Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 695

Chapter 695 156.1 - She can't say

"Young Miss."

The moment she had heard this sound, Irina froze, her entire body tensing as the familiar sound of Esme's voice echoed from the doorway. Her fiery eyes widened in horror, and her head snapped toward the sound, her heart dropping at the sight of her family's head maid standing there, her expression calm but her sharp gaze taking in every detail of the scene.

Astron, ever composed, loosened his grip around Irina's waist and straightened his posture. His sharp purple eyes flicked toward Esme with a calm, almost indifferent expression, as though being caught in this compromising position was entirely unremarkable.

Irina, on the other hand, was anything but composed.

"E-Esme!" she stammered, her face a deep crimson as she scrambled to stand, nearly tripping over her own feet in the process. "What-why are you-how long have you-" Esme's lips twitched ever so slightly, the barest hint of amusement breaking through her professional demeanor. "I came to inform you that Matriarch is asking for you," she said, her tone as smooth and composed as ever. "It's almost noon, and she was wondering why you missed breakfast."

Irina's stomach dropped further at the mention of her mother. "Noon?!" she exclaimed, glancing at the clock on the wall in a panic. "Why didn't anyone wake me up?!"

Esme's gaze flicked briefly to Astron, and the faintest trace of a knowing look crossed her face before she turned back to Irina. "You seemed... preoccupied," she said delicately.

Irina's face burned hotter, and she shot Astron a quick glare, as though blaming him for the entire situation. "I'll... I'll get ready and go," she said quickly, her voice strained as she tried to regain some semblance of composure.

Esme inclined her head slightly, her sharp eyes lingering on Astron for just a moment. before she turned and exited the room.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Irina slumped against the counter, covering her face with her hands as a muffled groan escaped her lips. "This is a nightmare," she muttered.

Astron leaned casually against the counter beside her, his calm demeanor unshaken. "I'd say it's more of a comedy," he said, his tone light but tinged with amusement.

Irina groaned louder, her embarrassment reaching its peak. "Shut up," she mumbled, refusing to look at him.

"Why?"

Seeing her face, Astron leaned back against the counter, his arms crossed casually as he regarded Irina with a faint smirk. "You know," he began, his voice carrying that infuriatingly calm tone, "for someone who was so bold yesterday, you seem awfully unsure today."

Irina's head shot up, her fiery red eyes narrowing as her embarrassment turned to irritation. "Bold?!" she snapped, her voice rising slightly. "You think-"

"You were the one who told me to stay," Astron interrupted smoothly, his tone still maddeningly composed. "You made the decision. You even said you didn't care about anything else in the moment."

Irina froze, her lips parting as the memory of her words from the previous night. resurfaced. The warmth, the closeness, the conviction she'd felt-it all came rushing back, and with it, a twinge of shame for how she'd been acting now.

"You made your choice," Astron continued, his sharp purple eyes locking onto hers. "So why regret it now?"

Her initial irritation faded, replaced by a quiet realization that left her chest tightening. He was right-she had made a decision, and it wasn't like her to backpedal on something she'd resolved to do. She wasn't someone who ran from her choices.

Her hands lowered from her face, and her fiery gaze met his. "You're right," she admitted quietly, her voice steadying. "I did make a promise to myself."

Astron's smirk softened slightly, though he didn't respond. He simply watched her, waiting for her to continue.

Irina took a deep breath, straightening her posture as she pushed her embarrassment aside. "I'll be ready in ten minutes," she said firmly, her confidence returning as she turned on her heel and strode toward the stairs. "Don't go anywhere."

As she disappeared up the stairs, Astron glanced after her, his expression unreadable. A quiet hum escaped him as he turned his attention back to tidying the kitchen. He was already dressed and ready for the day-his black shirt neatly buttoned, his boots polished, and his hair still slightly damp from his earlier shower.

Before Irina had woken, Astron had already completed his morning routine. He'd trained rigorously in the Emberheart training grounds, honing his precision and strength as he always did. By the time she'd stumbled into the kitchen, flustered and disheveled, he was already several steps ahead.

Now, as he waited for her to return, his thoughts lingered on their brief but chaotic morning.

'It is indeed weird....

For a long time in a while, he was feeling something like this and it was oddly weird.

But, at this point, had already been accustomed to hese feelings.

At least, he had started to.

As Astron worked swiftly through the kitchen, his hands moved with practiced precision. He disliked leaving any trace of chaos behind, especially after such a noisy morning. Each dish, utensil, and pan was cleaned and placed neatly back where it belonged. His movements were methodical, almost rhythmic, as the soothing flow of the task grounded his thoughts.

By the time he finished, the kitchen looked immaculate, as though the earlier flurry of activity had never occurred. The only evidence left behind were faint scuff marks on the tiled floor, remnants of their impromptu "battle." Astron crouched briefly, inspecting them with a discerning eye, and prepared to wipe them away when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps descending the stairs.

Irina appeared in the doorway, her fiery red hair slightly damp from a quick rinse and tied loosely behind her. She had changed into a more formal outfit-something fitting for the heir of the Emberheart family-and yet, her flushed cheeks betrayed the lingering effects of their earlier exchange.

Astron straightened, his sharp purple eyes flicking to her with mild curiosity. "You're faster than I expected," he remarked, his tone casual as he set the cleaning cloth aside. Irina scoffed, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she stepped into the kitchen. "Unlike you, I don't have the luxury of taking my time," she said briskly, though there was a hint of unease in her voice. Her gaze darted to the spotless kitchen, and her brows furrowed slightly. "You already cleaned everything?"

"Of course," Astron replied, turning to the faint marks on the floor and crouching again. "I don't like leaving a mess." His voice carried no hint of pride, just a

matter-of-factness that made her feel both impressed and mildly irritated.