Ascension Of The Villain

Easton felt like the ground had been ripped from under his feet after Iyana left. Her words stung worse than he could have imagined. For heaven's sake, he couldn't fathom how to prove to her that he could make her the happiest woman on earth if only she would give him a chance.

He ran a hand over his face, eventually threading his fingers through his blonde hair, tugging lightly as if that could pull out an answer.

First things first, he needed to apologize for calling her out like that. He had literally accused her of playing the victim when he had no idea what she was truly going through. He was frustrated, but that was no excuse for his outburst.

Iyana must be dealing with her own storm of emotions. Sacrificing her career for this marriage couldn't be easy, but what could he do? His father would never agree otherwise.

With a heavy sigh, Easton headed out of his office, determined to make things right. He finally caught up to her, noticing the dazed look in her eyes.

It reminded him of the first time he saw her as a child, and his heart ached with a bittersweet nostalgia.

Easton was thirteen, filled with the reckless defiance that only a teenager could muster, when he first saw her. He had stormed out of the house, fury and frustration mingling in his chest. He had run away from the suffocating expectations of his family.

The sky seemed to sympathize, darkening and beginning to drizzle as he wandered aimlessly through the streets.

Amid the sea of parasols and hurried footsteps, two figures stood out, defiantly bareheaded against the rain. "What is that girl doing?"

His eyes were drawn to her immediately— a ten-year-old girl with platinum blonde hair that shimmered even in the gray light, and violet eyes that seemed almost otherworldly.

What struck him most was the emptiness in those eyes, a lifelessness that mirrored his own.

Compelled by an inexplicable pull, he started walking behind her, his own turmoil momentarily forgotten. She didn't notice him at first, her small frame moving with a slow, almost resigned pace.

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But eventually, she turned, sensing his presence, and their eyes met.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, two lost souls in the rain. Then, without any awkwardnesss, they began to share a conversation, one that required no pretense or masks.

In that brief encounter, Easton found a kindred spirit in the rain-soaked streets, and the memory of her lifeless violet eyes stayed with him long after the storm had passed.

Just like that day long ago, Easton quietly walked behind her, maintaining a twenty-foot distance, not wanting to disturb her.

She gradually came to a stop and looked over at the courtyard, where something entirely different from their first meeting happened. Her expression transformed, taking on vibrant colors.

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First, it was surprise, her eyes widening slightly. Then, it shifted to awe, her lips parting in silent admiration. Finally, her face softened into a look of fondness and affection. These were precious expressions that Easton had never seen on her face before.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he stepped closer to see what could be causing such a reaction. His blood boiled when he saw the Grand Duke and his half-siblings playing around with the archery setup.

Easton's fists clenched involuntarily. Of course, Iyana would look at the Grand Duke like that.

Envy surged within him, bitter and biting.

What is even so good about him? Easton thought bitterly. There is nothing exceptional about him, except his rank. He isn't good with swords, nor does he have any talent with magic.

Yet, he seemed to hold Iyana's attention and admiration effortlessly.

Acting on impulse, Easton strode over to the trio and asked, "May I join you?"

Vyan, Katelyn, and Ronan looked up in mild surprise as he approached, but Easton ignored their curious glances. His mind was focused on Iyana, whom he desperately wanted to impress.

Vyan opened his mouth to speak when he noticed Iyana out of the corner of his eye. Flashing a pleasant smile at Easton, he said, "You are most welcome to join us, Your Imperial Highness."

"While we are at it, let's have a friendly competition. Why don't we?" Easton suggested.

"Sure," Vyan readily agreed.

Katelyn rolled her eyes at Vyan's sudden shift in demeanor, only to be nudged by Ronan to control her expressions. "Mother told you to behave in front of Easton," Ronan warned in a quiet voice.

Huffing, she walked up to Vyan and tugged at his sleeve, pulling him down to whisper, "Don't go easy on him."

Vyan chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Don't worry, I have no intention to."

"That's the spirit." Katelyn grinned ear to ear and let him go.

Ronan shook his head hopelessly at his sister's antics.

As Easton and Vyan picked up their bows and arrows, Vyan asked, "So, how have you been, Your Imperial Highness? We haven't had the chance to speak since you visited my manor."

"Ah, yes, my apologies. I haven't had the time to converse these days," Easton replied curtly.

Sure, you pompous bastard, I am hosting the festival of the year and you are the one who is too busy, Vyan thought with annoyance.

Ever since that day at his manor, Easton had been giving him the cold shoulder. Vyan thought they had an amicable bond, but it turned out a little jealousy was all it took to burn that bridge.

Well, Vyan wasn't about to back down here. Archery was one of the few talents he didn't have to hide from everyone.

And it didn't hurt that Iyana was watching. It fueled him to do better.

Easton and Vyan squared off, each taking their positions at the archery range.

The tension between them was burning, with Katelyn and Ronan watching closely. Iyana stood a little further back, her gaze fixed on the two competitors.

Easton took the first shot, his bowstring making a soft twang as the arrow sailed through the air, landing dead center on the target.

Vyan nodded, acknowledging the skill but remaining unfazed.

Vyan raised an eyebrow and knocked his arrow, taking a moment to find his focus.

With a steady hand, he released the arrow. It whizzed through the air, embedding itself next to Easton's with a satisfying thud.

"Well matched, Your Grace," Easton commented, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Let's see how you handle the next round."

Surely he isn't that good, right? I am one of the best in archery, Easton thought, his ego unwavering.

Vyan smiled, pretending to be humble, but he couldn't suppress the bite in his voice, "I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you."

The second round commenced, with Easton once again shooting first. This time, his arrow struck slightly off-center, but still within the bullseye.

Vyan took his time, savoring the moment. He felt the weight of the bow, the tension of the string, and the cool breeze brushing against his face.

He let the arrow fly, and it hit the exact center of the target, splitting Easton's previous arrow in half.

Katelyn and Ronan exchanged glances, once again impressed by Vyan's skill.

"That was so amazing, Vyan—" Iyana was almost about to holler loudly but barely stopped herself in time. She slapped a hand over her mouth, a proud smile still tugging on her face.

"Impressive," Easton conceded, his voice tight with controlled irritation. "But let's make this more interesting. How about a moving target?"

Vyan wasn't afraid of wherever Easton wanted to take it. He had mastered all forms of archery. "Sure, I am in. What do you have in mind?"

Easton signaled to a guard who was monitoring everything, and that guard soon ran to bring some cages.

Soon, he released a series of mechanical birds designed for advanced archery practice. They flitted through the air erratically, making for a challenging target.

"I am talking about this." Easton drew his bow, tracking one of the birds with precision. He released the arrow, hitting the bird squarely in its tiny target area.

Vyan, not to be outdone, took a deep breath and drew his bow. He followed the unpredictable movements of another bird, waiting for the perfect moment.

When he released his arrow, it seemed to chase the bird through the air before striking it dead center.

The bird dropped from the sky, and Katelyn and Ronan cheered.

"Yay! That's the way to go!" Katelyn chirped, clapping enthusiastically.

Her loud claps drowned out Iyana's, who was also cheering on Vyan.

Easton's jaw tightened. "You are quite the marksman, Your Grace."

Vyan shrugged casually. "It's nothing too praiseworthy."

As the competition continued, the atmosphere grew more intense. Each round became more challenging, but Vyan's confidence never wavered.

He was in his element, and it showed. Every shot he took was precise and calculated.

Finally, after a series of grueling rounds, both archers stood with their last arrows. Easton took his shot, hitting the target perfectly. Vyan followed suit, matching the shot exactly.

They turned to face each other, admitting the tie. Easton extended his hand. "It seems we are evenly matched."

Vyan shook his hand firmly. "I couldn't agree more."

Easton's grip tightened as he uttered, "However, I am not satisfied."

Vyan tilted his head to the side with an eerie smile, his grip also tightening. "Yes, me neither."

Their eye-contact sparked with an electrifying zap, as if they were ready to snap the other's hand.

"How about we continue this friendly little competition in the Monster Hunt?" Easton proposed.

Yes, right, it was about time for the Monster Hunt Festival to finally make its inauguration.

"What a coincidence, Your Imperial Highness. I was thinking the same," he smiled. "Let's have another friendly competition soon."

As they agreed upon it, they both knew this competition was going to be anything but friendly.