Ascension Of The Villain
Chapter 64 - 64: Chocolate Sanctuary

After returning from the imperial palace, Vyan felt the need to cleanse himself of its suffocating negativity. He quickly sank into a warm soak in the healing water, hoping it would wash away not just the grime, but the pretentious air of nobility that clung to him.

Just making small talk with Jade in the hallway had drained his energy faster than a leaky potion bottle. He had even ended up promising to share a cup of tea with her during the upcoming monster hunt.

Tea with the she-devil herself! As if he needed another reason to detest this upcoming insufferable event.

"I need some serious catharsis," he muttered to himself, getting ready in a simple pair of gray bishop shirt and black slacks.

After putting on his high-knee boots, he wrapped a black cloak over his shoulders and made his way to the stable.

As he entered, he spotted Lyon, who was busily cleaning the stable. Lyon's clothes nowadays looked more like a servant's rags than a young noble's attire, which was progress.

The ex-arrogant guy straightened up as if expecting to be struck by lightning—Vyan's lightning, to be precise. It seemed like the daily dose of night torment had finally taken its effect upon him.

"Relax, I am not in the mood to deal with you," Vyan said with a dismissive wave, his voice curt. "Get Adam out."

Lyon nodded hastily, his eyes wide with relief, and rushed to untie Vyan's favorite horse from the stable.

Without another word, Vyan hopped on his horse and took off, hoping the ride would clear his mind.

"Where are you off to?" came a sudden voice from beside him.

Vyan jolted, pulling Adam's reins sharply, narrowly avoiding a collision. He shot a glare at the horse rider next to him. "What in the world do you want now?"

Unexpectedly, it was Iyana. She had been riding inside the horse arena and couldn't resist her curiosity when she saw Vyan heading toward the main gate.

"I was wondering where you were going with such urgency just after returning from the imperial palace," she said honestly.

He was about to retort with a snarky comment, but her earnest eyes made him sigh. "I am just going to visit a pastry shop."

"A pastry shop?" She looked genuinely surprised. "That's one of the last places I expected you to go. Why?"

He looked away, his ears turning a shade of red. "I want to get something chocolatey."

She raised an eyebrow. "Can't you get them at home? I am pretty sure you have a professional patisserie."

"Yes, but Benedict has put restrictions on how much I can have," Vyan grumbled. "Apparently, chocolate isn't part of a 'balanced diet'."

Iyana chuckled. "Should I accompany you?"

"Why would you? You even hate the smell of chocolate," he pointed out.

"I can bear it," she assured him. "Besides, don't you think you shouldn't be heading out all on your own, being so defenseless?"

"I would have taken Clyde, but for some reason, he has been buried under his duvet, muttering weird words to himself."

"Are you sure he is not just making up curse spells under that duvet?" she asked, sweat-dropping.

"Might be," he shrugged. "Anyway, stop wasting my time. If you want to come, be my guest."

"Okay!" she chirped and followed him.

As they rode into the bustling heart of Ashstone, Vyan led them through a labyrinth of alleyways that made Iyana wonder if he was secretly trying to lose her.

"Are we on a scenic tour of the city's dumpsters, or do you actually know where you're going?" she muttered under her breath.

Finally, they stopped in front of an old, charming pastry shop that looked like it had been plucked straight out of a fairy tale. It all made sense now why Vyan wasn't dressed like he was about to walk a red carpet.

Without a word, he marched inside and headed straight for the display counter. To Iyana's shock, his usual grumpy, soulless demeanor vanished, replaced by a face so bright and sparkly it could rival a kid on a festive morning.

It was the first time Iyana had seen him like this.

"Good evening, sir. It has been a while since you have been by. The usual?" asked the young boy behind the counter with a warm smile.

Vyan nodded and turned to Iyana. "What do you want?"

Iyana examined the displays, her eyes landing on a decadent dessert. "One strawberry mousse."

The counter boy leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "Who is the pretty lady, sir?"

"A guard," Vyan replied curtly.

"Really?" The boy's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Yes, really. Now, can we get our orders?" Vyan asked, his smile so tight it looked like it might snap off his face.

"On it!" The boy chirped, dashing off to fetch their treats.

"Iyana, let's sit over there," Vyan called out, pointing to a secluded corner table. Iyana followed, curiosity piqued.

"Looks like you come here often," she commented, trying to spark a conversation. Vyan nodded.

"Do you always bring Clyde along?" she asked.

"No, he just tags along occasionally," Vyan replied, barely glancing up.

"So, no one else ever gets the honor?" she teased.

"This is my sanctuary. Why would I invite the masses?" he grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"Then why bring me?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Don't you recall? You kind of invited yourself," he remarked.

She chuckled. "True, but you didn't exactly put up a fight, did you?"

"I wasn't in the mood for drama," he said with a shrug.

"Why? Did something happen at the imperial palace?" she probed.

"Nothing worth mentioning," he said briefly, ending the line of questioning.

The counter boy arrived with their orders, and Iyana's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"I can see why Benedict restricts your sugar intake," she said, blinking at the seven decadent chocolate desserts before them.

"Shush, you are forbidden from revealing this place to Benedict," Vyan scolded, though a grin betrayed his excitement.

Iyana was ready to continue her playful scolding but paused, seeing his sheer joy. She sighed, taking a bite of her strawberry mousse, and couldn't help but smile at his unadulterated happiness.

Because he always wore his seriousness like a tailored suit, witnessing this unguarded moment was like catching a unicorn at a poker table—utterly surprising yet strangely fitting. Even someone as stoic as Vyan had his guilty pleasures.

By the time they polished off their meal, Vyan practically glowed like he had discovered a secret stash of enchanted chocolates.

"Is chocolate your magic potion for happiness?" Iyana teased as they strolled towards their horses.

"It's not just happiness," Vyan replied with unexpected candor. "It's my shield against the world's chaos."

"You must have a lot on your mind then," she remarked, genuinely curious.

"Enough to fill a library," he admitted with a nod.

"But now one less worry," he added cryptically, meeting her gaze. "I will wait until your memories return."

Iyana sensed the weight behind his words—the ceasefire in their silent battle. She had no clue what plans he harbored, but at least they were on hold until her memory sorted itself out.

"What if they never come back?" she blurted out, nerves tingling.

"Let's not unwrap that gift just yet," Vyan deflected smoothly, mounting his horse. "We will cross that bridge if we ever find it."

As he settled into the saddle, Iyana couldn't resist. "What's behind this sudden change of heart?"

Vyan gently stroked his horse's mane, a wry smile playing on his lips. "I had a revelation today. Someone wise reminded me not to rush into decisions I might regret later. And since your situation perplexes me, it's safer to sit on my hands than to gamble and lose."

A soft laugh escaped Iyana. "Quite the chatterbox today, Your Grace."

"I suppose I am," Vyan smirked, his eyes twinkling. "By the way, you can drop the formalities. Just call me Vyan."

Iyana hesitated and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Well, it's up to you. I am not going to force you," he shrugged nonchalantly.

"Okay," she agreed, swinging onto her own horse.

Their ride back to the manor was peaceful, the late spring breeze a refreshing caress against their journey-worn faces. Vyan's demeanor was unusually light, the weight of the day seemingly lifted from his shoulders.

Upon returning to his office, he sank into his chair with a contented sigh. "Ah, finally some peace," he muttered, straightening up to tackle the tasks awaiting him.

His gaze fell upon a stack of letters, and one, in particular, caught his eye—a pink envelope adorned with intricate designs. "Interesting choice of stationery," he remarked to himself with a raised eyebrow.

Opening it, his amusement quickly turned to bewilderment.

"Dear Your Grace,

I hope this letter finds you well. My apologies for the delay of your reply; it seems my maid has a knack for perfecting the art of procrastination.

Thank you for your unexpected interest in me. It came as a pleasant surprise to receive your outreach. To be honest, I have admired you since the celebration soirée. But I had been too shy to approach you myself. But I guess, it turns out I had no reason to.

Whenever you find a free moment, I would be delighted to meet. I understand your schedule is packed, so I will be fine with any time you wish for.

Best regards,

Ava Octavia Ryen."

Vyan stared at the letter in disbelief. "When did I show interest in Lady Ava? And wait, this is a reply letter? When did I send her a letter, to begin with?" His mind raced until he arrived at a single conclusion.

Crumpling the letter in frustration, he fumed under his breath, "Clyde Jayce Magnus!"

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