A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Her response left Marlina somewhat disappointed, "I don't know where your resentment towards Mr. Ansel comes from, but even if Mr. Ansel likely had a conflict with you for some reason, you still don't want to... forgive him?"

"Important... thing, do you know what you're talking about? Do you think there is anything in this world that could threaten him, force him to give up something?"

Ravenna's voice was a bit hoarse, "Even if we step back, there are many important things for him, how can I be sure which one it is? Rather... I can be sure that there is no such important thing between him and me as you mentioned."

"You don't know where my resentment comes from, do you? Let me tell you now."

Deep anger and... the sadness that Ravenna initially tried to brew, but thought did not exist, accumulated in her purple eyes.

"Ansel of Hydral, this man who claims to be my friend."

She tried to make her voice cold and indifferent, not revealing any emotions.

"— From the very beginning, he was deceiving me. My friendship with him was just a farcical third-rate drama, a despicable and vicious lie."

"And it was he who admitted this, not me speculating his motives with the most malicious mind. Even... even three years later, not long ago, I still had some expectations for him."

Ravenna took a deep breath and slowly exhaled the anger in her heart, "Are you satisfied now, presumptuous secretary?"

"..." Marlina looked at Ravenna for a long time, then bowed her head deeply, "I understand, Miss Ziegler."

Without waiting for Ravenna to react, she continued, "Without considering the possible harm you may have suffered, I was indeed too presumptuous to ask rashly, and also..."

She raised her head, with a look that should not exist in the eyes of mortals, a look that should not be cast by a mortal to a extraordinary being, looking down at Ravenna:

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"Thinking that you would become a helper to Mr. Ansel, expecting that you could help Mr. Ansel, was also too naive of me."

She bowed slightly, calmly saying, "I'm sorry for causing you such discomfort, and I'm sorry for having these unrealistic expectations of you."

When Marlina raised her head again, her face was once again adorned with a gentle, approachable smile:

"Don't mind me, I won't bother you anymore, please continue with your work."

*

In the dimly lit underground sanctuary, Ravenna bowed her head, gazing at the nutrient solution in her hands, her lips sealed in silence.

She had grown accustomed to her solitude here, finding companionship in the cold, mechanical constructs that filled the room, the only entities capable of providing her a sense of security. Warmth, vitality... such things were unnecessary, devoid of meaning to her.

Ansel had not returned since he left the alchemical workshop. His visit seemed to be nothing more than a fleeting jest, or perhaps... was it to leave Marlina behind, to have her utter those words to Ravenna?

But Marlina had not lied. Or was it... was there a counter-spell set by Ansel on her? If that were the case, it would make sense. After all, if it were his doing, it would be normal for her own creation to be ineffective. Rather, it was highly likely...

Crack—

The surface of the bottle holding the nutrient solution shattered.

"..."

Ravenna recalled the expression of the girl as she spoke to her, the words she had said. Suddenly, she felt something lodged in her chest, rendering her speechless, leaving her... feeling helpless and depressed.

She knew she was deliberately avoiding it.

But at that moment, upon hearing that "Ansel had given up something important," she had no mental capacity to consider so much. She instinctively denied and evaded.

Because if she didn't, what would the boundless loneliness she had endured alone over the years, the immense pressure she was forced to bear, and the resentment she held for Ansel... what would they all amount to?

Discarding the nutrient solution, Ravenna walked to the mirror. To fulfill Ansel's request, she had specifically created a mirror in this safe house devoid of any superfluous items.

The petite yet mature woman looked at her reflection in the mirror. In the dim room, her image was somewhat unclear.

Over the past three years, there had been almost no change in her appearance, but the essence of this body had long bid farewell to the past.

In order to maintain the Tower of Babel under the pressure of the Etheric Academy and Evora, to further realize her ideals... she had sacrificed so much. Yet, after three years, there was little to show for it. This empire, this world, was still stagnant, with no hope for progress in sight.

During these three years, more than once, the thought had crossed Ravenna's mind: if Ansel were still by her side, would everything be different? It was precisely because of this that when Ansel first returned, she still harbored some hope and expectation.

If it were true, if Ansel had truly been forced to sever ties with her because of some matter, some existence, if he was not entirely deceiving her, not using that ideal as a sweet bait and vicious trap to tame her, but had truly once held hope for that future...

Then, if she had trusted him at that time, if she had relentlessly questioned him about the reason for his "deception," would everything truly have been different?

"Ansel..."

You clearly said you didn't need me anymore, that I was worthless. Why then did you say I was your friend?

"Ansel..."

You clearly said you wanted to destroy me, to push me into the abyss, to turn me into a monster that exists only for the ideal. Why then did you stir up my emotions?

"Ansel..."

Are you deceiving me, or do you have your difficulties? What are the era, the future, the world in your eyes... and what am I in your eyes?

"Ansel!"

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