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nA cacophony of noise, curses, and sobs enveloped Ansel’s mansion, yet the young man gazing at the snowy landscape from his study remained serene, unshaken.

n“Young master,” Saville bowed slightly, “Shall we deal with those you’ve arranged to incite the people?”

n“There’s no need, Saville,” the young Hydral replied calmly, “I’ve never had to hide anything from Seraphina.”

nThe loyal butler changed the subject, “Your plan seems to be nearing its end.”

n“Just a little more,” Ansel’s face finally showed a hint of a smile, “Just a bit more, and the most crucial piece will be in place.”

nHearing this, Saville couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s been a long and costly process of training. Miss Seraphina should feel truly honored and grateful for your treatment.”

n“You mustn’t say that to her now, Saville,” Ansel shook his head, “She would fight you to the death.”

nAnd so, silence fell once more between master and servant. Ansel returned to his initial state, gazing at the snowscape with an indescribable calm, watching the people in the streets.

nHe didn’t take pleasure in manipulating the hearts and actions of these people, nor did he feel disgust or dissatisfaction with their audacity and madness.

nHe simply observed the unfolding events, watching the reality he had… orchestrated.

nOnly in the presence of one person, or perhaps his most trusted confidant, would Ansel reveal his true emotions and face.

n“She’s here,” Ansel suddenly spoke after an unknown amount of time.

nSaville bowed slightly, “I’ll inform Miss Marlina.”

nAnsel nodded, picked up his scepter, and walked outside.

nThe training was nearly complete, and everything was proceeding as he had anticipated, approaching the climax of the penultimate act.

nAfter the curtain fell on today’s grand performance, and the final act reached its conclusion, everything would be set in stone. He would achieve an unprecedented victory, seizing his first spoils from the clutches of that accursed fate.

nHe would accomplish a feat unmatched in this world.

nYet Ansel of Hydral, who had witnessed everything Seraphina had gone through, walked expressionlessly. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

nHe didn’t seem happy.

n*

nSeraphina, dragging her weary body, slowly and laboriously returned to Ansel’s residence.

nHere, a dense crowd of impoverished people had gathered, perhaps not just the poor, but even those living decent lives had joined in.

nFollowing Ansel’s wishes and the devil’s deliberate instigation, they had joined what appeared to be a crusade against Hydral, but in reality, targeted the wolf.

nSeraphina kept her head down, not out of fear of being torn apart by the frenzied crowd, but because she wanted to reach Ansel’s residence as quickly as possible. Regardless of anything else, she had to declare her guilt in the most conspicuous place.

nHowever, in that instant, as she tried to quietly climb the building, leap over the roof, and enter Ansel’s residence, the ring on her finger… suddenly erupted without warning.

nThe ring, which Seraphina had expertly controlled, went berserk in an instant. It began to draw ether from her uncontrollably, spreading in all directions.

nThe inevitable outcome was clear.

nHaving climbed onto the roof, she collapsed, her body convulsing.

nHer throat was hoarse, and Seraphina could barely make a sound. The bulging veins on her neck and forehead, along with her bloodshot eyes, were enough to show the terrifying physical pain she was enduring.

nThe miserable wolf could only emit pitiful whimpers, curling up and clutching her head, her sharp teeth piercing her lips.

nCountless… countless thoughts flooded Seraphina’s mind, the overlapping noise nearly causing her head to explode. The words were indistinguishable, leaving only pure volume to torment her brain.

nBut this was not the main reason for Seraphina’s agony, which made her wish for death.

nThe ring could sense emotions.

nAnd now, what had Seraphina sensed?

nAnger, pain, sorrow, pleading, despair, numbness, and… hatred.

nHatred, hatred, hatred – an all encompassing, world-staining hatred that tore at her nerves and shattered her will.

n“Why…”

nTears helplessly fell from Seraphina’s bloodshot eyes.

n“Why…”

nHow could there be such hatred? How could it have reached this point?

nEven… even if they mistakenly believed that Ansel had done this on purpose, hadn’t he helped others during this cold disaster?

nWhy… why didn’t anyone want to explain for Ansel? Why did everyone hate him so much, wishing to kill him or even do something more cruel?

nThinking of the ruthless words that the little girl had once uttered, Seraphina trembled in fear amidst her pain.

nCould this mistake… could this mistake really erase all the good deeds Ansel had done before?

nHe is different from those nobles; he is genuinely working for you!

nHaven’t you all seen it? You have once praised him, supported him, and trusted him.

nWhy… why don’t they want to continue trusting him now, just because of that one video, just because he couldn’t save everyone?

nThis was not ordinary resentment or hatred.

nThis was instigated, provoked, irrational, all-consuming darkness.

nSuch hatred was unbearable for Seraphina. She couldn’t accept that just three days ago, she had seen so many people, countless people, genuinely praising Ansel, only to completely overturn their words… in just three days.

nThey weren’t even willing to give him a shred of trust.

nOnly… hatred.

nEven a sliver of emotion on Ansel’s side would have comforted Seraphina, but… there was nothing.

nWith her eyes completely hollow, as if all her will had been destroyed, Seraphina recalled the words of Count Stoneheart.

nThose absurd words that she had considered a joke, that had angered her —

n “As long as there is even a slight stain on Lord Hydral’s ‘perfection’… “

n“No… even if there is no actual stain, just a wisp of unfounded rumor…”

n“Among those who he has so gently saved, there will be countless people who will have doubts and complaints.”

n“Hehe… hahaha…”

nThe girl grinned, tears streaming down her face.

nIt was all fake, all fake… the ring had just malfunctioned, yes… it was just a malfunction.

nThat bastard’s nonsense could never happen, never… it was just the ring malfunctioning.

nAt that moment, amidst the countless curses, the “sinner” finally stepped forward.

nHe stood on the balcony where he usually overlooked the streets, facing everything alone.

nThe young Hydral, gripping his scepter, surveyed the rioting crowd and spoke calmly:

n“I know everything that has happened, and I know what you all want.”

nAs he uttered the first word, even the angriest people fell silent, perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of impatience for a response, or perhaps… deep down, they still held a shred of reverence.

nUnder their gaze, Ansel bowed slightly:

n“This is my mistake.”

nIn the deafening silence, as even the boiling hatred seemed to freeze, he said:

n“I admit my mistakes, my greed, my vanity. All of it is my responsibility.”

nAt these words, Seraphina could no longer feel the hatred.

nHis mistake… Ansel’s mistake?

nHow could it be his mistake? It was clearly me, it was all me —

nThe wolf’s thoughts shattered.

nBecause she suddenly remembered that one thing.

nAnsel had accompanied her into the prison cell, sitting on the filthy, foul-smelling bed, eating food that even animals couldn’t stomach.

nHe had told her then that her mistakes were his mistakes.

nHe had told her that this was his choice.

nAnd now, it seemed that he had, without hesitation or deceit, fulfilled his promise, calmly stating that all of this was his responsibility.

n“Ah… ah…”

nOn the brink of collapse and despair, Seraphina seemed to see… the light that had saved her.

nCasting aside all the doubts in her heart, she finally understood why she had come.

nShe had to take responsibility for her actions.

nShe would never allow… she would never allow that light to be tainted by her own foolishness and absurdity.

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nThe wolf struggled to her feet, standing on the not-so-high roof, mustering all her strength, squeezing out every ounce of power in her body, and screamed:

n“It’s not… Ansel… it’s not Hydral’s fault!”

nEveryone turned to look at the sound, seeing a tear-streaked, snow-haired, filthy, and disheveled girl on the roof of a small house next to Ansel’s residence.

n“It’s me… I did it all! I wanted to help Hydral save that money, I was so self-righteous… it’s all me -”

nShe stuttered, exhausted, and struggled to confess her guilt, revealing her thoughts and her selfish, arrogant intentions.

n“It’s all me…”

nIn the face of the overwhelming tide of hatred, the nearly unconscious Seraphina gasped for breath, “It’s not… Hydral, it’s not him… it’s me…”

n“That woman… is she…?”

n“Marlowe of disaster! It’s her, the woman on the screen!”

n“She’s covering for Hydral!”

n“No… wait, that’s not right… This person, she’s just like this, she’s such a foolish bastard!”

n“So, you’re saying, this has nothing to do with Hydral’s instigation, it’s all her doing?”

n“Why would Hydral—”

n“Hydral would even go to jail for her! Hydral… Hydral is trying to protect her! That’s why he said that!”

nAll the changes and reversals came so suddenly.

nBut they were… so reasonable.

nA great shot who has never done anything wrong, diligent, kind-hearted, gentle and tolerant, even willing to bear the same punishment for the mistakes made by his subordinates.

nAnd a troublemaker, unpleasant, arrogant, barbaric, stupid, using the name of Hydral’s most trusted subordinate, causing harm to countless people.

nWho would you choose to believe?

n“It’s you!”

nThe crowd boiled again, screaming again: “You killed my wife!”

nA stone, perhaps intended for Ansel, was thrown at Seraphina.

nOnce the first person started, the entire crowd instantly fell into madness, people began to look for anything that could vent their violence, that hatred, without any reduction, poured onto Seraphina.

nVerbal, physical, psychological, emotional… all the things in this world, everything in this world, seemed to want to destroy Seraphina.

nThose who had once chatted with her, who didn’t seem like bad people at all, wished her to die immediately, in the most miserable, most desperate, most inhumane, most tortured way.

nBut Seraphina… didn’t care anymore.

nWhether it was pain or despair, before she fell, she had finally completed her mission.

nThe girl who was hit by stones, ice edges, and countless things, before her mind collapsed, struggled to open her eyes and looked at the person on the balcony.

nHer eyes were already blurred, she couldn’t see the young man’s face clearly, let alone his expression.

nBut she felt it, her intuition, her never-wrong intuition told her —

nAnsel, seemed very sad.

n“Don’t… don’t be sad, Ansel.”

nThe girl murmured happily.

n“You must be… the best.”

nEven if she died now, it didn’t matter.

nSeraphina felt that she had finally achieved redemption.

n*

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