A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Ansel harbored no aspirations to forge a new world; he would not allow the future that fate anticipated to manifest. Yet, this knowledge empowered him to better govern the entire empire in the near future, to more effectively... confront fate.

Ravenna toiled in the subterranean library of Hydral for three years, relentlessly absorbing, digesting, and appropriating every comprehensible matter according to her nature, almost forsaking sleep. She undoubtedly hoped that this vast accumulation over three years would sweep away the decline and transform the empire, but ultimately... she still became a tool in Ansel's hands to oppose fate.

Ironically, had she compromised with Ansel even slightly, she might have had a real chance to turn this knowledge into reality, rather than becoming nourishment for another "self" as she is now.

Truly... ironic.

With these thoughts, Ansel felt someone grasp his hand.

"Father," Helen's voice echoed in his ear, "trust me."

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From some unknown time, Helen had been emphasizing these two words. Ansel could tell it was not out of insincerity, but he could not quite clarify why.

Perhaps it was the perpetual insecurity surrounding her, her inability to forgive her past self who doubted Ansel, thus she hoped Ansel could trust her.

This vulnerability set her apart from Ravenna's icy demeanor, softening Ansel's expression.

He could absolutely trust Helen, whom he had shaped himself, a daughter who bore the semblance of a past friend, who would never leave or betray him, to whom he had given a purpose in life.

Even when informed of the existence of fate, she showed no signs of faltering, harboring only a purer disdain for Ravenna.

She trusted herself more than she trusted fate.

For Ansel, that was enough.

Thus, Ansel, accompanied by Helen, advanced through the twisted and terrifying atmosphere, traversing the long, dark corridors, passing through numerous doors, towards the deepest part of the Nostrom.

The deeper they went, the more Helen and Ravenna seemed to suffer. The chaos and madness unconsciously emitted by Flamelle had become a tangible oppression, a force that could destabilize the unsteady and even cause their souls to burst.

Ansel protected them from direct harm, yet he could not completely shield them from injury; he held Helen's hand, unconsciously tightening his grip.

"Squeak."

A soft cry rang in Helen's ear, and she instinctively turned her head towards the source of the sound, but Ansel immediately restrained her head.

"Don't look," the young Hydral said sternly, "You too, Ravenna."

As Helen and Ravenna bowed their heads, in the darkness not illuminated by the faint firelight, two piercing crimson points emerged.

Then four, then six, then... densely packed, as if filling all the dark spaces with tiny red lights, all watching Ansel, watching Helen and Ravenna by his side.

"Lawrence," Ansel whispered softly, "are you well?"

"Young... lord?"

From the darkness, a sinister and fragmented whisper emerged, as if hundreds of voices were murmuring in unison, "Ah... yes, the young lord. The person by the young lord's side is... is..."

"My future pact head, be at peace, Lawrence."

"Pact head... I understand... hee hee hee... our young lord finally has a pact head."

The multitude of red lights in the darkness gradually dissipated along with that chilling laughter, leaving no trace of the usually jovial rat, Lawrence.

Ansel, with his gaze slightly lowered, spoke to Helen, "It's alright now, just endure a little longer, I will soon return you to the manor."

"Mr. Lawrence also..."

"The pact heads are ranked according to the degree of erosion they've endured. The first is the Head of Souls, who bears the brunt of the erosion, followed by the Head of Abyss, and then the Head of Devouring."

Ansel sighed, "Others might still manage to maintain their sense of self, but for Lawrence to maintain even this minimal level of sanity... has been quite difficult."

Without the Head of Soul's share, Flamelle's madness has significantly affected his pact head, but the question remains... why did he go mad so quickly?

Before long, Ansel, along with Helen and Ravenna, arrived at a massive door, its surface etched with layers of dark patterns, as if sealing something terribly fearsome within. Ansel placed his hand on the door, closed his eyes, and softly murmured, "Father, it's me."

No sound came from within, but the ripples that spread across the door seemed to respond in some way.

"Come, Helen, it will be over soon."

Ansel extended his hand to Helen, and though he spoke reassuringly, his expression was grave, "Remember, once inside, close your eyes."

"Yes, father."

Ansel took Helen's hand, and Helen, in turn, took hold of the restrained Ravenna, and the three of them stepped through the door, entering the space beyond.

Following Ansel's instructions, Helen obediently closed her eyes tightly, but contrary to her expectations, the oppressive feeling that seemed almost suffocating outside... did not exist in this room.

Everything was peaceful and natural, as if they were in a world as ordinary as any other, yet in stark contrast to the abyssal force field, it felt like heaven.

And this room was not an alchemy lab filled with bottles and jars, nor a forge bustling with activity, but simply... an ordinary bedroom.

A bedroom fully furnished, yet notably lacking a bed, containing only... a crystal coffin.

Inside the coffin, Ansel's mother, Annelisa Delian, who had long been deceased but had spent much time with Ansel during this period, lay peacefully asleep.

Above the coffin, a sphere emitting a soft white light floated, its purpose unknown.

And beside the coffin, Flamelle Hydral, not engaged in any creation, silently gazed at his wife in the coffin, like a statue devoid of a soul.

After an indeterminate amount of time, he slowly turned his head to gaze at Ansel, his voice gentle and calm, still devoid of any madness.

"What is it, Ans?"

Flamelle asked with a smile, "Do you miss your mother? Let her rest a bit longer; in a little while, she will be able to—"

"Father."

Despite Flamelle's peculiar demeanor, Ansel had no intention of placating or treating him calmly; instead, he directly interrupted Flamelle, saying:

"I need your help with Helen and Ravenna. Please use Ravenna as a base to complete Helen's soul, ensuring her will remains unaffected by Ravenna."

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