A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"Is that all?" Ansel asked with a smile, seemingly unsurprised by Ravenna's choice.

"That's all."

"Very well, let it be so."

Ansel nodded briskly, appearing not to plan any further action, ready to depart: "Notify me once you're prepared. I am quite looking forward to this game."

The smile on his face only intensified the unease in Ravenna's heart.

What exactly is Ansel thinking? What does he intend to do? From this game... what could he possibly gain? Read further on m_vl em,pyr

Ronger, that man, they...

At that moment, Ravenna's heart suddenly quivered.

And that matter, what exactly happened… between that man and grandfather?

Why would he speak in the tone of a victim, uttering such words? Why, despite having stolen Grandfather's achievements and gained wealth and honor at the Etheric Academy, has he fallen to such a state?

Ansel had said... he would help me, so why has he completely ceased to mention this matter?

Simultaneously, she had overlooked, or rather... could afford to overlook, the fact that she could link together the shocks brought about by the three sites in that father-daughter game.

—Could Ansel's mention of "the pursuit of nothingness"... also be related to my grandfather? The weakness of Ronger and others, Leiden's predicament, and her own chaos... these three points are all intricately connected to Eileen, or rather, Eileen's death.

The answer...

I must know, the answer.

Standing by Ansel's side at that time, thereby being forced to give up the clue about Eileen's death obtained from Suellen, Ravenna's desire to pursue the truth was rekindled, even... more so than before.

"...Lord Ansel."

Ravenna stopped Ansel, who was about to leave. She opened her mouth, and finally, with determination, said in a deep voice, "I have requested before... about that man, and what happened between him and my grandfather."

"Hmm, what about it?" Ansel tilted his head slightly, looking at her with a hint of curiosity.

"I want to know... what price I must pay for this."

Ansel observed her for a long time, finally smiling pleasantly: "Let's not talk about the price for now, because it seems... you still want more, don't you?"

"...Yes."

Ravenna lowered her head, allowing her cold and distant voice to become as humble as possible: "I want to know... the truth about my grandfather's death."

The young Hydral's smile grew wider: "You previously thought that you couldn't pay such a price, preferring to cooperate with Suellen rather than coming to me, didn't you?"

"Have you figured it out now?"

"What if, instead of the complete truth, it's just a clue for me to investigate on my own, like Suellen did?"

The humble miss puppet lowered her gaze: "In that case, could you possibly..."

"Of course," Ansel replied with a smile that crinkled his eyes.

Ravenna was taken aback, lifting her head to meet those intoxicating, unfathomably deep sea-blue eyes.

He had agreed… just like that?

Ansel could have made this difficult for me, toyed with me in any number of ways—why did he consent so readily?

"I can't provide you with the clue right now, as I haven't investigated it myself. However..."

Ansel, who had already taken a few steps to leave, suddenly turned back and approached Ravenna.

He gently caressed the miss puppet's delicate cheek, speaking in a cheerful tone, "As for the price, I can tell you that now, and you can consider whether you can accept it."

"...Please do tell."

"When I address you by the name Helen—"

Ansel leaned in closer, his face nearly touching Ravenna's, both could feel the warmth of each other's breath.

"You must, in turn, call me 'Father.'"

His teasing voice caused Ravenna's body to stiffen slightly.

"Is that all...?" Miss puppet asked hesitantly.

"Helen."

"...Ah? I mean, Fa-Father."

Ravenna instinctively responded, and each time she uttered those words, a complex, indescribable feeling surged within her.

Something had been stripped away, and yet... something had been gained.

"Not a bad reaction," Ansel said with a smile as he patted Ravenna's head, "Very good, remember to always pay this price, and the clue you seek... I will also provide to you soon."

"My dear Helen."

"Thank you... Father."

Ravenna, with her head bowed, appeared somewhat dazed.

Why.

Why at this moment, does it seem that the only thing she can rely on is this "Father," a role adopted out of a sense of "amusement"?

*

Upon entering the grand entrance of the Hydral Manor, Ansel was immediately greeted by Seraphina, who, with a face full of vigilance, ran up to him and clung to his arm.

"Ansel, Ansel!" the young lady protested indignantly, "That woman has taken over your bedroom and even expelled me from it!"

"Evora?" Ansel chuckled as he affectionately ruffled Seraphina's snow-white hair. "So, what did you do? Did you confront her, or did you just leave?"

"I... I can't defeat her right now."

Seraphina seemed somewhat disheartened: "I feel like she could burn me to grill in an instant. But... but I'll be able to stand up to her sooner or later!"

Miss Wolf lifted her head with utmost confidence, declaring, "I absolutely won't let her lord it over you, Ansel."

"I look forward to that day, Seri," the young Lord Hydral pinched Seraphina's cheek affectionately.

"Hehehe..."

Despite having heard this term of endearment countless times, especially after her birthday, Seraphina still squirmed with joy like a kitten, giggling foolishly. After a brief cough, she said, "Then I won't disturb you any longer, Ansel... you should go and talk to her."

"You could join us."

"Um..."

Seraphina seemed tempted but ultimately shook her head with difficulty: "Forget it, she must have sought you out for something important... I'm afraid I might not be good for you—I'm off to train! Uncle Tyrus will be my sparring partner today!"

To prevent herself from following Ansel, Seraphina shouted this as she dashed away swiftly.

Ansel couldn't help but shake his head, amused, as he made his way to his bedroom with a relaxed and carefree demeanor.

Upon opening the door, he was immediately confronted by something fair, huge, and round… that obscured his vision.

"Oh, you're back?"

Evora, clad only in a semi-transparent nightgown, yawned, "I just took a nap on your bed."

"It's not a good habit to arbitrarily take over someone else's bedroom, Your Highness."

"Oh? Did your little dog come to you with complaints?"

The Elder Princess, with her arms crossed and cradling her voluptuous form, teased with a seductive smile: "Did she tell you that she was so upset because when I suddenly appeared in your bedroom, I found her holding your clothes—"

The tall woman's index and middle fingers came together, mimicking a pinching gesture.

"The access my father granted you to the manor wasn't meant for you to pry into my privacy."

Ansel, ignoring the provocative scene before him, walked straight to the sofa in the bedroom: "If Your Highness doesn't moderate her behavior, I might have to consider revoking that access."

"... Attempting to start by intimidating me?"

Evora responded without anger, merely raising an eyebrow, "Do you understand my purpose here?"

"At this juncture, what other possibility could there be?"

Ansel replied, brimming with a smile as he poured himself a glass of wine, "How do you find my proposal?"

"Hmph... To contend with that old fiend, indeed, your assistance is indispensable."

Evora strode across to sit opposite Ansel, seizing the wine bottle. She elegantly lifted her long, stunningly slender legs, pouring herself a glass of wine, "Suellen plans to exploit your little puppet's data system to forge a... heh, a cultivation system for the extraordinary beings? Ambitious, yet foolishly so."

"I possess myriad strategies to shatter her delusions, but... after much deliberation, your intervention seems most fitting."

The woman swirled her wine glass, resting her chin in her hand as she gazed at Ansel, "In such a scenario, what is your plan?"

"What's my plan?" Ansel chuckled, "My dear Princess Evora, as you've said, the matter is straightforward. Thus, my first step is to ascertain precisely what you desire."

"To make that damned wretched sister of mine realize the consequences of repeatedly opposing me," Evora answered without hesitation, "and at the same time, not to provide that old woman any pretext to exploit."

"In summary," Ansel sipped the crystal-clear liquid, "is to inflict pain upon Suellen without incurring Her Majesty's wrath."

Evora's eyes sparkled, leaning slightly forward, "Exactly... that's it. Have you conceived a plan?"

"Yes, quite simple."

"I knew you would never disappoint me, Ansel."

The woman joyfully pursed her lips forward, mimicking a kiss, leaving a ring of crystalline traces on Ansel's lips.

"So, what shall I offer you, and what should I do?"

Evora licked her lips in anticipation, "If Suellen's fate is sufficiently dire, I wouldn't mind offering additional rewards."

"Suellen wishes to utilize the data system, but ultimately, the control of the data system has always been in Ravenna's hands."

Ansel stated leisurely, "In this regard, Ravenna can decide far too much."

"You wish for Ravenna to scheme against Suellen?" Evora appeared slightly surprised, "She doesn't seem like the fool willing to undertake such tasks."

"Even the wisest have their vulnerabilities," the devil smiled, "Haven't I mentioned it before?"

"…You're referring to her grandfather? But she had previously refused—"

"That was before."

Ansel spoke with profound implication, "Now, things are different."

Evora watched Ansel for a moment, then chuckled, "Though I'm unaware of your machinations... it seems she no longer has any chance to escape. Hmph, it matters not, whether you wish to add a few more puppets or dogs to your collection is your prerogative. After all, in the end, none can compare to me."

The Elder Princess, having made this declaration with utmost confidence, drained her glass in one gulp, her cheeks flushed with color, "So, should I seek an opportunity to interact with your little puppet, or is there something else?"

"Patience, Evora."

The venomous serpent swayed its tail, "After some time, she and I... are to partake in an intriguing game."

Suellen, Evora, the Tower of Babel, the Etheric Academy, you, me—

The cast is all in place, dear Ravenna.

The truth you seek, the visions you chase... I shall grant them to you, one by one.

But whether you can accept them, that is entirely up to you.

*