42 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

## Chapter 42: Lynn, the Imperial Princess Wishes to Reward You "You... what did you just say?!" A voice brimming with astonishment echoed from Iviste. Hearing this, Lynn unhurriedly repeated his words. Meanwhile, a familiar system notification chimed in his mind. "Deviation of S-rank character 'Iviste Roland Alexini' story line has increased to 0.53%." Whoa! A whopping 40 system points were suddenly credited to his account? Lynn was taken aback. He hadn't anticipated that merely extracting a bit of benefit from Iviste would equate to a full afternoon's worth of hard labor. With this, Lynn's accumulated points had now reached a total of 83. For him right now, it felt like a stroke of sheer luck. He could even consider advancing the Stomach of Lies and Thorned Crown once more, although upon further thought, it might not be of much use. Yet, his earlier speculation had been correct. Indeed, his actions had somewhat rewritten Iviste's future destiny. As Lynn's thoughts continued to churn, he was unexpectedly enveloped by a faint and familiar fragrance of roses. In the next moment, he felt a weight lift from his hand. Looking up, Lynn found Iviste had approached unnoticed. At this moment, she was holding the stack of extraordinary contracts, her expression serious as she flipped through them quickly, reading each clause carefully. Every signature at the end was unique, stamped with a fingerprint. Seeing this, Lynn discreetly observed Iviste's demeanor. The Princess's attire seemed to have undergone a transformation once again. Today, her raven-black hair was elegantly styled into an updo, adorned with a plethora of luxurious jewels, making her appear both dazzling and regal. Additionally, she wore a Bohemian-styled, crimson, wave-patterned long dress from another life, embellished with floral accents and diamonds. The dress fell below her knees, her slim legs sheathed in black stockings, with intricately crafted high-heeled boots on her feet. Compared to her previous one-piece black dress that exuded authority and solemnity, Iviste now appeared gentler and more sophisticated. Although she remained young, there was an elegant, noblewoman quality about her. One might say she exuded the ultimate "ideal wife" aura. Regrettably, only Lynn could truly appreciate such beauty. Others were more inclined to feel repelled and intimidated by her mere presence, unable even to meet her gaze directly. As time ticked by, Iviste's growing astonishment was evident with every page turned. She could clearly sense the subtle power embedded within these extraordinary contracts. This, in turn, affirmed their authenticity. To verify this matter, sending someone outside the city would have sufficed. If the situation had not been handled flawlessly, the nobles and officials would never have allowed the refugees into the city so easily. To say nothing of those who colluded with the Order of Celestial Principles, they'd love nothing more than to see Iviste troubled by such issues. Yet no one could have anticipated an unknown youth effortlessly diffusing the crisis and peril. Iviste's breathing progressively quickened. She initially thought finding such talent in Lynn was sheer luck. Yet his capabilities and wisdom, revealed thus far, repeatedly astonished her. The impeccable resolution of this crisis had undoubtedly extinguished her biggest headache. Not only did it dampen the arrogance of her rivals, but it subtly elevated her reputation. Without the refugees' safety as leverage, the burden in Iviste’s heart lifted considerably. For a rare moment, she breathed a sigh of relief, a bit baffled by how long it had been since she felt this unprecedented ease. It was... refreshing. To merely sit back and issue commands, subsequently receiving gratifying news — was this how her siblings felt, surrounded by their elite advisory teams? Iviste's heart beat faster. She suddenly understood the elegance of solving problems without resorting to violence. Unfortunately, until now, Iviste had no subordinates who could compare to Lynn. Not even one who could come close. This realization reinforced her determination that no one else but herself should lay claim to this cherished resource. With this in mind, Iviste looked at Lynn, eyes alight: “Tell me, how did you manage to accomplish all this in just an afternoon?” At Lynn's excitement erupted. He rolled up his sleeves: “Your Highness, let me tell you, it wasn't easy. I endured countless grievances. Those bastards at the Security Bureau aren't easy to deal with, constantly undermining our efforts. But then, I'm your subordinate, representing you and the Empire, so naturally I couldn't bow to mere threats. So, I stood my ground, and told them...” While Lynn rambled on, Iviste's ring suddenly glowed with a faint red light. She glanced down and frowned slightly. The ring was an ancient cursed artifact, allowing its wearer to discern between truth and lies in a short period. She had worn it during her meeting with the clergy of the Order of Celestial Principles and forgotten to remove it. The result? The device revealed the lad's fabrications. Iviste was taken aback. Had her amicable demeanor given him a false sense of security, allowing him to pull such stunts? The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Seeing this, Lynn sheepishly smiled and quit his fanciful tale. He scratched his head: “It's really just the usual — divide and conquer, win over some, intimidate or entice others, then eliminate the ringleader of the rabble to leave the rest in disarray.” Simple in theory, yet incredibly challenging in execution. Humans possess free thought, with diverse circumstances and perspectives, rendering quick ideological shifts nearly impossible. Lynn's success in managing those folks largely owed to the Stomach of Lies. As Iviste gazed at the black-haired, blue-eyed young man before her, she fell silent. He was only seventeen. In a few more years, how much more might he achieve? Perhaps those foolish nobles in the capital would lament provoking such a formidable youth. Iviste even sensed that, absent her intervention, Lynn would eventually secure his revenge. Fortunately, for now, the bond of hypnosis linked them, ensuring he couldn't escape her side. Still, she disfavored coercive tactics. Iviste wished, one day, that Lynn would choose to remain with her of his own volition. This thought brought a rare smile to her face. “You’ve done exceptionally well,” Iviste said, placing the contracts on her desk and leaning against the windowsill. "Thus, I shall reward you." "Lynn, if you have any wish, tell me now. Whatever it is, I will fulfill it." With arms crossed and bathed in moonlight, she appeared pure and beautiful beyond measure.