Ascension Of The Villain

Vyan stood among the high-ranking nobles at the imperial court. His posture was straight, yet his mind wandered far from the echoes of Emperor Edgar's voice. He already knew what was going to happen, so it didn't interest him much either.

On the contrary, the imperial court buzzed with murmurs of approval and awe as Edgar showered Althea with praise. "Your actions have saved our nation, Princess Althea. To find Princess Maria when all others failed is nothing short of extraordinary. You have shown unparalleled courage and leadership."

Vyan watched the spectacle with half-lidded eyes. He knew he should be paying attention and minding his business—especially after Clyde's scathing reprimand and the warnings from his abductor. But he couldn't help it.

Standing in the Diamond Palace—the only place where he hadn't looked for Aster—he couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that today might be the perfect opportunity to slip away and search for Aster.

After all, he knew it would be impossible to get Aster out of solitary confinement with its magic restriction and all. So, Vyan still had to find out where Aster was kept in the morning hours and why he was being relocated like this on a daily basis.

Vyan had a feeling that there was something far more complex involved in this than his mind could fathom.

Nevertheless, he was still mapping out potential routes of Diamond Palace in his head.

He was busy estimating guard rotations and pinpointing the least conspicuous moments to make his move. He barely registered the court's applause for Althea.

"Crown Prince Easton, step forward," Edgar's voice boomed suddenly, snapping Vyan out of his thoughts.

Vyan blinked, focusing back on the present as Easton walked to the center of the court. His face was set in an impassive mask.

Edgar's gaze was cold, etched with disappointment. His expression was devoid of the warmth he had shown Althea moments before. It was quite an unusual picture for the imperial court, which was used to the opposite scenario until recently.

"I am deeply disappointed in you, Prince Easton," Edgar began. "You have failed to uphold the responsibilities expected of a crown prince once again. Your incompetence has endangered not just the imperial family, but the entire nation. Even after I gave you the opportunity to fix your mistake, you failed to do that."

His voice grew harsher with each word as he continued, "I took great pride in naming you the Crown Prince once, and now, it is with a heavy heart that I propose the removal of your title as the Crown Prince. This court shall decide—those in favor, raise your hands."

A heavy silence fell. It was broken only by the shuffling of robes and the rustle of hands slowly rising into the air.

It was supposed to be a big moment for Vyan and Althea as they had done their best to garner these raised hands, and yet, Vyan couldn't care less about it at the moment. Some things were just bigger than revenge, after all.

So, he unceremoniously raised his hand along with most of the nobles and courtiers.

Easton stood still. He was unflinching as the verdict was cast, as if he had already expected this outcome.

Iyana, who was standing behind Commander Pembrooke's wheelchair, felt bad for Easton. Sure, she didn't want to marry him, but she never wanted him to fall from his position like this, especially because he always seemed to care more for his duties and responsibilities than her.

"It is decided then," Edgar cleared his throat. "Prince Easton Karl Haynes is no longer the Crown Prince of Haynes."

As the finality of the decision settled over the court, Vyan turned his attention to Easton, expecting to see the man crushed under the loss of the thing he had the dearest.

But instead, there was no visible sign of defeat. Easton's expression was calm, almost unnervingly so. Even last week he had seemed more distressed than now.

In fact, there was a flicker of something else—something far from despair. Intrigue, perhaps? Or was it defiance?

Vyan's brows furrowed slightly as Easton's eyes scanned the room, finally settling on him.

For a moment, their gazes locked, and Vyan felt a jolt of confusion. Easton's eyes held a challenge. There was a spark of determination that contradicted the outcome of the court's decision. It was as if Easton was saying, This isn't over.

That's when Vyan recalled Iyana saying, "My team and I…"

Didn't her team consist of Easton? And didn't Vyan have those mana-restraining cuffs on his wrists when they found him? Unfortunately, the answer to both of those questions was yes.

Vyan merely smirked as he thought, it seems things just got way more interesting.

———

Iyana stood outside the imperial court. Inside, the empire's most powerful were locked in a heated debate. It was a power play disguised as a formal discussion on the next heir to the throne. The outcome was all but decided—Althea's rise seemed inevitable—but formalities still had their part to play.

Yet, the buzzing politics behind those grand doors barely registered to Iyana. Her attention was elsewhere.

A sudden movement caught her eye. Easton emerged from the court. His expression was a complex blend of frustration and resignation as he let out a heavy sigh. His gaze landed on Iyana, and for a moment, there was a stillness between them before he finally decided to approach her.

She mustered a reluctant smile, masking her inner turmoil. "Why did you step out?"

Easton shrugged, his casualness feeling oddly forced. "I couldn't stomach the awkwardness of sitting there with my hands glued to my sides while everyone else practically raises both their hands in favor of Althea becoming the Crown Princess."

"I am sorry about that," Iyana offered, her voice full of sympathy.

Easton waved it off, his tone edged with a dangerous undercurrent. "Don't be. It's only temporary."

Iyana tilted her head, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "Temporary?"

"What I mean is, Althea is just a lying cheater who doesn't deserve the throne. It will only be a matter of time until she falls from grace. She has only climbed this high because of—" He stopped abruptly, his stare honing in on Iyana. "Speaking of liars and cheaters, have you ever noticed anything… unusual about the Grand Duke?"

Iyana's pulse quickened, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she averted her gaze, trying to play the part of nonchalance. "Vyan?" she scoffed lightly, though her chest tightened. "That guy is always strange. But what exactly are you hinting at?"

The tension between them crackled, both knowing more than they would ever admit. Easton's probing eyes searched hers, looking for cracks in her armor, but Iyana stood firm.

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