Bab 16: Her Wish
Despite the ruckus in the study, the existence of a soundproof barrier allowed Seraphina to survive after leaving the room. The matter of the shattered glass... it was of little consequence. Saville, the butler, never intervened in such affairs, leaving him to handle it was sufficient.
Ansel was rather pleased with the discipline administered this time. Although it was not perfect, everything that needed to be done was impeccably executed.
"Towards the end, I was unable to restrain my emotions," Ansel confessed, lightly rubbing his forehead.
"Had it been anyone other than Seraphina, they would have noticed something amiss... I was excessively fervent."
"This is not a lapse you should be making, Ansel."
Such introspection led him to consider his overzealousness at the final juncture a significant oversight.
Though the appearance of this oversight was somewhat... unpredictable.
This morning, Ansel dreamt of a future where a beautiful, towering figure engaged in a world-shattering battle. That figure was none other than the immensely noble and powerful Sky Wolf Emperor.
To him, it was merely one of many profound impressions left by Seraphina Marlowe.
She was untouchable, lofty, and dared to challenge the Dragon Emperor. Yet there she was, stripped of her protective shell, her dignity shattered, weeping weakly on him, allowing him to control and discipline her.
The euphoria, so immense it defied description, was something even Ansel struggled to control.
Fortunately, all the preceding steps were flawlessly executed.
From the outset, Ansel never intended to use Seraphina's family and village to tie her to him. It wasn't that the means were too lowly; rather, Ansel deemed them... unreliable.
Ansel understood the human heart, hence he refrained from gambling on it.
Throughout the disciplinary process, only one thing was truly regarded as the core by Ansel.
— That was Seraphina's pride.
Synonymous with arrogance, it had led Seraphina through the highs and lows of life, through tribulations, but also moulded that pride of the Sky Wolf Emperor.
Denying her abilities, her talents, and finally her character, trampling her pride until it was worthless. Making her doubt life, doubt herself, causing her to shatter her own dignity—
Then, he bestowed worth upon her, providing affirmation.
Ansel destroyed Seraphina's dignity, then personally gave her an opportunity to prove her dignity.
Normally, Seraphina could leave and prove her strength through her own efforts, without needing Ansel.
But Seraphina, being Seraphina, chose the most forceful, albeit most difficult, solution in all matters involving her self and pride.
She didn't want to prove "Seraphina doesn't need Ansel," but "Ansel isn't worthy of being followed by Seraphina."
This was the ridiculous pride held by Seraphina, which had caused her countless troubles.
"The beloved Sky Wolf Emperor will no longer think about leaving my side. Even if I have to leave the Red Frost Territory, she would most likely choose to follow me."
Ansel stretched lazily and exhaled softly, "So, for the time being, let's start with some simple discipline to stabilise her emotions, before moving on to the next stage."
He stood up, holding his scepter, ready to search for Seraphina who had gone to find Marlina, to do as he had said. This was always Ansel's way.
He did not expect to change Seraphina's style or manner of speaking in a short time, but at least superficial things could be improved to some extent.
Although our young master Ansel easily told Marlina that he didn't care about the so-called noble demeanor, it would be false to claim he didn't care at all.
At least he would never tolerate Seraphina following him around in hunter's garb, with her white hair in disarray, unless it was to deliberately create a sense of acceptance.
Because in the eyes of Ansel of Hydral, who was true to his desires, beautiful people should wear beautiful clothes, irrelevant of noble demeanor.
He wanted to see it, purely for his pleasure.
*
"So...is this really the case?"
Seraphina clenched her teeth in frustration. "Those damn nobles, they hold us in such contempt! And you, Marli! Why did you not inform me sooner?"
A helpless expression graced Marlina's face as she gazed at her younger sister. "I did tell you, Seri. Besides your anger, what else could you possibly do? Would you accept it?"
"I... I'm not that unreasonable! Haven't I accepted it now?"
In an attempt to pacify herself, Seraphina fiddled with her collar.
Marlina's gaze fell on the seemingly ordinary black leather collar. She had wanted to ask about it from the start, but feared upsetting Seraphina. This object seemed to suggest...
Could Seri have... been treated that way by Lord Hydral? No, no, no, impossible. Not only is Ansel not such a person, but he would also never be attracted to Seri.
While pondering, Marlina thought, 'You should worry about yourself, Marlina.'
A blush crept onto her face at this thought.
Unaware of her sister's unusual behavior, Seraphina, immersed in her displeasure, would have loved to level up on the spot, attain nobility, blow up those nobles who looked down on her, and then give Ansel another chance. I might even consider taking him as a subordinate ~
The two sisters fell into their own peculiar fantasies until a knock on the door interrupted them.
"Seraphina, I'm here for you."
"Ah!" The platinum-haired girl shrieked as she jumped up. "What for?!"
"I don't have many rules, but there are some things you need to do now. Come out, or do I need to come in?"
Seraphina glanced at her sister, who was dressed in a gauze skirt, and promptly warned, "Don't come in! I'll be right out."
She hustled to the door, gestured to Marlina that everything was fine, and stepped out.
The young girl looked at the closed door and then around her empty room, feeling a bit hollow.
'I wish I could do something for Ansel, like Seri does,' she thought.
*
Outside the room, Seraphina crossed her arms, her gaze hostile. "It's been such a short time and you're already bossing me around. What do you want?"
"I need you to change your...appearance," Ansel eyed her from head to toe.
"I'll take you to Bernal's shop, let him make new clothes for you in a day. Then we'll get your hair trimmed."
Seraphina froze for a second. "What the hell? Cut my hair?"
"Is there a problem?"
"I won't cut it! I'm very satisfied with my current hairstyle, I won't... mmph!"
The girl's body jerked, and she slumped to the ground in a heap. She struggled to lift her head, seething with the urge to roar.
"Ansel— Mmphhhh!"
"You really don't learn, Miss Seraphina."
Ansel observed Seraphina, who was curled up on the ground, her cheeks flushed and twitching slightly. "I remember you crying not long ago, didn't you? How could you forget so quickly?"
Feeling the tingling current from her neck spreading throughout her body, occasionally darting towards her lower abdomen, Seraphina silently swore—
One day, she would pin this bastard down and electrocute him a hundred times over!
However, before fulfilling this vow, Miss Seraphina would have to endure many, many things, which, for her, would be more painful than being electrocuted a hundred times.
Hadiah
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