94 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

### Chapter 94: The Fourth Hypnosis After receiving a satisfactory response, Ivette finally lowered her head. "What about the flowers?" Seeing that Lynn's hands were empty, she frowned. "Your Highness, I scoured all the nearby streets but couldn’t find a single florist. Of course, if it’s urgent, I can-" "I'll let it slide this time," Ivette snorted coldly. "Make up for it next time." "Yes, Your Highness." Lynn felt the delicate foot in his arms gently shift, then reposition itself in a new posture. After this brief exchange, silence resumed between the two once more. Upon reflection, whenever they were alone, their conversations seemed sparse. It was only when Ivette believed he was hypnotized that she would slightly open up. Perhaps, except for him, no one had seen the true self she kept hidden in her heart. It was unclear how much time passed before her cool and melodious voice resonated again. "Have you read *Chronicles of Hino*?" The question seemed a bit abrupt, baffling Lynn momentarily. Yet, his spirit was instantly invigorated. This was it! After being ordered around like a servant all day, Lynn had been waiting for this very moment. The first time he visited the Pantheon and met the witch, he saw her sitting on the steps with a book in hand. Though at the time he was captivated by the majesty of the Pantheon and the shock of discovering it was ten thousand years in the future, he inadvertently glimpsed the title of the book she held. *Chronicles of Hino*. A book mentioned many times in the original novel, leaving a lasting impression on Lynn. According to its premise, the book narrates the tale of a small-time individual rising from obscurity, growing through the trials of war, guts, and glory, eventually becoming a Marshal of the Empire. The book spans over fifty years, chronicling the protagonist’s tumultuous life from youth to old age. That was the extent of Lynn's knowledge of the book's content. However, the true reason the book stuck in his mind was not due to its plot. In the Saint Lawrence Empire, every royal child is tasked with reading *Chronicles of Hino* right after they learn to read, intending to instill them with grand goals and ambitions early in life. The eldest princess, Xilina, had even grown particularly fond of this book. So much so, that due to the similarities between the book’s plot and the protagonist's rise, Xilina subconsciously kept him in mind, eventually granting him special attention. This marked the first intersection between the male and female protagonists in the original story. As a member of the royal family, Ivette would naturally have read this book. Her reaction at the Pantheon indicated to Lynn that this book greatly influenced her. It’s possible that her first inclination to participate in the royal selection was sparked by this book. So, Lynn immediately fetched the book from the Augusta Manor library and read it overnight after receiving the trial. One scene from the book impressed him deeply. At the time, the protagonist, Hino, was just a newcomer in the army, mocked by everyone as a rookie. On the eve of the army’s departure, fearing he might die with regrets, Hino sneaked out of the barracks at night and confessed his love to a noble young lady outside the baron’s residence. Surprisingly, the noble daughter also harbored affection for him. After exchanging heartfelt confessions, Hino made a bold decision. He whisked away the young lady, who was trapped in a mansion akin to a caged bird, and disguised as lovers, took her on her first outing, showing her the wonders of the outside world. However, this fleeting dream was indeed ephemeral. After a night of delight, the noble lady returned to her cage-like mansion, destined to be wed to the local porky viscount upon coming of age. The story then devolved into predictable tropes. To Lynn, who had experienced the upheaval of 21st-century internet literature, it was nothing more than a “30 years east of the river, 30 years west” plot, where a few years later, an honored Hino returned, was conferred nobility, and won back his love to spite the viscount. But in the current era, *Chronicles of Hino* undoubtedly was a classic brimming with humor, excitement, tears, and passion. Because there were so few works like it. No wonder the princes and princesses adored it. After all, when Lynn first read *Battle Through the Heavens*, he was equally entranced. Getting back to the main topic. To anyone who has read *Chronicles of Hino*, the scene of the secret rendezvous with the noble lady was indelibly memorable. After all, in the original story, Xilina was seduced this way. Hence, Lynn meticulously orchestrated today’s entire date following the sequence described in the book. Clearly, Her Highness had noticed this as well. Lynn lowered his head slightly. "Indeed, Your Highness, I have read it." Ivette remarked nonchalantly, "So, you went through all this today just to tell me something?" As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Clearly, Ivette saw through his intentions. If he could, he’d plainly ask them to leave him out of missions, allowing him to return to the capital. Lynn wished to be candid. But he understood that with Ivette's nature, expressing such a request would ensure its impossibility. Thus, he confidently responded, "I felt Your Highness seemed a bit down yesterday. That night, I randomly came across this scene and impulsively decided to muster the courage to take you out." Thankfully, Ivette wasn’t wearing her ring, allowing him to fabricate freely. "Why this book?" "In Saint Lawrence, there's hardly anyone who dislikes it." "Heh." For some reason, Ivette let out a derisive laugh at Lynn's response. Lynn looked at her in bewilderment. “*Chronicles of Hino* is the book I despise most in my life,” Ivette said softly. ? If you hate it so much, why were you reading it tirelessly even ten thousand years later? Lynn was baffled. Could this not have been a hint from the witch? Was it all in his head? Could he really not seize this chance to escape her grasp? Abruptly, a sense of futility washed over him, as if all his efforts were for naught. However, Lynn managed to speak, "May I ask why, Your Highness?" Ivette's gaze turned distant, as if her thoughts wandered back over a decade. "When we were children, Xilina and the others adored this book, always reenacting classic scenes when they played house." "That bothersome woman always got to pick the heroine, surrounded by our siblings, laughing joyously." "I was always cast as the malicious witch, adept at curses, defeated by their unified strength in the final act." She lifted her head slightly, gazing at the boundless starry sky, speaking in a subdued tone. Seeing Ivette's expression at that moment tugged at Lynn's heart. It wasn't genuine loathing. Perhaps at many moments in the past, she too felt a tinge of envy. "Go ahead," Ivette shifted from the topic after a brief silence, "I sense you have an agenda today; nevertheless, I am disinclined to care right now." "Seize the moment as my mood remains amiable; whatever wish you have, I shall grant." "Even if it's returning to the capital, it's the same." Ivette's scarlet eyes flicked towards him, gazing down at the young man cradling her feet. This time, her eyes bore no elements of mockery or jest, merely filled with the dignity intrinsic to a princess. Using the Deceiver artifact, Lynn discerned she was speaking truthfully. Did I succeed? Indeed, the one who understands me best is the witch herself! Finally, I have navigated a maze of dead ends to find a path leading to a bright future! Lynn silently shouted in his heart. Yet, he abruptly realized that the elation he anticipated was absent. Why? He gazed absentmindedly at the breathtaking woman with crimson eyes before him. A gentle breeze swept through, setting Ivette's long, jet-black hair, which cascaded like a waterfall to her waist, into graceful motion. Instinctively, Ivette raised her right hand, lightly pressing it against her ear, allowing the hem of her flowing dress to sway freely with the wind. I should ask to return to the capital. That was what Lynn ought to have said. Yet, for reasons unknown, facing Ivette's gentle and relaxed demeanor, the words that escaped his lips were entirely different. "Please tell me what has truly been troubling you these past days, Your Highness." A brief flicker of surprise crossed Ivette's eyes. Apparently, she hadn't expected that even after she explicitly offered to let him return early, he wouldn't seize the opportunity. After a long silence, Ivette suddenly withdrew her feet from his embrace. "Come to my room tonight." I'm an idiot! Late at night, standing before Ivette's door, Lynn felt an overwhelming urge to slap himself. Once again, the wrong head was doing the thinking. Why couldn't he take control of himself? Was he not done being her lackey? The fleeting passion invariably left him with nothing but emptiness and regret, so why couldn't he learn from past mistakes? With a sigh, Lynn pushed open Ivette's door, burdened by these thoughts. The crisp moonlight streamed into the spacious room, as if trickling water. At that moment, Ivette, clad in a simple and breezy nightgown, was perched on the windowsill, leaning against the wall, her gaze fixed on the full moon in the sky. She held a wine glass in hand, and beside her were two empty bottles. Clearly, she had already consumed a fair amount. Lynn approached slowly, "Your Highness?" Ivette remained silent, simply raising her hand slightly. In the palm of her hand, the emerald-green mark of the Eye of the Mind glowed. --- Note: You are encouraged to support authors by voting for them, as a fellow writer has started a new book on Qidian with promising results. Reminder: In reading mode, you can’t automatically load the next page, please exit reading mode and click the next page to continue.