time."
Mira froze as Amaya's teasing voice cut through the air. She glanced down, realizing her hand was still intertwined with Asher's. Her face turned bright red as the realization hit her. Quickly, she let go, pretending as if nothing had happened. Asher just smiled, watching the scene unfold. He knew, sooner or later, Mira would be his—and he'd make sure of it.
"I-It's not what it looks like, Master. I-I was just... lost!" Mira stammered, her voice shaky, clearly flustered. The excuses she tried to muster didn't make sense, even to her, and she hated how vulnerable she appeared before her master. She knew Amaya wouldn't let her live this down.
Amaya laughed, amused by her disciple's panic. "Is that so?"
"Y-Yes, Master!" Mira insisted, her voice an octave higher.
Amaya leaned in slightly, her playful tone sharpening. "Such a shame. I thought things between the two of you would be more... interesting." She smirked, clearly enjoying Mira's embarrassment.
Mira's face grew even hotter. Her serious, focused demeanor was always her armor, but now it had completely crumbled under her master's teasing.
"If you don't want him, Mira, then I have no choice..." Amaya said, her voice lowering seductively.
"W-What do you mean?" Mira stammered, eyes wide.
Amaya smiled and slowly made her way toward Asher, her movements graceful and predatory. She placed her hands on his shoulders, pulling him into an embrace, pressing his face against her chest. "I'll have to take him for myself," she purred, licking her lips with a mischievous, crazed glint in her eye.
"YOU CANNOT!" Mira blurted out, her voice filled with desperation.
Amaya burst into laughter, a melodic but taunting sound. "My dear disciple, did you just yell at me?"
"Eh?" Mira blinked, confused and embarrassed. She hadn't even realized she'd raised her voice. She couldn't understand why seeing her master hold Asher like that made her so upset. Today was supposed to be a day just for her, a special moment with Asher.
'Why isn't Asher pushing her away?' she thought, panic beginning to swirl in her mind. 'Did he lie to me? I thought he liked me. Isn't he supposed to marry me?'
Her thoughts spiraled, emotions she didn't fully understand pulling her deeper into jealousy. She wanted Asher—all of him—just for herself.
"M-Master," Mira stammered again, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Y-You should let go now. I-I don't think Asher is comfortable."
Amaya just smiled at her, completely unfazed. She had seen how Asher looked at Veylnn, and how he looked at her as well. This boy was greedy, hungry for more than what any one woman could offer. "Silly disciple, if he were uncomfortable, he'd have pushed me away already," Amaya countered, her smile widening, eyes glinting with amusement.
Mira's frown deepened, frustration brewing. Asher wasn't doing anything to stop it, and that made her chest tighten with impatience and anger.
"A-Asher, you need to tell her to stop! Y-You're mine!" Mira's face flushed crimson as she shouted, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. She didn't know why she said it out loud, but she couldn't stop herself. She needed him to pull away, to choose her.
Asher's heart raced when he heard Mira's possessive claim. He felt an excited thrill at her jealousy. It only made him more drawn to her. Instead of pushing Amaya away, he lightly wrapped his arms around her, testing Mira's limits.
"A-Asher! You're cheating on me?! You... You can't do that! YOU'RE MINE! LET GO OF THAT OLD WOMAN RIGHT NOW!" Mira's outburst surprised even herself, but she couldn't contain the fire that had ignited inside her. Her voice wavered between hurt and anger as she declared her claim over him.
Asher's heart pounded faster. He could barely contain his excitement at Mira's reaction, the possessive tone in her voice sending a shiver through him. He was pushing her, testing just how far she would go for him.
Finally, Asher backed away from Amaya, deciding not to push Mira too far.
"Mira, what's the problem, dear?" Asher asked in a soothing voice, feigning confusion as if he had no idea what had upset her.
"You dare hug my master in front of your wife?!" Mira's eyes burned with intensity as she spoke. She wasn't officially his wife yet, but in her heart, she had already decided that she was. She needed him to recognize that.
Asher smirked, knowing exactly how to handle this. "I was just hugging my future mother-in-law, dear," he said, completely unfazed, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You know how much I cherish you, right?" Asher said as he moved closer to Mira, arms outstretched. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, holding her close. Leaning down, he whispered something in her ear that made her face turn as red as a tomato.
"Once I'm at the academy, I was thinking of learning how to make kids. Will you teach me, dear~?"
Mira's breath hitched, her heart pounding. She clung to him tightly, speechless, her face glowing crimson. She didn't care about anything else anymore. This hug, this moment, was everything. She never wanted to let go.
But all good things must come to an end.
A chilling voice cut through the room, so cold it felt like the temperature had dropped several degrees. "Enough."
The voice wasn't loud, nor was it emotional—it was simply a command, delivered like an indisputable fact. Veylnn had spoken, and her usual calm demeanor was gone. Her face was slightly twisted with a deep-seated jealousy, her eyes like black holes boring into Asher's soul.
Master's jealous. Asher smiled inwardly, his heart racing with delight. He was beyond thrilled. Seeing Veylnn, his ever-composed master, jealous? That was something he had longed to witness.
"Master, what's wrong?" Asher asked, feigning innocence as he glanced over at her. Then, without hesitation, he turned back to Mira, kissing her lips gently. Mira was shocked but quickly melted into the kiss, her mind completely blank from the sudden affection.
When he pulled away, Mira looked dazed, lost in her own world. She barely noticed anything around her, her brain seemingly fried from the intensity of the moment.
Asher turned his gaze back to Veylnn, whose eyes, though controlled, held the unmistakable glint of murderous intent. She didn't want to kill Mira—no, she wanted to kill him. She knew he was playing with her emotions, and she did not like being toyed with, not one bit.
Amaya watched from the sidelines, her smile never fading. She liked Asher's boldness, his daring personality. And honestly? She found the whole situation rather... exciting.
'Ah, I might need a new pair of panties after this,' she thought, amused.
"Everyone out now. Not you, though, my dear disciple." Veylnn's icy words were a clear command, her possessive rage barely contained.