Chapter 1026

Back at Hell Monarch Estate, Violet leaped from the carriage and hopped a few times at the gate, shaking off the negative energy clinging to her. Her face was ashen with fury.

“What the hell was that? How dare he have designs on me? Doesn't he realize his son is older than I am? That shameless old fool!” she roared.

Luke happened to be walking out at that moment. Overhearing Violet's words, he stepped back, his round face thoroughly confused. Why would age equate to shamelessness?

Carissa, equally upset, pulled Violet inside. “Don’t go to Edgeview Estate again. The way his eyes were all over you… Just thinking about it makes me feel like you've been violated. It's disgusting.”

She couldn't tell if the man she saw tonight was the same ambitious man she knew; it was as if he'd become a completely different person—a pervert.

Inside the council hall, Rafael recounted Yuvan's leering at Violet to Jacob.

Jacob listened, stunned. “No way… It was that obvious?”

“It was that obvious,” Rafael confirmed, shaking his head. “I even wondered if he was an imposter.”

Rafael had pondered this on the carriage ride back. Based on their knowledge, Yuvan wasn't the type to be interested in women. To him, regardless of their beauty, women were mere pawns, used primarily to manipulate Valken's officials—all carefully chosen for their attractiveness. Even his marriage to Molly was more about accessing the Spencer family's wealth, weapons manufacturing, and warhorses.

Rafael couldn't comprehend what he'd seen. Once seated, he asked, “Carissa, do you think it's possible he wasn't really Yuvan? That the real Yuvan has returned to Valken?”

Carissa, still seething, calmed slightly, considering Rafael's suggestion. It wasn't impossible. In the martial world, disguises were so skillfully executed that discerning the truth was often difficult without close attention.

Even Jacob considered it highly likely. Knowing Yuvan, he wouldn't act so recklessly. Even if he were interested in Violet, it would only be because she was the Spencer family's favored daughter. If that were the case, he certainly wouldn't have been so blatant.

The three fell into deep thought, pondering the possibilities. Violet initially disagreed, but seeing the three smartest people in the estate concur, she wavered. Could it really be a fake Yuvan?

Meanwhile, Travis was fuming.

“What do you mean, fake Yuvan? It's him! If he's different, it just means he was pretending. Violet is the Spencer family's daughter, and she's good-looking. That day she barged in and slapped Molly—she looked so cool! How could Yuvan not be impressed? Has he ever seen a woman like her? Men are so self-absorbed; they think we can't see through their intentions. They think they're hiding it well. Did you hear his last words? 'I misspoke. Please forgive me, my dear'? I just want to slap him!”

Violet shuddered at the memory. Suddenly, she agreed with Travis.

“Rod's right. I think that's his true nature. He's just been hiding it.”

Travis puffed out his chest proudly. “That's right! Trust me. My mentor cataloged a thousand types of bad men, and Yuvan fits the description perfectly. My master's never wrong—Yuvan's like a scruffy peacock, proudly displaying his feathers without realizing how ugly he looks.”

The three, previously overthinking, froze. His mentor said that? It must be reliable.

“Seriously, trust me,” Travis continued. “My mentor says no matter how powerful or ambitious a man is, he can't hide his intentions toward women. Carissa, you especially need to believe this. If Prince Rafael ever starts looking at another woman, you'll see right through him instantly.”

Rafael, following Travis's logic, darkened at the last comment. “Nonsense! I'd never be interested in another woman.”

Travis lifted his chin defiantly. “You can never be too sure. My mentor's list includes men who start innocent and devoted, but eventually become fickle. And when those men turn, they're far worse than others.”