A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Annalisa remained silent, for she could have continued her usual coaxing or spoken oddities to compel Ansel to acquiesce, but she did not.

A mother stood there, silently gazing at her son for a long while, then spoke softly: "Very well, Ans, go and rest... However, might you lend me little Ziegler for a moment?"

"As you wish."

Ansel lowered his head slightly, without hesitation, and turned to depart, leaving Ravenna momentarily bewildered.

"He's still the same... What could be the matter?"

Annalisa, with a sideward tilt of her face, sighed softly: "Ans is troubled by something, and I am utterly unaware. Little Ziegler, do you think... Am I, as a mother, greatly remiss?"

"Madam, sorry, I...,"

"Oh, I'm sorry, asking you such a question would be difficult for you. I forgot."

The woman smiled gently: "Come with me, you must be curious why I kept you here. When I saw you, I recalled many things... I also have some words to share with you."

She unlatched the door and entered, Ravenna following closely behind, squinting instinctively as a burst of light struck her eyes.

Once Ravenna adjusted to the light and slowly opened her eyes, she was astounded by the sight before her.

Upon being transported to the verdant jungle by Evora, Ravenna was not as taken aback as she was now by the overwhelming, beautiful spectacle—a pure, exquisite impact.

Spread before her was an endless sea of flowers.

A true, ocean of blooms.

Diverse shapes and colors of blossoms stretched to the horizon, seemingly endless, and the sun suspended in the sky, initially blinding, now appeared perfectly radiant, illuminating each flower's vibrant hues.

Nearby, a wooden cabin stood, flanked by a long, hanging chair, both blending seamlessly with the surroundings.

So, Ansel resisted... this kind of place.

"In his youth, Mel often did things he believed to be romantic."

Annalisa strolled through the heart of the flower sea, her grand, flowing gown resembling the most vivid and beautiful blooms.

"Sometimes I wonder, did he not feel awkward doing such things?"

This woman, speaking thus, crouched down to inhale the fresh fragrance, hands cupping her chin, laughing softly: "Sometimes I also wonder, how could he be so charming to me."

"Then, I realized my heart was ensnared by him, and there was no escape."

Lady Hydral sighed, her face still sweetly smiling: "Ans inherited many of Mel's virtues—intelligence, confidence, bravery, decisiveness... but also inherited more flaws, among them, toying with girls' hearts, which he has surely mastered."

"Little Ziegler," Annelisa tilted her head towards Ravenna, "Is your heart ensnared by Ansel?"

"I..."

"You are not."

She answered for Ravenna.

As Miss puppet remained silent, Annelisa seated herself amidst the flower field, her fingertips emanating a faint glow. The flowers seemed to come alive upon touching the light, as if endowed with sentient will, joyously swaying around her fingers.

"I can discern, there are matters of greater importance reflected in your eyes."

"..."

"Ah, fear not, for in my eyes, this is a favorable sign."

Lady Hydral smiled, "Ansel's side requires someone like you, a girl who harbors a simple affection for him is utterly futile—though little Seraphina is an exception."

"Madam..." Ravenna, striving to regain her composure and ponder the current situation, whispered, "What are you implying? Is it concerning Ansel?"

"You are far more astute than little Seraphina," Annelisa slightly raised her eyebrows, "You remind me somewhat of little Marlina... Ah, no, there lies a fundamental difference between you and Marlina."

She beckoned Ravenna, "Come, sit beside me."

Ravenna obediently took her place next to Annelisa, who scrutinized her for a moment before gently pinching Miss puppet's cheek with a somewhat ambiguous expression.

"Although I am aware of Ans's wide array of interests, it's hard to imagine... the manner in which he approached you."

Following this jest, Annelisa adopted a more serious tone, softly inquiring Ravenna:

"Little Ziegler, what kind of person do you perceive Ans to be?"

"What kind of... person?"

"Do not ponder too long, share with me your initial impression."

"He is... a genius."

"Go on?"

"A genius, malevolent, adept at manipulating hearts, possessing a strong desire for control, but..."

Ravenna lowered her head, and after a brief silence of a second or two, her voice turned hoarse, struggling to continue:

"But indeed, he is the only one who can perceive the same vision as I do."

"Companion..."

Annelisa's eyes shimmered slightly, "Is this merely your unilateral perception, or has Ans... also acknowledged this?"

"...I do not know, Madam."

"Hmm?"

"Ansel, he refuted everything," Ravenna's voice gradually began to quiver, "He told me it was all a facade, a deception crafted to tame me, but... but I learned that he seems—"

"He seems to have been compelled to forsake... what was most important to him, correct?"

Annelisa gazed into Ravenna's eyes, those magnificent purple pupils brimming with turmoil and struggle.

"Little Marlina...is truly a girl who wholeheartedly considers Ansel's well-being, not inferior to little Seraphina in the slightest," she remarked with a sigh, "She disclosed this matter to you, did she not?"

"...Yes, Madam."

Subsequently, the two were enveloped in an indescribable silence.

Iit was only after an everlasting pause that Annelisa spoke again, her voice breaking the silence, "Little Ziegler, do you know? I never yearned for Ans to take you as his pact head, despite your qualifications, despite your capacity to be acknowledged by him, and your... convictions."

"But you... you betrayed him."

The words light as a feather yet striking Ravenna's heart with the weight of lead.

"Of course, my perspective is undoubtedly subjective. From your standpoint, it would be more accurate to say that Ans betrayed you."

The woman, caressing the petals, whispered softly, "But as a mother, how could I possibly remain impartial?"

"Do you know what I have witnessed, little Ziegler? I have seen nothing but my son, wounded grievously, suffering from a chasm within that beckons him to a deeper hell."

"Six years ago, when Ans was but ten, he underwent some transformation... I cannot articulate it, for the child was too astute, always veiling his emotions so well. All I knew was that he became reclusive… unwilling to trust others."

"It was three years prior when he attempted to subjugate you as his pact head. During this endeavor, that cunning child must have donned a disguise, deceiving you in many ways—a fact I will not deny."

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