A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"Yes, that person... is my friend and also one of the high-ranking officials of the Tower of Babel. He told me that Ravenna's relationship with Hendrik has deteriorated significantly for some reason, and… and that the anomaly with the Elder Princess that day is also related to Ravenna."

"...You have connections with a high-ranking official of the Tower of Babel?"

Leiden nodded cautiously: "It's not a particularly deep relationship, just asked him to tell me about Ravenna's usual situation. After all, I am still... Ravenna's..."

The man opened his mouth but ultimately did not utter that word.

The young Hydral gazed at the crystalline liquid in his glass, silent.

Although his memory of this world was quite complete and detailed, it did not extend to such matters.

Leiden Ziegler, his story was merely a trivial footnote in the grand narrative of that great sage, the source of truth, a minor character in all that Ansel had seen.

So Ansel did not know that Leiden had connections with someone from the Tower of Babel... even if it was just to understand Ravenna's situation, it was still somewhat unbelievable.

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Because Leiden had betrayed Eileen, and thus the students of the Tower of Babel, who were the most loyal to Eileen's ideals, naturally despised Leiden, and Leiden could not possibly have a good attitude towards those who "kidnapped" his daughter.

Yet he had established a connection with a high-ranking official of the Tower of Babel, just to understand Ravenna's... situation.

What had he sacrificed for this? Money? Dignity? Or something else? And what was the reason that person was willing to tell Leiden about Ravenna's life?

Was it because Leiden's payment was sufficient, or... out of pity for a poor father?

In the increasingly uneasy silence, Ansel slowly spoke:

"But if I remember correctly, Mr. Leiden... you and the Tower of Babel are theoretically in opposition."

"You despise your father and the Tower of Babel that took your daughter away. If Ravenna intends to defect from the Tower of Babel, shouldn't that be a good thing for you?"

Ansel looked at the anxious man and softly asked:

"Why are you still worried about Ravenna?"

His inquiry was calm yet sharp, piercing the wound Leiden least wanted to touch.

The man's expression darkened. He opened his mouth, but the surge of emotions prevented him from forming coherent words, only managing to utter a few meaningless syllables. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke with great difficulty:

"Because... it was what she wanted."

Leiden looked down at the grass beneath his feet. "In the fifteen years I couldn't be with her, the Tower of Babel and… my father's ideals became her everything."

His gaze grew distant, as if he had returned to fifteen years ago, to when Ravenna was still a child, and he saw the beautiful times he had spent with his family.

"She loves everything she is striving for now, and has no regrets. For me, that is enough."

When he looked up again, a sense of relief appeared on Leiden's face:

"She has a new life. If that is truly what she desires, my resentment... is insignificant."

"...So you want to know the reason? Are you worried about what might have influenced or harmed Ravenna?"

"Yes, because the Ravenna I know would never give up on what she pursues."

A pleading expression reappeared on Leiden's face: "So... please, I just want to know, what happened to Ravenna? Is she... is she alright?"

Ansel did not answer but instead asked again:

"Even if she doesn't know what you've done, even if she doesn't care about you, even if her future has nothing to do with you?"

"..." Leiden looked at Ansel in confusion. He didn't understand why the young man, who could easily crush him, was asking these questions, but he still responded slowly and firmly.

"Yes, Lord Ansel."

"You may think I'm... self-indulgent or deluding myself. I still want to know if Ravenna is doing well."

The mediocre and incompetent man lowered his eyes and smiled faintly:

"Even if it's just wishful thinking, I am still her father."

Ansel watched the smile on his face, which seemed to draw some strength, and remained silent for a long time.

It wasn't until he picked up his glass and drank it all in one go that he smiled and said:

"Ravenna is doing well, rest assured, Mr. Leiden."

"…Really!"

Leiden's face instantly lit up with vibrant color. This father, who could only run a small shop on the outskirts of the Etheric Academy and leave everything to his daughter who refused to acknowledge him, showed the brightest expression Ansel had ever seen.

"Yes." Ansel gently stroked his bracelet and said softly, "She... has always been working hard for what she hopes for. The Tower of Babel is just a minor issue."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Yes... that's the kind of person she is. She won't be defeated. I knew it... I knew she wouldn't be."

The man showed a relieved smile, but then seemed to realize he had no right to feel relieved, and covered his mouth slightly, bowing gratefully to Ansel:

"Thank you for telling me this, Lord Ansel, thank you!"

After expressing his gratitude, Leiden, now at ease, bid farewell to Ansel and quickly left, not wanting to disturb him any further. However, he hadn't gone far when Ansel suddenly called out to him:

"Mr. Leiden."

The young Hydral looked at the surprised Leiden, who had turned his head, and while gently stroking the glasses in his arms, said:

"Ravenna... she has actually realized her past mistakes. She doesn't blame you anymore, instead..."

For some reason, his voice softened slightly.

"She feels guilty. She doesn't know how to... face you."

"…"

The man stood there in a daze.

A few seconds later, he collapsed to his knees, as if all the strength had been drained from his body.

Over the past decade, this mediocre, incompetent man, who had neither fulfilled his father's wishes nor raised his daughter well, this insignificant character in the grand story, must have endured countless humiliations and pains, but he had never been as broken as he was now.

At this moment, he covered his face with his hands and wept bitterly.

Because at this moment, Leiden Ziegler was nothing but a father.

"Thank you... thank you, Lord Ansel... thank you..."

And Ansel's figure had already disappeared.

*