A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 101  Power and Ambition - II

The magnanimous Lord Hydral has once again returned to his Red Frost city, a fact known to few, just as few are aware of what transpired on the snowy night of yesterevening. Those in the know have already disseminated its significance in secret, while those oblivious continue their daily toil in their efforts to please Lord Hydral. In front of Ansel's mansion, Seraphina stands, gazing at the main gate, her resolve wavering. "...Ansel," the young girl nervously tugs at Ansel's robe, "How should I face Marlina? I fear she might be angry with me." "Isn't it normal for her to be angry with you?" Ansel, the young lord, raises an eyebrow, offering no words of comfort for Seraphina, "Not only will she be angry with you, but if she knew you wasted so much time in the village, causing the villagers to suffer with you, she might even hit you." Seraphina instinctively shrinks back, "I... I didn't think clearly at that time... I was still in a daze." "But isn't this good too?" Ansel strides forward, "Whether she scolds you or hits you, doesn't it all mean that Marlina always cares about you?" "Moreover... seeing those future versions of you, you actually want her to hit you, don't you? That might make you feel a bit better." He turns his head, extending a hand towards Seraphina, whose face gradually clears of hesitation: "If that's the case, what's there to hesitate about?" Lord Hydral speaks softly, "Apologize to Marlina properly, Seraphina." "...Okay!" Seraphina grips Ansel's hand tightly, walking determinedly towards the house with him. As soon as they push open the door, Marlina, dressed in a floor-length black skirt, bows slightly, "You're back, Mr. Ansel —" Miss Marlina, in the process of bowing, first sees her sister, then the hands the two are holding together. "..." Before she can straighten up and question Seraphina with an expressionless face, Seraphina, who has experienced countless despair and misery these days, rushes into Marlina's arms, crying out. "M-Marli, Marli!" She cries out in a rather unbearable manner, completely different from the determined figure she was before entering the house. Seraphina really wanted to control her emotions, she wanted to apologize to her sister seriously, solemnly, like a mature adult. But when she saw that familiar yet strange face, that face no longer bearing a kind and gentle smile, but filled with deep contemplation and serene indifference, she lost control of herself instantly. She thought of the mistakes she had made, the mistakes she would have made in the original future... and the remedies and responsibilities Marlina had taken for those mistakes. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Seraphina, who has grown and transformed, cries in Marlina's arms like a child who hasn't grown up yet. And Marlina? The expressions on her face are even more wonderful, from the initial surprise at seeing Seraphina, to the coldness when she saw their hands together, to the shock when Seraphina rushed into her arms, and finally, in the face of Seraphina's incoherent apologies and uncontrollable crying, she becomes completely flustered. "Seraphina, you... calm down, don't act like this in front of Mr.Ansel..." "... Marli, Marli, I was wrong, can you hit me..." "...Seri, wait... what's wrong, I..." "Marli, I will never leave you again, you... don't leave me... we have to be together forever..." During the time of Seraphina's transformation, Marlina never stopped growing. Her thirst and persistence for learning and knowledge even amazed a perfectionist like Saville, the butler, who was willing to take out his precious time to teach Marlina all kinds of knowledge about butler service. During this time, Marlina has subtly taken on the demeanor of the mistress of the mansion, and all the maids are respectful to her, but she has always considered herself a servant of Ansel, without any presumption. And this young girl, who has also grown extraordinarily in temperament, mindset, knowledge, and ability under Ansel's personal cultivation, after trying to maintain her indifference, coldness, and calmness... all ended in failure, and that face, which hasn't shown pure warmth for a long time, finally melted. "You really... never grow up, Seri." She says words that seem like a reprimand, but she holds her sister tightly. "Alright, alright... your sister is here, your sister isn't going anywhere." Marlina strokes the back of the young girl's head, her hand, which can remain steady even after five hours of continuous writing, is now trembling uncontrollably. Under the melting ice and snow, that clean and pretty face still bears the same gentle kindness. "It's good that you know you were wrong, your sister forgives you, when has your sister not forgiven you?" "Alright... don't, hey, just cry, if it makes you feel better, it's okay." Marlina's eyes are also slightly red, she doesn't know what Seraphina has gone through, but the immense guilt and sadness in her sister's heart have been transmitted to her without any hindrance. All these years of effort, all these years of maintenance, all these years of companionship... at this moment, the troubles and grievances that Marlina has silently borne for Seraphina have finally been released. She has never complained about Seraphina, as long as Seraphina can truly grow, it's all worth it. And today, she finally got what she deserved as a diligent and clever girl, a kind and good sister, who has grown and transformed. No tragic play of fate, no despair of falling into hell, no stepping onto a dead end, destined to become a sacrificial nightmare future. That wicked Lady Violet, along with the suffering she was supposed to endure, has disappeared. Here, there is only Seraphina's most cherished sister, Hydral's most steadfast follower, Marlina Marlowe. The young girl with red eyes lifts her head and looks at Ansel. She is a bit choked up, there are many things she wants to say, but at this moment, she can't say anything. The young Hydral, the kind devil, smiles gently, his lips moving slightly: [No one will disturb you, relax, Marlina.] Nôv(el)B\\jnn

He conveys these words with his mouth, then puts his finger to his lips, winks at Marlina, and walks silently into the house, leaving the space to the sisters. The person who most deserved to be saved in the first half of the tragic life of the Sky Wolf Emperor, has finally received the most perfect redemption. * "Young lord, you seem to be in a good mood." In the study, Saville looks at Ansel's happy face, his mood also very light, "Has everything been completely resolved with Miss Seraphina?" "Yes, not just her... in any case, I am indeed in a good mood." Ansel's mouth curves up, watching the ring symbolizing "power" flip between his fingers. "...Miss Seraphina hasn't put it on yet?" The old man looks at the ring, his expression slightly surprised. "It needs some time." Ansel holds the snake ring, the symbol of the head of strength, between his index and middle fingers, examining it while murmuring, "After all... her spirit is very dangerous, it needs to be properly trained." Hearing this, Saville's expression is no longer so serious, he nods: "If it's just a matter of training in terms of power, there's no problem." "So it just needs some time, when she ascends the throne, I will let the whole empire know her name." "You won't disappoint me, will you? My dear Seraphina." The young Hydral says this, holding the ring tightly in his palm.