Ascension Of The Villain

Iyana chuckled softly, her voice like music that lingered in the air. "You really are the clingy type, aren't you?"

Vyan responded by tightening his arms around her, pulling her closer. He breathed in the delicate scent of her; it was intoxicating, grounding him in a moment of solace he hadn't known he needed.

After bumping into Celeste, then Althea, his feet had somehow found their way to the military quarters without any conscious decision on his part. Thanks to the tightened security, his time was fleeting on the imperial grounds. He had already accomplished what he came to do, having visited Edgar, and yet, despite the ticking clock, there was only one place he wanted to be in: with her.

When he finally reached in front of her office chamber, he didn't even know what he was doing here or whether she was inside or not. Only after she responded with her permission for him to come inside did he realize that he came seeking comfort from her in the way. So, without a word, he wrapped her in his embrace.

Now, as he held her tighter, Iyana's fingers slipped gently through his hair, soothing in a way only she could be.

"So, what is it?" she asked softly, her voice laced with gentle concern. "Is something wrong?"

Vyan shook his head, his lips brushing against her neck as he whispered, "No. I just missed you."

Her lips curled into a small smile as she tried to maintain her composure, her eyes flicking toward the door of her office. "You know, it's a very odd time to miss me, given these are my working hours, and we are literally standing in my professional space. Any moment one of my subordinates could walk in."

He didn't care. Her reprimanding words were just noise in the background to him. His attention was wholly on her—the curve of her neck, the way the collar of her uniform brushed against his cheek.

He nuzzled closer, letting his lips ghost over her skin, teasing the ironed white fabric.

"Vyan," she scolded, trying to be stern but miserably failing with her cheeks flushing a soft pink. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," he murmured against her skin, his lips trailing upward to the spot just behind her ear, pressing a kiss that made her exhale shakily.

For a moment, her eyes fluttered closed, allowing herself to get lost in the heat of his touch. But she quickly regained her senses, pushing him away gently by the shoulders.

"No," she said firmly, though her voice was softer than she intended. "This is my office. We can't be doing this."

He stepped back, gazing at her with a disappointed look that nearly undid her resolve. His kicked puppy-like expression tugged at her heartstrings.

Ugh. She hated him for doing this on purpose, and she hated herself even more for falling for it. She was almost about to reconsider, but just then, there was a knock at her door, saving her from the mistake.

Vyan exhaled softly, brushing his fingers over her now-disheveled collar. "I will see you later. Goodbye, my lady." He briefly stepped closer and kissed her cheek before making his way to the door.

Iyana sucked in a breath and shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate and calling out, "Come in."

As Vyan opened the door for himself on his way out, he stopped moving, which made Iyana peek over his shoulder, only to have light green eyes staring into hers.

Oh, great. Do I need to deal with a jealous Vyan now? Iyana thought with an internal groan and prepared herself to handle the situation with the minimum repercussions. However—

"Oh, um, you know what? I just figured out the solution to what I wanted to ask you, Iyana, so never mind. Sorry for the bother," with that, Easton was gone.

"Huh?" Vyan and Iyana both let out in sync.

"What the hell was that about?" Vyan looked over his shoulder at Iyana after glancing at the hallway Easton disappeared into. He just came and was gone like… That wasn't like him at all.

Iyana mirrored Vyan's confusion and shrugged her shoulders. "I absolutely have no idea."

Nevertheless, she kind of got worried for him. She had never seen Easton act anything close to being skittish or awkward. He had always maintained a cold demeanor with the composure of a cucumber. So, something really upsetting must have happened for him to act that way.

I hope he is okay.

———

Easton walked through the bustling marketplace, his cloak pulled tightly around him, blending into the crowd as best as a prince could. The noise and chaos of the capital swirled around him—children laughing, merchants shouting their prices, horses trotting on cobblestone.

There was an odd comfort in the unpredictable rhythm to the chaos that drowned out the endless silence that haunted the corridors of the imperial palace. That was why he always came out to the marketplace whenever he had too much in his mind and there was no one for him to go to.

For a change, he had thought about going to Iyana as a friend for advice, but after seeing Vyan, Easton couldn't stomach the idea of that. It rather made Easton realize how much he had fucked up his relationship with Iyana with the same mistakes he had made with Althea—by not communicating what was in his heart.

He weaved through the throngs of people, his steps slow and aimless. While he was busy being the perfect prince, the two most important women in his life had been fighting their own battles, and he had failed to see that.

Most importantly, how could he have been so blind to his sister's miseries—the woman he had known from his birth? How did he fail to recognize that he wasn't communicating his feelings to her this entire time?

The day she had returned after that harrowing incident seven years ago, he had been so afraid. Afraid that their father might decide to marry her off to some random rich noble to be rid of her.

He knew their father's harsh indifference toward her well enough to realize it was a possibility. That fear had driven him to say what he did—that Father would be disappointed in her.

Knowing Edgar's temper, he didn't want Althea to get on their father's bad side more than she already had. He could see that she was in no mental state to get married to anybody anytime soon. So, he had hoped that by shadowing her, by exerting his influence, he could ensure she remained unmarried, free to live her life as she wished.

And it had worked, hadn't it?

She had remained unwed all these years. Easton knew that if it weren't for him, their father would have already forced her into a political marriage without a second thought.

But he couldn't fault her for not knowing any of it. After all, he had never explained any of this to her, hadn't realized how much his quiet actions had hurt her, and had pushed her away. He didn't need to do any of the above, if only he had bothered to ask her what it was that she wanted or needed. How simple things could have been if he had just vocalized himself.

He sighed deeply, the weight of that realization settling heavy in his chest.

What's done was done. He wanted to be happy for her now that she was the crown princess, despite the attachment he had grown for the title. It was what she deserved after all the hardships she had faced. But…

What nagged him was her business partner. Vyan. The untrustworthy Grand Duke.

Easton couldn't stand him. Vyan was a snake lying in wait, coiled and ready to strike. Who knows what that evil man has got planned after Althea was officially crowned?

Easton hated it. Hated that Althea was entrusting herself to a man like Vyan. That man knew magic, and he has been keeping it a secret all this time. It just went to prove that he was behind every disaster until now.

Knowing this, Easton feared that Vyan was precisely aiming for the crown all for himself. It would be easy enough if Althea were to inherit it. She didn't have any experience or any formal political training, after all.

Easton had no doubt that Vyan would know exactly how to twist every situation to his advantage by manipulating Althea. Or worse, if he decided to literally backstab Althea. That would automatically bring Vyan next in line to the throne.

Because Izac was a no. He was crippled after his accident at the Monster Hunt Festival, and the empire did not take kindly to disabilities. Like at all. As for Ronan and Katelyn, those two would willingly hand the crown over to Vyan.

Not to mention, if Vyan's powers were even half of what his family's rumors suggested, he was a contender no one could afford to underestimate. And if he ever decided to use those powers against the empire... against Althea...

The crowd thickened around him as Easton pushed his way through, his thoughts swirling like a storm. He knew he had to find a way to make Althea see reason, to make her realize the danger she was in with Vyan. But how? She was stubborn and unwilling to listen to Easton.

"What do I do?" he murmured hopelessly until he clenched his jaw, determination setting his features into a hard line. "If I have to play the villain in her eyes, so be it."

He would not let Vyan—the snake that he was—lead her and their empire into ruin. He had promised their mother he would protect Althea. He had failed in many ways, but this time, he wouldn't.

If he has to take back his crown, then that's what he would do. Althea might hate him for it, but he would rather she hate him and be safe than love him and be vulnerable.

Easton moved deeper into the market. The vibrant chatter and clamor of the crowd began to fade as he reached a quieter, more deserted section.

Here, the noise of the city felt like a distant hum, replaced by the soft rustle of wind through narrow alleyways and the muffled sounds of footsteps on cobblestones.

Here, in this calm, his mind continued its relentless churn.

He was so absorbed in his contemplation that he almost missed it—a soft, feminine voice cutting through the stillness.

"You seem to be distressed, Your Imperial Highness."

Easton stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing. The voice came from the shadows of a nearby alley. He turned, his gaze locking onto a cloaked figure partially concealed by the darkness.

The woman stood still, almost unnervingly so, her form barely discernible in the dim light.

"Who are you?" Easton asked, his voice low, the authority of his station lacing his tone. He wasn't in the mood for games, not now.

The woman took a small step forward, just enough for the light to catch the edge of her hood, revealing her face to Easton, which made his eyes widen in recognition. "The only person who can help you."

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