Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 94: The Fourth Hypnosis

After receiving a satisfactory answer, Yveste finally lowered her head.

“And the flowers?”

Seeing Lynn’s empty hands, she frowned.

“Your Highness, I searched every street nearby but couldn’t find a single flower shop. Of course, if it’s urgent, I can go now…”

“I’ll let it slide this time,” Yveste huffed coldly. “Make up for it next time.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lynn felt the dainty feet resting in his lap shift slightly, crossing into a new position.

With the topic dropped, silence once again enveloped the two.

On reflection, whenever they were alone, their conversations always seemed sparse. Only during the moments when Yveste thought he was under hypnosis would she slightly open up to him.

Perhaps, aside from himself, no one had ever seen the truest version of her, hidden deep within.

After an indeterminate amount of time, her cool, melodious voice broke the stillness.

“Have you read Chronicles of Xino?”

The question seemed abrupt, entirely out of the blue.

Yet, Lynn’s attention sharpened instantly.

Here it comes!

After a full day of being treated like a servant, running around at her beck and call, this was the moment he had been waiting for.

When he first visited the Pantheon and encountered the mysterious Witch, he had noticed her seated on the steps with a book in hand. While his focus at the time had been drawn to the grandeur of the Pantheon and the shock of realizing he was in a timeline ten thousand years in the future, he had still caught a glimpse of the title: Chronicles of Xino.

It was a novel explicitly mentioned in the original story.

Due to its repeated references, Lynn had a vivid impression of it. According to the setting, the book told the tale of a small, insignificant figure who rose through the ranks, tempered by battles and bloodshed, ultimately becoming a Marshal of the Empire.

The story spanned over fifty years, chronicling the protagonist’s journey from youth to old age, encapsulating a life of immense turbulence and grandeur.

This, however, wasn’t why the book left such an impression on Lynn.

In the Saint Roland Empire, all royal children—princes and princesses alike—were required to read Chronicles of Xino as their first book after learning to read. Its purpose was to instill grand ambitions and lofty goals in them from an early age.

The First Princess Shirina was particularly enamored with the book.

So much so that, due to similarities between the book’s protagonist and the trajectory of the original male lead’s rise to power, Shirina unconsciously developed a fondness for him. This marked the initial intersection of the male and female leads in the original story.

As a member of the royal family, Yveste naturally had read this book as well. Her reaction back in the Pantheon had made it clear that the book had left a profound impact on her too.

It was even possible that the very first time Yveste entertained the thought of participating in the Succession Ceremony was inspired by this book.

Thus, when Lynn received this Trial, the first thing he did was rush to the Augusta Estate's library, retrieve the book, and read it overnight.

One scene, in particular, left a deep impression on him.

At that time, the protagonist, Xino, was just a rookie in the army, mocked by everyone as an inexperienced greenhorn. The night before the army was to set out for war, fearful of dying on the battlefield with regrets, Xino sneaked out of the camp. He slipped into the Baron’s manor and confessed his love to the noble’s daughter.

Surprisingly, the young lady had secretly admired him as well. After an exchange of heartfelt confessions, Xino made a bold decision. He spirited the young lady—imprisoned like a bird in a gilded cage—out of the manor. Disguised as lovers, they went on a date, and for the first time in her life, she experienced the wonders of the outside world.

However, this dreamlike interlude was inevitably fleeting.

After their moment of joy, the noble’s daughter had to return to her cage-like manor, where she was groomed like a pet canary, destined to marry the gluttonous viscount of the territory upon reaching adulthood.

The story following this point was somewhat lackluster.

For Lynn, who had been immersed in the fast-paced world of 21st-century web novels, it was nothing more than the classic "tables turn in thirty years" trope. A few years later, Xino returned as a celebrated war hero, elevated to nobility, and humiliated the viscount while winning the lady’s hand.

But in the context of this era, Chronicles of Xino was undeniably a classic masterpiece, packed with humor, thrill, emotion, and inspiration. Such works were rare, which explained why the royal princes and princesses loved it so much.

After all, when Lynn first read Battle Through the Heavens back in his own time, he had been just as obsessed.

Back to the matter at hand.

For those who had read Chronicles of Xino, the scene where Xino whisked the young lady away was an undeniably memorable highlight. It was especially significant because, in the original story, Shirina had been “abducted” in a similar manner.

Lynn had modeled today’s entire “date” itinerary on the events described in the book.

Clearly, Her Highness had noticed.

Lynn lowered his head slightly. “Yes, Your Highness, I have read it.”

Yveste remarked coolly, “So, this little performance today—do you have something to say to me?”

As the saying goes, if someone acts kind without reason, they’re either plotting or scheming.

Obviously, Yveste had seen through him.

If he could, Lynn would have liked to be direct: Please, let me return to the capital first and leave me out of your missions.

But he knew full well that with Yveste’s personality, if he voiced such a request, it would become utterly impossible to achieve.

Without hesitation, Lynn replied, “Because I felt like Your Highness didn’t seem in the best mood yesterday. That night, I happened to have nothing to do and came across this scene in the book, so on a whim, I decided to gather the courage to take you out for a stroll.”

Since Yveste wasn’t wearing her ring right now, he could fabricate any story without worry.

“Why choose this book?” she asked.

“In the Saint Roland Empire, I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t like it.”

“Heh.”

For some reason, Yveste let out a derisive chuckle at Lynn’s answer.

He looked at her in confusion.

“Chronicles of Xino” is the book I despise most in my entire life, Yveste said softly.

What?

Then why were you clutching it so tightly, reading it repeatedly ten thousand years in the future?

Lynn felt his mind go blank.

Could it be that the Witch’s actions weren’t a subtle hint, and he had completely overthought things? Was this really not an opportunity for him to escape her grasp?

In that moment, a crushing sense of futility swept over him, as though all his efforts had been in vain.

Still, Lynn forced himself to speak. “May I know why, Your Highness?”

Yveste’s gaze became distant, as if her consciousness had drifted back to memories from more than a decade ago.

“When we were young, Shirina and the others loved this book. Whenever we played pretend together, they would always reenact some of its iconic scenes.”

“That detestable woman always got to play the heroine, surrounded by adoring siblings, laughing with such joy.”

“And I… I was always cast as the wicked witch skilled in curses, the one they would unite against and ultimately defeat in the story’s final chapter.”

She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the boundless starry sky. Her voice carried a faint melancholy.

Looking at Yveste in that moment, Lynn’s heart gave a slight twinge.

Perhaps she didn’t truly hate the book.

Maybe, in countless fleeting moments in the past, she had felt a sense of envy.

“Speak.” After a brief pause, Yveste changed the subject. “I can tell you had a purpose for today’s antics, but at this point, I can’t be bothered to quibble.”

“While I’m in a good mood, whatever wish you have, I’ll grant it.”

“Even if you want to return to the capital early.”

Her crimson eyes glanced down at him, her gaze sharp and commanding as she looked at the young man holding her feet.

But unlike her previous teasing and mocking, this time her tone held a different gravity.

This time, her eyes were devoid of any hostility or malice, filled only with the natural authority of a Princess.

Through the abilities of the Lie Eater, Lynn could tell she was being truthful.

I… I succeeded?

Indeed, no one knows me better than the Witch herself! Against all odds, I’ve found the sole path to a brighter future amidst countless dead ends!

Lynn screamed inwardly in exhilaration.

But then he realized something odd—his heart wasn’t as elated as he had imagined it would be.

Why?

He stared blankly at the stunning woman with crimson eyes before him. The breeze gently swept through her waterfall-like black hair, which cascaded down to her waist. Her delicate hand instinctively rose to tuck a stray lock behind her ear, while the hem of her dress billowed softly in the wind.

I want to return to the capital early.

This was what he should have said.

But for some inexplicable reason, as he looked at Yveste’s serene expression and relaxed brows, the words that escaped his lips were entirely different.

“Please tell me what’s truly been troubling you these past two days, Your Highness.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Yveste’s eyes.

She seemed genuinely taken aback that even after she had explicitly given her consent for him to leave, he hadn’t seized the opportunity.

After a long silence, Yveste quietly withdrew her feet from his lap.

“Come to my room tonight.”

...

I’m such a f**ing idiot!*

Late that night, Lynn stood outside Yveste’s door, cursing himself and wishing he could slap himself hard.

Once again, he had let the smaller head control the bigger one.

Why can’t I grow a spine? Haven’t I had enough of being her lackey?

After every fleeting moment of passion came the inevitable emptiness and regret. Why couldn’t he ever grasp this simple truth?

Sighing deeply, Lynn pushed open Yveste’s door.

The cool moonlight streamed into the spacious room like a gentle river.

Yveste was sitting by the windowsill, leaning against the wall. She was dressed in a simple, lightweight nightgown, her gaze fixed on the full moon hanging in the sky.

In her hand, she held a glass of red wine, while two empty bottles sat beside her. It was clear she had been drinking quite a bit before his arrival.

Lynn walked forward cautiously. “Your Highness?”

Yveste didn’t respond. Instead, she simply raised her hand.

In her palm, the emerald glow of the Eye of the Mind Sigil shimmered softly.

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