Ascension Of The Villain

The third day of the Monster Hunt was in full swing, with hunters scattered across the land, each striving to secure their prey with unmatched vigor. It was much like the first day, with all participants diligently collecting their kills.

Yet, for Easton, the experience was far from solitary; he was shadowed by an entourage that made his hunt feel more like a royal procession than a personal challenge.

"This is not a group activity, you know?" Easton remarked, his tone laced with annoyance as he glanced at the imperial knights following him with dedicated shadows.

"After what transpired yesterday, Your Imperial Highness—particularly with Prince Izac—we cannot leave you both unattended," one of the guards replied, his voice steady but respectful.

Easton turned to his youngest brother, Ronan, who was trailing quietly behind, a subtle presence amidst the crowd. "And you, Ronan? Why are you also following me like a shadow? Shouldn't you be with His Grace Vyan?"

"He wished to hunt alone today," Ronan responded softly, his voice almost lost in the wind. "And Mother insisted I not wander alone."

Easton released a weary sigh, resigning himself to the fact that Ronan's presence had doubled the number of guards around him. It seemed fate had decreed that his hunt would be anything but peaceful.

As they continued, Easton's attempts to focus on the hunt were disrupted by whispers of love and affairs that reached his ears like the distant murmur of a stream.

"I have a question," Easton began, his voice deep. The knights straightened at once, and even Ronan appeared more attentive, though he feigned indifference. "This is for a friend, of course."

Ah, so it's about you, then, thought the knights in unison, their faces carefully neutral, though Ronan's lips twitched with the hint of curiosity.

"Yes, Your Imperial Highness, please ask," Terrence prompted, his grin barely restrained.

"So… this girl my friend likes…" Easton hesitated, the words tasting foreign on his tongue. It was not in his nature to confide, and the unfamiliarity of it made his throat dry. It was difficult to get the words out that were trapped behind a wall of stubborn pride. "This girl likes someone else, but my friend and the girl are, um, set to marry."

Vice-Commander Iyana has feelings for someone?! Our stoic, stone-hearted, battle-hardened Vice-Commander?! The thought flashed through the minds of the knights, though they dared not voice it.

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"What do you think my friend should do?" Easton asked, his voice betraying a rare vulnerability as he sought their counsel.

Elijah decided to offer his advice with a measured tone, "Given that they are to be wed, I believe your friend should make an effort to win the lady's heart."

Well, I can't exactly tell you to cancel the wedding, now can I? Not unless I fancy getting my head separated from my shoulders, Elijah thought, all the while maintaining a smile that screamed innocence.

"But how should my friend do that? He doesn't understand what she likes, and she won't exactly give him guidelines. She isn't like other girls, either. She wasn't even thrilled about the flowers I—my friend got her," Easton confessed, his usual stoic expression melting into something akin to a sad puppy.

The knights exchanged awkward glances, clearly not equipped for this sudden dive into Easton's love life.

"Your Imperial Highness, maybe your friend should, you know, spend some quality time with her. Get to know her better. That usually helps," Elijah suggested, his voice tinged with sympathy as if he were dealing with a particularly delicate diplomatic crisis.

"Yes, your friend could win her over with small, thoughtful gestures. They may seem insignificant, but they can really make a difference," Terrence chimed in enthusiastically, a bit too much for Easton's liking. "Like holding hands, going on dates, giving little gifts, saying sweet things, maybe even small acts of service—braiding her hair, getting her favorite food—"

"Wow, Terrence, didn't know you were such a hopeless romantic," Melissa teased, as Terrence's face turned a shade of red usually reserved for royal banners.

"No! I mean, yes. My wife likes those things, and she says they mean a lot to her, so—" Terrence stammered, only to be cut off by Easton.

"My friend's fiancée isn't like that. She is…different. She doesn't even like holding hands," Easton murmured, his voice tinged with resignation. "But thanks for the advice. Let's just get back to the hunt."

Except for Iyana's three closest subordinates, the other knights chased after Eason. Those three imperial knights stood there, jaws practically on the ground, as they tried to process the prince's misunderstanding of the woman he claimed to like.

"Hey, didn't Vice-Commander once admit when she was drunk that she is a hopeless romantic too?" Terrence whispered, glancing around conspiratorially. The others nodded, remembering the rare and somewhat vulnerable occasion. "Should we tell His Imperial Highness?" Terrence wondered aloud, her eyes flicking toward Easton's retreating figure.

"He didn't exactly say he was talking about himself and Vice-Commander," Melissa sighed.

"Why bother?" Ronan suddenly interjected, causing the three of them to jump. They hadn't realized he was listening. "If he can't figure out what she likes after all these years, that's on him."

The knights shared a look, shrugging in reluctant agreement, as Ronan walked away.

"Though I really wonder…" Elijah mused. "If Vice-Commander is a hopeless romantic, what kind of man would she actually fall for?"

"Someone stronger than her?" Terrence shivered at the thought. "What kind of upper-level monster would that be?"

Melissa chuckled. "I don't know if he would be strong or not, but wouldn't she just fall for someone who shows her love, care, and respect?"

And there it was—the undeniable truth. Iyana's heart wasn't swayed by feats of strength or grand displays of power. The man she loved… She loved him in all his flawed glory, whether he was vanquishing S-grade monsters or coughing up heaps of blood like a terminal patient.

"Are you ready?" Vyan asked, extending his hand toward her.

Iyana's smile lit up like she had just won the lottery. She grabbed his hand without a second thought, savoring every precious millisecond like it was the last cookie in the jar.

"Very well," Vyan murmured, closing his eyes briefly. In the next instant, a swift warp of magic enveloped them, and when Iyana opened her eyes, they were standing outside the grand Estelle Estate. "I will wait for you here. You can bring out Sienna."

"We are here already?" Iyana pouted, looking around like someone who had just been fast-forwarded through the best part of a theater drama.

Vyan arched an eyebrow, amused. "We did just teleport, after all. How long did you anticipate it would take?"

Longer than this at least, you insufferable man, she nearly retorted but held her tongue, choosing restraint for once.

Earlier that morning, Iyana had persuaded Vyan to accompany her to the Estelle Estate. Her goal was simple: to capture Sienna and secure her away before she could cause further havoc or reveal Vyan's magical abilities to the world. And so they had come, slipping away from the festival unnoticed, like shadows in the twilight.

"Why aren't you leaving yet?" Vyan asked, tilting his head slightly, his gaze curious and expectant.

Iyana found herself gazing at her hand still resting in his, warmth spreading through her at the thought of wanting to intertwine their fingers. His hands were so warm, almost as if his fire abilities were subtly at work—

"Iyana?" Vyan's voice gently broke into her thoughts, his wine-red eyes meeting her violet ones with a hint of question.

With a resigned sigh, she finally relented, "Fine, fine, I am going. Why are you rushing me? Can't wait to ditch me? Is that it? In that case, I will just take a carriage back—"

He chuckled, raising his free hand in a gesture of surrender. "My apologies, my lady. I won't rush you anymore. Take all the time you need. I will be here, patiently awaiting your return."

"Hmph." Though she feigned irritation, her gaze softened as she reluctantly released his hand, lingering on him until the last possible moment before she stepped through the estate gates, already missing the comfort of his touch.

As Iyana crossed the threshold of the Estelle Estate, a biting chill settled in the pit of her stomach. The absence of guards was glaring, the once bustling grounds now eerily silent, stripped of life and duty. It was as if the estate itself had given up, mirroring the downfall of its disgraced owners.

Her pace quickened, each step echoing in the hollow silence, until she reached the door. She knocked and the seconds dragged on, a stretch of time that felt interminable, until the door finally creaked open.

Carolina stood there, her face a mask of surprised confusion. "Iyana? What are you doing here?"

"Why are there no guards?" Iyana's gaze was icy, her voice measured and devoid of warmth.

She had no need to act nice to this family anymore since she now planned to expose Sienna for what she did. The only reason she played nice until now was so that she could capture Sienna in the act, and now, Sienna had gone and done it. So, there was no need for shallow pretense any longer.

Carolina's embarrassed chuckle grated on Iyana's nerves. "Ah, well, we couldn't pay their wages this month. You know how it is—our businesses ruined, our lands seized. There is nothing left."

The words were pathetic, an excuse that barely masked the underlying rot. Iyana felt nothing but contempt. The titles and lands had been stripped away, their status revoked by the emperor himself as punishment for the devastation they had wrought during the Walver Epidemic.

"But it's all temporary," Carolina continued, her smile twisting into something almost desperate. "Once you marry the Crown Prince, our honor, our status—they will be restored. Everything will be fine again."

Iyana's hands curled into fists at her sides. They still saw her as a means to an end. Still a pawn in their twisted game of power and survival.

"We will see about that," Iyana hissed, brushing past Carolina without a second glance. Her words were not a promise, but a warning. "For now, tell me where Sienna is."

Tears welled up in Carolina's eyes.

Iyana's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. "What's with that look?"

Carolina's composure crumbled and her voice broke as she revealed, "Sen hasn't been home for two days, Iyana."