Taming the Protagonist

Chapter 20: Of Promises

Undoubtedly, Marina was clever.

For an uneducated village girl, her insight and reasoning were remarkable.

Thus, in pushing her sister to Anselm, Marina harbored a small, private hope.

What if… just what if Lord Hydra saw something in her too?

Of course, it was mere fantasy.

She knew “cleverness” held no value to Lord Hydra.

If he wished, he could summon Chishuang Territory’s most experienced, capable “clever” minds to serve him.

Why would he need a village girl who only negotiated with tax collectors?

Lord Hydra needed Hitana’s potential for greatness.

In her days at Anselm’s mansion, Marina oscillated between hope and self-doubt.

When Merry suddenly summoned her to see Anselm, her fantasies surged again.

Even now, her heart held that unspoken longing.

“Miss Marina.”

To Anselm, Marina’s emotions were as transparent as Hitana’s delicate body—beautiful, captivating, and fully exposed.

A villain like him always favored pure, kind, clever souls.

This innocent girl, clumsily dressed up, trying to hide her eager longing but betraying it with the yearning eyes of a young beast, was both pitiable and enticing.

“You and Hitana have stayed here for some time. For Hitana’s sake, I don’t mind you lodging and dining here, but I suspect you feel uneasy about it, don’t you?”

Anselm asked with a bright smile.

It wasn’t a guess but an evident truth.

Marina felt ashamed of freeloading at Anselm’s mansion, often trying to help the maids, whose perfection only deepened her embarrassment.

“…Yes!” Marina’s heart skipped a beat.

Unlike her dim-witted sister, she caught Anselm’s subtext instantly, maintaining her calm and poise. “I’m grateful Hitana can assist you, but I don’t wish to be seen as… part of her. You could say I don’t want to burden her.”

“What’s that about?” Hitana, joining in, bared her teeth. “Hydra’s got a big house and deep pockets. What’s a meal? Lina, you’re overthinking. He’s got plenty of flaws, but generosity’s not one!”

The study fell silent, the maids staring at the arms-crossed Hitana.

“…What’re you looking at?” The hunter girl, feeling like prey under wolves gazes, rubbed her arms uneasily. “I didn’t insult him! I said he’s generous, didn’t I?”

With Anselm’s declaration of “leniency” and “tolerance,” Hitana grew bolder.

Without frequent shocks, she’d be even more brazen.

Thus, Anselm’s foresight in having his erratic father craft that collar proved wise, even if not solely for taming.

Marina glared at her sister.

Knowing Lord Hydra’s near-indulgent leniency toward Hitana, she was no longer terrified by her sister’s outrageous remarks.

But with a potential job opportunity at stake, Hitana’s recklessness genuinely irked her.

Anselm, as usual, ignored Hitana.

Without outsiders, he wasn’t too strict with the young wolf.

“Hitana and I are leaving Chishuang City for a while—three days, maybe seven. During that time… I need someone to handle simple paperwork.”

“…You mean—”

Marina could no longer contain her excitement, her cheeks flushing.

“It’s yours. You’ve got a knack for it,” Anselm said warmly, smiling.

“Don’t worry about mistakes. I’ve got plenty of references, and you can mimic my templates. If you’re unsure, ask Merry. She’ll guide you.”

The maid in the corner smiled and nodded at Marina.

Unlike her ungrateful sister, Marina held back tears, bowing deeply to Anselm.

“Thank you for your trust, Lord Hydra! Thank you for your… grace!”

Her voice choked toward the end, while Hitana, scratching her cheek, was clueless about her sister’s excitement.

Still, given Anselm’s generosity, she didn’t bounce around this time.

“Alright, we should head out. Hitana, grab the luggage.”

“…I’m carrying luggage too?” Hitana eyed the three packed trunks, glaring at Anselm. “Why do I have to do everything?!”

“Because it’s just you, me, and Saville this trip.”

“Then let the old butler—mmph!”

Saville ignored the spasming Hitana, bowing to Anselm “I’ll prepare the teleportation array, young master.”

Anselm waved, then turned to Hitana, crawling up from the floor, asking gently, “Need me to repeat that, Hitana?”

“…” The sullen girl trudged to the trunks silently, her fingers still twitching.

Marina, though pained, said nothing—not just from fear or reason but because she hoped Anselm would discipline Hitana.

Her own deep-seated weakness made her unable to effectively rein in her sister, and Marina often blamed herself for Hitana’s brashness.

“Miss Marina, I look forward to your performance.”

As Marina’s emotions surged, Anselm’s gaze settled on her.

Truthfully, in terms of preference—crudely put, his “type”—Anselm favored Marina over her sister.

He relished not forcing submission but slowly tainting that beauty and gentleness with his own colors, an intoxicating delight.

As Hitana hefted the luggage, Anselm approached Marina, whispering softly in her ear, “Trust me, to me, you’re as important as Hitana.”

The words left Marina, already brimming with joy, utterly blank.

Even being entrusted with meaningful work hadn’t stunned her so.

When she came to, Hitana had already grumbled her goodbyes, lugging the trunks with a sour face.

“I…”

Marina’s chest heaved, a fire burning from her heart to her mind, dizzying and disorienting.

Ignited by the breath still searing her earlobe, the young, magnetic, gentle voice enthralled her.

She was calm, rational, no mistake.

But what village girl could resist such a Hydra?

And Marina didn’t question the truth of Anselm’s words.

After all, it was well-known—

Hydras never lie.