A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Hearing this, Seraphina’s hostility visibly diminished. She grumbled, “I suppose that’s about right. Hmph… You say you are indifferent to sacrifices, but you’re not so different from me, Ravenna.”

“I’m not entirely indifferent; I’ve developed more rational and clear standards and boundaries. As for differences… Aren’t you also merely pretending to trust Marlina, when in fact–“

Ravenna’s words faltered as she observed Seraphina’s suddenly frozen expression.

She averted her gaze apologetically, “I’m sorry, I misspoke. Please don’t take it to heart.”

“…”

Seraphina scratched her head before laughing casually, “What are you talking about? You didn’t say anything wrong. Don’t be so sensitive, Ravenna. I’m not at all–“

The door beside them suddenly opened, interrupting her words.

“Ah, Ansel! You’re finally done!”

Seraphina immediately halted her previous conversation, charging into Ansel’s arms as he opened the door.

The young Hydral scion stroked her head resignedly, “Next time, could you embrace me a bit more gently? Give me a chance to prepare, alright?”

Before he could see anything, he felt a forceful nudge against his stomach, as if a boisterous large dog had headbutted him.

Seraphina merely giggled foolishly, saying nothing.

Despite having the makings of a tyrant, she mostly behaved like a silly puppy, testament to Ansel’s profound influence.

“What did you discuss with them for so long?”

Seraphina, who had been waiting at the garden office door, inquired.

“Just some adjustments and arrangements for future matters. Nothing for you to worry about, Seri.”

“Haha, you’re right. I probably wouldn’t understand even if you explained it to me, Ansel.”

“If only you could maintain such self-awareness consistently,” Ravenna interjected.

“And if only you could remain quiet all the time, Ravenna!”

In no time, the two were bickering over trivial matters again.

Ansel shook his head, smiling, as he led the girls out of the building, planning to return to the manor for a day’s rest.

After tomorrow, their Western journey would enter a new chapter. By his calculations… that gate to that Enigma, brimming with intense fire elements, should open soon.

“Ansel, Ansel, can’t I really stay by your side?”

Seraphina asked pitifully, clinging to his arm.

Ravenna scoffed, “You just want everyone to know Faust is Ansel, don’t you?”

“I just think Ansel’s disguise is pointless… If you want to deal with someone, Ansel, I can just kill them for you,” Seraphina stated matter-of-factly. “There’s no need for all these complications.”

“…You violent brute. You’re beyond help,” the scholar sighed, rubbing her forehead.

In Ansel’s subsequent plans, Seraphina certainly couldn’t continue accompanying him, but Miss Wolf was still trying to persuade him, showing no signs of giving up, constantly clinging to Ansel and wheedling.

“Oh, come on! I say, if your identity is exposed, so be it. It’ll only add to your fame, Ansel. ‘Hydral is the legendary adventurer from three years ago’ and all that… Plus, doesn’t this mean you thrashed the Duke of Wyvern when you were just thirteen? Doesn’t that make you super awe —”

Seraphina’s words abruptly ceased.

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Because she saw a figure approaching them from afar, carrying a shoulder bag.

“Good morning, Mr. Ansel, Miss Ravenna, Miss Seraphina,” the white-haired girl greeted, bowing to the trio while holding her bag strap.

Seraphina’s lips quivered silently, eventually averting her gaze. Ravenna observed Seraphina for a moment without speaking. Only Ansel responded gently, “Good morning, Marlina. Are you heading to work?”

“Yes,” the girl beamed. “Though my time back in Hydral territory is brief, work cannot be neglected for a moment.”

“If only everyone had your level of dedication…”

Ansel mused, patting her head. “Well then, do your best, Marlina.”

“Yes!” The ordinary yet pure girl’s cheeks flushed, her smile growing more radiant. “I won’t disappoint you!”

Her lively expression suggested she had never faced any setbacks or hardships.

They then passed each other by.

“…Ansel.”

Seraphina asked in a hoarse voice, head lowered:

“The incident in the lower district, in Dispute Fortress’s lower district… did you ask… Marli to do that?”

“…” Ravenna slightly narrowed her eyes, remaining silent.

After a brief pause, Ansel sighed softly:

“I’m sorry, Seri. I didn’t expect Marlina would—”

“…No, it’s okay. I understand now.”

Seraphina clung tighter to Ansel’s arm, whispering, “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.”

Then, in a voice perhaps inaudible even to herself, she murmured:

“It’s not… Marli’s fault either. It’s because I… wasn’t strong enough.”

“I will never let this happen a second time.”

Ansel simply stroked Seraphina’s hair, remaining silent.

He could have shouldered this mistake for Marlina.

Although he had never once explicitly told Marlina to transform the lower district in that way, he had always tacitly approved of her actions.

Yet Ansel… still let Marlina bear this burden of sin and evil in Seraphina’s eyes alone.

Because he was testing, he was observing.

Observing Marlina’s changes.

Upon learning that fate might use Marlina as its next move, a terribly cruel and vicious plan immediately surfaced in Ansel’s mind.

— Ansel knew better than anyone that he might become interested in or even develop feelings for anyone, except for those who completely lost themselves in him, willing to abandon their very identity.

Thus, the simplest and most effective method to prevent himself from being influenced by Marlina became clear.

It was to make this girl become the person he least needed.

So after returning to Dispute Fortress, he continued to encourage Marlina to do those things, to support her, to approve of her, to give her… care and assistance.

Ansel would continue doing this, persisting until Marlina Marlowe thoroughly became the type of person he cared least about.

How despicable… Ansel.

The young Hydral lifted his head, his eyes squinting slightly in the intense sunlight.

He had never really liked the sun, not at all.

Behind him, the ordinary girl walked towards the office building, but she didn’t enter through the main entrance.

Instead, she headed towards the depths of the building’s shadow, which seemed to remain unchanging regardless of the time.

As she approached the deepest part, she paused and looked back.

The three figures had already walked far away, only their vague silhouettes visible.

At that moment, it seemed someone had also turned back, gazing at her.

Was it Mr. Ansel, or… Seri?

The sunlight was too harsh; she couldn’t see clearly.

The girl named Marlina finally gave up. She turned back and walked into the seemingly eternally unchanging darkness.

*