A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines-Chapter 760 Heroes and Mortals - IV

The woman silently gazed at the familiar face before her, witnessing an unexpected vulnerability and plea. She instinctively raised her hand, only to touch her own cheek marked with dark patterns.

"I... miscalculated," she sighed softly. "You've truly grown up, Seraphina."

Marlina smiled as she spoke, as if all that had transpired was merely an illusion.

The bone-deep rage, genuine hatred, and fierce words... were, as Seraphina had surmised, phantoms designed to provoke her resentment.

"I can't deceive you with what I've learned from you."

Seraphina reached out to touch Marlina's cheek, but the latter stepped back, evading her touch. She lowered her head slightly and said softly, "But you can't fool me twice either, Marli."

"Mr. Ansel would be pleased."

"If the price is you," Seraphina enunciated each word, "even if it would please Ansel, I won't accept it."

Marlina retreated another step, leaning against the glass vessel. The Head of Devouring, consuming aether, cast an eager glance at Seraphina but quickly looked away.

"Marli, I—"

Marlina raised a finger, signaling Seraphina to stop.

After the latter fell silent, the woman pressed her fingertips together and said softly, "Seraphina, you say you want to save me, right?"

"...Yes."

The witch met the young girl's determined gaze and couldn't help but chuckle softly, then shook her head. "Such... arrogance, I don't like it."

"You think I need saving," she began to pace leisurely in the vast area. "Because you believe I'm terminally ill, on the brink of death; you think I'm in peril, in imminent danger; you think I'm wrong, irredeemably so, don't you?"

"Yes."

This time, Seraphina's answer came without hesitation.

Marlina burst into laughter at her response. That uninhibited, wild laughter wasn't characteristic of the once-graceful young woman, yet somehow... it suited the current Marlina perfectly.

"I don't mean to belittle you, Marli," Seraphina said, gazing at her sister with utmost sincerity, hoping to convey her unhidden genuineness.

"Nor am I being presumptuous. Because everyone knows, even you know, that Ansel has an irresistible ability—"

"Miss Seraphina," Marlina interrupted with a smile. "What do you think love is?"

"..."

This question bewildered Seraphina. Young as she was, only beginning to taste the sweetness of love with Ansel, how could she define what love truly is?

"Alright, let me rephrase—do you think love is something shameful, something base and dirty?"

"...How, how could I think that?"

"Then why do you think I need saving?"

Marlina's composed demeanor made Seraphina increasingly anxious. The more composed she appeared, the deeper she seemed to have fallen, with seemingly no way back.

"Because your love isn't normal! It's influenced by Ansel's sermon! If you love Ansel, you shouldn't—"

"Shouldn't what?" Marlina interrupted again. "Shouldn't consider Ansel's interests above all else? Shouldn't disregard myself?"

She looked at the silent Seraphina, who seemed to tacitly agree, and sighed with closed eyes: "That's why I call you arrogant, Miss Seraphina."

This time, Marlina responded with utmost seriousness, without any hint of jest:

"Why do you think, why does everyone think, that my unconditional love for Ansel is due to the influence of his magic?"

"Because how could it be possible—"

Seraphina's words halted midway.

Because how could it be possible... for someone to love another unconditionally?

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She wanted to say this but couldn't under Marlina's gaze.

"Why couldn't it be?"

Marlina countered the unasked question.

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"I..."

Seraphina wanted to say something, but faced with Marlina's pure and unambiguous gaze, she found herself at a loss for words.

She had thought Marlina had fallen into madness and an abyss of obsession with Ansel. She had believed Marlina's love was twisted by that curse. But now, how could her sister appear anything but… uncorrupted?

"Miss Seraphina," Marlina said gently, "Is loving someone unconditionally a despicable thing?"

"No... I didn't..." Seraphina became flustered. "That's not what I meant! I—"

"I know, loving someone unconditionally who would never respond is considered foolish, degraded, laughable, and despicable, right?"

Anyone would think so – to love someone unreservedly who doesn't love you back, how foolish must that person be?

"I'm not denying it, Miss Seraphina," A gentle smile appeared on Marlina's face. "I am indeed such a foolish person, an utterly stupid woman, a... completely ordinary mortal."

"Miss Seraphina, I have no truly praise-worthy talents. Mediocrity has always defined my life, my ordinary life."

She gently caressed her cheek, smiling softly: "You think I'm abnormal because you're a hero. In your eyes, people should have lofty aspirations, grand goals. People should live passionately, making their lives worthwhile, not be confined by so-called love, unable to discern their own value."

"I'm sorry, you think too highly of me, Miss Seraphina."

Marlina Marlowe had never aspired to be a world-changer. From the very beginning, her desire for change stemmed solely from… Ansel's wish for change.

At that moment, Seraphina's thoughts were adrift in a haze of confusion.

She suddenly recalled the Marlina of the predetermined future.

Previously, she had been utterly perplexed as to how Marlina could supplant the Red Frost Territory and transform into the cruel and malevolent Lady Violet, given her inherent kindness.

Now, Seraphina began to comprehend.

For Marlina... she was but an ordinary mortal.

There was no convoluted tale behind it; merely a young girl altering herself for self-preservation. As time passed, she gradually began to relish the power and benefits at her disposal, reluctant to relinquish this hard-won life of luxury, ultimately metamorphosing into that persona.

Perhaps it was simply a natural progression, the story of an ordinary good person becoming an ordinary villain, nothing more.

And now, the situation mirrored that narrative.

Transforming the empire, forging the future, conquering fate... Since accompanying Ansel, Seraphina's gaze had forever been fixed upon such glorious visions. Thus, she subconsciously believed that this was love — only such radiant, magnificent things could be considered love for Ansel.

But was it true that only such love was worthy of the name? Could love without lofty ideals, grand narratives, or any dazzling elements - merely pure, unadulterated love - not be considered love at all?

Was this small, fervent, wholehearted love truly unworthy, undeserving of existence, and possibly nothing more than a fabrication… born from Ansel's influence?

Amidst Seraphina's intensifying turmoil, Marlina spoke with serene gentleness:

"I harbor no grand ambitions. Even though I recognize the cruelty and coldness of this society, I lack the resolve to change it. I possess no praiseworthy righteousness; the laudatory words bestowed upon me are but fragile illusions. If it were for the sake of what I pursue, I would unhesitatingly shatter them with my own hands."

"Therefore, I cannot fight for the burning justice in your heart as you do, nor can I live for the dazzling future like Miss Ravenna. My heart cannot contain such grand and magnificent visions, for I am not a hero like you - I am merely mortal."

"So, tell me, being as ordinary as I am, when faced with a man like Mr.Ansel... how could I not love him with every fiber of my being?"

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