A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Fresh flowers in vases, floral specimens on the walls, and various ornaments bought according to Annelisa's tastes... Over the years, she had been almost alone in the imperial capital, likely feeling very bored. She might have thought that when Ansel or Flamelle returned, they would be delighted to see the beautifully arranged estate, so she tirelessly devoted her energy to it.

But Flamelle was busy with his own affairs, and Ansel had not returned since he left three years ago, until now.

Ansel silently ran his fingers along the wall, his expression somewhat dazed, his mother's smiling face appearing in his mind, and his eyes lowered slightly.

He rarely allowed himself to indulge in his most vulnerable emotions, but at this moment, Ansel followed his heart.

Because he knew that he probably would not have such an opportunity again.

"Father..."

"... Father."

The young Hydral murmured to his father for some unknown reason.

This estate, clearly meant for the Hydral family, bore little trace of Flamelle.

In Ansel's life after the age of ten, there was also little trace of Flamelle.

His father was busy solving matters for the emperor and pursuing his ultimate creation, and after Ansel turned ten, he hardly ever cared for him. Their meetings were few and far between.

In this light, he seemed not to be a good father.

But in Ansel's eyes, there was no more qualified father in the world than Flamelle, just as there was no better mother than Annelisa.

However...

However, he was not a qualified son, neither to Annelisa nor to Flamelle.

Not only was he unqualified, but compared to the affection they had poured into him, he was... utterly terrible.

Yet, just as he had become capable of committing numerous cold and cruel acts, becoming an evil villain entangled in malevolence, Ansel was also prepared to bear this guilt and move forward without ever looking back.

Until either he or fate was utterly destroyed.

Arriving at the entrance of the Alchemy Workshop, Ansel dispelled all chaotic thoughts, placing his hand on the door, infusing it with ether to announce his presence to those inside.

He was ready to present the Pact Head ring to Helen; regardless of what she was currently engaged in, there could be no further delay.

Yet, half a minute passed without any response from within.

"…Exhausted?"

Ansel neither intended nor would he deliberately probe the situation inside. He forcefully opened the door to the Alchemy Workshop and stepped in.

But the moment he entered, he was stunned.

…Nothing.

In the vast Alchemy Workshop, there were no operating machines, no burning furnaces, and no… people working.

Helen, who was supposed to be here, had vanished.

Ansel's grip on his scepter tightened slowly, his eyes narrowed, and an invisible wave extended outward. In an instant, he detected the anomaly within the workshop.

On the meticulously arranged workbench, three items remained.

An image crystal, a gray bracelet, and a pair of… gray-white glasses.

These three items all bore the residual aura of Helen… no, of both Helen and Ravenna.

"What is going on…"

The young Hydral's brow furrowed deeply: "Why is Ravenna still lingering around Helen?"

That day, when Helen was making her final resolution, Flamelle had sent Ansel to accompany the slumbering Annelisa. Upon his return, Helen was already gone.

Flamelle had informed him that the soul "surgery" was complete, and Helen had long since gone to the Alchemy Workshop to prepare the "gift" she mentioned. Ansel had no reason to doubt Flamelle, who had no cause to conceal anything in such matters.

"…Is this your response?"

Ansel's lips curled slightly: "Is there a hidden clue left by you on Helen or Ravenna that I am unaware of?"

He picked up the image crystal, activated it, and said indifferently:

"Let's see what you have prepared for me."

In the next second, Ansel was taken aback.

For on the projected light screen… stood two identical petite women, side by side.

"When you see this recording, regardless of success or failure, I have already accomplished what I set out to do, Ansel."

Their expressions and tones were indistinguishable, making it impossible for Ansel, who could easily differentiate between Helen and Ravenna, to tell them apart at this moment.

"First, I must apologize to you, Father… Ansel."

Ravenna on the right bowed her head slightly: "I never intended to betray you, but I have nonetheless brought you… lies." Read exclusive content at empire

This should be Helen, but why is she speaking of… lies?

Ansel's hand, gripping the scepter, trembled involuntarily. His mind began to race, seeking answers from all the vigilance and anomalies stored in his heart, swiftly weaving various possibilities.

Helen betrayed him? No… that's impossible. She had no reason or position to betray him, but lies… could it be that everything she told him was a lie?

After experiencing such despair and destruction, Helen was still not Helen, but Ravenna? That's even more impossible… the original Ravenna had been destroyed by him, that was certain, but lies… from when…

…from the moment Helen fully regained her memory?

Had she and Ravenna made contact in secret? By what means? But even if she regained her memory, how could she align with Ravenna, who purely despised him, when she clearly—

In an instant, the remnants of Ansel's vigilance were completely pierced through.

Ravenna's baseless absolute hatred, Helen's overly intense emotions, and… everything from three years ago.

"Lies."

His deep blue eyes trembled slightly, the young man stared intently at the image of his former friend, his voice becoming somewhat distorted.

"Ravenna, your… your display of hatred… was the lie?!"

Simultaneously, on the light screen, Ravenna on the left spoke:

"To make you believe everything we are about to say, those glasses, which contain my data system, hold all the records I've kept over the past three years. I have decrypted them, and you can browse them at your leisure."

"By now, you should have guessed my question."

"…I'm sorry, Ansel."

Ravenna on the left also bowed her head slightly, her voice very soft: "For not being by your side these past three years."

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