A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 354: Miss Puppet's Attempt For Forgiveness - II

Ravenna's displayed submissiveness and coquettishness were shattered by Ansel's words, pointing directly to the core issue—if Ravenna truly considered Ansel's interests, why did they part ways three years ago?

Either, as Ansel suggested, Ravenna's current behavior is sheer pretense, or...

There must be something that, despite Ravenna's considerations for Ansel, prevented her from standing by him.

Another possibility is that Ansel had broken off with Ravenna abruptly without saying anything, but that's implausible because Ravenna is clear that without a solid reason, she would never genuinely see Ansel as a traitor.

Indeed, if she is now willing to entertain the audacious thought of assassinating the empress due to threats against Ansel, then her past self... had no reason to lack such resolve.

So, what was the fundamental reason for their fallout?

Upon closer reflection, Ravenna's mind throbs uncontrollably, the pain as if her soul were being cleaved, preventing her from recalling those nearly blank memories.

And yet... she has lost the memories of that day.

Myorn had said that rest would gradually restore them, so why is there no sign of improvement after such a long time?

Ansel, observing the silent Ravenna, tugged at the corner of his mouth and suddenly released her, placing her back on the ground.

The petite puppet instinctively covered her key areas, but after a few seconds of hesitation, she lowered her hands, her slender legs wrapped in black tights nervously shifting on the floor.

"You see, Ravenna, your so-called resolve is so easily shattered," Ansel said nonchalantly. "Is deceiving yourself amusing?"

"It's because I... I lost the memories of that day... Lord Ansel," Ravenna instinctively explained, though she knew her justification seemed feeble.

Because the fact remains—

"Does it matter?"

The devil gazed down indifferently at the fragile and helpless sorceress before him. "Three years ago, you who were once so close to me, refused to trust me then. So now, what reason do you have to change your mind because of my mother's words?"

"Ha, that is indeed a sufficient reason—it seems that when you recall that cause, you will make the same choice as you did three years ago, won't you?"

"You have never changed, Ravenna." He stood up, approached Ravenna, and gently grasped the sorceress's delicate neck.

"But I have changed a great deal."

So whispered Hydral, no longer a child.

His grip tightened mercilessly as he lifted Ravenna, a feat not challenging for a being of the third stage, but the suffocating pressure he applied was clearly too much for the sensitive Ravenna to bear.

Yet Ansel quickly steadied Ravenna by her waist, releasing her neck, which instinctively caused her to wrap her astonishingly long legs around his waist and her arms around his neck to maintain balance and prevent falling.

"Cough...cough!"

"How much longer do you intend to hold me like this?" Ansel asked languidly, "Don't be childish, Ravenna."

"...What should I do?" Ravenna suddenly asked.

"Hm?"

"What should I do," Miss puppet gazed at Ansel, "for you to forgive me?"

"Forgive? Even after I've made myself so clear, do you still intend to indulge in meaningless self-comfort?"

Ansel's tone was undisguisedly indifferent and uncaring, "Rather than wasting energy on that, I suggest you think about how to recover your memory, Ravenna."

"If the situation is truly that... dire," Ravenna replied softly, "it's not too late to have regrets. Because what I can do for you is already extremely limited."

Ansel paused, then burst into laughter, "You really don't hide anything, do you? Not even trying to deceive me by saying that I'm temporarily more important than your ideals?"

"Would you believe it?" Ravenna countered.

"...Heh, yes, I wouldn't believe it either." Ansel leaned forward slightly, his forehead resting against Ravenna's, responding with a detached tone, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be Ravenna."

In such an intimate posture, they exchanged words with such clear-cut stances.

"However... since you've put it that way."

Ansel's tone shifted, becoming light-hearted as if he were a different person from a second ago, "I wouldn't want to waste such an interesting opportunity to gain my forgiveness, hmm..."

He snapped his fingers, his smile radiant, "How about you join me for a stroll outside?"

"...Alright."

Ravenna let go of Ansel, jumped to the ground, and prepared to pick up and put on her discarded clothes. Although she didn't know what Ansel was planning, she would choose to comply as long as it wasn't too excessive.

"Oh, wait, that's not the attire you should be wearing, dear Miss Ravenna."

Ansel stopped her from changing into her clothes, his eyes narrowing with a smile, "For this outing, you and I will need to play roles, so don't give us away."

Ravenna paused, giving Ansel a glance, her tone slightly unnatural, "Play roles as... a couple?"

"A couple?"

Ansel laughed heartily, "Ravenna, you're thinking too much. How could it possibly be a couple?"

The young nobleman adjusted his collar, tapped the ground with his scepter, and in an instant, his youthful vigor was reined in, his presence becoming calm and composed, exuding an air of maturity that belied his young appearance, giving the impression of someone in their twenties.

The young Hydral smiled and said, "Of course, it's... father and daughter."

*