Ascension Of The Villain

"Oh, sorry to have disturbed your sleep then," he replied, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips, because he should have taken her featherlight sleep under consideration from the start.

He moved to stand beside her by the open window, and the cool summer breeze, fresh with the scent of rain, kissed his skin. Enjoying the breeze, his eyes fell on the beautiful half-circle of colors in the sky. "Wow... is that a rainbow?"

She nodded, her smile gentle. "You came back just in time. I was kind of hoping to see the sunrise and rainbow with you."

For a moment, he couldn\'t tear his eyes away from her. Her eyes violet almost reflected the colors dancing across the sky. And the way the dawn light painted her face with an ethereal glow made his heart feel full, almost too full.

"So," she nudged his shoulder playfully, leaning against the windowsill, "where did you sneak off to? I hope I wasn\'t strangling you in my sleep."

He laughed lightly. "No, you weren\'t. I just initially went to check up on my brother," Vyan said, his gaze still lingering on her, unable to look away. "But then I found out that Ash was getting scared by the sound of rain. So, I was trying to calm him down and ended up promising to stay with him the entire time he was sleeping."

Her brows lifted slightly. "You have to go back, then?"

"Yes," he murmured.

"That\'s too bad," she replied, meeting his eyes with a warmth that melted right through him. "I was hoping we could have breakfast together before I left for the capital."

Vyan felt horrible all of a sudden. "I am so sorry—"

Before he could finish, she slipped her arms around his, resting her head on his shoulder. "Don\'t be. Family is important."

"And so are you," he whispered, his voice barely above the wind\'s breath.

She closed her eyes, her smile softening into something pure and content. "Just hearing you say that... it means the world to me. Thank you, Vyan."

"Hey," he called out gently. She hummed in response, her eyes still closed. "You know how we never got that chance to dance together? Not at your debutante ball or at the closing of the Monster Hunt Festival?"

"Mhm," she replied.

"Your birthday is coming up soon, right? So, would you, uh, do me the honor of a dance at your birthday ball—"

"Nope."

Vyan froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What? After everything we have done together, you won\'t even— I-I can\'t believe this!"

Iyana burst into laughter. "Relax, you drama king. I am not having a birthday ball in the first place, so no formal dances, got it?"

He stared at her, still processing. "Why not? Oh… because of your family\'s situation?"

"Yes, and because my engagement with Easton just got called off a few days ago. Throwing a grand party in this situation would be a bit… awkward, don\'t you think?" She shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Besides, I am turning twenty. I am practically ancient. There is no need for a big celebration."

He scoffed. "I can understand you not wanting a grand party, but not wanting to celebrate your birthday at all? Now, that\'s just bullshit," he rolled his eyes. "You, my lady, are just like every other girl, and you too like celebrating your special days; I know that."

She chuckled, leaning in closer. "Nothing gets past you, does it, Your Grace?"

"Exactly," he replied, puffing out his chest a bit. "So, leave it to me to plan something special for you. It will be everything you love, I promise," he assured confidently.

She tightened her hold on his arm, her smile stretching so wide it hurt, but she didn\'t care. She was too happy. And Vyan… he adored seeing her like this—radiant, carefree, joyful. Her happiness was worth more to him than anything in the world.

He gazed at her, his heart heavy with unspoken truths. She had only seen fragments of the darkness he carried, yet she chose to stay, to trust him. And that gave him hope—the hope that when he finally bared it all, when he told her everything after her birthday, she would still choose him.

And he would make sure, no matter how she reacted, that she would always have reasons to smile like this—with or without him.

———

A cloaked figure wriggled through a narrow hole in the imperial wall, her silver hair spilling out from beneath her hood and catching on the rough stone edges. Frustration tightened her brow as she tried to free herself, only to feel a shadow fall over her.

She glanced up to find a hand extended toward her and a familiar, handsome face grinning down at her. Kneeling before her with a mischievous glint in his stormy gray eyes, he looked like he had all the time in the world.

"Need some help, Crown Princess?" Clyde asked, his voice laced with gentle amusement.

Althea let out a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxing. Her eyes turned soft and imploring. "Yes, please."

He chuckled softly, leaning in to carefully untangle her hair from the jagged stones. "You know, this hole is becoming a bit of a hazard. Vyan snagged the hem of his coat here just a few days ago. Maybe once you are the empress, you could lift the ban on teleportation magic. That way, you wouldn\'t have to squeeze through here every time just to meet me."

She laughed, finally slipping free with his help. "What, so you can appear in my bed chamber whenever it suits you?"

"Ooh, now that you mention it, that does sound rather appealing," he replied, grinning suggestively.

She rolled her eyes, cheeks flushing despite her best efforts. "Shut up." She gave him a playful shove on the chest and adjusted her hood to hide her hair. "Come on, let\'s get breakfast. I have to be back by nine."

Being the dramatic gentleman he was, Clyde linked his arm with hers and declared, "Your wish is my command, Your Imperial Highness."

With a swift motion, he teleported them to a bustling food market on the outskirts of Cantace. The air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling spices.

"So, what are you in the mood for today?"

"I am not sure yet," she murmured, her eyes scanning the vibrant stalls. "Let\'s walk around and see what catches our eye."

As they strolled through the lively marketplace, Clyde tilted his head, his messy gray bangs falling over his eyes as he watched her. His gaze was both tender and teasing.

"What are you staring at?" she asked, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"Just checking for any signs of stress or worry," he said casually, straightening up. "With you being the new crown heir and all, I want to make sure you are getting enough rest."

Her heart warmed at his genuine concern, a fond smile curling on her lips. She intertwined their fingers and replied, "Don\'t worry, I have mastered the art of a healthy work-life balance."

"Huh, a healthy work-life balance," he mused with mock disbelief. "I wonder if my boss knows that concept exists."

Althea giggled. "Sounds like you are more stressed than I am, Clyde."

"Tell me about it," he groaned. "I always thought I was a \'go with the flow\' kind of guy who never worries too much about anything, but ever since I became Vyan\'s aide, all I seem to do is worry."

"There, there." She patted his back, her laughter light and infectious.

Clyde hummed, then suddenly his expression turned a bit more serious. "Speaking of worry, there is something I have been thinking about for the last few days." He hesitated, then continued, "I know we are not supposed to talk about you-know-what without Vyan\'s presence, but... are you really okay with everything that\'s happening with your father and especially what\'s about to happen?."

Althea blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his earnestness. "You mean Vyan\'s intentions to...?"

He nodded, his eyes searching hers. "He is your father, after all. It\'s okay if you feel conflicted or—"

Althea burst into laughter, the sound bright and unrestrained. "Clyde, that man hasn\'t acted like a father a single day in my twenty-three years of life. Why would I not support Vyan\'s revenge? I am more than fine with it—In fact, I am thrilled."

"Really?" Clyde was surprised.

"Really. Trust me on it." She squeezed his hand, her eyes steady and sincere. "But thank you for asking. It means a lot to me."

"Of course," he replied softly, his smile genuine and relieved. He really wanted to make sure that she was okay with everything since she mostly kept her feelings guarded and just went along with what appeared to be the most logical solution to her. "Your feelings matter the most to me, Althea."

Althea tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Is that so? That makes me curious about something. What would you have done if I said I was against it?" She arched an eyebrow. "Would you have gone against Vyan?"

Clyde\'s steps faltered as he stopped walking.