Ascension Of The Villain

Once the spoon hit the floor, Iyana's heart went into overdrive, hammering against her ribcage like a war drum calling soldiers to battle.

She didn't dare look up at Vyan, her thoughts spiraling into a chaotic mess. Stupid, stupid, stupid! You weren't supposed to reveal it! Now he will think you are a total idiot—

Her mental self-flagellation came to an abrupt halt when she heard the screech of a chair. She glanced up just enough to see Vyan standing and moving toward her.

Is he coming for a fight? Does he want me dead now?

Her hand instinctively reached for her bracelet on her other wrist—the one that doubled as a magical storage unit for her sword and shield.

If he tries anything, I will not back down—

She was fully braced for a showdown, expecting him to conjure spells or some fiery incantation. Instead, his hands reached down.

Huh?

Vyan crouched and picked up the spoon she had dropped.

Oh. I completely forgot about the spoon.

She blinked, thoroughly puzzled, as a soft glow enveloped the spoon, cleansing it.

Vyan straightened up and placed the spoon back on the table. "You can use it again," he said nonchalantly.

She continued blinking, her brain in complete shutdown mode.

"And about using magic instead of cosmetics," he added, a playful smirk on his lips as he returned to his chair, "it sounds like a fantastic idea." He chuckled lightly as he sat down. "I wonder if a spell like that exists, though."

"Your Grace…" she began, freezing as his gaze sliced through her. "Vyan," she corrected, and his eyes softened. "Aren't you even going to deny it?"

"Well," he said, picking up his spoon with deliberate slowness, "what's the big deal? I already know that you know." His tone was as casual as if they were discussing the weather.

In fact, he was the one who had orchestrated the whole reveal, letting her piece together his identity as the mage from the Valley of Divos through Benedict and the head maid's hints.

But he had made sure she had no concrete proof to bring to the emperor. Her past betrayal still lingered in his mind back then, a thorn that refused to be removed.

Now, understanding that she wasn't the one who betrayed him, he trusted her principles. She wasn't the type to resort to cheap tricks like blackmail, especially not after discovering the truth about their intertwined past.

Besides, if she wanted to free Lyon from his enslavement, she would surely come up with a more noble plan than resorting to threats. After all, using threats and blackmailing were more his forte than hers.

"But what if I had evidence against you?" she asked hesitantly. "The whole nation thinks you are inept at magic. If anyone finds out you have been deceiving them—"

"So, what are you suggesting?" He folded his hands on the table and leaned in slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Are you planning to expose me?"

"I mean, I have no reason to protect your secret," she shot back, regaining her confidence and deciding to play along. Ꮇ√∟#ΕϺРΥ%Ꭱ

"Touché," he said with a smirk. "But you do realize that if I go down, I will drag you and your entire family down with me, right?"

This guy—

Her cheeks puffed up in annoyance. "Geez, I didn't even say I would expose you! Why are you antagonizing me?" She grabbed her spoon and began to stuff herself with exaggerated fervor. "I would have to be a heartless bitch to expose your magical skills after you went through the trouble of purifying the Karloz River all by yourself."

"Huh?" It was Vyan's turn to blink dumbly. "How did you know that?"

"Hmph, I am not telling," she said, turning away with an air of indignation like a drama queen.

Vyan pursed his lips, trying to piece it together. She must have seen me performing the spell. But does that mean she also heard what Clyde, Thea, and I were discussing? About taking Prince Easton down?

He looked at her cautiously, scanning her expression for any hints of knowledge about his master plans. He was okay with her knowing about his magical skills, but he was pretty sure she wouldn't be thrilled about him plotting a coup against her fiancé.

"Even if you don't tell, I can guess very well, you know?" Vyan said, keeping his tone light-hearted as he tested the waters. "Also, just for your information, I didn't do it out of the goodness of my heart."

"I wish I could say I knew that already," she sighed, sounding genuinely disappointed. "I did think you must be pretty good-hearted, despite how you act with me. But that, unfortunately, only lasted a few hours. The following morning, when I heard the Walver villagers cheering Princess Althea for cleansing the Karloz River, I just knew you had some other dishonest reason behind it."

So… she likely didn't hear us, Vyan thought.

"Do you have any guesses what my 'dishonest' reason could possibly be?" Vyan asked, raising an eyebrow and sounding playful.

Iyana gracefully finished her soup and began toying with her main course. "Well, I gave it a lot of thought and only managed to come to one conclusion."

"Which is?" he prompted, leaning forward curiously as if her next words would solve the mysteries of the universe.

She shot him an annoyed look. "Why are you interrogating me? Do you think I am going to tell you everything? I still see you as a threat, you know?"

"Come on, we agreed to a cease-fire until your memories return. Don't be that mean," he insisted, trying to sound diplomatic but ending up somewhere near whiny.

"At this rate, I am going to have to wish for my memories to never return," she grumbled, making a face that suggested she was seriously considering it.

Vyan laughed lightly. "Please, my lady, don't torture me like that and tell me your guess," he pleaded, his voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness.

It was the way he uttered 'my lady' so naturally that made her resolve soften. "Fine," she conceded begrudgingly.

"Finally." He smiled in satisfaction and challenged, "Let's see how close you are to the mark."

She looked him in the eyes with a seriousness that could have stopped time. Vyan suddenly felt a prickling pressure, certain she was about to call him out for plotting against her future husband.

But then, she blindsided him with a revelation that was so far out of left field it was practically in another sport.

"You have a crush on Princess Althea, don't you?"