Ascension Of The Villain

It was nearly midnight, and the camp had fallen into a serene quietness, with most people tucked in for the night.

"Vee, your arm looks as good as new," Celeste chirped brightly, her eyes crinkling with warmth as Vyan strolled into her tent with his usual laid-back demeanor.

"Yes, Clyde's potions worked wonders." Vyan flashed a faint smile as he settled into her rocking chair, while Celeste stayed perched on the edge of her bed, leaning back with a contented sigh.

Her keen gray eyes took in her nephew, who seemed to be lost in a labyrinth of thoughts. "What's going on in that head of yours, Vee?"

Vyan relaxed, folding his hands in his lap and shutting his eyes. "Tia, why is it that Duke Preaton has no clue about my mana capacity? You said you knew from the start, didn't you?"

Her gaze softened with a hint of melancholy. She knew he would ask that question. "Yes, that's because your grandfather was always obsessed with perfection. After the pressure he piled on Ash, your father was determined not to put you through the same wringer. In fact, Ash had a phase where he constantly had mental breakdowns—"

"Brother did?" Aster always looked so strong and perfect in the portraits; it was hard for Vyan to picture he could have gone through such a tough phase.

"Yes," she said with a hint of regret. "I don't know why Natalia and Brother-in-law let Father interfere like that, but then again, Father was always extremely domineering and my poor brother-in-law was a little too nice for his own good." She shook her head with a sigh. "Nevertheless, your parents snapped back to their senses when your brother finally broke—"

"Wait, how old are we talking about here?"

"The pressure on Ash started from around the age of four, and maybe, it was at the age of eight or nine when he finally had eno—"

Vyan straightened up and stared at his aunt, dumbfounded. "What?"

She gave him a rueful smile. "I am sorry, Vee, I should have done something for Ash at that time. In fact, all of us should have."

"Wow, and the fact that Duke Preaton is not even an Ashstone, and yet he… Not to mention, my parents let it happen? Were they wearing blindfolds until it was too late?"

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From the portraits, Vyan always thought his family was a model of perfection—brimming with joy and devoid of sorrow. But no, it turned out they were as dysfunctional as a circus with no ringmaster. His family was a complete mess!

"I know," Celeste murmured, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Vyan. "But do you know who pulled Ash out of that dark phase in his life?"

"Let me guess: a dazzling, sparkling fairy?" Vyan replied with a sarcastic tilt to his voice.

Celeste chuckled. "Exactly."

"What? Really?"

"No, you goof. You were Ash's fairy."

"This gloomy self of mine?" Vyan quipped dryly.

"You weren't always gloomy," she giggled. "But yes, you were the fairy that saved Ash. Just when he was about to break beyond repair, you came along. He quit swordsmanship, magic practice, studies—everything—and poured all his time into you. He found peace and joy with you, and to protect you, he started training again."

Vyan sighed deeply, burying his face in his palms. "Listening to all this makes me kind of wish I remembered my childhood. I really want to remember Ash. Wherever he is, I bet he's sad that I don't."

"All he wants is for you to be happy," Celeste said gently.

Vyan hummed thoughtfully. "You know, Tia, I used to think my family was perfect."

"Silly," she teased. "No family is perfect. My sister and brother-in-law were far from it, but their love for you and Ash was real. That's what family is. They may not always get it right, but the love and care? That's always there."

A smile spread across his face as he nodded, absorbing her words. "I will be sure to do good for my family as well."

Celeste's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Are you planning to get married soon, Vee?"

Vyan burst out laughing. "Goodness, no! Not even close."

Celeste's excitement deflated faster than a balloon with a slow leak. "Won't I have the fortune of seeing my niece-in-law before I die?"

"Maybe? Or maybe not? Who knows, maybe I'll wait till your funeral to finally get a bride," he joked.

"How mean of you, Vee!" she gasped, playing along. "It's okay if you don't marry soon. I'll just marry off Ronan. At least I'll get to enjoy one of my children's weddings before I die."

"He's still a child, though," Vyan reminded her, eyes twinkling with mischief.

She pouted dramatically. "Anyway, whom did you mean by family?"

"Who else, Tia?" he chuckled. "You, Ronan, Katelyn, Clyde, and... in fact, all the servants at the estate. They're so good to me. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve it. And you know what?

Who needs Duke Preaton to act like my grandfather? I already have Benedict, the grumpiest yet most concerned grandpa stand-in."

Celeste's heart melted a little. "I'm glad you think so fondly of your servants."

"Of course. I was in the line of service once," Vyan chirped. "It's nice to be treated like a human. There was only one person who did so for me and stupid me ended up falling in—" He paused, realizing he was about to spill too much.

Celeste was already looking at him with a gleam in her eye. If she found out, she would never let him live it down.

"Never mind," he cleared his throat, acting all sophisticated all of a sudden.

"Oh, come on, tell me. I am like your mother, aren't I?" she pleaded.

"That's exactly why I am not telling you."

"That is so unfair," she cried out.

"You know what? It's about time I retire to bed," he declared, standing up. "Goodnight."

"Fine, keep your love life hidden," she said, rolling her eyes. "But wait, take this with you. I forgot to give it to you earlier." She handed him a box of chocolates from her nightstand. "I got these when some foreign delegates visited the palace. I know how much you love chocolates, so I saved them for you."

"I... I'm not a little kid," he objected weakly, ears turning red from embarrassment, but accepted the box anyway.

Celeste smiled warmly. "Goodnight, Vee."

"Goodnight, Tia."

After leaving her tent, he headed straight for his own. Placing the box of chocolates on the table, he lit the lamps with a snap of his fingers and removed his cravat. As he peeled off his vest, a soft sniffle reached his ears.

He paused, senses alert. Slowly turning around, he sighed in relief at the sight of the familiar brunette.

"Freya, what brings you here? And why have you been sitting there like this in the dark?" Vyan asked, arching an eyebrow at her, who was curled in front of his nightstand, her knees pulled to her chest. "Wait, are you perhaps playing hide-and-seek with Clyde?"

Freya didn't respond, only shivering visibly.

"Freya?" he repeated with concern, walking over to her side, and kneeled beside her. "Is everything okay?"

"Vyan, he…" she began, her voice trembling, her face drained of color. "H–he saw me."

"Who saw you?"

"I…I-Izac," she choked out, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Izac? Like Prince Izac? What does he have—" Vyan halted in the middle of his sentence, recalling the information Clyde had initially given him on Freya.

"Rumor has it she tried to flirt with Prince Izac and got exiled. But knowing that douche of a prince, he probably flirted first and then cried harassment when he got rejected. That guy is sleazier than a perverted old man on the street."

"Oh, shit, I totally forgot about that part," Vyan muttered under his breath, then his eyes widened in horror. "Did he do anything to you today?"

"He…"