Ascension Of The Villain

"And what are you doing here?" Iyana asked, her tone sharp as Easton approached, folding his arms across his chest.

"I searched your tent for you and found it empty," Easton retorted, his eyes ablaze with intensity. "So, care to enlighten me on what you are doing here?"

Iyana hesitated for a moment before revealing the brown pack in her hand. "I had something to deliver to Vyan."

"Vyan?" Easton scoffed, his disbelief evident. "You are on a first-name basis with the Grand Duke now?"

"Indeed," she replied without flinching. "And?" She was not afraid to admit the truth. It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong here. Anybody could do this for a friend as well.

"You call him by his name without hesitation, yet you won't extend the same courtesy to me," Easton's voice softened, hurt flickering in his eyes.

"It's not the same," Iyana replied coldly. "Vyan and I shared a bond before I lost my memories—"

"We had our own bond," Easton interjected, his tone gentler now. "I know you suffered because of me at the Ganlop war camp. I regret not reaching out, even in my busy times. I can't erase the past, but..."

He reached out, taking her hands in his, his touch surprisingly tender. "Can't you give me a chance to make amends?"

Iyana stared at him, her face a picture of uncertainty. This was a new picture of Easton, showing a little bit of his vulnerable side.

"Why do you want this chance?" she asked, needing assurance.

Maybe, just maybe, she could consider giving him a chance if he gave her the answer she hoped for.

Yes, perhaps she couldn't invest her whole heart, always fearing he might bring in another wife. But she could hope to make her married life marginally better, even if it lasted only a year before his affection faded.

At the same time, maybe... his confession could also help bury the budding feelings she had for someone else.

After all, she was set to marry Easton next month. There was no future for her current emotions. All she could do was fortify her heart and compromise, and for that, she needed Easton's help.

"Don't you understand why?" Easton grew frustrated at her question.

She slowly shook her head, waiting for him to voice the words she had dreamt of hearing.

She really doesn't understand? Easton searched her eyes, finding them initially unreadable. He tried harder to grasp her thoughts, only coming to the conclusion that she was hopeful about something.

What could she be hoping for right now? Does she want me to deny my feelings, that I don't love her? So she can be with that guy without guilt? Is that it?

Easton huffed and released her hands, leaving Iyana feeling abandoned in the dead of night.

"If you don't understand, then forget it," he snapped, turning away. "Return to your tent before rumors start spreading about you and the Grand Duke," he advised firmly before striding off.

Iyana was bewildered by what had just transpired. She watched Easton's retreating figure for a long moment until a bitter laugh escaped her.

"Damn it, you fool. What the hell were you expecting?" she mocked herself, her vision blurring.

She covered her face with a hand and shook her head, trying to control her feelings. "Just accept that you are heading into a loveless marriage. Why is that so difficult for you to truly accept?"

She placed the pack of lavender incense on a chair outside Vyan's tent and hurried away.

Little did she know, Lady Elara, the daughter of a viscount, observed Iyana's interaction with Easton during her routine nightly walk.

Without hearing a word of their conversation, Elara whispered in excitement, "Oh my, so adorable! His Highness and Lady Iyana, so deeply in love! Meeting secretly at this hour? How romantic. I must inform the other ladies!"

———

"Lady Iyana is so lucky to have a husband like Prince Easton." The words floated over a sunlit breakfast table, tinted with admiration and a touch of envy.

"I know, right? He didn't even break off their engagement, despite her family's fall from grace." The gossip carried across the morning breeze, astonished at the prince's steadfast loyalty.

"He is basically just marrying an ordinary girl now that she is not the daughter of a marquess," said a lady, highlighting the shallow judgments of those who measured worth by titles alone.

"Hey, she is still the vice-commander of the imperial military. That's something at least," someone defended amidst the murmurs, acknowledging Iyana's formidable position amidst the aristocratic gossip.

"Haha, who could have guessed that would be her final saving grace?" Mocking laughter tinged with begrudging respect followed.

"But seriously, after hearing about their romantic rendezvous from last night, I wish there was someone like that for me too." A wistful sigh punctuated the conversation, revealing hidden desires and dreams masked behind polite gossip.

"Honestly, I wish the same." Another voice joined in quietly, expressing a longing for a love as enduring and captivating as the rumors swirling around Lady Iyana and Prince Easton.

On the other hand, Vyan was in the midst of assembling his breakfast, trying to decide between the delicate pastries to exotic fruits imported from distant lands, when the excited chatter of the ladies nearby caught his attention. They were deep into the latest gossip about Easton and Iyana's rendezvous from the previous night.

"Vyan," came the voice that always seemed to herald trouble.

He turned to find Iyana approaching, looking like she would rather be anywhere else. With a casual smile, he greeted her, "Hey, good morning. How did you sleep last night?"

Iyana nervously twisted her fingers together, avoiding his eyes. She had clearly heard the gossip too, and the last thing she wanted was for Vyan to get the wrong idea, especially after Easton's disappointing antics.

"Um, fine," she managed finally, summoning the courage to meet his gaze. "There is something I need to tell you."

"Sure, go ahead," he prompted, his undivided attention on her.

"You have probably heard the rumors already," she began tentatively, her voice laced with anxiety as he nodded knowingly. "They are not true—"

"There is no need to explain."

Her eyes widened, panic seeping in, as her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly with fear.

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