95 - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

## Chapter 95: The Spine-Chilling Truth (3k) This time, Evest did not initiate with zero frames, yet Lynn was prepared, activating the Swallower half a second in advance. While maintaining a dull, hypnotic state, Lynn discreetly observed Evest sitting by the window. He then noticed a crumpled letter quietly lying on the windowsill beside her right hand. The seal bore the emblem of a World Tree, indicating it was a letter from the royal family. Could this be the reason behind her recent melancholy? However, there was one thing Lynn couldn’t comprehend. Earlier on the street, the woman promised to reveal the truth to him, yet in the end, she hypnotized him in an instant. Usually, Evest would only employ this tactic when she didn’t want him to recall specific details. Lynn pondered this. At this moment, Evest’s ethereal voice rang out, “Drink the wine on the table.” Instinctively, he looked up and indeed saw half a glass of red wine on the right side of the desk. Under the moonlight, it reflected a crimson hue. Was she feeling not drunk enough herself, looking for a drinking partner? Despite his confusion, Lynn, feigning hypnosis, followed her command obediently. Soon, the slightly bitter taste of the premium red wine passed down his throat. Only after Lynn finished the wine did Evest gently withdraw her gaze. It was a bizarre night brimming with oddities. Had she drugged the wine, planning to pin him down when the effects kicked in, to have a last hurrah before executing her mission? Lynn's mind wandered into wild thoughts. Yet, long after, Evest still hadn’t spoken. The moonlight cast on her added a touch of cold tranquility to her aura. However, in Lynn's eyes, the royal highness at this moment shed her usual coldness and imposing majesty, gaining an indescribable softness or perhaps serenity. “Felicit wasn’t wrong.” Finally, Evest spoke, “To my father, to the royal family, even to the entire empire, I am just a ‘tool.'” Her opening was abrupt, unconnected to any introduction, merely allowing her emotions to dictate her words. Lynn was taken aback. The original novel primarily focused on the male protagonist and a horde of surrounding female characters. Thus, in the earlier and middle phases, the plot regarding the royal succession battle, including the character of the third princess Evest, wasn't extensively covered; she mostly seemed to suffer setbacks. She only matured into the ultimate antagonist in the latter stages during the War of the Gods. The book scarcely mentioned Evest's past. So, for Lynn, it was as if he was navigating this blindfolded, unable to clarify many events. Hearing Evest’s abrupt heartfelt disclosure at this moment significantly puzzled him. A tool? Though unbeknownst to him how powerful she was now, certainly not below a sixth-tier level. Even if she couldn’t combat gods, within this nation, except for a few major churches, ancient lineages, and a handful of level 0 sealed artifacts, nobody could restrain her. If not for vying for the throne, even if Evest were to defect abroad, she could overturn a regime anywhere outside the five great empires. Therefore, Lynn was quite baffled. With such formidable power, why was she still regarded as a tool? However, Evest wasn’t aware of his inner thoughts at this moment. She gazed at the moon outside, speaking to herself, “As an ominous existence abandoned by the gods, I really shouldn’t have been born into this world.” “The voices calling for me to be sent to the gallows back then were not few among the populace, yet my father bore heavy pressure to save me.” “Despite a childhood fraught with bullying and discrimination, at least I grew to my current stature as a noble princess.” “I truly was grateful to him back then, grateful for everything he did for me.” “There were even fleeting moments when I genuinely believed there existed spontaneous kindness and love in this world.” “Until that day.” As she spoke, a hint of a bitter smile appeared at the corner of Evest's lips. She tilted her head back and downed the wine in her glass. Perhaps a little tipsy, a few drops of wine flowed downward, falling into the deep crevice of her chest. “I vaguely remember it was my seventh birthday.” Evest lowered the wine glass, curled her legs, and gently hugged her knees with both hands, “There were no attendees at my birthday banquet except for nuns sent by several major churches conducting routine body checks on me.” “With a residue of childlike temperament at that time, such conditions made me angry, throwing tantrums.” “Looking back now, it was merely an attempt to seek attention.” “So, during the nuns' examination, I suddenly felt my emotions and powers slipping beyond control. Angrily, I grabbed the sealed item they were using, intending to stop what seemed like measuring cargo.” “That was a level 4 sealed item, supposedly irremovable owing to certain indestructible traits.” “Yet upon realization, I found that sealed item crumbled into powder in my hand, slowly dispersing.” “This action shocked everyone present, subsequently stirring a great frenzy among the capital's churches that night.” “However, as the instigator of the incident, I fell sick with a fever.” Evest paused briefly, tucking the loose hair on her shoulders behind her ear, “The fever lasted an entire week, and my consciousness seemed drowned in an endless sea, undergoing perpetual drowning pain.” “Fortunately, in the end, I pulled through.” “The first sight upon awakening was my father, Saint Eroland VI.” “I assumed he was worried for my safety, hence staying by my bedside day and night, but as it turned out...” “But as it turned out, at the moment I saw him, a flicker of disdain appeared in his eyes, and his voice carried unprecedented alienation and rigidity.” “He said to me…” “Evest Roran Alexini, the empire has tolerated your existence in this world for seven long years. Thus, from today, begins your obligation to repay the empire and fulfill your duty as a ‘tool.'” Here, Evest suddenly revealed a slight smile. “Are you curious about what the ‘tool’ refers to? And where exactly does my power originate?” Of course, I'm curious. At this moment, Lynn’s emotions were wholly absorbed in her narration. “I don’t know either.” Evest muttered, “I only know that ever since I was born, every night in my dreams, I see a white-haired woman who resembles me.” “Each meeting, this white-haired woman's lips move, saying something, but it’s impossible to hear clearly.” “Only when the dream is about to dissolve does she bestow me some scattered, glowing things.” “Those things are the source of my power.” “So even without any faith, I can continuously enhance my power.” Evest’s fair palm suddenly emitted a faint red glow before she gently dispelled it. A white-haired woman? Upon hearing her words, Lynn paused. Could she be the future's End Witch, attempting to form some time loop? But that wouldn’t make sense either. If the future self could infinitely aid the past in boosting strength, wouldn’t history be casually alterable? Then what purpose does it serve for him to increase the plot deviation degree? Moreover, Lynn vaguely recalled that Evest’s true power source seemed connected to some ancient entity from the Age of Chaos. Hence, that white-haired woman likely wasn’t the End Witch. However, Evest continued speaking, unimpeded by his contemplation, “With the enhancement of power, I gradually began mastering some formidable abilities.” “Among them, two abilities I have named [Devour] and [Annihilate]." “And this marks the inception of me becoming a ‘tool.’” “As you’ve imagined, the incident on my seventh birthday actually exhibited these two abilities partially.” “Due to sealed items possessing various characteristics and laws, diverse negative effects must be considered while containing them, devising different strategies.” “Lower-level sealed items have relatively simple containment methods.” "As the sequence advances, some Level 2, Level 1, and even the fabled Level 0 sealed items possess containment requirements so stringent, they can be described as harsh." "A single misstep can trigger a terrifying chain reaction, leading to a disaster that cannot be halted." "For those uncontrollable sealed items whose drawbacks outweigh their benefits, the primary principle for not just the Saint Roland Empire, but all nations, is to destroy them." "However, the higher the sequence, the stronger the indestructibility and rules of the sealed items, far beyond the reach of human power." "Therefore, wielding the powers of [Devour] and [Annihilate], I am the ideal executor of this principle." Although Evest was smiling, the words she spoke sent chills down one's spine. Could it be that... An overwhelmingly oppressive thought loomed over Lynn's mind. The next moment, Evest's words confirmed his chilling suspicion. "Using the ability of [Devour] to kill the consciousness of the sealed item, integrating its traits and laws within myself, and then with the power of [Annihilate], meticulously disassembling it bit by bit," Evest stated calmly, "that is the duty I am required to fulfill as a 'tool.'" ?! In an instant, a horrifying sensation enveloped his entire body. Lynn's mental state wavered precariously, on the brink of breaking free from the Swallower’s influence, as if experiencing an unprecedented shock. Is this really the truth? He gazed at Evest by the window, his heart a tumultuous stew of emotions. Critical plot point, please keep reading and avoid holding off on the novel!!! [In reading mode, automatic loading of the next page is disabled. Please exit reading mode and click the next page to continue reading.]