68 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

# Chapter 68: The Third Hypnosis (4k Words) After leaving the Tirus residence, Mozel wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and, with the help of his subordinate, briskly made his way to the carriage. What a bunch of maniacs! Even now, he was still engulfed in the atmosphere he'd just experienced, unable to shake it off. First, he barely escaped death from that insane woman, and then he witnessed a member of the Mosgra family, allies of the Celestial Church, meeting with a death threat and getting killed by that very madwoman on the spot. Finally, it escalated to Duke Tirus personally taking action, yet he couldn't even touch the opponent! Could it be… For a moment, Mozel's expression flickered with uncertainty. Only after entering the carriage did he finally allow himself to relax a little. As the wheels slowly began to turn, Mozel’s heart was a whirlwind of emotions. “Bishop, should we…” “He has already declined our olive branch, trying to seize the whole cake, but that's impossible.” Mozel gritted his teeth. “From now on, the only path left is conflict, a struggle to the death.” “Damn you, Tirus!” Mozel slammed his fist against the carriage wall. The subordinate, witnessing this, went silent, not daring to utter a single word. It wasn't until much later that Mozel finally calmed himself. “Tell the church members to stay vigilant,” he said, eyes fixated on the brightly lit streets outside. “They'll likely be watching us closely, waiting for a chance to take a bite out of us.” “Don't give them that chance.” “Yes!” ... Led by a maid, Lynn walked in the direction Duke Tirus had departed. Moments later, accompanied by a familiar scent of roses, he sensed another presence beside him. “Why did you act so rashly?” She did not look at Lynn, her gaze fixed calmly ahead. “I’ve told you before, I will avenge your grievances.” Lynn shook his head. “It wasn’t an impulsive act; quite the opposite, I was extremely rational at that moment.” Did they really think such a ridiculously idiotic provocation could make his blood boil? Absolutely impossible. Hearing this, Ivester frowned slightly. “Then what’s the reason?” “Of course, it was for you.” Lynn glanced at her and was somewhat disheartened to find she was slightly taller than him in heels. “The Mosgra family sending someone here, you must clearly understand what that signifies.” “If they reach Duke Tirus first, you won’t stand a chance against them.” “You’re aware of the exorbitant price they could offer to win him over.” “So the only solution was to eliminate Darlion immediately, securing the Duke’s friendship and respect before the second prince could send someone else.” “At that point, even united with the Duke, and regardless of how powerful the Mosgra family might be, they wouldn’t bother over a mere heir.” As for being the killer, Lynn trusted that Ivester wouldn’t abandon him. Facing pressure, a staged death could easily convince the world otherwise. After this, Lynn could completely retreat from the spotlight. This plan also facilitated his eventual escape, killing two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, Ivester was unaware of his inner thoughts at that moment. Seeing her still troubled, Lynn attempted to reassure her, “Don't worry, I considered all the consequences before acting.” “That’s not what I meant…” Ivester hesitated, her side profile masked by the veil, rendering her expression unreadable. “...Forget it, I’ll explain later.” A strange woman indeed. Despite his curiosity, Lynn knew better than to probe further. “Here you are.” The servants left after leading them to Duke Tirus’s study room door. Ivester pushed open the door. At this moment, the Duke, who had been impeccably dressed earlier, was sitting with his coat removed, puffing away on a pipe. Upon seeing them enter, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes. However, his face remained unperturbed. The room lapsed into silence. After a short while, he spoke coolly, “Do you think you can pull me onto your ship with such tactics?” “Certainly not,” Lynn replied, shaking his head. “If the Duke truly wishes to distance himself from us, it would be simple enough, given the myriad of eyes who witnessed tonight’s events.” Duke Tirus was puzzled. “Then why risk it?” “I wanted to secure an opportunity for Her Highness.” “An opportunity?” Duke Tirus pondered, then laughed. “Yet I feel Her Highness doesn’t seem to seek this opportunity?” Faced with Ivester’s frosty gaze, Duke Tirus shook his head. “If tonight’s events were a test, does Her Highness know her evaluation?” “Perfect score,” Ivester answered without hesitation. “Zero!” Suddenly, Duke Tirus thumped the table. “I’ve never seen a candidate act as absurdly as you have!” “To me, you have no desire to become emperor, nor the temperance for it!” “Did you wish to kill everyone who looked down on you, hmm?” “Let me tell you, if you dared to kill someone at a banquet tonight, tomorrow you might plunge the empire's citizens into ruin!” “Not only would I not support such folly, but no wise person in this world would!” Duke Tirus chided her endlessly, seeming both irritated and regretful. Then, as if recalling something, he glanced at Lynn, a sardonic smile forming, “Except perhaps for you.” “Uh... Thank you for the compliment?” Lynn, unsure how to respond, could only awkwardly reply. In his view, Duke Tirus’s anger was actually a positive sign. Formalities would be far more challenging to deal with. Though he and Ivester's relationship appeared not as distant as expected? Seeing Lynn’s puzzled expression, Duke Tirus took another deep puff of his pipe. “Her Highness and I were childhood friends,” he admitted tersely. Oh wow. That testimony was both juicy and intriguing. Lynn struggled to maintain his composure, awkwardly changing the subject, “So, Duke, I noticed you seemed to employ gravity-based abilities from the Celestial Church?” “Correct.” Tirus didn’t conceal it. “I’m an atheist, but underwent genetic imbued surgery over a decade ago, with no adverse reactions.” He clenched his fists as he spoke. An atheist? Lynn recalled this unused element from the novel, suddenly enlightened. Technically, Her Highness was also an atheist, not devoted to any deity. However, her power’s origin was distinct from others, more peculiar and enigmatic. The original text scarcely hinted at it, just alluding to a connection with a terrifying elder entity from the Age of Chaos. After all, she wasn’t the protagonist and warranted minimal elaboration. Looks like he’ll have to uncover this secret himself. Lynn quietly mused. Observing the two in contemplation, Duke Tirus broke the silence: “Now, let’s get to business.” “I know exactly why you staged tonight’s commotion.” “But my relationship with your mother is separate from this matter,” he stated plainly. “Frankly, I’m not optimistic about your prospects. For Tirus’s sake, I wouldn’t board a sinking ship.” “Compared to you, the second prince seems the likeliest to claim the throne.” Hearing this, Ivester’s slightly relaxed expression stiffened, turning frosty again. She restrained herself due to his status. “Unless... you can present something that interests me.” Duke Tirus shifted his tone. “We’re all adults here; we understand nothing matters but interest.” “So tell me, compared to the Mosgra family and the second prince, what can you offer?” His gaze fixated on Lynn. Even Ivestar raised her brows, regarding him with a curious gaze. Why is everyone staring at me... Lynn inwardly cursed but sincerely responded, "We can ensure you earn in your own terms." This statement left Duke Tirus in silent contemplation. "Earn in my own terms?" He repeated the phrase. "Are you insinuating that I am now groveling for handouts?" Duke Tirus found the notion absurd. "Explain yourself, or you'll regret it, young man." Hearing this, Lynn chuckled, "Whether you’re kneeling for handouts, you should judge for yourself." "Taxation is the foundation for a nation’s operation and its primary source of revenue, yet the actions of the parasites in Orlen City have effectively severed the empire's economic lifeline... This may overstate it, but that’s the essence." Duke Tirus instinctively took another puff from his pipe. Lynn continued, "You came to collect taxes, which should have been obstacle-free, yet you were blocked by both the local nobility and the church." "An action that should have been perfectly justified has now turned into you seemingly troubling them to the point of hosting a charity banquet to test their stance." "If there weren't tacit approval from prominent nobles and church leaders, they couldn’t have reached this extent." "And yet you can’t touch them, forced to accept a share of the pie they give you." "Tell me, isn’t that akin to begging?" Duke Tirus's expression turned serious, instinctively trying to refute, "How can I be unable to..." "If that were possible, you would have already had them cleared away by the army," Lynn interrupted. "It’s not that you're weak; it’s that the collective power of those behind the scenes is overwhelming." These words left Duke Tirus in complete silence. Even he had to admit there was some truth to the boy's words. Ever since he arrived in Orlen City, he had faced constant obstacles. Not only that, but in the neighboring border cities, his people faced similarly formidable resistance. Does he really have to bow down and beg? No, never. Duke Tirus instinctively rejected this notion. In the matter of taxation, he was acting as an agent of Holy Roland VI. Choosing to concede would essentially mean acknowledging the dominance of noble power over the empire. This is why, despite the events of tonight, Duke Tirus did not get irrationally angry; instead, he brought Lynn and Ivester into his study for further discussions. If he truly accepted the Mosgra family’s conditions and colluded with the Celestial Church, he couldn’t quell his anger nor justify it to His Majesty. For a moment, Duke Tirus's expression fluctuated between dark and light. "I can give my military word," seeing the opportune moment, Lynn launched his next diversionary tactic, "Ten days—within ten days, not only will you be standing tall, but you’ll be profiting immensely." "If I fail, I am willing to accept military punishment!" Seeing his earnest demeanor, a flicker of doubt passed through Ivester's eyes. Unbeknownst to her, the order came from the future End Witch demanding Lynn to diminish the Celestial Church’s influence. Yet seeing him bustling around her affairs, she found ... it not unpleasant. Ivester pondered silently to herself. “That’s your promise.” After a long silence, Duke Tirus snorted coldly. “Of course, I always deliver on my promises.” Seeing the Duke’s expression, Lynn’s tense heart finally relaxed. The first step was thus completed. Now for the second step. Contemplating the plan that was already taking shape in his mind, Lynn fell into deep thought. "Alright, now that we’ve reached a preliminary agreement, you can leave." Duke Tirus suddenly waved his hand, sounding a bit impatient, "I have more to discuss with Her Highness." Hey, isn’t this just using and discarding me?! The realization stunned Lynn. But catching Ivester’s subtle signal, he restrained his thoughts, merely casting a mildly annoyed glance at Duke Tirus before leaving the study. The room returned to silence. Once Lynn departed, Duke Tirus's earlier façade vanished, replaced by unprecedented gravity. With personal matters settled, it was time for public business. "Regarding the object of sealing that His Majesty mentioned before, my men seem to have located where the Academy of Creation hid it." "However... the item's current state is somewhat peculiar." Hearing this, Ivester’s pupils shrank. For the first time in days, she heard news of the sealing object. This was also the true reason for her visit to Orlen City. ... Back in the carriage, Lynn stared listlessly at the scenery outside. Though curious about what Duke Tirus wanted to discuss with Her Highness, it seemed they preferred to keep him uninformed. A few minutes later, as the carriage door opened, the familiar rose fragrance wafted through the air. After a brief exchange, Ivester returned to the carriage, deep in thought. Seeing her looking a bit down, Lynn didn’t want to provoke her further, choosing instead to sit quietly by her side. Yet sometimes, things happen precisely when you least desire them. "Raise your head." Suddenly, Ivester’s cool, melodious voice reached Lynn’s ears. He instinctively complied. Then, he saw her palm glowing with a green light, directing the Eye of Insight mark at him. Oh boy.