A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines - Chapter 529 Return like the blazing sun - I
In Ansel’s mind, the imperial maps of different eras were being sketched.
The “deaths” of the Empress and Evora were necessary because only the demise of the divine species, which stood above all, could bring about change.
But in the originally intended future, how did the near-mad Empress and the power-hungry Elder Princess meet their end?
It certainly wasn’t due to external forces, for by that time, Hydral had long entered a state of seclusion. Flamelle spent all his remaining time with his wife and child, and that Ansel had temporarily set aside his blood feud, staying by his parents’ side.
Ephesande’s end also stemmed from her pathological pursuit of self-preservation—not because her sanity completely collapsed and she was consumed by the source flame.
This most absurd empress at the end of all imperial reigns made a choice that no one had anticipated.
She plunged into the Lost Sea, hoping to find a glimmer of life from the Tidecallers.
This inconceivable act was hinted at by Ephesande’s previous actions—don’t forget, she had even considered turning Evora’s hunting grounds into pastures for the Tidecallers.
However, in this current timeline, Ansel’s power was evidently far more reliable than that of the Tidecallers. Ephesande, who regarded Ansel as the primary means, naturally only kept the idea of the Tidecallers in mind without taking much action.
In that timeline, facing Ephesande who had plunged into the Lost Sea, Evora had two choices.
One was to wait for Ephesande to fail and for the source flame to reclaim her power. The other was to find a way to intercept and kill her deranged mother, seizing the power of the divine species.
Evora did not dare to gamble. She did not dare to bet on what Ephesande and the Tidecallers would become after combining, nor on the fate of the Flamefeast’s power. Thus, the proud and resolute Elder Princess decisively plunged into the Lost Sea.
Thus, the Empress and her successor of the empire were both submerged in the endless ocean.
Subsequent events were only seen in fragments by Ansel—because this was a story about heroines, and with most of the memories related to the heroines being burned away, Ansel only knew that the heroine Isa Zelie, as the Will of Heaven, successfully vanquished the Tidecallers.
What exactly the entity of the “Tidecallers” was, and whether it was the Empress or the Elder Princess who had delved into the Lost Sea, remained unknown.
This was what Ansel cared about the most now.
The fate that befell Ephesande and Evora… besides disrupting the empire’s enduring rule and plunging everything into chaos, was there another, more significant purpose?
The Tidecallers had been dormant in the Lost Sea for countless ages, posing little threat to the land. Why would the heroines risk the continent’s downfall to incite a sixth-stage war? Could this be related to the Flamefeast mother and daughter?
At the break of dawn that day, even with the source flame entwined around her, Ephesande fought desperately, transforming into a blazing comet and plummeting eastward.
“…She should have been reduced to nothingness by the source flame. How did the Tidecallers harness her power?”
Ansel mused to himself as he gently caressed the cold serpent head on his way to the drawing room.
“And if Ephesande, under my machinations, lost the potential to be used by you, then your focus… would inevitably shift to Evora.”
“Evora… hehe.”
Even though Ravenna’s “utterly foolish” sacrifice had caused the most crucial plan to fail, depriving Ansel of the chance to dominate the entire empire with absolute power, it did not mean he was clueless about his next move.
The young Hydral placed his hand on the door.
Come, a new game, another decisive battle.
He whispered resolutely in his heart, devoid of madness and rage, and then pushed the door open.
“Lord Hydral!”
In the drawing room, the dignified woman sitting on the sofa immediately stood up and curtsied to Ansel: “Namo truly couldn’t extricate himself, please forgive his absence.”
The Namo she referred to was the Duke of Azuregold from the Western territory, Namo Azuregold. Given her familiarity in addressing the Duke, her own status was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Ulysses Azuregold, the Duke’s third wife, and also, well… the Duke’s sister.
Lady Ulysses’s stance was clear from the outset—only the Duke himself was qualified to converse with Ansel. However, due to his inability to attend, she had to meet Ansel in his stead.
Her manner of addressing Ansel was even more intriguing… whether this attitude was purely respectful or a form of probing was hard to discern.
“The situation in the Western is indeed chaotic; I can naturally understand the Duke of Azuregold’s difficulties.”
Ansel smiled and gestured for Ulysses to sit down. He took a seat on the sofa opposite Ulysses, leaning back slightly into the cushion, crossing his legs, and pressing his fingertips together, exuding an air of ease and composure.
“Moreover, Madam’s visit alone is enough to demonstrate the Duke of Azuregold’s sincerity.”
Ulysses, sitting sideways with her legs elegantly crossed, gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, exuding the charm of a mature woman in every movement. She spoke softly, “But you are the great Hydral, the entire empire must hold you in reverence. It is still our lack of propriety, therefore…”
She pushed the black box that had been placed on the coffee table forward.
“A small token of apology.” The woman placed her hands neatly on her lap and bowed her head slightly in a respectful manner. “I beg Lord Hydral to forgive Namo’s rudeness.”
Ansel did not decline; he even opened the box directly in front of Ulysses. Inside was an ancient spherical artifact and a pure black crystal core.
“The relic of the Sky Conquering Dynasty and the dark dragon crystal…”
Ansel closed the box with a faint smile. “Such an extravagant gift just as an apology?”
Ulysses responded softly, “It is also a token of Namo’s and my appreciation. After all, in the past few years of business, Namo has received much help from you. We must find a way to repay you.”
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