A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

This didn't mean she would find a way; it was clear she already had one.

Ansel didn't ask what Marlina's method was. He simply nodded, quickly finished the remaining breakfast, and then took Ravenna's portion to the bedside, gently pinching her snow-white foot, which was slightly smaller than his hand.

"It's time to eat, Venna." The young man smiled, caressing the soft, silky sole of her foot. "Now is not the time to pretend to sleep. Where has your passion for knowledge gone?"

"…So noisy."

Ravenna turned over, trying to pull her foot out of Ansel's hand. After a couple of futile attempts, she silently let him continue.

Ansel said leisurely, "If you want to waste time, I don't mind keeping you company."

The slightly curled-up scholar remained silent for a moment, then grabbed the blanket to cover herself. She sat up slightly, rubbed her face, and used a cleansing spell to tidy herself.

"Pancakes and milk... do you take me for a child?"

Ravenna huffed, shifting her small bottom. Initially, only her foot was in Ansel's grasp, but now both her legs were draped over his.

"It wasn't my choice; it was Marlina's."

"..." Ravenna's gaze sharpened as she looked at Marlina, who stood quietly by the door.

The girl bowed her head apologetically. "I'm sorry it doesn't suit your taste. Starting tomorrow, I will adjust your—"

"Forget it... there's no need." Ravenna interrupted Marlina. "Just follow your arrangements. I'm just not used to… being served like this."

Ansel raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why can't you treat me as kindly as you do Marlina?"

"Don't you like it?" Ravenna's expression remained somewhat languid, likely due to the intensity of yesterday's "battle". "If you don't like it, I can be exceedingly polite to you."

"Let's not. Why should friends be so formal?"

"Friends... Hmph, only you would treat friends this way, you perverted brat."

Ravenna averted her gaze, avoiding Ansel's teasing eyes.

She gently nudged Ansel's stomach with her rosy knee. "If you have no objections, stop talking. I'm hungry... and don't use the hand that touched my foot to handle breakfast!"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"What's the matter?"

The young Hydral looked slightly surprised. "Your foot is very clean."

"Last night, it stepped on that enthusiastic tool you use to entertain friends. Do you call that clean?"

Ravenna's face was full of disdain. "Use the other hand."

"Just this? Haven't you already eaten directly—"

Continue your journey on empire

"Ansel!"

The sudden rise in pitch and slight break in her voice indicated that our Miss Scholar was genuinely annoyed. Ansel shrugged in a gesture of surrender, switched hands, and picked up the pancake, dipping it in milk before bringing it to her mouth.

Ravenna initially turned her head away in displeasure, but under Ansel's persistent, smiling insistence, she reluctantly began to nibble on the pancake like a small hamster.

…Though her expression remained sour, the increasing speed at which she ate suggested that Marlina's choice of breakfast was spot on.

A few minutes later, Ravenna, holding a cup in both hands, finished the last of the hot milk with a few gulps. She licked the milk residue from her lips and glanced up at Ansel.

"Is there anything planned for today? If not, I'll stay in the room and read."

"Whatever happens, you can always come to me immediately, can't you?" Ansel said, shaking the bracelet on his wrist.

"So I'm reminding you," Ravenna replied expressionlessly. "Don't give me any tasks."

Ansel couldn't help but laugh. "Looks like I've brought a difficult princess along."

"It's you who's difficult, a prince like a wild stallion."

Miss Ravenna's smooth and unflinching delivery of such intimate remarks was something that the easily flustered Seraphina could learn from, and it also made Marlina quite envious.

This effortless, seamless conversation, where both parties could respond immediately and enjoy the exchange, could only occur when they knew and liked each other deeply.

"Alright, who else but a wild stallion would need your soothing, Princess."

Ansel ruffled Ravenna's hair. "I won't disturb you, don't worry."

"You'd better not."

Wrapped in the blanket, Ravenna put on her glasses from the bedside table. A thick tome appeared in her hands out of thin air. She adjusted her position, leaning against the headboard, and began to study on her own.

"Then, next up... it's just the two of us on a sightseeing tour of the Dispute Fortress."

Ansel stood up. The Gleipnir, usually disguised as a scepter, was now in its chain-sword form, hanging at his waist, its sharp edges exposed.

Dressed in the roguish attire of an adventurer, he caressed the hilt of Gleipnir, his eyes uncharacteristically gleaming with anticipation and joy. He turned to Marlina, his expression vibrant, and asked, "Are you ready?"

"Yes, Mr. Ansel."

"No, no, no... not Mr. Ansel."

Ansel ran his hand through his radiant golden hair, transforming it into a pure black hue and lengthening it, tying it into a slender ponytail.

His appearance also changed, becoming quite different from "Ansel of Hydral." The enchanting beauty and gentleness were replaced by a sharper, more sinister aura.

"What should you call me?"

Now fully a mature young man, even Ansel's voice had become more magnetic, his tone much more flippant.

"Sorry, my oversight." Marlina bowed her head in response. "Please forgive my mistake... Mr. Faust."

"Very good, Margarete. Show me how lively the Dispute Fortress is now."

"As you wish, sir."

Marlina no longer performed a lady's curtsy but simply bowed slightly:

"Margarete ... always at your service."

Since Ansel was acting as Faust, she too had to adopt a new identity. During this period, Marlina of Marlowe had become someone new.

She was now Margarete, Margarete Gretchen Müller.

*

Margarete Gretchen Müller:

Goethe's "Faust," the tragic first part, features the female protagonist Margarete, also known as Gretchen. After making a pact with the devil and transforming into a dashing young man, Faust falls in love with the maiden Margarete, who is as beautiful as polished jade. Despite her family's objections, the young girl succumbs to temptation and bears an illegitimate child with Faust.

Eventually, in despair, she drowns the infant. In the final scene of the first part of the tragedy, Faust, aided by the devil, ventures into prison to rescue Gretchen, but he fails to convince her. Imprisoned Gretchen believes she deserves punishment for her sins but firmly believes that God will save her repentant soul.