Once Iyana was off to her business, Vyan was tying his horse and heard some boisterous laughter from the nearest alley.
His initial curiosity quickly turned into something much darker as he listened.
"Did ya hear the monster hunt festival will start again this year?" one of the voices said.
"Yeah. Ain't it 'cause of the return of the spawn of that devil family?" another replied, the tone dripping with malice.
"Why did the youngest son have to survive? He shoulda died like the older one."
Vyan's grip on the reins tightened and his jaw clenched.
"Y'all ever meet the older Ashstone kid before? I once did. My old man worked as a stableman at their manor."
"So what was that brat like?" someone asked, their voice eager for more venom.
"Ugh, good thing that bastard's dead. He was such a snub. So much arrogance. He even hit me because I didn't bow when I saw him."
Vyan's vision blurred at the edges, his heartbeat pounding in his ears because of the lies.
"Is the new grand duke like that too? Oof, he at least has to be better than the other kid."
Vyan tried to calm himself, reminding himself that these were just ignorant fools, but the insults kept coming. Each one was a dagger to his already raw nerves.
"Imagine how lucky that kid got. He was the second son, and yet, he inherited everything. Must be glad his brother died."
That was the final straw.
Vyan's blood roared in his ears, and he let go of the reins. His hands balled into fists so tight his knuckles turned white.
Without another thought, he stormed toward the alley, his eyes ablaze with fury.
The men barely had time to react before Vyan's fist collided with the first one's jaw, the sickening crunch of bone and the man's startled cry silencing the rest.
"What, why did you get quiet now? Did your voice go on vacation now?" Vyan demanded, watching the man stumble backward, clutching his face.
"What the hell? Who are you?!" one of the other ones snapped.
"Hey, look at his clothes. He looks like a noble," whispered the guy who was trembling in fear.
"Yeah, so what? Just 'cause he is noble, he can come hit us, huh?!" The next man tried to swing at Vyan but ended up missing spectacularly.
Vyan ducked and then straightened, delivering a swift uppercut that sent the man reeling. "Careful now, don't trip on your own incompetence," he spat out.
The third man, clearly regretting his life choices, took a step back, holding up his hands. "Now, now, sir, let's be reasonable—"
"Oh, you want reasonable?" Vyan interrupted, grabbing the man's collar and yanking him forward. "How about this: Reason tells me you deserve a good beating."
He threw the man against the wall, the impact echoing down the alley, and kicked him hard in the stomach. The last man standing tried to sneak away, but Vyan was faster.
He grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck and spun him around. "Leaving so soon? Don't you want to join your buddies?"
With a final, devastating punch, Vyan sent him sprawling into a heap with the others.
"Tell your other friends too," Vyan said, his voice cold and cutting, "if they want to spread lies about my family, they better be prepared to eat their words. Literally."
As the men groaned and writhed on the ground, Vyan took a deep breath, smoothing his hair back, slightly wishing he could just snap his finger and burn them to ashes. But alas, the place was too crowded to use magic.
"Either way, you guys clearly deserve another round of beating," Vyan muttered, "but I have got a packed schedule today."
He spun on his heel, only to see Iyana at the alley's entrance, arms crossed and eyes glinting with mischief.
"Oh, great, here comes the lecture on how not to rearrange the faces of innocent men," Vyan let out.
Iyana merely shrugged, turning on her heel and walking back toward his horse without uttering a word.
Suspiciously quiet, Vyan thought, trailing after her.
What's her game? Is she going to rat me out to the emperor about my family? If so, I am beyond screwed.
Vyan's mind raced with worry. To the emperor, he always acted like his family was a disgrace—a shame he wished he could erase. It was all part of the plan to keep the emperor in the dark about his true loyalty.
If Iyana exposed him, he would have to think fast to cover his tracks. And he was already running out of lies.
When Vyan reached his horse, Iyana was already perched in her seat.
Exhaling a sigh, he mounted up as well. As the horse trotted forward, his hackles raised when he suddenly felt a weight in between his shoulder blades.
It was Iyana who rested her head on his back, as if this was a normal, everyday occurrence.
"What happened to your no-touching policy?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow she couldn't see.
"You... you act all nonchalant when His Majesty says anything bad about your family. As if you don't care," she murmured, ignoring his question, "but you do, don't you?"
Vyan fell silent, the usual sarcasm dying on his lips.
"Don't worry, I won't tell His Majesty."
"Why not?" he asked quietly.
"Let's just say if His Majesty found out you still care about your family, despite what they did, you might get branded as a traitor as well. And if that happens…" she trailed off.
"If that happens?" he urged.
"If that happens, how will I prove your other evil doings? You deserve way worse punishment than just getting labeled a traitor."
"Okay. Pray tell, what did I do to deserve such a punishment?"
"You are the one who knows that better," she shrugged.
"Wow, what an infuriating woman," he scoffed.
She smiled in satisfaction, lightly placing her arms around his waist.
Despite being my worst enemy, why is his presence still so comforting? I almost feel sleepy.
Her thoughts eventually drifted to the letter from the Tower of Magic that arrived this morning.
The mage's master's hair strands she had submitted to them matched her brother's.
Now, there was no doubt she had been deceived by her father. But if that were true, did it mean she had been doubting Vyan for nothing?
First of all, where did her brother even find such a high-level mage? No matter how hard she tried to track that person, no mage matched the description—someone left-handed with all those skill sets.
According to her observation, Vyan was also left-handed, but alas, his knowledge of magic was as deep as a kiddie pool. Not to mention, his non-existent mana.
Besides, she had even asked around everyone she could—servants, villagers, the random guy who sells suspiciously cheap apples—but nobody had seen anyone leave the manor on the night of Kaya's handoff.
She stared at Vyan's broad back, his familiar and comforting scent surrounding her, unable to make up her mind.
If only she could find a clue that proved Vyan was the real mastermind… then she would have a reason to trust her family once again.
———
"Hey, wake up."
Iyana blearily opened her eyes to find herself hugging Vyan from behind. She jerked back, mortified.
"Oh my God, I am so sorry. I didn't realize when I fell asleep."
Vyan shrugged nonchalantly and dismounted from the horse. "No worries, it happens all the time. Some people just can't resist my charm, even in their sleep."
Iyana internally berated herself.
How the hell did I fall asleep, and on a horse, with Vyan of all people? I can't even fall asleep normally with anyone in the room, but here I am… ugh, it's that scent of his. It's so damn comforting.
Vyan extended his left hand to help her down, and she was staring at his hand when a sudden memory flashed in her mind.
The cloak left by that mage in the Valley of Divos…
Her eyes went wide.
Vyan and that mage have the same scent. What the hell?
She closed her eyes, trying to recall the scent. She had sniffed the mage's cloak multiple times to imprint that rare fragrance into her memory so that she could recognize it anywhere. Seriously, how come it never clicked until now?
"Why aren't you getting down—" Vyan started but cut himself off as Iyana suddenly grabbed his hand and threw herself at him. "What the—"
His feet staggered back a bit at her sudden weight. He still caught her in his arms, regardless, like a bewildered butler catching a set of plates from causing a disaster.
While Vyan's brain was doing acrobatics trying to comprehend the situation, she hugged him tight, burying her nose in his neck and inhaling his scent.
Vyan pushed her off and held her at arm's length, looking at her. "What in the world is wrong with you?" he snapped.
Iyana put on her best innocent face. "Oh, my apologies. My leg slipped, and I fell on you."
"That's clearly not what happened—"
"Oh, my, look at that! It's dinner time. We should hurry up." And with that, she bolted towards the front doors of the manor, leaving a completely flummoxed Vyan in her wake.
As she ascended the front stairs, a smirk lingered on her face.
Now I know who you are, Mr. Mage. Or should I say, Vyan Blake Ashstone?
She glanced over her shoulder at Vyan, who was busy instructing the stable boy to take Adam away, and her smirk widened.
Finally, she had the clue she had been searching for. It might not be enough to prove anything concrete, but it was a start. At least she could trust her family again.
She had been a fool to think Vyan could be innocent. He was the true villain here.
I will now figure out a way to expose your magical abilities, Your Grace.