"Oh, my God, can you ev believe this?" Vyan eximed, his gestures exaggerated as he narrated the day''s evts to Clyde and Freya.


    "That''s amazing!" Clyde apuded, his thusiasm guine.


    "What''s so amazing about all this?" Vyan demanded, perplexed by Clyde''s reaction.


    "So, let me get this straight," Freya interjected, her brow furrowed in conctration. "The woman you once loved, who is now your sworn emy, is moving in with you to gather evidce against you?"


    "Exactly! Do you two realize the danger of this situation?" Vyan eximed, his worry showing on his brows. "What if that woman is plotting to sabotage the uing festival?"


    "I highly doubt that," Clyde chimed in, attempting to reassure Vyan.


    "Enough, Clyde. Your words are banned from participating in this discussion," Vyan dered firmly. "I swear, if she dares to disrupt the festival, I will forget my borate revge n and just aim for her head—"


    "Yes, we get it. It''s imperative for the monster-hunt festival to proceed smoothly, Vyan," Freya interfered before he could go on with his murderous rant, her tone objective. "The funds raised from the festival are vital for supporting farmers across Ashstone. We can''t afford any interferce."


    "Exactly. The farmers have suffered for sixte long years due to the festival''s ban, which has also impacted Ashstone''s overall economy," Vyan affirmed. "This shouldn''t go on any longer."


    "Once again, I don''t believe Lady Iyana has malicious inttions—" Clyde began, only to be silced by a deadly re from Vyan. "Right. I will keep quiet."


    "Vyan, since Lady Iyana will be by your side, it''s wise to keep a close watch on her," Freya advised, to which Vyan nodded emphatically.


    "You are absolutely right. I will not allow her to harm my people, no matter what," he dered adamantly.


    "May I speak now?" Clyde vtured cautiously.


    Vyan rolled his eyes. "Go ahead."


    "It''s nice to see you guinely caring about the people of Ashstone, Vyan," Clyde remarked. "Especially considering your past disdain due to their harsh treatmt of your parts."


    "Don''t misunderstand me. I still hold no love for them, or rather, I am indiffert," Vyan confessed. "But I do prioritize Ashstone''s prosperity. Restoring my family''s former prestige is my ultimate goal, and this festival is just one step towards achieving that."


    "Of course, Vyan. I trust your inttionspletely. I am your aide, after all; if you say the sky is gre, th gre it is," Clyde replied serely, as if he were a saint.


    "That''s ough out of you," Vyan snapped in annoyance. "Have you forgott that I manipted Commander Pembrooke into poisoning himself so that it would lead to Haynes'' defeat in the war against Habend?"


    "Yes, but you also seemed convinced that Lady Iyana would never allow her country to lose," Clyde countered.


    "And why would I believe that? My objective was to spark opposition against the emperor for his reckless decision to gage in war with Habend for his petty ego," Vyan retorted sharply.


    "Fair point, but deep down, you never truly believed you would seed, did you?" Clyde challged.


    "That''s beside the point, Clyde. Let''s stay focused," Freya cut in, her voice firm. "All of that''s ancit history now. Our priority is safeguarding our secrets from Lady Iyana."


    "You are right, Freya," Vyan agreed, nodding. "Seriously, she seems to be the only one with brain cells in this room."


    "So you mean you don''t have any, either, Vyan?" Clyde quipped with an annoying grin.


    "Quiet, you!" he rebuked. "You better keep that loose tongue of yours in check. If I catch wind of you spilling anything to Iyana, I will have you turned into a statue for eternity."


    Clyde couldn''t help but burst intoughter at Vyan''s half-hearted threat. "Sure thing, boss."


    ———


    The following day, Iyana was found standing on the doorstep of the Ashstone main residce, greeted by Bedict and a handful of maids, their expressions betraying a somber wee.


    "Wee, mydy. I trust your journey was pleasant," Bedict greeted with forced politess, though his demeanor hinted at his disdain to see her there.


    "Thank you," Iyana murmured, casting a discerning nce a. "Is His Grace not here to greet me?"


    "Master is still asleep," Bedict informed her.


    "Still asleep?" Iyana''s surprise was clear. It was already t in the morning; how could anyone still be asleep at this hour?


    "Master tds to workte into the night, so he prefers to riseter in the day," Bedict exined.


    "And wh does he find time for his sword training?" she inquired.


    "Typically a elev," Bedict replied.


    Iyana nodded, though she couldn''t fathom sleeping in sote and th training with a sword anyter than the crack of dawn. Maybe his haphazard schedule was responsible for his rumored poor sword skills.


    "In any case, your quarters are located in the west wing. You are free to make use of that wing as you see fit," Bedict instructed. "Our chefs are at your disposal; simply inform them of your culinary preferces, and they will cater to your needs..."


    "In which wing does His Grace reside?" Iyana interrupted, her atttion drifting from Bedict''s instructions.


    "Why do you ask?" Bedict regarded her with suspicion.


    "Just curious," Iyana shrugged. "Is it the East wing?" she vtured, and Bedict reluctantly confirmed, eliciting a chuckle from her.


    She had suspected she would be lodged in the opposite wing from Vyan, and her assumption proved correct.


    Bedict continued his briefing, and this time, Iyana made a conscious effort to pay atttion.


    After Bedict had se her to her quarters and departed, Iyana wasted no time in slipping away. She moved with silt grace through the corridors, suring she remained unse by any passing servants of the residce.


    Her destination was the east wing, and she navigated the hallways until she reached an imposing set of double doors at the far d.


    It struck her as odd that there were no guards stationed outside the quarters of the Grand Duke, especially considering hisck of magical abilities and mediocre swordsmanship.


    He seemed rmingly vulnerable; for someone of his stature, heighted security should have be a giv for heav''s sake.


    For a momt, she tertained the thought of how easy it would be to eliminate him if she had such inttions.


    But killing him wasn''t part of her n; she simply needed evidce to clear her family''s name before Count Clipton dragged them into the imperial court.


    Originally intding to assess the guard situation discreetly, she found herself tempted to vture further. No, it was more like she was being drawn inside.


    "Just a quick nce inside wouldn''t hurt," she reasoned, her rational brain left behind outside the door.


    Quietly pushing the doors op, she tered the room.


    The darkness inside was a stark contrast to the bright sunlight streaming through the windows in the hallway, and a subtle sct ofvder hung in the air.


    "Lavder?" she mumbled to herself, pondering whether Vyan suffered from sleeping troubles, giv the herb''s reputed calming effects.


    As her eyes adjusted to the dimness, they fell upon Vyan, sprawled facedown on the bed, nkets haphazardly covering him.


    Despite herself, a soft smile tugged at her lips.


    "How adorable," she murmured, moving closer to get a better view.


    As Iyana drew nearer, she noticed beads of cold sweat glisting on Vyan''s neck, as if he were stuck in a looping nightmare.


    "...please don''t, mydy..." he murmured, his voice barely audible, tugging at her heartstrings for some inexplicable reason.


    However, in the midst of her contemtion, a sudd realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. What on earth was she doing standing in his bedroom? What if he were to awak at that very momt?


    She turned to leave—


    But it seemed like fate had other ns.


    In her haste, she collided with the nightstand, sding a decorative trinket tumbling to the floor. Before she could react, the curtains flung op with a flourish, and a strong hand seized her wrist, yanking her backward.


    The next thing she knew, Vyan was looming over her, his eyes aze with fury as he pinned her arms above her head, his grip firm a her neck.


    "What in the world are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice thick with sleep.


    Iyana took a momt to gather her thoughts, recovering from the surprise. "Good morning, Your Grace."


    "Is that what I asked?"


    "Well, I was merely exploring your manor and became intrigued by this room. It was a harmless curiosity, I swear," she exined.


    Vyan scoffed. "And you expect me to believe that you stumbled into my bedroom by idt?"


    She shook her head, adopting a look of inne. "Why would I knowingly trespass, especially wh I knew you were inside?"


    "How convit," he muttered, eyeing her suspiciously.


    "What''s truly convit is your instinct to pin a girl to your bed the momt you catch her," she remarked dryly. "Perhaps you are in dire need of a wife, Your Grace."


    "Why does everyone keep suggesting I need a wife?" Vyan grumbled, releasing her and stepping back.


    "Maybe it''s because you do." Iyana remained lying on the soft bed, ncing at the now-oped windows. "How did the curtains suddly op like that? Almost as if by magic."


    "They are magically automated to op wh I awak," Vyan exined matter-of-factly.


    "I see. Interesting."


    He emerged from the bed, his irritation visible in the furrow of his brow. "Why on earth are you still lounging in my bed? Get up."


    Iyana stretched out luxuriously, a mischievous smirk ying on her lips. "No, thank you. I am quite joying the view."


    Vyan nced a the room, perplexed. "What view? There''s nothing particrly captivating in here."


    "Oh, the view is right in front of me," she replied with a sly grin.


    "In front of you?" His gaze followed hers andnded on his own bare torso.


    Instantly, his cheeks flushed crimson. "What in zes? You are a pervert!" With a hasty motion, he reached for his robe to cover himself.


    Iyana couldn''t contain herughter as she sat up. "Why so bashful, Your Grace?"


    "Just leave, you shameless woman," he snapped, his embarrassmt deeping with each passing momt.


    As she made her way towards the door, herughter echoed in the room, adding fuel to his mortification.


    Just wh he thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, she stopped and called out, "Your Grace?"


    He turned to look at her, his expression a mix of annoyance and dread.


    A mischievous grin spread across her face as she remarked, "Nice body, by the way."