A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

When Hydral resolved to kill the Duke of Reverie, a cataclysmic war that could alter everything might erupt.

After a prolonged silence, the vast hall echoed with the sound of a scepter gently tapping the ground.

"That's better, much better, dear Duke of Reverie."

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The steel colossus, the fearsome hand cannon, the abyssal shadows—all the terrifying manifestations from the young Hydral vanished in an instant, as if they had never existed.

He still stood there with his scepter, speaking in an exceedingly gentle tone: "As long as you acknowledge the truth, as long as you cease these absurd actions... how could I possibly harbor enmity towards the pillars of the empire?"

"I was merely enraged by your presumptuous belief that you could easily quell my fury. Since the esteemed three dukes of Eastport have recognized this... though the necessary price must still be paid, let this matter end here."

He smiled, uttering words that were simple yet perfectly anchored the thoughts in the dukes' minds:

"After all, I am not Her Majesty."

This statement provided clarity to the dukes.

Ansel of Hydral had not changed; he had simply grown, as was expected.

He had acquired formidable and terrifying power, and in the absence of the Empress and Flamelle, it was only natural that he would not tolerate mere dukes thinking they could placate his wrath. It was entirely logical. If it had been the Empress, she would have annihilated the families of the three dukes without leaving a single survivor.

But Ansel did not take lives, and that, fittingly... posed no issue.

He was always the outlier among the Hydrals, an anomaly among the divine species. Though the term "merciful" could never be applied to a divine species, it somewhat... suited him.

Thus, this was not a display of weakness, and at this moment, no one perceived Ansel as weak.

For he was Ansel of Hydral.

*

"... Strategies exist to compensate for the lack of strength."

In his bedroom, the Duke of Azuregold was slowly reflecting on the day's events.

Though he had been thoroughly impressed by Hydral's charisma, an unresolved question lingered in his mind—a question he couldn't identify the origin of, as if a voice in his head kept insisting that today's events were not as simple as they seemed.

"Tsk... That sense of anomaly... where exactly does it lie?"

The man muttered in confusion, "Clearly, there was nothing unreasonable, from beginning to end... from beginning to end... from beginning... to end..."

"Wait..."

A spark of realization flashed through the Duke of Azuregold's mind.

Diana of Flamefeast—she was the catalyst for this meeting, it was her proposition that the empire needed new leadership that brought the dukes together this morning.

But was she… truly the source?

Ansel of Hydral had not concealed his whereabouts; the dukes knew he had just visited the capital a few days ago, and shortly after, Diana of Flamefeast made her proclamation.

It was he… who instigated this meeting!

The stalemate was never broken by the three dukes of Eastport, but by... Ansel of Hydral himself!

The Duke of Azuregold's breath quickened. He immediately sat down at his desk, grabbing paper and pen, and began to excitedly jot down his thoughts.

"If that's the case... then Hydral was aware of his situation. He knew that after a long period of inactivity, he would inevitably accumulate more suspicion and scrutiny. With the downfall of the divine species, a single misstep could make him an enemy of the world."

"Thus, he instigated the regency issue, creating this opportunity... allowing those three fools of Edward to test him. Hydral had long grasped the limits of Edward's expectations, knowing that Edward believed he wouldn't dare to kill, so he employed the most ruthless, ferocious, and violent attitude and methods... upending Edward's perception of him, upending... our perception of him."

Murmuring to himself, the Duke of Azuregold grew increasingly agitated and excited.

"Making us believe... that he possesses an absolute power, if not comparable to the divine species, then still formidable."

"Indeed... if he truly had that power, he wouldn't need to say so much, he would have killed them already—"

At this point, the Duke of Azuregold's thoughts broke off again.

"No... but Ansel of Hydral is exactly that kind of person."

The man held his head and muttered to himself, "He is indeed the type to slowly explain his motives to others, methodically clarifying everything from a superior position. That's not a lie."

—But what if it is a lie?

This thought abruptly flashed through his mind.

Under normal circumstances, the Duke of Azuregold would never entertain such thoughts. Who could maintain a false persona from the age of seven or eight, nine or ten? It seemed impossible and baseless. However, given the necessity to consider all possibilities now, the Duke found a sliver of "rationality" in pondering this scenario.

"If this is all a facade..."

The very thought made the Duke of Azuregold tremble.

"As the inheritor of divine power, could he have, in his childhood, begun such a long-term preparation and groundwork for a moment in the future?"

After that meeting, those who harbored ill intentions towards Hydral would undoubtedly retract their ambitions completely. Hydral would enjoy an extended period of stability, during which he could accomplish an immense amount.

Everyone believed Hydral possessed an extremely terrifying trump card, fearing no one. Even though he had the power to kill directly but chose not to, no one found it suspicious!

Creating a flawless image in the eyes of others, just to leverage it at an uncertain point in the future—could it be possible?

Strategies exist to compensate for the lack of strength… Reconsidering this phrase now, it was practically Hydral mocking those fools.

They thought Hydral had enough brute force and didn't need stratagems, but in reality… he was the one truly manipulating with cunning!

"Ansel of Hydral."

The Duke of Azuregold leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply and helplessly.

"What kind of monster are you?"