A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

In this transaction, despite appearing to have the empress as her backing, she was actually in a weaker position. Although she had strange channels of information, the power she could truly wield was clearly no match for Ravenna, who had the support of Ansel.

Ravenna could indeed make Ansel act, but in the eyes of the empress, Suellen was at most a tool to annoy her heir, and was otherwise worthless.

So, she was using the secret information about the death of Eileen Ziegler to force Ravenna to make decisions step by step.

Suellen did not specify the price to be paid for the next piece of information, ostensibly giving Ravenna time to track down the assassin. But it was easier said than done. An assassin who could kill a fifth-stage alchemist, even if he was still in the capital, could she find him?

Just as Ravenna paused her work to seriously consider how to conduct a thorough investigation, another piece of bad news arrived.

— Ansel was looking for her.

After the Tower of Babel fell under Ansel's control, Ravenna had been avoiding meeting with Ansel, because she knew that meeting with Ansel would certainly not bring any good… Since the day of the taming, Ansel's words had been deeply imprinted in Ravenna's heart.

["I'll shape you into a perfect monster… that lives solely for the ideal."]

A pathological monster who voluntarily loses everything, abandons everything, just to achieve the ideal.

If she had to go that far to realize that vision, Ravenna didn't mind sacrificing herself, but she also knew that if she really reached that point, she would become a tool in Ansel's hands, with no chance of turning the tables.

She always remembered one thing, that Ansel of Hydral standing on her side now did not mean he would always do so, just like when they parted ways three years ago.

At the same time, Ravenna was also thinking about that bet. She was increasingly unable to guess why the so-called "bet" existed, or even whether it was real, because she could never see through what Ansel really wanted and why he acted.

If he bet that she was destined to destroy the Tower of Babel due to her obsession and madness, then why... why was he so actively helping her?

And what would the mysterious person who had helped her several times in the game do in response? Or was it... from beginning to end, just a lie by Ansel to confuse her mind?

Even though there was no longer a sword hanging over her head, Ravenna had no chance to catch her breath. The need for learning and research, the pressure from Ansel, the pursuit of the truth of the past, the danger of being an enemy of Evora...

She should have been liberated, but inexplicably... she was walking on thin ice.

Lost in thought, before she knew it, Ravenna had arrived at the door of Ansel's lounge.

After knocking and receiving a response, Ravenna pushed the door and entered.

As soon as she opened the door, the subtle atmosphere made the petite woman stiffen slightly.

She was all too familiar with this smell. That day, she had been forced to smell it in Ansel's bedroom for nearly half a day and a night. It was hard to forget.

"Mr. Ansel... wait... I..."

When Miss Ravenna saw the girl with snow-white hair, soft as mud, in Ansel's arms, she immediately lowered her gaze, closed the door, and fell silent.

When she saw the waterfall-like snow-white hair, Ravenna initially thought that Ansel was messing around with that beast again, but whether it was the soft and sweet panting, the proper and gentle address, or the length of the hair, they all indicated that she was not that arrogant female beast.

"Good morning, Ravenna." m-vle|mpyr exclusive

With his arms around Marlina's soft waist, Ansel chuckled, "How's the research going lately?"

"...Average," Ravenna told the truth, "There has been progress, but it's slow."

"Hmm? That's not in line with your abilities. Have you started a new project? Or are you researching something special?"

Ravenna didn't speak, because Ansel had hit the nail on the head.

Nidhoggur, the alchemical device that Ansel had proven to have unparalleled prospects... During this period, Ravenna had been secretly researching it.

But without the help of any fifth-stage alchemist, without Ansel providing ideas on the side, the progress during this period was almost non-existent, but Ravenna did not want to, and was unwilling to give up.

"You don't want to answer... Well, that's fine."

Ansel chuckled, slightly straightening his waist. The girl in his arms, dressed properly in a gorgeous long skirt, suddenly trembled. She reached out and tightly grabbed Ansel's collar, preventing her body from twisting down.

"Ansel, you seek my presence... for what purpose?"

Ravenna maintained her slightly bowed posture, her aura fierce, her expression indifferent. With her petite stature and appearance, this submissive demeanor made the pleasure on Ansel's face particularly vivid.

"Can I not seek you out if I have no business?" He raised an eyebrow slightly, "The Tower of Babel is mine now... It should be quite normal for me to take a stroll here when I have the time."

"...You are correct, Ansel."

"But your demeanor seems to be urging me to leave as soon as I finish taking a look."

Ansel sighed, "I am somewhat saddened, Ravenna."

The woman remained silent for a moment, then extended two fingers to lift the corners of her mouth, her tone indifferent, "I welcome your visit to the Tower of Babel, Ansel."

Ansel was slightly taken aback, looking at that adorable face with a mature and indifferent expression, he couldn't help but chuckle, "I don't remember you having such a comedic talent... Alright, don't force yourself, your expression is funny once, but annoying if seen a few times."

"I understand."

At this time, the silver-haired girl who had been resting on Ansel's chest for a while, tremblingly took out a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and fumbled in her dress for a while.

Then, she propped herself up on Ansel's shoulder, stood up from Ansel's lap with great difficulty, and then stood steady on the ground with Ansel's cheerful support, even if her legs were slightly swaying, she still bowed to Ravenna in a calm and gentle manner, "Miss Ziegler, I am Marlina Marlowe, Ansel's personal secretary."

Ravenna ignored the droplets seeping from under the ankle-length skirt, nodded slightly, "Hello."

"Mr. Ansel's visit to the Tower of Babel this time is a private visit, not many people know."

The girl who was just as soft as mud quickly adjusted her state, her dignified and graceful posture completely made it impossible to associate her with her previous image.

Marlowe... is she Seraphina's sister?

...What is this? A mutation?

"So I hope you can understand... Mr. Ansel came for you."

"I know." Ravenna, who had put away those strange thoughts, nodded, "I knew it when he called me to see him."

"That's the best." A smile rose on Marlina's face, "Then next, Mr. Ansel would like to see your research results during this period... You should understand."

If it were before, Ravenna would have sarcastically said "whether I understand or not doesn't affect what he does", but now she just remained silent for a little while, then said softly, "Alright, follow me."

As for how to deal with Ansel, Ravenna's heart already had a different plan than before.

Before that somewhat brutal taming, Ravenna always thought that Ansel still wanted to tame her, to make her completely loyal to him, so no matter what Ansel did, as long as she recognized this point, she would not be tricked, even if she fell into a trap, the harm would not be great.

But now, she has clearly understood... Ansel has really given up on her — if he can't make her loyal, then turn her into a tool, without feelings, without self, a perfect tool.

And coincidentally, this method has tightly grasped Ravenna's weakness, her faith, her ideals.

That is... as long as there is a chance to realize that future, even if she becomes a tool, Ravenna will not hesitate.

But at least, she can't completely fall into his control in such a short time.

And the only way is...

It's absurd, Ravenna thought.

Even though I have made up my mind to give up everything, I have to... try to regain my feelings because of him.

*