66 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

### Chapter 66: Kill, Kill, Kill!!! Time rewinds to ten minutes ago. In the grand banquet hall, where nobles adorned in elegant attire gathered, Sherlock held a glass of champagne and smiled warmly. Every now and then, familiar guests passed by, greeting him with friendly nods. Having spent nearly two decades in Orne City, everyone regarded him as the face of the Bartleon family. Though the family had fallen on hard times, the reputation of a once-great entity still bore weight, surpassing many present. Moreover, rumors circulated that this resourceful steward had forged ties with the Mossgra family, old rivals of the Bartleons. While such betrayal was frowned upon, Sherlock's stewardship of various private assets meant consistent dealings and exchanges of interests. Over time, many began to overlook his role as merely a steward. After all, not everyone could amass wealth like he did—even if it came from draining the lifeblood of his masters. Feeling the goodwill of the guests, Sherlock basked in satisfaction. Years of diligent service to the Bartleon family had all been for moments like these, where he could rise to prominence. While the Marquis lived, Sherlock could never fully shed his servant status. It was ironically only after the Marquis fell into a coma that Sherlock truly ascended to the city's upper echelons. To be counted among the nobility was truly exhilarating. Yet… it wasn't enough. Because he was not a genuine noble. He only rivaled them under the Bartleon name. However, an opportunity emerged, holding promise that he might finally shed his steward role and become a noble himself. "Master Dalian, rest assured, I will quickly locate that boy and bring him to you for personal disposal," Sherlock addressed the haughty young man beside him with humility. This was Dalian Mossgra, who had traveled far from the imperial capital, sent by the Snowhawk family to attend the banquet. But more notably, he was the younger brother of Valkyrie Irina Mossgra. This alone commanded the admiration of most nobility present, explaining Sherlock's submissive demeanor. Yet Dalian seemed ungrateful. "A wretch like you should count yourself lucky to associate with the Mossgra name," he sneered, "Don't think the trifles of the Bartleon family curry our favor. You're far from worthy." Sherlock's tone further humbled, "I deserve your reprimand, young master." Under the circumstances, he had no choice but to bow his head. Seeing this, Dalian, irritated by the boy's disappearance, chose to leave it at that. His eyes gleamed observing Duke Tyrulus in the midst of fundraising. This was an Elector! The main purpose of the Mossgra family's dispatch to Orne, aside from acquiring Bartleon assets, was to connect with this troubled Elector. The Mossgra family held deep ties to the Church of Providence. Both currently powerful entities in the imperial capital stood behind the rising Second Prince. In their eyes, the most likely victor in the succession was this dazzling prince. Others, including the First Princess Sherlina, fell short. Thus, the Mossgra family decided to invest heavily in courting Duke Tyrulus. If their union succeeded, the Second Prince's path would be unobstructed. No current barriers appeared against their outreach to the Duke. Even Princess Ivister's unexpected presence didn't faze Dalian. He doubted this so-called "scourge" could sway the Duke's support. The Mossgra family's offerings were far too tempting. Tempting enough to entice even a power-wielding Duke. With these thoughts, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance. Under Dalian and Sherlock's watchful eyes, a masked youth intervened to aid the Third Princess. Not only that, but he also seemed to win Duke Tyrulus' favor. Who was this person? Both wondered in unison. "My name is Lynn, Your Grace." The youth's unassuming words echoed in their ears. Sherlock was startled. Never did he expect Lynn, missing from the manor for over half a month, to blatantly appear at tonight's event! Feeling Dalian's murderous gaze beside him, Sherlock broke out in a cold sweat. At that moment, all he wanted was to rush up and strangle the boy, demanding to know his intentions. "Leave it to me, Master Dalian." Sherlock wiped his sweat. "I'll take him back to the manor for your disposal." "Useless!" Dalian grunted. As the crowd settled, Sherlock hastily made his way toward Lynn. Hatred and anger filled his heart. It was all because of this boy that he failed to impress Master Dalian. His dreams of aristocracy could be shattered! This possibility robbed Sherlock of his reason. He had never considered Lynn his true master. Ever since the boy was exiled to Orne City, Sherlock saw his hunched, defeated silhouette and realized his opportunity had come. Such a pushover was his to manipulate. With this in mind, Sherlock impatiently tapped the boy's shoulder. "What are you doing here? Come back with me now!" He commanded haughtily. Assuming the boy would meekly obey as before. Yet, unexpectedly, something changed. Under Sherlock's gaze, the boy first appeared puzzled for a few moments. Then, unexpectedly, he fluidly drew a revolver. Without a word or question, he casually aimed at Sherlock's throat. Bang. Fired without a moment's pause. Sherlock's eyes widened in terror, clamping his throat, stumbling back, and collapsing, convulsing. Blood spread like paint across the marble floor. As his life ebbed away, Sherlock couldn't comprehend. The downtrodden boy he remembered vanished without a trace. And his long-cherished dreams of wealth and glory… seemed shattered? In his final conscious second, Sherlock caught a glimpse of indifference in Lynn's eyes. Like squashing a stray dog underfoot. So that's how it was— To them, he'd always been just a servant. ... "You—did you just kill him like that?!" Upon hearing the gunshot, Grey trembled, then demanded intensely. For in his mind, this boy was ever calm, not one to act rashly. "Oh? Should I have let him show off a bit, waited for tension to build, then given a grand speech when the time was right, and finally kicked him to his doom?" Lynn shrugged. That seemed too tedious. Besides, it depended on the person. If it were his fiancée before him, Lynn might have dramatized, shouting "Never underestimate the youth!" to regain momentum and cling to the prince's favor. But this guy was just a steward, a petty figure. Lynn almost regretted wasting a bullet. Yet, some disagreed. At the gunshot, many dropped instinctively to the ground, with women screaming in alarm. The chaos subsided slightly only when the guards arrived on the scene. "Duke, are you alright?" "I’m fine," Duke Tyrulus replied, his face clouded as he looked at Lynn. "But you, you better have an explanation for me." "Your Grace, allow me to provide an explanation," an unexpected voice cut through the tension. From the crowd emerged a young man with an air of arrogance. "Let me introduce myself first—I am Dalian of the Mossgra family from the capital," he announced, offering a meticulous bow despite the haughtiness in his eyes. "Additionally, this person here is Lynn Bartleon." "You might be aware of the history between our families." "Call it a misunderstanding or a runaway getting what they deserve—a verdict sanctioned by Chief Justice Nedro," he continued. "Yet here he is, at a respectable and dignified banquet, driven by personal vendettas, and he’s even killed my steward." "This is nothing short of an audacious provocation towards you, Your Grace!" "I propose he be arrested immediately for murder and imprisoned pending further action." Dalian delivered his narrative with clarity and composure, quickly swaying the situation against Lynn. At these words, Duke Tyrulus frowned deeply, turning to scrutinize the youth he had favored moments ago, only to find Lynn remarkably composed. This observation plunged the Duke into thoughtful silence. Seizing the moment, Dalian moved before Lynn. Facing the comical mask Lynn wore, he sneered condescendingly. "It has indeed been a while, hasn't it, Lynn?" "Who would have thought the star graduate of the academy would fall so far? If your classmates, led by Iselli, were to see this, they'd be rendered speechless!" "......" Lynn remained silent amidst Dalian’s provocative words. Sensing this, Dalian's smirk grew wider. "Also, Irina asked me to relay a message." "Your divine factor came in handy." "But... if you wish to live, never return to the capital." Having delivered his taunt, Dalian straightened, looking down on Lynn with disdain. In the next instant, Dalian's pupils constricted in shock. Somehow, Lynn had aimed his revolver directly at Dalian’s heart. Then. "Bang!" The shot rang out once more. --- (Note: The novel is scheduled to be officially launched at 11 PM on the 24th of this month, which is the day after tomorrow, so after updating tomorrow’s chapters, there will be a launch statement. I hope you will come and check it out.) (Unable to automatically load the next page in reading mode, please exit reading mode and click the next page to continue reading.)