Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 157: Sorry, Brother Xiya

Lynn’s words, as sharp as a blade pressed to the emperor’s authority, reverberated throughout the council hall.

The few who understood the truth behind his accusations began to break out in a cold sweat.

Just stay away! Don’t let his blood splatter on me!

They prayed silently, their nerves fraying with every moment.

Yet, despite the tension suffusing the hall, Lynn stood his ground, locking eyes with Saint Roland VI.

There weren’t many who could withstand the full pressure of an emperor’s gaze.

As a transmigrator, Lynn happened to be one of them.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Connor observed Lynn carefully, as if calculating his next move.

But for Connor, this wasn’t an insurmountable challenge.

After all, Lynn’s accusations were baseless, a mere attempt to muddy the waters.

The Divine Order Church had long entrenched itself within the Saint Roland Empire. A single unsubstantiated accusation couldn’t possibly shake its foundations.

Still, the burden of this "black pot" now fell to him to bear.

Because at the root of it all, the decisions that had led to this moment were those of Saint Roland VI.

Although the Divine Order Church was not directly governed by the empire, it still adhered to some of the old hierarchies, recognizing the emperor’s authority in certain matters.

Thus, faced with Lynn’s allegations, Connor chose silence over panic.

Yet, as one of the key figures responsible for the Bartleon family’s downfall, Connor had no intention of letting this adversary leave unscathed.

To him, Lynn was dancing on the edge of a thousand-meter cliff. One misstep, and he would plummet into the abyss.

And it wouldn’t take much to give him that fatal push.

Connor maintained a calm expression as he studied Lynn’s seemingly confident demeanor.

The more composed Lynn appeared, the more Connor’s suspicions were confirmed.

Why had Lynn suddenly accused the Divine Order Church?

It was a well-known phenomenon—when one headline dominated public attention, it often meant another was being obscured.

In other words, Lynn’s accusations were likely a diversion, meant to draw attention away from Connor’s earlier questions.

This only reinforced the idea that Lynn couldn’t explain how he had survived the encounter with the two demons.

All Connor needed to do was seize upon this weakness to dismantle the aura of dominance Lynn had built tonight.

What a naive little brat.

Connor chuckled inwardly before slowly speaking: “Your Majesty...”

But before he could finish, Saint Roland VI interrupted.

Seated on the dais, the emperor radiated authority as he gazed down at the calm-faced youth.

“Quite bold,” Saint Roland VI said coldly. “It seems the Bartleon family has produced a remarkable heir.”

“Your Majesty flatters me,” Lynn replied, bowing slightly. Yet his expression betrayed not a hint of humility.

“Hmph.” The emperor snorted, his gaze sweeping across the room as his tone softened. “As you’ve all seen, today’s conferment ceremony was disrupted by some rather unpleasant incidents. I have decided to reschedule it for another day.” ʀАꞐοꞖÈᶊ

“Now, everyone is to leave immediately.”

His voice rang through the council hall like a decree etched in stone.

The gathered nobles collectively exhaled in relief. Backs drenched in sweat, hearts pounding, they wasted no time in offering praises to the emperor before filing out with all the dignity they could muster, heading for the exits in droves.

As for Marquis Mosgra, trembling as he clung to his granddaughter’s lifeless body, he was escorted out.

Before leaving, he cast a venomous, bloodshot glare at Lynn’s back, as though sealing a grim resolution.

Witnessing this, the First Princess Shirina and the other royal members, unwilling to involve themselves further, prepared to leave as well.

Unexpectedly, Saint Roland VI called out to them.

“All royal family members present are to gather at the Elohet Palace.”

“And as for you, Lynn Bartleon, you are to join us as well.”

“I believe there are some matters that require a private conversation.”

With that, the emperor strode out of the council hall, surrounded by members of the Silverwing Knights.

The royal family members attending the banquet—First Princess Shirina, Second Prince Felit, Fourth Prince Joshua, and Ninth Princess Aimestade—exchanged bewildered glances before following suit.

Among them, no one was more shocked than Cardinal Connor.

He hadn’t expected Saint Roland VI to make such a decision.

Even after the Divine Order Church had borne the brunt of the accusations, the emperor not only refrained from suppressing Lynn but even went so far as to protect him.

It was as though the emperor didn’t want the Church to pursue the truth of certain matters in this setting.

Connor took a deep breath.

By the time he opened his eyes again, his expression had returned to its usual serene demeanor.

Though the timing wasn’t right to strike Lynn down, Connor wasn’t worried.

Patience was his greatest strength.

As long as Lynn remained in Glostein, it was only a matter of time before he caused another outrage.

When that time came, Connor would wield his "blade" and deliver a fatal blow.

Late at night, within Elohet Palace.

“Lynn Bartleon, do you think you were particularly impressive tonight?”

The golden sigil of the Tree of Radiance adorned the wall above the throne. Saint Roland VI sat at the highest point, gazing down at the youth standing at the base of the steps.

His eyes glimmered faintly with golden light, his imperial majesty as overwhelming as thunder.

Were it anyone else, they would have been trembling with fear, prostrating themselves before the emperor.

But Lynn’s expression remained unchanged.

Compared to the oppressive aura of the two demons, the emperor before him was hardly worth mentioning.

Moreover, the figure before him wasn’t even the emperor’s true self, but merely a puppet.

When the emperor’s question went unanswered, a cold gleam flashed in Saint Roland VI’s eyes.

“Do you think holding a piece of leverage against me gives you the right to threaten your emperor?”

“Yveste is utterly foolish! A member of the royal family, and yet she engages in such public debauchery with the likes of you!”

“Do you even understand why I didn’t sentence you tonight?”

Hearing this, Lynn finally raised his head.

“Then do you, Your Majesty, understand why Her Highness returned to the capital unharmed, or why she didn’t become a fearsome and terrifying entity?”

At that moment, his sharp gaze seemed to search for any trace of concern in the emperor’s expression.

Yet, Saint Roland VI merely frowned and replied coldly, “It is I who ask the questions here.”

It was as if Yveste was nothing more than a stranger to him.

Hearing this, the last sliver of hope in Lynn’s heart crumbled.

Lynn shook his head, signaling his disinterest.

"During that time, I... was preoccupied with important affairs and couldn’t step away," Saint Roland VI said indifferently. "By the time I had the leisure to handle state matters, I discovered that the Bartleon family had suffered such a drastic upheaval in just a few short months."

"This is my failing."

As he mentioned his former vassal, the emperor’s tone softened slightly. After all, with Count Bartleon still comatose, Lynn was, by law, the acting head of the family, eligible to inherit the title.

Hearing these words, Lynn’s Lie Eater did not react, indicating that the emperor was telling the truth.

Yet Lynn felt no sense of gratitude or honor. If anything, he found it ironic, almost laughable.

If this "benevolent" emperor truly cared about his so-called loyal vassal, why had he never taken action against the Mosgra family? Why hadn’t he exacted even the slightest retribution?

Lynn could understand Saint Roland VI’s reasoning, just as he had explained to Duke Tyrius after shooting Dallion:

What’s done is done.

To minimize losses, this "wise" emperor had allowed Irina to transplant the Divine Factor, elevating her to a prominent new aristocrat. He had also turned a blind eye to the Bartleon family’s year-long suffering.

Did the emperor truly not know about the Fourth Prince draining Eleanor’s blood?

Unlikely.

It was more plausible that a vassal who had lost their utility simply wasn’t worth supporting anymore.

Lynn understood his thinking.

But understanding didn’t mean acceptance.

Because people are inherently hypocritical creatures.

At this moment, Lynn couldn’t even summon the interest to continue the conversation.

Noticing Lynn’s detached demeanor, Saint Roland VI frowned slightly.

"Regarding the Orne City Sealed Artifact incident," the emperor began, "you were at the lowest level at the time, unaware of the full picture, and therefore unable to understand the reasons behind the high-level decisions."

"Your anger and resentment are understandable," he continued. "But that is no excuse for your disruption in the council hall."

"Consider tonight’s events as my compensation to the Bartleon family, or as an unspoken reward for your actions in Orne City."

"Once you leave the palace, I will not pursue your earlier transgressions. As for your feud with the Mosgra family and the Divine Order Church, I will not favor either side. You will have to fight that battle on your own."

"I appreciate Your Majesty’s kindness," Lynn replied coolly, offering a polite bow.

Saint Roland VI studied him silently for a moment, his expression unreadable, before nodding.

"I hope your time in Glostein will be more... peaceful in the coming days. The autumn hunt is not far off."

"Now leave… and send Shirina to me on your way out."

With the emperor’s permission, Lynn rose slowly, unscathed by the night’s dangerous events. His expression calm and indifferent, he walked toward the palace exit.

As Lynn’s tall figure disappeared into the distance, a barely perceptible cold gleam flickered in Saint Roland VI’s eyes.

"Yvelia."

The emperor’s sudden call rang out, his voice directed at Lynn’s retreating back.

Lynn didn’t immediately react, not even instinctively turning his head.

It wasn’t until he had taken two or three more steps that he paused, his face puzzled as he looked back.

"Your Majesty, were you calling for someone?"

"…It’s nothing. Go," Saint Roland VI said dismissively, waving his hand with a detached expression.

Yet his heart was filled with confusion and doubt.

Had he been mistaken?

If not, then where had the core of the Level-0 Sealed Artifact and the Creation Demon within it gone?

Seated on the throne, the emperor sank into deep thought.

"What did that old man talk to you about?"

Led by palace attendants, Lynn emerged from the emperor’s palace and met Yveste in the central courtyard, accompanied by First Princess Shirina and the other four princes and princesses.

Even Xiya and the Silent Saintess Tiya had inexplicably shown up, staring at him with cold, detached expressions.

But Lynn had no time to concern himself with them.

Feeling Yveste’s cold hand cover the back of his own, he smiled faintly.

"Don’t worry. His Majesty has pardoned my offenses for tonight."

He chose not to mention the emperor’s final remarks, deciding it was too soon to share that with Yveste.

Hearing his words, a flicker of surprise crossed Yveste’s crimson eyes.

It seemed she hadn’t expected the emperor to be so accommodating tonight.

Nonetheless, she breathed an inward sigh of relief.

To be honest, even for someone as seasoned as Yveste, the night’s events had been overwhelmingly stimulating.

So stimulating that… she was barely able to resist the urge to pin her "adorable little dog" down on the bed.

But Yveste had made a pact with herself long ago: until she had completely won Lynn’s heart, she wouldn’t cross that line.

Otherwise, wouldn’t that mean conceding defeat to the future "despicable woman"?

Additionally, during the banquet, she had vaguely sensed something unusual.

Her gaze shifted toward the Silent Saintess, who had inexplicably followed them.

After a brief moment of eye contact, the saintess looked away, expressionless, like a lifeless doll.

Yveste’s instincts told her that the relationship between Lynn and the saintess was far from simple.

But since this wasn’t the right time to confront it, she decided to wait until later. She’d use her hypnosis abilities, along with Lynn’s tongue-bound Lust Switch, to "interrogate" him thoroughly.

As she watched Shirina walk gracefully into the palace, Yveste silently made a mental note.

"Well, you’re lucky," Fourth Prince Joshua said abruptly, his words coming out of nowhere.

His eyes were filled with bewilderment and doubt, as if unable to comprehend how Lynn had walked out of Elohet Palace unscathed.

Lynn chuckled lightly, adjusting the glove on his left hand.

Since Eunice had taken his previous glove, he now only had one remaining. But the ancient duel rituals placed no restrictions on glove design.

Seeing Lynn’s sly demeanor, Joshua’s expression darkened. At last, he realized that this was a man bold enough to kill in public—a madman.

Although he doubted Lynn would dare attack an imperial prince in such a setting, the thought lingered in his mind: What if?

This guy was a genuine lunatic.

And what do lunatics do?

They do what no sane person would dare attempt.

Joshua, as a prince of the empire, was far too valuable to risk his life over such nonsense. There were still so many delightful experiments waiting for him at the Saint Roland Research Institute.

Moreover, Lynn’s mysterious capabilities were undeniable. Otherwise, even someone as reckless as Eunice wouldn’t have casually picked up the glove and accepted his duel request.

A cold glint flashed in Joshua’s eyes as he silently vowed to remember this grudge.

Meanwhile, Second Prince Felit found the situation amusing.

"Joshua, I never thought I’d see the day you bowed that absurdly proud head of yours. How fascinating."

Lynn’s face relaxed, shedding the usual cold indifference he maintained.

“Annoying,” Fourth Prince Joshua muttered with a frown, cutting off his reply to Second Prince Felit’s teasing and falling silent.

But while Joshua was holding a grudge against Lynn, Lynn was doing the same to him.

Next up is you, you petty little prince.

He made a mental note to himself, eyes glinting with calm resolve.

The atmosphere in the courtyard grew heavy with an awkward silence as they all waited for Shirina to finish her audience with Saint Roland VI.

Felit’s gaze lingered on Lynn the entire time, as if reevaluating everything he thought he knew about him.

Meanwhile, the Ninth Princess, Aimestade, eyed Lynn curiously but would huff and bare her small canine teeth in a pouty gesture whenever he glanced back at her, promptly turning her head away.

In the distance, Xiya and the Silent Saintess Tiya stood close, conversing softly with a notable level of intimacy. While their conversation lacked any physical contact, their proximity made it clear to any observer how close the two truly were.

Lynn sighed, averting his gaze in an unnoticeable gesture.

Tiya, however, seemed to notice something amiss. As she whispered to Xiya, her brow furrowed ever so slightly, though her expression quickly returned to calm.

Moments later, Shirina returned to the courtyard, her serene expression unchanged, and informed Felit that it was his turn to meet with the emperor.

Felit was followed by Joshua and then Aimestade, leaving Lynn and Yveste to wait their turn.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Saint Roland VI seemed to remember Yveste’s existence. A messenger arrived, summoning her to the audience chamber.

Even Yveste herself appeared unfazed, as if she had long since grown accustomed to such treatment. The other princes and princesses also showed no sign of surprise, their expressions betraying an unspoken resignation to the status quo.

But Lynn?

He took a deep breath, feeling an inexplicable irritation rising within him.

He had planned to personally push Yveste’s wheelchair to the meeting, but an older maid stepped forward to take over.

“His Majesty requested to see Her Highness alone,” the maid said with a blank expression.

After a brief exchange of glances, Lynn had no choice but to stay behind and wait.

Before leaving, Yveste leaned in close and murmured, “Wait for me,” her voice soft and composed. Then she wheeled away, disappearing down the corridor.

Left alone in the courtyard, Lynn was now surrounded by a group of people with whom he had no particular familiarity.

Though they were all characters he recognized from the original story, having them all suddenly gathered in front of him felt oddly surreal and disorienting.

And among them were three women—Shirina, Tiya, and Aimestade—who all happened to be future members of Hero Xiya’s harem.

That said, Aimestade’s role in the narrative was comparatively minor. Her character was only ranked A-level, and her story arc felt more like a throwaway subplot, making her a less prominent figure overall.

As such, Lynn hadn’t paid much attention to her in the original story.

Breaking the awkward silence was the last thing Lynn expected, but that’s exactly what happened.

“Tap, tap, tap...”

The crisp sound of heels echoed across the courtyard as a tall, elegant woman approached.

Noticing Shirina closing the distance between herself and the person he despised, Xiya instinctively stopped his conversation with Tiya and shifted his focus toward his superior.

As a faint, unfamiliar yet enchanting fragrance wafted through the air, Lynn found himself confronted by a fair, delicate hand extended toward him.

In her fingers, Shirina held an ornate, gold-embossed invitation.

“Tomorrow, if you’re free, feel free to bring little Yve with you,” Shirina said softly, her expression warm and composed. She seemed to have entirely forgotten Lynn’s earlier sharp remarks about her appearance. “It’ll be at my estate. Unlike tonight, it’s just a casual gathering with friends of similar age—a private banquet.”

Her demeanor was like that of a gentle, kind elder sister.

Normally, any man with healthy sensibilities would feel his heart waver in the face of such a stunningly beautiful woman extending a personal invitation.

But Lynn… was not a normal man.

He shook his head without hesitation.

“Apologies, but my lady has instructed me not to talk to unfamiliar women,” he replied, his voice almost childishly obedient.

He wasn’t trying to put on a show—this was no act.

It was because Yveste, that controlling woman, had genuinely given him such a command.

If she found out later that he had accepted an invitation to her rival’s banquet without her permission, Lynn didn’t even want to imagine the consequences awaiting him.

Moreover, why was Shirina suddenly inviting him?

There was no such thing as a free lunch. Something felt off.

Lynn had only just returned to the capital and had no desire to stir up unnecessary trouble. The Mosgra family and the Divine Order Church were already more than enough to keep him occupied.

Hearing his response, Shirina paused briefly, her expression faltering for the briefest moment before she regained her composure. With a soft smile, she brushed a strand of her platinum hair behind her ear, her starry eyes shimmering with an inexplicable allure.

“No matter. Just pass the invitation along to her for me,” she said warmly.

With that, Shirina turned and walked away, her figure radiant with charm.

After a brief, whispered conversation with Xiya, she cast a subtle glance in Lynn’s direction before leaving Elohet Palace with her entourage, vanishing into the night.

Watching her elegant, graceful figure disappear, Lynn took a deep breath, trying to calm the faint turbulence in his heart.

To be honest, this woman… she really was stunning.

If he hadn’t already experienced the soul-shaking presence of the Witch once her curse was lifted, Lynn might very well have been enchanted by Shirina’s gentle smile and aura of serenity.

The most beautiful woman in the capital wasn’t just beautiful in appearance—she carried an aura, almost like a “charm” buff that captivated the soul.

Just then, the soft sound of wheels turning reached Lynn’s ears.

Yveste had returned.

“Why did Her Highness invite that guy?”

Inside the carriage on the way back, Xiya asked the question with evident confusion.

Resting her cheek on her hand, Shirina gazed absently out the window.

After a brief pause, she responded with a tinge of helplessness in her eyes.

Because… it was her father, Calderon, who had requested it.

After her audience with Saint Roland VI, the emperor had straightforwardly ordered her to approach Lynn and uncover the secret he was hiding.

Although Shirina currently had no clue what that secret might be, an imperial command was not something she could refuse.

What’s more, the emperor had promised her a significant boost in her Succession Ceremony score as compensation.

While her initial impression of Lynn hadn’t been great, Shirina decided to accept the task regardless.

Yet, for some reason, she didn’t want to share this reasoning with Xiya.

Perhaps she was concerned it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Noticing Shirina’s silence, Xiya refrained from pressing further.

When the carriage arrived at their destination, he disembarked, heading back to the military headquarters.

“Goodnight, Your Highness,” Xiya said warmly, waving as he bid her farewell.

Shirina smiled brightly in return.

“Goodnight to you as well.”

After watching Xiya return to the military headquarters, Shirina ordered the coachman to take her home.

Now alone in the carriage, the world outside grew quiet.

As for Tiya, a nun from the church had come to escort her back when they left Elohet Palace. Being the Silent Saintess, her status within the church was exceptionally high.

The scenery outside the window blurred as it sped past.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the carriage slowed to a stop in front of Shirina’s estate.

Just as Shirina was about to head inside to enjoy a long soak in the hot springs and wash away the fatigue of the day, she noticed a slender figure standing by the estate’s gate.

The figure wore a pale moon-colored robe, her legs pressed neatly together as she stood primly at the entrance.

“Tiya? Is there something you need?”

Recognizing her visitor, Shirina’s curiosity was piqued, but her tone remained cordial.

In truth, the two women, being competitors in a sense, could only be described as having a distant and indifferent relationship.

Upon hearing Shirina’s question, Tiya, who usually exuded a cold and emotionless doll-like demeanor, hesitated—something incredibly rare.

After a moment of silence, she lowered her voice and spoke.

“Could I... have two invitations?”

Shirina blinked in surprise. “You’re interested in attending the banquet? That’s unexpected. I hadn’t heard...”

“It’s about Brother Xiya,” Tiya explained softly, rising slightly onto her toes, her boots barely tapping the ground as she tried to maintain her usual calm. “As he was leaving, he mentioned it. He seemed... interested in attending.”

Ah, so it’s for him?

Shirina’s suspicion didn’t linger long, nor did she think Tiya was lying.

Tiya’s usual cold and detached demeanor made her seem like the last person capable of deceit, leaving no room to connect her to such an act.

As Shirina handed over two extra invitations, Tiya took a deep breath, her expression unreadable.

“Would you like to come in for a bit?” Shirina offered.

“No, thank you.”

Declining the invitation, Tiya left with a heavy heart, walking alone down the empty, deserted street.

Only after a long while did she exhale deeply.

In truth, Tiya had lied to Shirina.

Xiya knew nothing about the banquet.

In fact... she had no intention of telling him at all. She planned to disguise herself and sneak into the banquet.

The reason was simple.

This was one of the rare chances she had to interact with that detestable man up close.

It wasn’t as though she harbored any particular obsession with him.

It was just that the missing twelve years of her memory gnawed at her endlessly.

She wanted to uncover her lost past through that damn man, even if it meant resorting to coercive and forceful methods.

However…

This was still, at its core, a private meeting with another man.

Both the teachings of the Silent Church and the conventions of the secular world would consider it an act of impurity.

Even though Tiya loathed him to the depths of her soul, it was still improper.

Thus, she decided to keep it entirely to herself.

She would bury this in her heart as a tiny secret, never to be shared with anyone.

“Sorry, Brother Xiya,” she murmured under her breath, her voice heavy with conflicting emotions, as moonlight bathed her solemn figure.

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