A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

As he thought this, Ansel suddenly spotted a refugee on the street, incongruous with the surroundings of the lower quarters. Ravenna also noticed him and couldn't help but murmur, "He made it all the way to the Duke of Azuregold's territory. One can only imagine the hardships he endured."

She turned to Ansel, her voice much softer. "But at the very least, he won't die on the battlefield or at the hands of marauding adventurers, thanks to you, Ansel."

"Thanks to me... yes, let's leave it at that."

Ansel's face maintained its usual gentle smile, yet for some reason, a hint of confusion lingered deep within his sea-blue eyes, reflecting the refugee's silhouette.

He had instigated the regent's affair, causing the Duke of Firmament and the Duke of Azuregold to temporarily cease hostilities, directly saving hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives. Undoubtedly, this was something to be happy about. Previously, even completing minor tasks would bring Ansel joy.

By rights, he should be even more pleased with this "salvation." When discussing this with Ravenna, he had indeed shown evident satisfaction.

But for some reason, as he gazed at the refugee, knowing that if he told him everything, the man would undoubtedly worship him as a god, when truly facing the person he had "saved"...

This time, Ansel felt no joy at all.

*

When Ravenna handed over the entire alert hub, Marlina's expression remained unchanged.

"If anything goes wrong, remember to report to me promptly. Ansel and I have set up all the monitors. As soon as anything happens—like this," Ravenna pointed to a round light in the box that suddenly lit up and emitted a piercing sound, "it will alert us to any violent incidents."

Before she finished speaking, another alarm in the alley went off, followed by several more, ringing incessantly.

"...Is the law enforcement in the lower districts really this poor? Didn't adventurers just sweep through recently?"

Ravenna looked at the cacophony of alarms, momentarily wondering if there was an issue on her end.

"I'll go check," she said, before hurrying off.

Within minutes, she returned, her expression grim, clearly having found the answer to whether the lower district's security was lacking or if her devices were malfunctioning.

"Marlina, I'll leave these to you."

Ravenna's tone was solemn. "Unlike your sister, I prefer establishing order over relying on individual strength. I hope you will make good use of it."

"I understand, Miss Ravenna," Marlina replied with a gentle smile. "I will not disappoint Mr. Ansel or you. Rest assured."

Her delicate and serene demeanor was so persuasive, exuding a charm that instinctively inspired trust and closeness. Just looking at her expression and listening to her voice, Ravenna's trust in Marlina increased significantly, without Miss Scholar even realizing it.

She was just like that devil who ruled over human hearts.

"You are much more reliable than your troublesome sister, I know that."

Ravenna nodded, then glanced behind Marlina, hesitated, and asked, "By the way, where is she? If Ansel were here, she would have rushed out by now."

"With the impending battle against Mr. Faust, Miss Fenrir is intensifying her training."

Hearing this, Ansel suddenly looked at Marlina.

"Is that so..."

Ravenna didn't notice anything amiss, but she couldn't help furrowing her brow. "No wonder the law enforcement has deteriorated again. Isn't she always the one who cares the most about these matters? How could she neglect them just for a chance to spar with Ansel?"

Marlina quickly explained, "It's not Miss Fenrir's fault. I failed to manage things properly..."

She noticed Ansel watching her and innocently blinked at him.

"You don't need to take the blame for her... Never mind. With these devices, the lower district's security will soon improve, and you'll be able to distance yourself from the prison." Read the latest on empire

"Thank you for your assistance, Miss Ravenna."

Thank you, for your, assistance.

Marlina lowered her head, her lips moving silently, until Ravenna and Ansel had finished their farewells and departed. Only then did she slowly lift her head.

She looked at the box of alert devices, registering the constant reports of violent incidents without any change in her indifferent expression.

"Creating such things at a time like this..." Marlina murmured to herself, her fingers gripping the devices turning slightly pale. "I truly must thank you, Miss Ravenna."

After a few seconds, she exhaled slowly and quickly composed herself.

"Mr. Ansel neither stopped nor delayed Miss Ravenna from setting these up, which means he tacitly agreed with her choice... Did he reject his own path?"

Marlina's eyes, reflecting the flashing red lights, glowed crimson, her voice growing hoarser. "No, it's not rejection; it's more choices."

The girl forced a weary, strained smile at the devices, at the things she could never create in a lifetime but that others could effortlessly produce a boxful of.

"This is what Miss Ravenna calls more and better choices."

"She really is... a woman of her word."

Since Ansel had already made his choice, Marlina would not dissent. Even in her deepest reluctance, she would follow Ansel's will.

However, as Marlina silently took out the alert devices and watched the projected scenes of brawls on the round lights—while everything was being manipulated by her, inching towards imminent chaos due to Seraphina's temporary absence—an unprecedented resistance surged within her, a resistance against that... obedience.

Was Mr. Ansel's choice truly inferior to the order Miss Ravenna sought to establish?

Was a choice devoid of sacrifices inherently a good one?

Although intensifying the conflicts in the lower districts was Ansel's idea, and allowing Ravenna to set up the surveillance system was also his decision, Marlina found herself splitting Ansel into two different personas based on these conflicting choices.

"Mr. Ansel..."

Marlina seemed to be facing and observing these two distinct versions of Ansel at that moment.

"Are you sincerely intending to continue with Miss Ravenna's proposal, or..."

She murmured as if in a dream, "Or have you yet to truly make up your mind?"

The piercing alarms seemed endless, much like the unending distortions and chaos in the lower quarter that wouldn't cease merely because of these devices.

"If you had truly made up your mind, you wouldn't place the choice in my hands. And if you harbor hesitation and doubt, it means... you don't actually wish to change, Mr. Ansel."

With her gaze becoming clearer, Marlina slowly closed the box filled with alert devices.

"Though I don't know what causes your hesitation, you are not wrong."

"If there is an error, it is my misunderstanding, not your mistake."

Marlina Marlowe always adhered to her own will. Once she made a decision, she would not waver.

Thus, the next day, when Ansel once again left for the imperial capital as Ansel of Hydral…

Blood flowed like rivers in the lower districts of Dispute Fortress.

*