A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Ansel and Ravenna sat amidst the resplendent garden. Even in the absence of its mistress, the loyal Hydral servants maintained the grounds meticulously, but without Annelisa, the flowers, despite their vibrant beauty, seemed to have lost their spirit.

"After a day, are you still feeling unwell?"

Ansel pushed a cup of sweet fruit tea towards Ravenna, gazing at the weary scholar who propped her head with one hand.

"…It's nothing serious."

The petite woman gulped down the tea, reminiscent of Seraphina's hearty drinking style. No longer confined to a mortal body, Ravenna had no true physiological needs, yet this reaction clearly indicated her deep soul-weariness.

"When the God from the Machine appeared, at least twenty fifth-stage extraordinary beings immediately responded."

The sweetness in her throat made Ravenna exhale softly, but her brows remained furrowed with concern: "Though they didn't dare to act, they tried various ways to probe the God from the Machine. Managing this without straining your power while maintaining pressure on the dukes was exceedingly difficult."

The premise of the God from the Machine's unparalleled power was Ansel in the "driver's seat," with Hydral as the most potent energy source. In the separation of man and machine, Ravenna's ability to exert such deterrence was remarkable.

"I told you before, a minor mistake is of no consequence."

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Ansel gently pressed Ravenna's hand, whispering, "It's all within my plan."

"Who do you think I am?" Ravenna scoffed softly, "If you need perfection, I can achieve perfection. There's no need for you to activate other plans."

As she said this, she withdrew her hand from under Ansel's, placing it over his.

Her delicate fingers gently caressed the back of his hand, devoid of any amorous intentions. She stared at his youthful, not particularly large hand and murmured softly:

"You've worked hard, Ansel."

"Hm?" Ansel was somewhat surprised. "Is it me who has worked hard?"

"Are you suggesting that my minor efforts are more crucial than your battle with fate?"

Ravenna lowered her head, gripping Ansel's fingers with a force that seemed firm but was, in truth, as gentle as a kitten's nibble.

Ansel blinked softly at her somewhat subdued demeanor.

"In this regard… you are far behind Seri, Venna."

"What?!"

The woman's subtle competitiveness was instantly triggered. Ravenna immediately looked up at Ansel, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you mean?"

The young Hydral, amused by her sudden reactive stance, couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile. "Seri never underestimates her abilities in aiding me, always firmly believing she can provide strength, never doubting or hesitating."

"But you always tend to undermine your contributions, and that's not good."

He tapped Ravenna's forehead playfully, his smile broadening. "Lacking confidence much?"

"You think I'm not confident?" Ravenna retorted coldly, a hint of anger in her voice. "Do you need a reminder of what I just told you?"

"Oh~" Ansel feigned a moment of realization. "That's just being insincere."

"You! I am not—"

Caught off guard, Ravenna was momentarily at a loss for words, her cheeks gradually reddening. As everyone knew, the insincere despised being called out on their lack of candor.

Before the scholar could react further, Ansel gently caressed her cheek, laughing. "Just a joke, don't be angry, Venna."

He gazed into her exquisite violet eyes, his voice tender. "Don't dwell on the past. If you must, we are both at fault, aren't we?"

Ravenna, unlike the vivacious and confident Seraphina, never proclaimed her strength to Ansel with such boldness. It wasn't merely due to her… well, lack of candor. A gentle nudge from fate three years ago had caused their rift.

Since reconciling with Ansel and painstakingly revisiting past events, gaining a profound understanding of the pressures and burdens he bore… Ravenna often harbored a deep sense of guilt towards Ansel.

The rift three years ago could be attributed to Ansel's fault, or perhaps it was her failure to properly care for Ansel's feelings. Ravenna had often thought, had she been more considerate of Ansel, more attentive to him rather than solely focusing on the revolution, even fate would have been unable to shake her position in Ansel's heart.

If Ansel had confided in her during that stormy night, those three years… would have been enough for them to transform the Empire, and Ansel wouldn't have had to bear unimaginable burdens alone.

Ravenna's guilt was amplified during the Western expedition.

She knew Ansel had set off for the West shortly after their rift, transforming into Faust. During these years, Ansel did not seek the pact head, making her wonder… what purpose drove him to wander the West after losing his only friend.

Ravenna didn't seek the answer, for she was afraid.

She feared she, herself… might be the reason Ansel became the Hydral today.

Seraphina, naive and straightforward, recognized the cruel indifference of fate through Ansel's memories but never delved into the peril and horror of that power.

However, the perceptive Ravenna spent three years alone in darkness, contemplating. After receiving answers from Ansel, she profoundly understood the immense terror that transcended all things.

This realization deepened her guilt for leaving Ansel to face it alone.

The struggle against fate was arduous, leading Ravenna to believe she was not doing anything remarkable. Ansel, who could confront fate, seemed far stronger than she.

Ansel, seeing this, smiled and urged her not to dwell on the past.

Although it was unlikely for the thoughtful Ravenna to let go, Ansel had time to mend their past.

Ravenna quietly observed Ansel for a while, then sighed, resting her head on the table and lightly nudging the hand beneath hers.

"Don't use your cleverness to tease a woman's feelings; it's quite annoying."

"Quite annoying?"

"…Not too annoying."

After a brief moment of tenderness, Ravenna, somewhat revitalized, sat up and asked Ansel, "Will he truly come?"

Recalling the words Ansel had spoken before they returned to the imperial capital, Ravenna still found it hard to believe. It wasn't a matter of doubting Ansel's abilities, but the plan he had laid out for her was simply… beyond imagination.

"Fate will let him know,"

the young Hydral smiled. "It won't allow me the chance to grow and breathe unimpeded."