Ascension Of The Villain

Iyana blinked at him, stunned for a moment, before letting out a disbelieving laugh. "You have got to be kidding me. You, Vyan Blake Ashstone, are going to bake a cake? That too, without the help of your magic?"

Vyan feigned offense, crossing his arms. "Why, don't you trust my culinary skills?"

"I didn't even know you had any," she shot back, the laughter bubbling in her chest. "But I guess there is a first time for everything."

"Exactly," he replied, pulling her toward the table with a playful determination. "And since I am the one who planned this, I guess we are in it together."

Iyana couldn't stop laughing as they approached the table, the ridiculousness of the situation only making the moment more special. The elegant setting, their pristine white clothes, and now—cake batter. It was absurd and perfect, just like Vyan.

Vyan stood at the table, eyeing the various ingredients laid out before him with a furrowed brow, as though preparing for battle. The setup was charming, an ancient twist with rustic tools—a large stone mortar and pestle for mixing, a worn wooden spoon, and earthen bowls filled with ingredients that Iyana had clearly chosen with care.

"Strawberry is your favorite," Vyan mused aloud, sounding almost disappointed as he reached for the flour. "Such a shame."

Iyana, standing beside him with a teasing grin, patted his shoulder. "It's a shame for you, maybe. But I will make you a chocolate cake some other time. We both know you love it."

Vyan cast her a sidelong glance, his lips curling up as he mimicked a formal bow. "Why, thank you, my lady."

With a playful roll of her eyes, Iyana leaned in, casually resting her elbow on his shoulder, watching him work with mild amusement. "How is it that I didn't know you loved chocolate so much before?"

"Well," Vyan started, pouring some flour into the mortar, his movements precise to the point it seemed like he had memorized the recipe to every point. "Chocolate is expensive, you know? Growing up, I could never afford it. So, I never really had the chance to indulge." He shrugged, a touch of nostalgia flickering in his voice as he added, "And you, on the other hand, hated it.

So, it's not like you ever had it around, either."

Iyana hummed softly, a twinge of sadness lacing her tone. "That's true. I guess we never really had the chance to share chocolate together."

Sensing the shift in her mood, Vyan smeared some flour on her cheek. "Come on now, don't get all sad on me. I am living a pretty great life these days," he teased, "How many poor commoners like me have the fortune to be the blood of a Grand Duke?"

Iyana chuckled at his words, her chest easing up as she let her head rest on his shoulder, the comfort of his presence calming her. "Touché," she murmured with a happy sigh. "I suppose you have come a long way from those days, haven't you?"

He smiled, a softer expression than usual crossing his face as he continued to mix the ingredients. "Yes, I have."

"Do you miss it—back when you didn't have so many responsibilities on your shoulders?"

"Miss it? Hardly. I couldn't be happier with the way my life is right now. Sure, it is stressful. Sometimes, it downright sucks." He smiled faintly. "But I would still pick a stressful life full of love over a lonely, pathetic one."

"You do know that I loved you back then, too, right?" Iyana raised her head slightly, meeting his gaze with a jesting smile.

"Oh, yes, I know." He flashed her a full-blown grin. "You loved me when I had nothing, and you still love me now."

"And I will always love you," she whispered.

"Exactly. What more could I ask for?"

"I don't know," she teased. "Maybe a chocolate cake?"

Vyan let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "I will take what I can get. For now, I will settle for this non-chocolate masterpiece I am crafting here."

"Masterpiece?" Iyana arched a brow, laughing as she gently nudged him with her elbow again. "We will see about that. You haven't even gotten to the hard part yet."

"Hard part?" Vyan scoffed, feigning offense as he picked up an egg. "Please, I have practiced this so many times. I can now do this in my sleep. Just watch."

"What?" she let out, surprised. "You practiced making this before? It's no wonder why you are doing this so smoothly without even asking me a question."

"Well, I wanted everything to be perfect," he turned his head to the side and kissed her forehead. "Too bad I screwed up for the first… eighteen hours?"

Iyana laughed again. "No, you idiot. It wasn't you who screwed up. It's just the way it is. No matter how much you plan or prepare, an unexpected variable can always arrive. And that's why I always tell you to be careful."

Vyan hummed in response, genuinely seeming to consider her words. "I will keep that in mind for the next time."

She slapped her forehead in exasperation. "You just missed the point of what I said. You can never prepare for it—that's the thing."

He rolled his eyes and muttered, "Sure, sure."

"You are doing it wrong, by the way. You have to stir it more," she interrupted.

"Why don't you help me out a little then?"

"Why ask for my help now? Didn't you practice a lot?"

"Well, I think it would be more fun to do it together," he reasoned, giving her puppy eyes, and she obviously melted.

So, the two of them hustled side by side and made quick work of the cake. With it safely tucked away into the stone oven, Iyana wiped her hands on a towel when Vyan leaned against the counter. Enjoy more content from mvl

She raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms, eyes fixed on her with a lazy smile that was anything but innocent. The warm glow of the fire from the oven illuminated his features, giving him a soft, almost seductive look.

"So," he drawled, pushing himself off the counter and stepping closer to her, "what now, my lady? Should we just sit here and wait for the cake to bake? Or... would you prefer something a little more exciting?"

Iyana felt the playful tension in the air shift. His proximity, the tone in his voice—it was all deliberate. And she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. She tilted her head, a sly grin forming on her lips as she took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark.

"And what would you suggest?" she asked.

Vyan's smirk widened, his hand grazing her arm as he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "I was thinking... maybe we could go to my room for a bit. You know, to pass the time."

Iyana didn't respond right away. Instead, she moved even closer, her lips brushing against his in a teasing kiss before she bit down gently on his bottom lip, her eyes dark with intent. "What do you think?" she whispered against his lips.

A low chuckle rumbled from Vyan's chest, his eyes darkening with desire as he grinned. "I think I like where this is going."

And in the blink of an eye, the two of them disappeared, teleported to his room in a flash of heat and magic.

———

The smell of warm cake filled the open air as Vyan set the cake down, while Iyana smoothened out her hair with her fingers. He lit the candles with a snap of his fingers and stepped back, admiring their handiwork for a brief moment before turning to Iyana.

"It's ready," he said softly, his voice filled with affection. "You should blow the candles and make a wish."

Iyana stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the candles as they flickered in the dim light. She folded her hands in front of her and closed her eyes for a moment, thinking of the one thing her heart truly desired.

Opening her eyes, she leaned in and gently blew out the candles, the soft smoke curling into the air as the flames extinguished.

Vyan watched her closely, a curious smile playing at the corners of his lips. "What did you wish for?"

Iyana smiled, shaking her head. "If I tell you, it won't come true, now will it?"

Vyan chuckled, stepping closer as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into a soft embrace. "Come on, can't you even tell me?"

"Sorry, love, I can't risk this one." She gave him a playful wink, although her chest tightened at the thought of her wish not coming true.

And as he smiled at that in the knowing way he did when he could practically read her mind, she knew that he had been able to guess it. After all, what else could she wish for when there just was not enough time?

Please let Vyan live a very long, healthy life.

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