A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Thus, Nine spoke with tenderness: "But this is what you've longed for, isn't it?"

"After arriving in the Western Lands, you undertook numerous commissions, accomplished so much. It wasn't merely to distract yourself, but to... rectify past regrets. You desire to become the sun more than anyone, don't you?"

The aspiration to transform the empire, to enable the common folk of the Western Lands to live with dignity - these thoughts, these musings, are utterly genuine, devoid of any falsehood.

If Nine could discern the torment and anguish Ansel now endures, how could she fail to perceive... that fervent desire?

Is it not evident whether he continuously yields to Seraphina and Ravenna due to favoritism, or if he equally harbors that benevolence in his heart?

— If Ansel of Hydral truly lacked even a modicum of goodwill, how could he possibly feel hypocritical about his instinctive act of salvation... born from his desire to defy fate?

It is precisely because his soul's depths perpetually retain the yearning to change everything that he cannot accept... committing such acts under fate's distortion, cannot accept such a betrayal of his true nature.

Yet now, Ansel has trodden that path for far too long.

Just as he said during the cat-finding commission in the lower district of Dispute Fortress.

The path of return is always arduous.

Ansel never contemplated turning back, but the two girls he chose presented him with the possibility of return.

Thus, he was never merely cursed by "love," but by the radiant life that this love embodies - the life Ansel yearns for but cannot attain.

"So what?"

Without vehement questioning or rebuttal, without acerbic sarcasm or mockery, Ansel calmly, indifferently asked Nine: "Even knowing all this, what can you do?"

Indeed, knowing all this, what can Nine do?

She doesn't even know what Ansel is facing, merely conjuring an unknown enemy through Ansel's reactions. In terms of ability, endowment, and knowledge... Nine cannot compare to Seraphina and Ravenna, to Crow and Rhine, to countless others.

Besides understanding herself to this extent, what else can she do?

"What can I do... isn't it quite simple?"

Facing this seemingly unsolvable question, Nine displayed, for the first time on her face so different from her former youthful visage, a smile of such pure warmth.@@novelbin@@

Identical to her former self.

"You should become the sun you aspire to be."

She smiled sweetly: "Do what you wish to do, fulfill your heart's longstanding desire, journey together with Miss Seraphina and Miss Ravenna towards that radiant future. Isn't that enough?"

"How could I possibly—"

Ansel instinctively wanted to object, but upon seeing Nine's face adorned with such an innocent and sweet smile, the words caught in his throat.

He realized... what Nine wanted to do, and what she could do.

He finally understood why Nine had said she was the only one qualified.

"This question has been simple from the beginning."

Nine boldly intertwined her fingers with Ansel's, as if trying to feel every inch of warmth in his palm. With closed eyes, savoring the sensation, she spoke softly:

"If Miss Seraphina and Miss Ravenna loved you wholeheartedly, willing to sacrifice everything for you, then you needn't worry and could continue down that path of using any means necessary."

"Alas, they aren't, so that path is no longer viable."

"In that case... why not choose a different path?"

She opened her eyes, those once eerie and terrifying pitch-black pupils now brimming with indelible tenderness.

"Walk that fulfilling and radiant path with them, and let someone who can dedicate everything to you tread the malevolent and dark path."

Marlina Marlowe, a madwoman willing to offer everything for her love, spoke such... cruel and insane words with unwavering gentleness.

She would walk through the thorn-filled forests, traverse the rotten and miry swamps, cross the sunless valleys, traverse all... the paths that caused Ansel pain and torment.

And Ansel need only become what he desires to be - the sun that illuminates all things.

"...What are you saying?"

Ansel's previously calm tone became somewhat unsteady. He stared intently into Marlina's pitch-black eyes, "Do you think this is making a choice? If I acquiesce, if I allow you to do this, how is it any different from me doing it myself?"

"How could it be you acquiescing to me?"

Marlina laughed lightly. She stood up, happily twirling her dress, and said with a charming smile: "Have you forgotten what a cunning woman I am? I can perceive your thoughts, Mr. Ansel. I can make..."

Make the choices that Ansel wanted to make, but didn't.

In other words... she has the resolve and ability to make decisions even when Ansel hasn't voiced them, when they're merely fleeting thoughts in his mind, without any intention of putting them into practice.

Indeed, this is Marlina's talent... No, it's the ability that the only person willing to dedicate everything to him must possess.

The crimes she commits, the evil she does, were never acquiesced to by Ansel, but rather... her "presumption".

An unerring presumption.

"And there's one most crucial point, Mr. Ansel."

As her swirling skirt slowly settled, the pitch black sorceress bent down, cupping Ansel's face in her hands, pressing her forehead against his.

Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

"This is more important than my talent, more important than your predicament. It's the key to gaining your approval."

She opened her eyes, gazing into those sea-blue eyes never before so close, and spoke with the affectionate tone of addressing a lover, filled with happiness:

"You don't love me."

Ansel of Hydral would never love someone who sacrifices everything for him.

Therefore, he won't fall in love with such a foolish and obsessed woman; therefore, no matter what befalls this foolish woman, whatever happens to her, he won't find himself in the same dilemma of indecision as he does with those two girls.

He can discard her when necessary, abandon her when needed... If this foolish woman makes any mistake, he can easily make a decision without hesitation.

Yes, the decisive "love" Marlina spoke of to Suellen was neither her love for Ansel nor Ansel's love for her.

It's because Marlina understands more clearly than anyone —

You never loved me.

*