Chapter 9: Act as You Wish

Sylvaine didn't pay attention to which room she was in after she lay down on the bed because all her attention was on Jasper's face. Maybe it was only because of the close physical contact they shared, but Sylvaine couldn't stop herself from looking at his handsome face. And she couldn't help thinking that when he had carried her to bed, she leaned her head against his strong chest and for a moment she felt as if she were free from all her troubles.

Jasper asked sarcastically,

"What are your conditions, little princess?''

As Jasper spoke, she came to her senses and said,

''Uh-ehm yeah, my conditions... wait a second, did you know I was a princess?''

Jasper had no idea that she was a princess. He just wanted to mock her for the fact that he had carried her in his arms all the way to the room, but he replied without missing a beat,

"Of course, I did''

She tried to sit up but fell back on the bed, as if she had no strength left, she said,

"W-why do I feel so weak?''

''As I said, I overdid it, you can rest here for the rest of the day, now can we discuss your terms?''

Sylvaine blushed with embarrassment and was unable to make eye contact, because the two times she had met this man she had found herself in embarrassing positions.

She tried to compose herself and said in a serious tone.

"I have come here to make a request to the great alchemist I heard about from Kael. I believe you can find a solution to the starvation of my people, and if you can do that, I will come here every two weeks to give my blood as you requested.''

Jasper was flattered every time he was called great alchemist, he said with a smug smile,

"Maybe I can find one, but what makes you think your blood is that precious?''

"If my blood is not valuable enough for you, I don't know what else I can do. If I had any strength left, I could get up and beg you on my knees... Please, I must do something for my people.''

Jasper touched the bite mark on Sylvaine's neck, looked into her eyes and said,

"I never said your blood isn't valuable enough, I just wanted to know what you were thinking.''

Jasper stood up and said, "If you want, I can pay you for the next hundred years in advance, you know what they say, money solves everything. Maybe you could try to buy cattle from humans and start a farm.''

"I don't think this is the solution, my people are too lazy to take care of animals''

Jasper said angrily, "You want me to cure your laziness?!''

"No, no, no, I was just hoping the Grand Alchemist could have another solution.''

Jasper calmed down and said, "Hmm, alchemy... isn't that the pursuit of gold and immortality?''

Jasper gave a smug smile and continued, "But of course, being the great alchemist that I am, I can come up with another solution.''

Sylvaine looked at him hopefully, while Jasper asked if something was bothering him,

''Your attitude has really changed a lot compared to the one on the front door. Is it because you are afraid of me or there is any other reason?''

Sylvaine didn't say anything, but it was obvious from her eyes that she wanted to say yes, Jasper said.

"We will see each other every two weeks from now on. I don't want to have someone stiff around me, you can behave however you want.''

"Really? How do I know you won't get angry and kill me if I do as I please?''

"You'll have to take my word for it, I'm not one to break my word.''

"Hmm, is that so? Well, then I'll do as I please.''

"Good, rest while I find another solution for your village.''

As Jasper was about to leave the room, Sylvaine grabbed the sleeve of his clothes and said,

''You said something about a letter and a gift. I dropped them on the doorstep. I want to know what they are, can you bring them to me?''

Jasper blushed slightly and turned his face away to avoid showing it and said,

 "Since we have reached an agreement, you don't need to read the letter''

Seeing this reaction, Sylvaine's heart skipped a beat, and she thought with a thrill, 

'It was obvious that he is handsome, but I didn't know he had a sweet side rather than a crazy one! I must read that letter.'

Sylvaine said, pretending not to care, 

"Not that I'm dying to read it, but you've gone to so much trouble to write it, so I must read it."

"No, you're definitely not, in fact I'll get rid of the letter.''

At that moment the door opened and the golem brought in the letter and the gift, Jasper thought,

'What do you think you're doing, you stupid golem!'

Jasper moved towards the golem to get the letter, but Sylvaine jumped out of bed and grabbed it. Jasper asked, clearly surprised,

"I thought you have no energy to move''

Sylvaine gasped, sitting on the floor, her cheeks flushed, and said,

''E-ehm, I was just a little curious about the letter''

''A little huh? then it won't be too much of a problem to get rid of it, can you please give me the letter?''

''NO!''

Jasper was surprised and took a step back, "'A-alright fine, if you wanted it that badly you could have just said so. I already told you to be yourself.''

Jasper did not want to be there when Sylvaine read the letter because he was not used to apologizing to people. He left the room and went to the alchemy room.

After giving the gift and the letter to Sylvaine, the golem disappeared, Jasper had teleported it to the Alchemy room.

Jasper created eyes out of blood on his fingertips and put them on the golem's head, then stepped back a little, looked at the golem and said,

"It looks creepy, I'm glad I didn't try to give you eyes.''

Golem's face fell and he looked at the floor, Jasper handed him an orb and said,

"Walk in the elf forest for one hour. When you want to come back, hold your golem brother and break the orb."

The golem agreed and Jasper sent him to the elven village.

Jasper's aim was to study the vegetation in the village and create a fast breeding and growing animal species that would be adapted to it. In this way he could solve the problem of hunger.

Jasper was not doing this out of concern for the elves in the village. He was just taking the opportunity that came his way at a time when he was short of ideas for alchemy. Of course, his deal with the elf was an additional benefit.