Ascension Of The Villain

Chapter 61 - 61: Past & Present Blurring

"I wasn't sneaking around. You pushed me!" the girl accused, her eyes flashing indignantly.

"It's not my fault you were hiding in there," Vyan retorted. "Were you having a secret meeting with the garden bunnies?"

She gasped theatrically. "How dare you mock me like that? What audacity!"

"How dare I?" Vyan snorted, crossing his arms. "How dare you? Do you know who I am?"

"Clearly, you don't know who I am."

"Oh, I do know. You are a kid. An incredibly annoying one at that," he shot back.

"Okay, if I am only an annoying kid, why are you arguing with me, old man?"

"Old man?" Vyan felt his indignant anger flare up. "I am only twenty-one!"

"That is still eleven years older than me. Do you need a walking stick or something? Shall I get it for you?"

Vyan gritted his teeth.

Stop, don't engage her. Be more mature; she is a kid— reasoned the angel on his shoulder, but he didn't listen because his pettiness won over every rational thought.

"You are such a brat. Didn't your parents teach you manners or anything?"

"I wish. My father is too busy handling the empire and my mother is too sick—"

"Still, that doesn't mean you can act like—wait, what?" He blinked a few times, trying to process her words. "Your father is…" His gaze snapped to her symbolic light green eyes. "So you must be Katelyn… my cousin."

Katelyn crossed her arms and nodded, a smug expression on her face. Until the word 'cousin' clicked in her head.

Her shocked expression then mirrored Vyan's. "Your Grace, my apologies!" she quickly let out, bowing her head.

Vyan almost felt his stomach lurch at her sudden change of attitude and made a disgusted face. "Don't go showing me respect now," he remarked, waving his hand dismissively.

"I have to," she grumbled under her breath. "Your rank is higher than mine, after all."

"What does rank matter here? You are my cousin," he muttered once she raised her head.

"A very petty and annoying cousin," she corrected, hinting at him being the annoying one.

Vyan smirked and said, "Well, finally, you admit you are annoying. That's progress."

Katelyn rolled her eyes. "At least I am not in denial about my age. Do you need help crossing the street, Grandpa?"

"Grandpa?" Vyan chuckled, no longer feeling annoyed. He was rather amused now. "If I am Grandpa, then you are a toddler throwing a tantrum in the middle of the market."

"At least toddlers get attention and cute compliments," Katelyn quipped back. "You just get complaints from the neighbors."

"Complaints? I get praise letters, thank you very much."

"Sure, praise letters from other old folks reminiscing about the good old days."

"Oh, please," Vyan said, unable to suppress a laugh. "Do you ever stop coming up with comebacks?"

"Not when I have such a worthy opponent," Katelyn replied, a mischievous glint in her eye.

The two of them shared a laugh, their momentary clash now turning into a joyful banter and friendship.

It has been a long time since Katelyn met someone who went head-to-head with her. Normally, people either ignored her or showered her with praise. She could only be this playful with her brother, Ronan. But seems like there was somebody else too.

"Seriously, what are you doing around here, dressed in a boy's clothes at that? I almost assumed you were a servant's kid," Vyan commented.

Katelyn wrung her hands and grumbled, "Unfortunately, I lost a bet with Ron. The loser has to dress as the opposite gender, so here I am."

She looked down at her tasteless clothes with disdain and added, "Since Ron's clothes would make me look like I was drowning, I borrowed some from a maid's son."

Vyan shook his head, an amused smile on his face. "Still, you shouldn't be parading around in those clothes. What if some other noble saw you? You know, it doesn't take long for words to spread."

"Who cares?" She pouted. "I already embarrassed myself in front of the Grand Duke."

"But we are related, so I have no business spreading rumors about you," he pointed out.

"Doesn't that make you even more likely to do it?" she muttered, as if she already had enough experiences like this before.

"True, but spreading rumors is way too much effort for me. So, don't count on me for that," he said with a lazy shrug, hoping that would reassure her. "Anyway, where's Prince Ronan if you were with him?"

"Ron is probably

Vyan stood frozen, his mind racing to reconcile the memories with the present. And as soon as he managed to do that, his blood boiled with anger.

The reason why he hadn't visited his sick aunt even once ever since he ascended to his position—it all came back.

She pulled back from the hug and smiled, her eyes looking kind and full of affection. "What's wrong?"

"My apologies, Your Imperial Majesty." He maintained a polite smile. "It's just that I don't possess my childhood memories so—"

"Is this another one of your lies, Vee?" she smoothly interjected.

"Pardon?"

Vyan's heart thumped as she placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned up to whisper in his ear, "I know you possess mana."