69 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

## Chapter 69: What Is This Woman... Trying to Do? Despite how Yvette frequently started things abruptly, over time, Lin En had gotten used to it. This is why, as soon as she began speaking, he was already poised to activate "The Devourer of Lies." A familiar stiffness washed over him, and Lin En found himself once more in that peculiar state of out-of-body experience. Yvette gazed at the young man behind the raven mask, her eyes reflecting a hint of complexity as she remained silent for a long time. After a moment’s pause, she suddenly stood up and slowly leaned closer to Lin En, gently removing the mask from his face. A handsome visage was revealed in front of her eyes. The close proximity stirred Lin En's heartbeat, missing a beat. What is this woman trying to do? At this moment, Yvette’s breath, resembling the sweetness of orchids and musk, softly brushed against his face, creating a sense of turmoil. Yet, she seemed utterly oblivious to this fact. Or perhaps, in her mind, she believed he was under hypnosis, making it impossible to realize anything. But for Lin En, the situation was unbearable. One quick, unintended glimpse at the ivory cleft beneath Yvette's neckline almost had him losing his control over the facade of "The Devourer of Lies." Moreover, Lin En suddenly harbored the illusion. Could it be she's about to kiss him? Lin En thought, dazed. However, he knew well enough it was an impossible thing to happen. The reality, indeed, proved him right. It seemed Yvette merely wanted to scrutinize Lin En’s features closely, her crimson eyes fixed unwaveringly on his face. There was no other superfluous motion; it was as if she was reacquainting herself with Lin En Bartleon. Time seemed to stretch infinitely before she finally ended what felt to Lin En like an unending “interrogation” and settled back in her seat. Yvette sighed lightly, removed her mask, revealing her delicate features, then gazed out the window. The flourishing nightscape of Orleans filled her vision, though her heart was not in it to appreciate. “The first question,” she softly uttered amidst the gentle tumbling of the carriage, “What were you thinking when you came to my rescue earlier?” I was thinking about how to prevent you from killing everyone there. Lin En thought humorously to himself. Nevertheless, he knew he couldn’t answer like that. He suddenly realized something. The night had unfolded far too tumultuously, surpassing everyone's expectations, Yvette’s included. Thus, his flawless handling of the situation might have left a profound impression on her mind. This impression differed from when he had previously forced Yvette to confront her emotions under the guise of hallucination. It was a purely positive impression. To draw a parallel, in this galgame event, Lin En, as the player, chose all the correct options, slightly elevating Yvette’s affection. Although its extent was unknown, it undeniably marked unprecedented progress. This differed from prior flattery and deceit under hypnotic pretense. It was a voluntary act of salvation executed by Lin En, driven by personal consciousness. Yvette seemed also to have felt his sentiment. Pondering on this, Lin En formulated his reply. “I thought it would be nice to kill everyone who was disrespectful to Your Highness back there,” he stated woodenly, “but knowing I couldn't do it, I couldn’t just stand by while Your Highness appeared isolated and helpless, so I opted to aid you in my manner.” Lin En had seemingly forgotten his previous conversations with Greya. He was determined to seize this rare opportunity, to boost her favorability, making her relax her vigilance in the coming days! “Is that all?” Yvette asked again. “I also thought you looked quite pitiful at that time.” Lin En’s words were unexpected. Yet, Yvette merely stared in mild surprise, without bursting into anger. After a brief silence, she commented nonchalantly, “Courageous, make sure it doesn’t happen again.” “Yes.” For some inexplicable reason, Lin En sensed a faint aura of world-weariness emanating from Yvette then. He had no idea what the Duke of Tieurwa had discussed with her earlier. “Second question.” Yvette continued without giving him a pause for thought, “Were you afraid of the pressure from Uncle Tieurwa after firing the gun?” “Terrified.” “Then why did you dare to fire?” “You once said, that without your permission I wasn’t allowed to die. And at that moment, I was sure I didn’t hear you issue a ‘go die’ command. Therefore, I knew, no matter what I did, I wouldn’t die.” “Because without your permission, I absolutely wouldn’t die.” “Even if Duke Tieurwa took personal action, it would still be the same.” His voice was somewhat mechanical, yet the sincerity was so palpable that it caused Yvette’s speech to falter into an unspeakable silence. She hadn’t expected that this guy, acting on merely a prior order, would undertake such a reckless deed. “.Last question,” after a lengthy quiet, she spoke again, “You seem to never care about others’ opinions?” “That’s correct.” “How do you do it?” Yvette asked softly. At that moment, she recalled Duke Tieurwa’s words in his study. A person swayed by emotions could never become an adept leader. Although Yvette didn’t feel any dire need to amend herself, she still mentally noted down the statement. Upon introspection, the man before her served as living evidence. Throughout their journey, barring that inexplicable suicide attempt that night, he exuded an innate composure. There seemed no situation capable of creating intense emotional upheaval or affecting his judgment. Perhaps, that’s why he could perfectly handle everything. So Yvette was eager to hear his response. “When the mirror’s dirty, we won’t think it’s our face that’s dirty.” Lin En began slowly, “Likewise, when faced with others’ mockery and malice, why should we feel it’s our problem?” In simple terms, if a thousand people question me, then those thousand people are fools. That was Lin En’s philosophy in life. A trace of bewilderment flickered across Yvette’s eyes. After a brief moment, she regained her composure, a slight smile forming at the corner of her lips. “That’s so your style.” After speaking, she once again turned her head to look out the window. The shadows of buildings outside and the streetlights lining the roads flitted back and forth in the carriage with its rapid pace. The surrounding quietude was unnervingly profound. Even with “The Devourer of Lies,” Lin En felt uncomfortable. Woman, say something, anything? He thought silently. And his wish was swiftly granted reality. Gazing at the fleeting scene outside, Yvette’s thoughts seemed elsewhere. “Thank you.” She abruptly said, seemingly out of context. ? There was a moment where Lin En thought he was hearing things. But he soon realized it wasn’t an illusion; it undeniably unfolded right before him. Staring at her reflection in the window, Yvette’s delicate lips parted. She seemed to have more to say. But in the end, nothing further came out. Ultimately, those intricate, awkward thoughts simplified into the briefest phrase. “...All in all, thank you.”