A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

The ocean where the iceberg floated stirred up towering waves that swallowed the sky, the silent and empty land was torn apart by the hurricane, and the quiet azure sky rolled up thunder that roared in anger.

Cold, bone-chilling rationality tangled with surging emotions. Ansel's words, Ansel's actions, Ansel's deception, Ansel's difficulties... complex, incomprehensible, contradictory, countless emotions intertwined, causing Ravenna to scream uncontrollably, without warning, and punch the mirror in front of her.

"…Ha…ha…"

The petite figure slid to the ground, the w-sitting Ravenna pressed her forehead against the shattered mirror, panting incessantly.

Why... why had she heard such news when she had already decided to embark on the path of erasing her self, of giving up everything?

"Ansel..."

She murmured the name of the devil softly, "What exactly... do you want me to do? And... what have you... been through?"

"Three years ago, why did you..."

Ravenna's words suddenly stopped.

Three years ago... she and Ansel had parted ways.

Why? Because Ansel had confessed to her that everything he had said was a lie, that everything he had done was a deception.

...And then?

Ravenna felt a pain that was indescribable, emanating from her forehead... no, not her forehead, her soul, deep within her soul. The deeper she delved into her thoughts, the more intense and unbearable the pain became.

And then... what did I... say to him? And what did he... say to me?

Ravenna looked at the countless faces reflected in the shattered mirror, a great fear surged in her heart... what exactly had caused their breakup three years ago?

She couldn't possibly have not asked questions, and Ansel couldn't possibly have brushed it off casually. Why... why couldn't she remember clearly?

"Ugh!"

A pain that almost tore her soul apart surged up, Ravenna desperately pressed her hand against her forehead, her veins bulging on the back of her hand.

"What exactly... why... Ansel..."

Ravenna looked at the mirror in panic and confusion. In the densely shattered mirror, countless Ravennas were also looking at herself.

They seemed to be saying at the same time—

The truth is not in your thoughts.

*

Upon the expansive and soft bed, Marlina, resting on Ansel's arm, was overcome by a profound drowsiness. She affectionately nuzzled Ansel's shoulder, whispering, "Mr. Ansel, I am going to sleep. Let Seri keep you company."

Ansel gently stroked the young girl's head, "Rest well, you've worked hard."

Marlina, her eyes half-closed, smiled blissfully, "As long as Mr. Ansel is satisfied."

"Marli... drinking potions daily is not a solution!"

Still straddling Ansel, Seraphina, her cheeks slightly flushed, rested her chin on Ansel's shoulder and said to Marlina, "You'll ruin your health... Don't you want Ansel to help you find a way to transcend? That, that Water of Redemption, isn't it good?"

Marlina gently shook her head, "Mr. Ansel does not accept imperfection, and neither do I."

"You need to learn to respect others' choices, Seraphina." Ansel, stroking Seraphina's back, "Marlina has her own thoughts."

"There's no need to rush at the moment... If a better opportunity arises, I will seek Mr. Ansel's help."

Marlina leaned gently against Ansel's shoulder, smiling, "Although it's gratifying to be able to assist Mr. Ansel, I won't give up the opportunity to rely on Mr. Ansel... Ah, by the way, Mr. Ansel, your arrangements today were splendid!"

"Hmm?" Ansel raised an eyebrow slightly, "Which arrangement?"

"The one where I, without any instructions from you, revealed your stress to Miss Ziegler."

Marlina cleverly replaced the words Annelisa had said to her with "stress", after all, what she said to Ravenna today was somewhat self-serving.

"...Oh, you mean that."

After a brief silence, the young Hydral smiled gently, "How did she react?"

"Although she denied it verbally, I could tell... she was greatly shaken. Mr. Ansel, Miss Ziegler must care about you."

"Hmm? Ah? What? Did you guys also give that sour-faced monster a lesson when you went out today?"

Our Miss Seraphina was quite excited, "I love seeing her deflated! Marli, what exactly did you say to her?"

Marlina, smiling, raised her index finger, "This is a secret between Mr. Ansel and me."

"What? We have secrets now! I'm going to be angry, Marli! Believe it or not, tomorrow night I'll..."

After about ten minutes of playful banter, the very tired Marlina fell into a deep sleep, while Seraphina, who was snuggled up against Ansel, after her sister's breathing had completely stabilized, put away her smile and looked at Ansel with a worried expression.

"Ansel..."

She whispered in Ansel's ear, "Did Marli... do something wrong? I felt that for a moment, you seemed a bit... unhappy."

"...Not unhappy, just a bit surprised."

Ansel gently held Seraphina, whispering, "I'm not blaming Marlina, just didn't expect this to happen."

"I... didn't plan to let Marlina tell Ravenna about my... certain situation."

Or rather, Marlina shouldn't know about his special situation.

The game in the black market was ultimately seized by fate, or rather... his somewhat excessive performance at the time probably also contributed.

Marlina perceived a very terrifying fact from this, and she used this as a reason, under the push of fate, to reveal it to Ravenna, undoubtedly... this would greatly recover Ravenna's human, emotional side.

"According to the original plan, I intended to completely abandon Ravenna."

He said so, startling Seraphina.

"Ab... abandon her?"

"The initial consideration of including her in the pact head was because I was too confident, and because... I hadn't changed certain thoughts."

"But as of now, she doesn't hold much value to me, and Seraphina, you've also taken on the power of two pact heads, destroying her, is also indirectly killing this future heroine."

Hydral's eyes held no pity, "Such an outcome, is also acceptable."

Tower of Babel, ideals.

These two lifelines of Ravenna, the former is already in Ansel's hands, and the latter... is almost there.

"This...well… isn't necessary?" Seraphina seemed a bit conflicted, "Although she's arrogant, she's somewhat useful, and, and..."

"And what?"

The young girl sneaked a glance at Ansel, whispering very softly, "And I feel, Ansel, you do care about her a bit."

The young Hydral was taken aback, then laughed and ruffled Seraphina's hair, "That's because of you, dear Seraphina."

"...Huh?"

"In the past, in my eyes, the feelings between me and Ravenna were dispensable, it didn't matter if they were destroyed; but after being influenced by you... I think, if it's possible to tame her, it might be better."

"But, this is just another option, actually, I wouldn't be particularly sad if she was destroyed... just like I initially aimed to ruin you, Seraphina."

"Bad guy!"

The young girl, embarrassed, hit Ansel's chest.

"Actually." Ansel smiled, "Fate won't sit by and watch me turn Ravenna into a purely rational tool, it originally intended to find a way to make Ravenna pick up human feelings, and once it does, the person Ravenna can't get rid of first is me... no matter what, my chances of winning are greater, and also —"

"...And also?"

Ansel mysteriously said, "This taming, didn't start when I returned to the imperial capital."

"From the beginning, I was in an invincible position."

"...Hmph, bragging." Seraphina snorted, wriggling, "So Ansel, you... what exactly do you want to do with her?"

Ansel gently stroked the girl's soft short hair, "No matter how fate pushes, my plan is still proceeding step by step, and in the end..."

Venna, it's all up to you.

*