Ascension Of The Villain

Chapter 41: Mastermind

Iyana vehemtly refused to believe that her father and brother could commit such a despicable act.

It seemed utterly impossible. Someone else must be framing them.

Inspecting the trunk, she found it devoid of a single gold coin. This solidified her belief that it had be planted there solely to incriminate her family. However, she knew the count wouldn't buy the excuse that the trunk magically appeared, considering the magical restrictions on vaults in Haynes.

Marlo would likely assume her father had hidd the money elsewhere and forgott to remove the trunk.

I need to hide it, she realized urgtly.

If the count discovered it, her family would be dragged to the imperial court, their reputation ruined. They would become a laughingstock.

Glancing at the magical pouch still secured to her wrist, meant for spare swords and armor, she knew it wouldn't accommodate the large box.

But she did have other weapons at her disposal.

Should she destroy the box th?

She chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating her options, wh Marlo's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"I'm coming in," he called out.

Acting on instinct, Iyana swiftly drew a sword with explosive power and struck the trunk.

"What in the world was that?" Marlo exclaimed as he tered. "What have you done?"

"There was a mouse!" Iyana feigned fear. "I panicked and... I struck it with all my might."

"You brought that massive sword for a tiny mouse?" Marlo raised an incredulous eyebrow. "How did a mouse ev get in here?"

"I'm not sure," she maintained her façade of innocce. "Perhaps it snuck in wh our treasurer was busy pocketing our wealth, bit by bit, every day."

Marlo shook his head disdainfully as he examined the vault, finding no trace of his gold coins. "Unbelievable. A marquess reduced to such a destitute state," he sneered, and Iyana was offded.

Oh, how she longed to slice that sneer off his face. Unfortunately, decapitating an annoying aristocrat wasn't on her to-do list for the day.

Suppressing her anger and withdrawing her sword, Iyana replied evly, "As I just said, our treasurer ran away with our riches."

"And your businesses are crumbling, I hear," he taunted.

Yes, I should probably kill this man— No, Iyana, control. You have be managing your anger for months, so don't lose control now. Be patit, she told herself in her head.

"Regardless, we should leave this place now," she interjected, struggling to maintain her composure.

Upon returning to the hall, Iyana addressed Marlo, "Lord Clipton, since you have se that our treasury didn't contain your gold coins—"

"I still don't buy it. The coins must be hidd elsewhere. I mean, who would ev be stupid ough to keep it in their own vault?" he interrupted with a shrug. "Regardless, I am convinced your family is behind my daughter's kidnapping. They had the audacity to target my precious child." He glared at Edward and Lyon. "They will pay."

"But—" Iyana began.

"However," he interrupted again, locking eyes with Iyana and smirking, "you are the bride of our crown prince—the future empress-consort. Ev if you and your family deceived me, it's advantageous to be in the good graces of royalty, don't you agree? So, for your sake, I will offer them a chance."

Relief washed over Iyana. "Thank you so much—"

"—a chance to repay me," he finished. "Your family must repay double of the debt owed, along with the 50,000 gold coins they basically stole from me, within two weeks."

Iyana's eyes wided in shock. "Lord Clipton, that's impossible. Our businesses are struggling, and you have se our treasury. It's—"

"I do not care, Lady Iyana," he cut in.

"I am giving you three options: number one, pay me the amount I asked for; number two, let your father and brother go to jail; and number three, prove their innocce and only pay back what they originally owe me. You can choose any of them, and I am giving you two weeks' worth of time. See how gerous I am?"

Iyana set her lips in a thin line and glanced at her family—the family that has be treating her like the apple of their eyes. How could she let them be humiliated like that?

Without no other choice, she nodded. "Alright, Lord Clipton. I will do everything in my power to prove their innocce."

"So, you choose option three?" he chuckled. "Good luck. Let's hope Prince Easton remains unaware, or your dreams of becoming Empress will remain just dreams." With a smirk, he departed with his m.

Once they were gone, Iyana approached her father. "Did you really do this?"

"Absolutely not! Why would I sabotage our biggest befactor?" Edward exclaimed. "Do you think I'd trust Lyon with such a crucial task?"

Iyana sighed. "It's okay, there is a chance I can prove your innocce. I managed to collect some hair strands of the actual master of the kidnapping. I have submitted it to the Tower of Magic to find out whose it is, and the result should be arriving in a week. So you just worry about gathering the original money."

Edward took her hand gratefully and shook them. "What did I do to deserve a daughter like you?"

Pulling her into a hug, he veloped her in his comforting embrace.

"Don't worry, Father. I will definitely clear your name," she vowed, her violet eyes shining with resolution. "And I have a suspicion about who might be behind all this."

It's you, isn't it? You are the mastermind, Vyan Blake Ashstone.

———

Vyan and Clyde observed the Estelle estate from a distance, perched on the branches of a towering tree.

"Why didn't Count Clipton emerge with the marquess and his son? Why did he come out without them?" Clyde wondered aloud.

"Iyana might have persuaded him somehow," Vyan speculated. "We'll know for certain wh Anthony updates us."

Anthony, a butler bribed by Vyan, always provided information about what was going on within the Estelle Manor.

"Lady Iyana truly is remarkable," Clyde remarked with pride. "She would make an exceptional grand duchess."

"Oh, spare me," Vyan scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"I will spare you wh you find a bride," Clyde teased.

Vyan shook his head in exasperation. "I have no interest."

"Since you are opposed to Lady Iyana becoming your bride, why don't we explore other options? I have compiled a list of eligible wom for you. Shall I arrange a date with one of them?" Clyde suggested eagerly.

"No, thank you," Vyan replied firmly.

"Oh, come on. You can't let the Ashstone bloodline d with you," Clyde persisted.

"I have had my fill of your pestering. I am leaving," Vyan declared, vanishing from sight.

"Ev if you disappear, I won't give up on finding a bride for you," Clyde vowed with unwavering determination.

———

The following day, Iyana decided it was ssible to investigate Lyon's whereabouts first before marching off to accuse Vyan. Finding a witness who could verify Lyon's location would help clear his name, at least to some extt.

After completing her tasks at the base in the eving, she made her way out wh she was interrupted by a voice calling her name.

"Lady Iyana!" Easton's voice halted her smooth exit, and she turned to face her fiancé, her annoyance evidt. "Yes, Your Imperial Highness? How may I assist you?" she inquired with a cool demeanor.

As Easton approached, there was a hint of hesitation in his voice as he spoke. "Iyana, I wanted to talk to you. Actually, I wanted to apologize for... our conversation after the award ceremony. So, I was wondering if you would be free for dinner with me tonight?"

Iyana found his behavior peculiar. Royalty typically didn't offer apologies, especially with such hesitance. It was a stark contrast to the ruthless demeanor she had heard Easton possessed.

"My apologies, Your Imperial Highness, but I must decline your invitation. I have some business to attd to tonight," she replied flatly, making no effort to mask her lack of interest.

"Alright, dinner may be out of the question, but can't you spare me ev t minutes?" Easton tried.

"No," she stated bluntly. "I have to visit the brothel."

"I understand, but—wait, what?" he sputtered, his eyes widing.

Iyana realized her mistake too late. "Oh, I mean... I have to go to the brothel for an investigation," she somberly corrected herself.

Oh," Easton breathed a sigh of relief. "You had me worried for a momt there."

"Well th, if you will excuse me," Iyana began to depart, but Easton halted her once more.

"Wait a minute. Are you planning to visit the brothel alone?" he asked with guine concern.

"Yes," she replied casually.

"No one else is accompanying you?" he pressed further.

"We are short-staffed. Many soldiers have tak leave since the d of the Ganlop war to be with their families. So, I will be going alone," she fabricated since it was a personal case that she didn't want others to be involved in.

"Alright, th. I will come with you," Easton offered. "It's not safe for you to go alone to such places."

Iyana shot him a flat look. "With all due respect, Your Imperial Highness, I am more than capable of protecting myself."

"I understand, but I will feel uneasy letting you go alone—"

"I am sorry, but I prefer to go alone," she interjected firmly.

The last thing she wanted was Easton accompanying her. If he discovered the miserable state of her family, it could spell disaster. She was aware of the importance of her marriage to Easton, and she couldn't risk him learning the truth at any cost.

"But Iyana—"

"I must be on my way now, Your Imperial Highness. Goodbye." With that, she briskly departed.

As Easton watched her leave, a tumult of emotions swirled within him, his expression clouded.

"Why do I feel this way?" Easton murmured to himself. "You have always be cold to me since childhood. But lately… it stings more wh you treat me like this. Why is it happing, Iyana? Is it because you don't remember me at all?"

Glancing in the direction she had gone, he forced a smile onto his face.

He walked out of the walkway and tered the gard as he thought, and yet, I hope your memories never return. I pray you never recall the person you once loved like crazy.

He picked up an extremely rare purple rose from its shrub, caressing it gtly, but it ded up stinging him with its thorn.

"If only I could uncover the idtity of that man," he uprooted that rose shrub and crushed it underneath his feet as he uttered slowly, "I could eradicate the issue at its root by erasing his existce from this world."