A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"What's wrong, would Miss Suellen, who is by nature lustful and lowly, be uncomfortable with this little fling?"

— If it was Evora, as long as Ansel gave the opportunity, she would have already ridden up ten out of ten, not to mention that Ansel had deliberately made the tent one-way transparent. She might even directly burn the tent down if she got excited.

Suellen possessed ruthlessness and determination in abundance, coupled with a resolute madness, yet in all aspects, she paled in comparison to Evora's purity of purpose.

In essence, this young princess was ill-suited for the throne, lacking even the qualifications to reign as a tyrannical despot.

The force that ultimately allowed her to harness the power of Flamefeast did so… in recognition of this fundamental nature?

Ansel averted his gaze from Suellen, harboring not a shred of interest in the young princess. Her desperate struggles in dire straits and her mind warped by grandiose ambitions alike failed to stir him.

His sole concern lay in the extent of assistance she might provide during this western expedition.

"The content of your proposal... is rather presentable," Ansel remarked, casually perusing the reconstruction policies Suellen had prepared.

He raised an eyebrow, "It appears you've secured support from the Dukes of East Harbor."

"... Indeed, nothing escapes your discerning eye," Suellen replied, having regained her composure.

Though still kneeling, she refrained from her earlier attempts of waving her butts in seduction, instead sitting properly with a more genuine tone: "The Duke of Sapphire, representing East Harbor, has pledged comprehensive support. These plans were delivered by their representatives some time ago."

East Harbor stood as the most orderly region in the empire, second only to the prosperous South. In fact, excluding the Hydral domain in the South, East Harbor surpassed even that region in its impeccable order.

Sapphire, Triumph, and Reverie... these were the true aristocratic houses, emerging after the ascension of the empire's second emperor and maintaining their lineage for over nine centuries.

East Harbor controlled the sole sea route that bypassed the perilous waters of the Lost Sea, connecting to the continent's far side. This, combined with the abundant resources of the Lost Sea itself, resulted in minimal conflicts among the three dukes.

After all, the root of all human discord lies in the uneven distribution of resources. However, be it the development of sea routes or the exploration of the Lost Sea, resources were far from scarce... Indeed, a single ducal house could scarcely manage it all. Thus, over these nine centuries, they forged exceptionally close ties, rendering East Harbor more orderly than any other imperial territory.

To produce such a reasonable reconstruction plan in so short a time was a feat only the administrative body of East Harbor could accomplish.

"All of this is possible solely due to your benevolence."

Suellen looked up at Ansel, this time devoid of any coquetry, instead exuding what appeared to be genuine, absolute humility and respect.

Ansel had intimated to her that he could secure her position in the royal palace if he so desired.

However, he had also stated that he would offer no direct assistance, leaving Suellen in a state of constant unease during her time with Diana.

It was only now that Suellen finally comprehended how Ansel could maneuver her onto the throne… without providing any overt aid.

By leveraging the regency situation, he had thrust both Suellen and Diana into the spotlight. Of the two, Suellen, with her lack of foundation and resources, presented the most malleable option.

The selection of a regent was never truly about testing the candidates' capabilities, especially considering the Grand Dukes' tacit agreement to bide time while awaiting news of Ephesande and Evora.

Suellen had nothing, and Diana, confined to the imperial capital by Ephesande with naught but a pittance, appeared equally bereft in the eyes of the other Grand Dukes. Even Diana's extraordinary abilities as a fifth-stag being… were more of a liability, rendering her unsuitable as a puppet.

Yet Suellen, with nothing to her name, suddenly found herself wielding immense power.

"At present, the East Harbor faction has pledged their full support. The Dukes of Magus Primus and Arboro have also made overtures. I've yet to hear from the Duke of Azuregold; he's likely still observing the situation."

Suellen reported calmly, her composed demeanor contrasting starkly with her provocative attire, lending her an even more captivating allure. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire

Ansel, having perused the plans provided by East Harbor, remained silent. Overall, if Suellen could execute them successfully, they would align well with his needs and interests.

However, the thought of a certain disaster-prone lady turning everything upside down caused him to shake his head, both exasperated and amused.

A gentle nudge from fate would be sufficient for Seraphina, now a force to be reckoned with, to unleash chaos upon this chessboard.

Yet, Ansel had never considered Seraphina a burden. Without her, he might have already embarked on a path of self-destruction. Thus, he would not hinder Seraphina from following her domineering will and pursuing her desires.

As he had once told Marlina, he didn't mind the complications Seraphina brought, for they seldom posed real trouble to him.

Suellen's plans were destined for disruption, but so too were Diana's. Seraphina would show no quarter, preferring action to words. Her involvement would undoubtedly render this grand "reconstruction" effort, ostensibly supported by all the empire's Grand Dukes, a spectacle of epic proportions.

"Well then, Suellen, what you can acquire and how much you can gain depends entirely on your own abilities," Ansel remarked as he rose, preparing to exit the tent.

He glanced down at Suellen, still kneeling submissively. "Do not hope for any additional aid from me."

"Yes, Master," Suellen bowed her head deeply.

"I shall not burden you further."

After a prolonged silence, Suellen slowly raised her head, confirming Ansel's departure before exhaling deeply.

The young girl lowered her gaze, contemplating her taut, flat abdomen, unconsciously caressing it.

"Why... does he show no interest in me?"

Suellen murmured, perplexed and discontented.

Having heard numerous accounts of Ansel's intimate interactions with Evora, this disregard was particularly difficult for her to accept.

It transcended mere concerns of personal gain, evolving into an inexplicable… obsession.

Her mind conjured the image of the tent suddenly turning transparent, with Ansel poised to ravish her at any moment. Her body involuntarily trembled at the thought.

Though Suellen addressed Ansel as "Master" with ease, she had never truly intended to serve him as such. Yet, under his casual indifference and pure disdain, complex emotions stirred… within her heart.

*

Shortly after leaving the tent, Ansel was joined by Ravenna, who had been surveying the area.

"Your stupid dog has gone berserk," she remarked upon her return. "She found a group of troublemakers among the refugees and broke their limbs, embedding them alive into the city walls. She's more tyrannical than any tyrant."

"The officials in charge immediately began distributing today's rations out of fear... Her brutal logic seems eerily effective," Ravenna mused softly, then suddenly smiled.

"But this is all thanks to your arrangements, Ansel."

"... Oh?" Ansel tilted his head slightly. "What arrangements?"

"You always play dumb about these things," Ravenna gently pinched Ansel's cheek. "Why are you like a child, needing explicit praise to be satisfied?"

"Leaving Seraphina here wasn't just to prevent fate's interference. More importantly... she can genuinely help these displaced refugees, can't she?"

Ravenna's eyes gleamed. "While Suellen and Diana's reconstruction efforts are largely for show, Seraphina has the power… to force them to make it real. Hundreds of thousands of refugees might benefit from this."

Miss Scholar, her expression softening, leaned against Ansel's cheek, nuzzling him gently. "You truly have taken so much to heart."

Ansel didn't respond, merely patting Ravenna's head, which seemed to reassure her further.

However, her words left him feeling unsettled.

He hadn't considered these implications at all.

The notion that more refugees might be saved due to Seraphina's presence had never crossed Ansel of Hydral's mind.

He had simply been making cold calculations, determining that placing Seraphina there was the most suitable option.

*