Ascension Of The Villain-Chapter 319: His Counterpart

Vyan's gaze darted from the gun on the counter to the woman who had just so casually placed it there with the same energy one might use to set down a teacup.

Instead of getting scared, he asked in a low, astonished murmur. "Wait… what are you?"

Emma tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement. She smiled in that maddeningly casual way she seemed to have mastered, hoping to intimidate him. She was trying to see what the deal was with him. "I'm an FBI agent."

But Vyan was a different species. He wasn't one to be easily intimidated. He was just rather confused. "You're a… what?"

"FBI. Federal Bureau of Investigation," she said smoothly, as if that cleared everything up.

It absolutely didn't.

Seeing his still-bewildered expression, Emma elaborated, "We investigate crimes. You know, robberies, murders, fraud, corruption. We collect evidence, rely on intelligence, chase down bad guys, and build cases. It's like justice work, but with more paperwork."

A slow light of understanding flickered in Vyan's eyes.

So… she's like an officer… without uniform and armor… and has a gun instead of a sword.

He stared at her curiously before a thought struck him with an ironic twist of amusement.

Of course, how did I not connect the dots already? Iyana-lookalikes aren't just dangerous across every world, they are also righteous to a fault and serve justice in every single one of them. This woman is also probably terrifying in an interrogation room like my Iyana.

He folded his arms, thoughtful now. I wonder what Adrian—my counterpart in this strange realm—does for a living?

And then, aloud: "So… let me get this straight. You thought I might be undocumented, and yet despite being an officer, you still brought me to your home?"

Emma gave an easy shrug as she turned back to pour something into a pan. The smell of something buttery and warm filled the kitchen. "I don't think illegal immigrants are criminals. They're just people trying to make a better life for their families. Desperate, not dangerous." She paused, giving him a side glance. "Although I do have to say… you look like you'd be rich as hell. Those clothes and accessories you're wearing look like they cost a fortune."

Vyan, without missing a beat, deadpanned, "I am rich as hell. The clothes and accessories do cost a lot. But I'm not from here, so it doesn't really matter."

Emma hummed, unbothered. "Ah. So you're a Middle Eastern prince then?" What a fortunate life it must be to be a delusional crackhead and have a rich daddy to pay the bills, was left unsaid.

"My territory is in the West," Vyan corrected with polite dignity.

Emma smirked, raising an eyebrow. "This is the West." For now, she'd settle for humoring him. He was interesting, to say the least.

Vyan added without hesitation, "And I'm not a prince. I'm a Grand Duke."

There was a moment of silence.

Elian suddenly perked up, eyes wide and sparkling. "Woah. Like a real Grand Duke?"

Emma let out a soft snort of laughter and shook her head. "You're really committed to this whole 'I-transmigrated-from-another-world' bit, huh?"

Her voice wasn't mocking. Just dry, amused, like someone indulging a particularly passionate LARPer (Live Action Role Player). freewebnσvel.cѳm

She placed a plate in front of Vyan with a couple of golden, fluffy pancakes and gestured for him to sit.

"I hate to break it to you, but that's just fantasy stuff, mister. Those things don't actually happen. What probably happened is you hit your head, and now your brain is mixing things up. Your memories are scrambled."

Vyan put Elian on the kitchen island and sat down, glancing at the food in front of him. Then he looked up at her with complete sincerity.

"My memories are perfectly intact."

Emma passed a glass of orange juice to Elian and gave Vyan a look, one eyebrow raised. "You're confused."

"I'm not," Vyan shot back.

"Denial is the first sign of confusion."

"That's… that's not even how confusion works—"

She grinned as she poured chocolate syrup onto his plate. "Eat your pancakes, Your Grace."

Elian giggled into his orange juice. "Mommy, you told me he's not daddy or his twin brother, and yet you poured him too much chocolate syrup. What if he hates chocolate like me?"

"Oh, shoot," Emma let out, realizing her mistake. She should've asked the stranger for his preference. "It just happened out of habit. So sorry. I can make you a new one."

"No, it's fine. It's perfect." Vyan was happy to see a lot of chocolate syrup over his pancake.

It had been a while since he had had any dessert or any food at all. After Iyana got inflicted with the curse, Benedict and the maids had been leaving him his favorite food and desserts at his office almost every day, hoping he'd eat at least something, but it had only fueled Vyan to thrash the entire office instead.

All of them were so patient with him.

He didn't get a chance to thank anybody, for bearing with him and taking care of him, even when he was so miserable and intolerable. He had hoped to thank them when he changed the past and came back to the present. But now… hah, fate really was cruel.

At least he should thank this nice lady for now.

He was about to thank her when a soft tap-tap echoed through the apartment.

He looked up, mildly startled.

The sound repeated, followed by a soft mechanical click, as if the wall itself had approved someone's entrance. The front door swung open with a smooth hiss.

Elian's amber eyes lit up like fireflies. "Daddy!"

He scrambled down from the kitchen island with impressive agility. His small feet pattered against the polished floor as he bolted toward the entrance.

"Welcome back!" he chirped, sounding like a ball of happy, radiating energy.

From the door came a voice—low, warm, and deep. "Hey," the man said with a smile in his tone. "How's my little champ?"

As if suddenly remembering something, Elian stopped midway. He pouted slightly, crossing his arms.

"Ah, are you mad?"

"Hmph."

"I'm sorry for working on the weekend. One of my clients really needed me today, so I had no choice. But hey, I brought your favorite ice cream. We can watch a late-night movie and have it together."

Elian's eyes sparkled at the mention of a bribe, then he controlled himself not to look too easy. He feigned a benevolent, thoughtful look for a bit. "Since you really look sorry and brought a gift, I'll be nice and forgive you. But you better not do this every weekend."

"Aye, captain. I'll try my best."

"We'll see." Elian accepted the bag of ice cream, still maintaining his version of stern look.

"So, how was your day?"

That question alone was enough for him to drop all acts and perk right up. "Guess what, daddy? I got to meet your twin today! Mommy took me and Amy to the neighborhood park, and we found him! At first, I thought it was you. I thought you ditched your client and came to surprise us. I was so, so happy that I ran and gave him a real tight hug!"

A light laugh rumbled from his dad's chest. "Yeah… your mom told me all about it."

Emma turned off the stove, wiping her hands on a towel as she strolled over. Her face softened as she reached him. "Welcome home."

"Hey, love." The man bent slightly to give her a peck on the lips.

Vyan, halfway through poking at his pancake with a fork and listening in on the conversation, leaned slightly out of the kitchen. His eyes widened the moment they landed on the man in the doorway.

The resemblance was... uncanny.

It was like looking into a mirror warped by time—one that reflected him ten years into the future.

The same dark hair, the same sharp jawline, the same build. But there were details that were different too: his eyes weren't Vyan's wine-red—they were a warm, molten amber. He was a little taller, too. His suit was sleek, tailored with a modern grace. His aura screamed that of someone who commanded attention.

Yet, there was a softness there. In the way he looked at his wife. In the way he knelt to let Elian jump into his arms and ruffle his son's hair. It was a softness Vyan recognized too well.

The kind of softness he only ever showed Iyana.

Vyan stepped out of the kitchen slowly, curiosity pulling at his limbs.

Adrian looked up from Elian in Vyan's direction.

For a moment, the world quieted. All the colors seemed to blur and dim around the two men as their eyes locked.

And in that exact moment, Vyan felt it.

This man… this is me.

Adrian's amber eyes took him in, and it felt as though he had seen through Vyan's soul in that one glance, but Vyan could say the same. He had assessed Adrian just the same.

Adrian's brow lifted slightly, and then, the corners of his mouth quirked into something resembling a grin.

"Well," he spoke up at last, tone amused as his gaze flicked between Vyan and Elian. "I see what you mean, champ. He really does look like me." Then, glancing sideways at his wife with a faux-accusing squint, he added dryly, "Are you sure you didn't pick him up off the streets just to get rid of me?"

Emma scoffed. "And what would possibly make me replace the loving father of my adorable children with an irresponsible, spoiled college student who either has amnesia or a solid case of schizophrenia?"

Vyan looked offended, as if someone had insulted him. Which, to be fair, she kind of had been doing from the start.

"Excuse me?" he interrupted in disbelief. "I'm none of those things. I manage a grand duchy—its people, its lands, and its future. I also run several businesses across regions. The number of people under my care likely rivals your so-called FBI's entire workforce."

Adrian tilted his head at Emma and muttered, "Mmhmm, you were right, Em. He definitely has a crack in the head."

Emma lifted a hand and made a tiny 'ding-ding-ding, bingo,' gesture like he'd just won a game show.

"Did you perhaps have an accident before you got to the park?" Adrian asked.

"No!" Vyan scowled. These people were really taking him for a joke, just because he was young. Did their world just assume people in their twenties to be all unserious? "Tell me, do you truly believe a man with head trauma could maintain such clarity of mind and restraint?"

Elian, still in his dad's arms, asked innocently, "What's a grand duchy?"

"It's fantasy—" Adrian was cut off by Vyan.

"Actually," Vyan cleared his throat, "a grand duchy is a powerful land of a big empire ruled by someone with great intelligence, a ton of wealth, and considerable strength and influence."

"Like you?"

Vyan was about to tug at his collar, only to realize his coat had been taken off him, but he didn't let it deter his momentum and answered with a suave smirk, "Exactly like me."

"Okay," Elian nodded slowly, as if he understood everything. "But Daddy's better."

Vyan's jaw dropped a little, betrayed. "What?"

Adrian grinned, patting his son's head. "My son is a man of taste, indeed."

Emma rolled her eyes and took the bag of ice cream from Elian to put in the fridge.

"Of course, Daddy is the best after Mommy."

Emma restrained a laugh as she could legit hear her husband's pride being crushed, while Vyan snorted.

"Yes, yes. Of course, she is," Adrian quickly agreed, nodding his head. "Anyway, you," he looked at Vyan, "really don't have an ID?"

"If an ID is what I'm guessing it is, no. I don't have it," Vyan simply said, then raised an eyebrow. "Why, unlike your wife, are you going to turn me into the law?"

Adrian hummed. "It depends."

He eyed Vyan up and down like he was assessing a long-lost twin... or a particularly shady cosplayer of himself. Something about Vyan was strange. He definitely didn't look like just an irresponsible college student with amnesia.

The cold look in his eyes carried weight, his posture looked like that of a powerful man, and the way he talked carried authority, as if he were someone not to be messed with. He reminded Adrian of the worst kind of people he knew—manipulative, cold-blooded, ruthless, and quick-witted.

Awfully like himself.

"Why should I trust you?"