43 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

### Chapter 43: Hypnotized Again Lynn lowered his head upon sensing Yveist's gaze. The passive effect of the Truth Swallower told him that this woman was indeed speaking the truth at the moment. Yet, he sneered inwardly. Fulfill any wish? If he were to say he wished to touch her hand, would she really agree? Even if she did, it would likely be another wordplay, just like the last time. A woman's words should be taken with a grain of salt, believed only halfway at best. Lynn suspected that Yveist was probing his current intentions, trying to see if he still harbored thoughts of escape. However, her attempt failed, as he saw through her instantly. Thinking this, Lynn shook his head repeatedly. "Listening to your teachings, Your Highness, already fills me with satisfaction. I have no other wishes, only hoping to stay by your side as I am now." Unfortunately, he had missed one crucial detail. This was not a simple western fantasy novel, but a real world. Many things didn't progress as the original work had depicted them. For instance, Yveist's ring was not something he had anticipated her using. Instead of feeling pleased by Lynn's flattery, Yveist squinted her eyes after noticing the red glimmer from the ring on her finger. This guy was lying again. However, instead of showing anger, Yveist calmly said, "You should consider this carefully. I rarely make such promises." It was due to Lynn's stereotype. Yveist genuinely wished to recruit him, so she offered him this promise as a carrot. At this moment, fulfilling one of Lynn's wishes was not a hollow gesture. Of course, from a certain perspective, it had conditions. This wish could involve money, seals, power, status, or even someone's life. Ultimately, it had to align with Yveist's preferences. If he expressed a wish to flee or to be served by a beautiful girl, it would likely earn him a beating. Sadly, Lynn did not grasp this nuance. "I have no wishes... or rather, your wish is my command." He thought silently to himself, resolved not to fall for it again. Seeing his resolute expression as if he had lost something, Yveist felt both amused and exasperated at his insistence on pretense. She had always used various tactics, including lies, to keep him from leaving when he had wanted to escape. Yet now that she was willing to grant him a wish, he was reluctant to believe her. Why is he always so troublesome? Why not just follow my suggestion and wish obediently? Yveist's inner contrariness was triggered. The more Lynn held onto wanting her promise, the more she wanted to see his despair when his hope was shattered. Contrarily, when he rejected her goodwill with lies, her desire to make him comply grew stronger. Perceiving Yveist's silence, Lynn sensed something amiss. He looked up to see an unexpected coldness in her expression. "Lying dogs aren't obedient, you know," she said icily. "Disobedient dogs need to be punished." Oh no! Lynn instinctively activated the Truth Swallower as a conditioned reflex. As expected, in the next second, Yveist effortlessly revealed the mark of the Mind's Eye in her palm, engulfing him in its light. For a moment, his consciousness felt detached, turning him lethargic and dull. Whoa, no warning at all, lady? Fortunately, I was prepared. Seeing his main consciousness slip into a feigned hypnosis state, Lynn breathed a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Yveist looked at him, his gaze suddenly vacant and lost, without a trace of suspicion. She stepped forward, leaning her ample hips against the desk’s edge, creating an alluring curve. With nimble grace, she lifted her right leg clad in dark silk, brushing the tip of her boot against Lynn’s chin, as if teasing a pet. Without immediately probing Lynn's true wish, Yveist took advantage of the ring's effect, her red lips curving slightly. "Who is more beautiful, Shilrina or me?" "Of course, you." The ring stayed silent, and Yveist’s lips curled slightly. "If both Shilrina and I fell into the water, whom would you save?" "You, and throw a stone at her head for good measure." "Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?" "Yveist Roland Alexini." "Comment on my outfit today." "I don't like it." "Hmm?" "This dress showcases Your Highness's beauty in full splendor; however, it makes me wish no one else could see it but me." Upon hearing this, Yveist couldn’t suppress a smile, her expression brightened appreciably. This guy, not only clever but articulate, too. Most importantly, all these words were true, confirmed by the ring, which didn’t react at all. Her previous minor dissatisfaction vanished. When someone is genuinely hypnotized, they speak from the heart. So, why should there be any doubt? Meanwhile, Lynn was drenched in sweat. He had finally noticed something strange about Yveist. It seemed she could discern his lies! Recalling her frequent glances at the ring, Lynn understood what was happening. Thankfully, his answers hadn't diverged from the truth. Lynn had never seen Shilrina and only knew her as the most beautiful woman in the Empire from the original novel. His past memories did not contain her image. Yveist was indeed the most beautiful woman he'd seen, so it wasn't a lie. His opinion on her attire was also genuine. Despite wanting to distance himself from Yveist, it was a natural masculine instinct to be possessive over a beautiful woman. At his youthful age, it was no exception. Yet these realizations weren't what truly made Lynn nervous. The crux was his uncertainty about whether the Truth Swallower could negate the ring’s lie-detecting effect. Even if it could, Lynn didn’t dare to gamble. In essence, he found himself trapped, forced to tell the truth. This situation was arguably worse than being hypnotized! He raged internally. If Yveist whimsically asked whether he was truly hypnotized now, he’d be finished. Calm down, stay composed. Lynn attempted to steady himself and devised a strategy. After so many tests, Yveist should fully believe he was hypnotized, so why would she suddenly question him now? Instead, it seemed to present an opportunity. Recalling a previous notion, Lynn’s heartbeat quickened slightly. As if on cue, Yveist posed the next question. "Tell me, what is your true wish that you wish to hide?" she queried, focusing on Lynn's dazed demeanor. "Excluding escaping from my side."