Ascension Of The Villain

Vyan eased the door open, a sliver at first, his fingers hovering over the wood as if fearing it might creak and shatter the silence inside.

A faint, amber glow spilled in from the hallway, casting shadows over the dim room. In the middle of it, Aster sat hunched in a wheelchair. His red hair flowed over his shoulders like a cascade of rusted fire as he stared blankly into the wall.

Taking a breath, Vyan slipped inside, careful to keep his steps soft, as if not to disturb some fragile peace. His eyes softened as he took in the sight of his brother, lost in his own world, adrift in a place Vyan couldn't reach.

He cleared his throat slightly, his voice low and warm, trying to cut through the haze that veiled Aster's gaze. "Hey, brother. How has it been? Sorry I was so busy these past few days." Your next read awaits at mvl

There was no reply—only a faint shift as Aster's head turned, his eyes landing on Vyan with a distant, almost ghostly gaze. It was as if he saw through him, or around him. His expression was vague; it was hard to read for Vyan.

Vyan let out a quiet sigh, moving to sit on the edge of the bed beside him. For a moment, he simply buried his face in his hands, the silence stretching between them like a chasm.

After a few minutes, he lifted his head slightly. "There is something I don't know if I should tell you… but I think I should let you know that I have been meeting Daphne recently. You remember her, right? Your fiancé?"

At that, something in Aster's demeanor changed, the faintest flicker of recognition or reaction—a slight tilt of his head, a spark of something in his eyes that quickly faded back to that distant vacancy.

Vyan's gaze saddened. "You probably wouldn't understand me right now, but Daphne was stuck in an abusive marriage until recently." He smiled bitterly at the irony of fate. "Yes, the woman who was supposed to be the Grand Duchess of Ashstone… became an abused victim."

Aster continued to stare at Vyan blankly.

"I tried convincing her to be free, but…it was no use," he let out with a disappointed sigh. Despite how much he tried to persuade her, Daphne didn't agree to taking over March Ryen; she would rather have one of Robin's relatives take charge. "Maybe she will only understand if it was you telling her."

Vyan met Aster's gaze and smiled sadly.

"But that's not possible, is it, Ash?"

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———

As midnight settled over the estate, Iyana moved quietly through the hallways, following an instinct that told her exactly where Vyan would be. He hadn't come to bed, and the subtle pull of worry led her to Aster's room. She eased the door open and paused. A soft smile touched her lips at the sight inside.

Vyan had drifted off on the bed, his head resting on his arm, his face softened in sleep, free of the guarded look he always wore.

Her gaze shifted to Aster, who was watching his brother with a quiet intensity. Sitting in his wheelchair, he raised a hand and whispered a spell, the faint glow of magic wrapping around the duvet as it floated up and settled gently over Vyan's shoulders.

Iyana felt her chest warm as Aster wheeled himself closer, pausing beside the bed. He reached out, hesitant, before finally patting Vyan's head with a light touch.

She lingered in the doorway, taking in the rare moment of tenderness between the brothers before stepping into the room.

Aster's attention flicked to her, his gaze unfocused, distant, yet watchful. She offered a soft smile, speaking in a gentle tone. "Hello, Lord Aster. I am Iyana."

He didn't respond, just stared, as if he were trying to make sense of her presence. Seeing this silence, she extended her hand, holding it out with an open patience that had no rush, no demand.

"Vee talks a lot about you, you know," she went on, "though I haven't had the chance to meet you until now."

She glanced over at Vyan, the quiet rise and fall of his chest calming her. "He worries about you more than he will admit to me," she murmured, "but I guess you don't quite recognize your brother for whom you sacrificed your life for, do you?"

Aster blinked slowly, his gaze sliding from her to Vyan and back, and she continued, "It hurts Vee, even if he won't always say it. He may act all tough on the outside, but deep down, he is just… he is just Vee. All he really wants is his loved ones to be happy. I know you have been through things I can't imagine, but I think… I think it would mean the world to him if you could recognize him."

She reached for his hand, her own gentle as she shook it, even though he didn't quite return the gesture. "He told me that you are the one who practically raised him, more than your parents did. And after finding out the condition you have been in for the past sixteen years, he has been carrying that guilt around ever since. He thinks that your suffering is his fault, but that's not right, is it? Because I understand why you did what you did. I would sacrifice myself for Vee as well, and I would never for a second blame him for it."

Suddenly, she felt a faint pressure in her palm—Aster's fingers curling ever so slightly, a small but deliberate response. She couldn't hold back her grin, her eyes shining.

"So, you do understand," she said softly, a little teasingly. "If that's the case, you might not be that beyond help, after all. I will see what I can do to help you as well. I have met a lot of different kinds of people on my line of duty who might know a way to help you."

She hasn't had the time to search through for people to help Aster until now as it hasn't been too long since she regained her memories, and ever since then, things have just been so hectic. She felt terrible about it, but better late than never.

"I just hope you get well soon, Lord Aster," she whispered softly, "because not just Vee's, Lady Daphne's life also depends on it."

———

Two days later, Vyan leaned back in his chair, an unimpressed look playing across his face. "You really don't have to go with me, you know."

Clyde rolled his eyes, his hand already halfway to the bridge of his nose, ready to pinch it in frustration. "Vyan, don't even start. I am not about to let you wander off to Preaton all alone, chasing after some mythical acupuncturist like he is a legend out of a storybook. You barely even know if he exists!"

"Iyana dug out information on that acupuncturist. He is known to have fixed countless mental illnesses like Ash's, and if there is one percent chance that a person like that actually exists, I am going to search for him till the end of hell. What is your point?"

"My point," Clyde shot back, leveling an exasperated glare at him, "is that I am going with you, whether you like it or not. This is Preaton—worse than hell. If your grandfather knew you stepped foot in his lands without permission, he is going to—"

"Do what, huh? Kill a grand duke?" Vyan challenged.

Clyde crossed his arms, unmoved. "Well, pardon me if I am wrong about the fact that your brother wanted to kill himself because of that man's mental torture, and you really want to step foot in that cursed territory—all alone?!"

Vyan shook his head, sighing. "Yes, like I said, I will go anywhere to look for that renowned acupuncturist. Besides, it's going to be like an adventure for me."

Clyde narrowed his eyes, undeterred. "You call it adventure; I call it suicide."

"Hey, someone has to figure out where Sienna is hiding. You know... since that's supposed to be a priority? And that 'priority' requires that you stay here."

"And search for a woman who is apparently transformed into the mist itself?" Clyde scoffed, exasperated. "She might as well be invisible. She has been nowhere to be found since her last sighting at the capital market with Prince Easton. What do you want me to do, hunt down a ghost and leave you to venture into the lion's den all alone?"

Vyan was about to offer a retort when the door to his office suddenly burst open. Both of them turned as Althea stormed in, eyes wide and breathing hard.

"Did you guys hear about it yet?" she blurted, barely able to contain herself.

Vyan raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Hear about what, Thea? I don't suppose Clyde summoned you here to talk in his support?"

She ignored his jab, her face serious. Glancing nervously between the two, Althea took a shaky breath and finally said, "Easton and Sienna… they are married."