Ascension Of The Villain

"You are absolutely out of your mind, you know that?" Iyana blurted out as soon as she managed to drag Vyan out of earshot from the bustling crowd.

Vyan blinked, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Out of my mind? What did I do?"

She folded her arms, fixing him with a stern look. "Why would you spend a fortune on that? Do you have any idea how reckless that looks?"

Vyan's lips curled into a playful smile. "Why are you so upset? I bought it for my future wife."

Iyana's mouth opened, ready to snap back, but she paused, catching herself. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as she tried to collect her thoughts. "It's not just that. I am worried about Ashstone's economy. How could you justify spending that much of the common people's tax money on—"

He cut her off with a calm yet slightly offended tone. "Whoa, slow down. First off, Ashstone's tax rate is quite on the lower side—if not the lowest in the empire. I am not exactly squeezing my people dry, you know? And second, my wealth doesn't come from taxes at all. My father was more of a businessman than a Grand Duke or a mage.

Even without counting our gold and diamond mines, do you know how many businesses I inherited?"

Iyana's stern expression softened as she absorbed his words. "I... didn't realize—"

"Yeah, I get it," Vyan said, nodding as he continued. "Most people assume that the businesses have gone under by now, but thanks to Count Magnus, Clyde's father, they remained afloat. After him, I have been working my tail off doing the same. And to be honest, a lot of the credit goes to Freya. Without her managing the day-to-day, I would be a complete mess."

Iyana's eyes widened, genuinely impressed. "Wow, so you have been juggling all of that besides training? In just a year? That's... incredible. How hard did you have to work to pull that off?"

Vyan let out a weary chuckle, his smile tinged with a hint of exhaustion. "You don't even want to know. Let's just say I had fifteen years of lost time to make up for."

A pang of sympathy flickered in Iyana's chest. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "That must have been really tough."

He looked down at her hand, then back up at her, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "Well, I will admit, my little petty revenge against you kept me going. So I guess I owe you a thank you."

Iyana rolled her eyes, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, please. It wasn't even my fault, to begin with."

Vyan shrugged, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "Details, details. But I did chant your name every time things got rough. It helped, believe it or not."

She shook her head, laughing softly. "I am sorry," she said, giving his arm a squeeze. "I shouldn't have accused you like that without knowing the full story. I had no idea just how ridiculously wealthy you really are."

He waved off her apology with a casual hand. "It's fine. I get why blowing half a million gold coins on some pearls might seem... extravagant. But don't worry, all of that is going to charity."

"Oh, right, yeah." Her smile widened in relief, but then she hesitated, her expression turning thoughtful. "This future wife of yours... she must have to be something else, huh? To handle the Grand Duchy and everything."

Vyan's grin turned almost boyish as he shook his head. "Nope," he said, his tone playful. "The only thing she will need to handle is me."

"What?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"You heard me," Vyan replied, his tone calm. "My wife doesn't have to worry about anything. She can do whatever she pleases…" his eyes held hers, "As long as she stays by my side and loves me."

For a moment, she was taken aback, then, she let out a burst of laughter, lightening the mood. "Isn't the bar for your future wife a bit... low?"

Vyan tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Don't underestimate how hard it is to keep loving me."

"Oh, is that so?" She arched an eyebrow, matching his smirk with her own playful challenge.

He nodded, his smile lingering, but there was a weight behind it—something deep and dark.

If you knew the things I have done, the things I am still doing, you would never love me, Iyana. However…

Iyana rolled her eyes, brushing off the topic. "Anyway, the closing masquerade starts in an hour after dinner. Do you want to be my dance partner? It's safe enough with the masks, don't you think?"

"Sure," Vyan agreed, his voice softening. "In fact, I was going to ask you myself."

"Great. I will be waiting to have my first dance with you." She shot him a smile that warmed his cold, apathetic heart.

However, I love you too much to let anyone else hold your happiness in their hands. One day, those jewels I bought today will be yours, a weight you will have to bear—because I need you to.

———

After dinner, as Iyana watched the couples waltzing around the bonfire, the pleasant music weaving through the night air, she expected to feel a familiar presence beside her. But when someone finally extended a hand for hers, it wasn't Vyan.

"Would you do me the honor, Iyana?" Easton's voice was warm, his smile unexpectedly genuine—something she had never seen from him before.

"Your Imperial Highness?" Iyana blinked, startled. Easton had been absent since yesterday, reportedly tied up with urgent business in the capital. "What are you doing here?"

"I am only fulfilling my duty," Easton replied smoothly, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of something unspoken. "As your fiancé, it's my responsibility to take you to the dance floor, isn't it?"

Iyana's eyes darted around, searching for the familiar tall figure with red eyes that always seemed to find her, but tonight, Vyan was nowhere in sight. A strange, uneasy feeling crept over her, though she didn't let it show.

Sighing inwardly, she placed her hand on Easton's. "Alright." The warmth of his touch felt foreign, and as he led her to the dance floor, she couldn't shake the unsettling sense that something was off, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.