Chapter 116 What kind of person is His Highness? - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

As Lynn stood by the roadside, lost in thought, a sudden screeching of brakes filled the air! Instinctively, he turned his head to see a lavishly styled four-wheeled carriage stopping by the roadside. Emblazoned on the carriage was a flag, with a noble and imposing griffin emblem intricately sewn with golden thread. It was the Tyrus family crest. Lynn's eyes slowly widened in recognition. As the carriage door was opened by an attendant, a burly middle-aged man descended gracefully. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his slightly graying hair was meticulously combed back, exuding the aura of someone in authority. At that moment, his expression appeared somewhat grave, seemingly contemplating some bothersome matter, perhaps seeking solace by strolling around the vicinity. Given Lynn's current disheveled state, resembling someone akin to a roadside beggar, the middle-aged man did not immediately notice him. It was not until he snapped out of his thoughts that the man sensed the presence of someone observing him. Reflexively, he turned his head. Their gazes met in mid-air. In that instant, upon seeing each other’s faces, both the middle-aged man and the shabby-looking figure were rooted to the spot in mutual bewilderment. Simultaneously, as if seeing a ghost, they exclaimed, "What the—?!" Inwardly, Lynn added a silent retort. What exactly am I supposed to be exclaiming at? The next moment, everything seemed to blur, and he then found Duke Tyrus, with his formidable fifth-tier legendary strength, appearing in front of him in what felt like a teleportation. Those sturdy arms clamped onto his shoulders like iron grips, making him feel as though his body might fall apart. "Are you Lynn?!" Clearly, Duke Tyrus had not anticipated such a dramatic twist of fate occurring right before him. With dusty attire and mismatched clothes, Lynn was examined thoroughly by Duke Tyrus as if ensuring he hadn’t lost a limb. Meanwhile, a hint of excitement flickered within the duke's tiger-like eyes. He hadn’t expected this. What began as a mere whim to visit the place where the young man once lived turned into this miraculous encounter by the roadside! Was this truly divine intervention?! If not for his familiarity with Lynn's appearance and demeanor, Duke Tyrus might have suspected someone was impersonating him. "Of course, I am Lynn." Repelled by the duke’s pat-like examination, which felt more like an unwanted caress, Lynn shuddered and pushed him away. "You didn't die?!" Still drowning in a sea of joy at having recovered what he had lost, Duke Tyrus stood motionless, mumbling in disbelief. "No, I'm alive." Lynn, wary, eyed him, "That said, Duke, I hope you aren’t thinking of staging a scene where two grown men are embracing and sobbing. That's really quite nauseating." Hearing this, the emerging warmth in Duke Tyrus’s eyes immediately dissipated into a darkened scowl. Alright. This confirms it’s truly Lynn himself. Yet, despite the verbal jab, the duke continued to regard Lynn with an expression akin to that of observing a rare creature. "Something’s off, why aren’t you dead?" He muttered to himself, pacing back and forth while keeping his gaze fixed on Lynn. Truth be told, despite not wanting Lynn dead, reality had been starkly accepted by many, including himself. Bearing a dual infestation of two vile demons, survival seemed impossible even for someone of his legendary fifth-tier level. How did this kid manage it? After the initial exhilaration settled, a multitude of unresolved questions swirled within Duke Tyrus's mind. Encountering such a commotion, surrounding onlookers began casting perplexed glances their way. Seeing this, Duke Tyrus firmly took hold of Lynn’s wrist and briskly led him into the carriage. “Let’s hop in and chat, just us two!” “Oh, and if Her Highness hears that you’re alive, she’ll be overjoyed!” Inside the carriage, Lynn, now in a clean military uniform, leaned against the wall, gazing out the window. At that moment, the carriage sped down the street, racing towards Tyrus Manor. Looking out, the aftermath of the recent disaster that had ravaged the entire city was evident in Orne. Every street bore signs of destruction, with buildings reduced to ruins and scorch marks left by fires. Many homeless wanderers lay listlessly by the roadside, their hollow eyes following the speeding carriage with a faint glimmer of hopelessness. In that split-second exchange of glances, Lynn discerned the despair that was impossible to conceal. A city that had been their livelihood, and a place where generations had rooted, was reduced to ruins by an inexplicable calamity. Not only that, decades of savings and homes were obliterated, and family members perhaps perished in the same tragedy. The future seemed bleak, extinguishing any reason for survival. Utterly numb, all they could do was wander the streets, waiting for starvation to claim them. Perhaps due to the horrors unleashed by the blackened mire that once ravaged here, the city now sprawled lifeless, drained by a demon's creation. Everything appeared gray and desolate. Even the sky was shrouded in heavy, leaden clouds, as if sunlight could no longer pierce through to this dingy city. Perhaps following this ordeal, Orne would tread the same path as other lawless regions. Such instances were not unprecedented. Many cities, even after being reclaimed post-demonic invasions, never fully regained the order they once had. Chaos and malevolence became the prevailing theme, gradually turning them into the empire’s gray areas. Peering at the current scene, Lynn sank into contemplation. However, at this moment, the most pressing matter for both him and Duke Tyrus wasn’t related to these events. “So you’re saying that after being transported away from the Solon Mountains, a deity intervened to save you?” “Indeed.” Lynn's expression suddenly hardened with severity. “In a daze, I seemed to enter an endless void teeming with cosmic stars, where I encountered the great and supreme Lord of a Billion Stars.” “It was He who purged the corruption from me and saved my dying soul.” “Praise be to my Lord.” Observing Lynn's solemn expression, Duke Tyrus opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. Praise be, indeed. Weren’t you excommunicated? Even making up a story about the Moon Goddess or Mother of Fertility would be somewhat plausible. Moreover, not too long ago, you incinerated the entire Celestial Church, toppled a bishop, and incidentally crushed over a hundred supernatural beings. It was almost like scattering their ashes wasn’t enough. The Lord of a Billion Stars saved you? Who would believe that! A trace of exasperation flickered across Duke Tyrus’s eyes. Clearly, this guy didn’t intend to speak the truth. But that was understandable. After all, during the handling of the level-zero artifact riot, Lynn had revealed many unconventional trump cards, suggesting he had secrets he wished to keep. Since Lynn didn’t want to divulge them, Duke Tyrus was disinclined to probe further. By this time, after catching up for a while, the tense excitement and shock he initially felt gradually abated, and his usual calm demeanor returned. Simultaneously, his mind finally had a moment to reflect on other matters. Lynn was alive. This piece of news would surely cause a stir among many. The ones most eager to hear this would probably be the people of the Augusta Manor. Especially the princess seated in a wheelchair. “Thankfully, you’re alive. Otherwise, who knows what would become of Her Highness.” The thought of Princess Evester sitting in her wheelchair, trying hard to suppress a certain manic energy in her eyes, sent a chilly shiver down Duke Tyrus's spine. This time, Saint Roland VI truly went too far. Throughout the entire incident, Evester played the role of a pawn, and few cared about her feelings. The only person who did, Lynn, was almost sent to his death. Though it seemed like a misunderstanding now, Evester was unaware of it. Hearing Duke Tyrus's words, an unusual look flickered in Lynn's eyes. "Why have you gone quiet?" Duke Tyrus chuckled, noting Lynn looking down and silent. "Are you planning to put on a show for Her Highness once you return?" "I'll tell you, this time you probably..." "Your Grace," Lynn abruptly interrupted, a trace of confusion in his gaze. "Actually, I've been meaning to ask since earlier." "From the way you talk, it seems I should have had some dealings with the Third Princess?" Duke Tyrus laughed and shook his head. "You're joking, right? If you two have had no interactions, then everyone else in the world might as well be strangers." Considering the despair and broken spirit Evester displayed over Lynn's presumed death, he felt a chill. It was the first time he had seen such emotions from that arrogant and ruthless young woman. All because of one man. The thought that there was no connection between them was unconvincing to him! Yet, faced with Duke Tyrus's insinuating glance, Lynn merely furrowed his brow. "I genuinely don't remember any such thing." Seeing his genuine surprise, Duke Tyrus realized the grave seriousness of the situation. He slowly sat up straight. "Evester Roland Alexandrina—doesn't that name ring any bells?" "I’ve heard of it." Lynn didn't hesitate. Having read the original work, he had a vivid impression of this villainous princess. After all, the End Witch he followed was Evester, ten thousand years into the future. Returning to Orne now was at her behest, to prevent her from nurturing destructive thoughts towards the empire and to change the doom awaiting in the future. At his response, Duke Tyrus was about to sigh in relief. But the next moment, he heard Lynn, his tone tentative, slowly ask, "But... what kind of person is she exactly?" While he had read the novel, his impression was only rough. He knew she was portrayed as ugly and terrifying, with a vicious and aggressive nature, fitting the mold of a malicious supporting character in the beginning. It wasn't until the middle and latter parts that she transformed into a formidable villain. However, Duke Tyrus was oblivious to his internal musings. Recalling Lynn’s honest gaze and the despair in the eyes of the white-haired woman, his mind went blank. Damn! Inside Tyrus Manor. Duke Tyrus, with a pipe clamped in his mouth, paced back and forth in his study, puffing out smoke, his face laden with worry. "So you're saying that after the battle, the turmoil caused by the two demons in your mental realm was so intense that it impacted your consciousness, leading to partial memory loss?" "That's right." Seated on the sofa, Lynn nodded. "You remember me, Greya, Rhine, and even Afia and Milanie, yet you’ve forgotten Her Highness?" "Though I say forgotten, I genuinely don't recall any such thing." Noting Duke Tyrus's serious gaze, Lynn scratched his head. "This is not good." He muttered solemnly to himself. Seeing Duke Tyrus speak so cautiously about that woman, Lynn couldn't help but frown. "Honestly, Your Grace," Lynn spread his hands, "I’m utterly clueless about these things as of now. Can you stop speaking in riddles for once?" Duke Tyrus sighed. "You remember everyone except anything related to Her Highness." "With her temperament, even knowing you’re alive again might drive her mad." "In this state, she might just give up on the royal selection, having already considered withdrawing." "But time is running out," Duke Tyrus took a drag from his pipe, letting the smoke seep in front of him. "There’s barely two weeks left, to be exact, around ten days." "If Her Highness doesn’t regain her spirit within these ten days and secure at least a 576-point score from the Holy Oak Institute for the royal selection, it will be too late to reverse anything." Although his words seemed cryptic, Lynn, with his knowledge of the original story, quickly understood. "You mean, if she doesn’t emerge from her emotional slump and survive the elimination round, she’ll have no chance of the throne?" "Exactly." Duke Tyrus nodded. Upon hearing this, Lynn's expression immediately became serious. The task entrusted to him by the witch was precisely to dissuade the princess from her extreme thoughts of empire destruction and to continue participating in the royal selection, thus avoiding the tragic future ending. He couldn't help but fall into deep thought. It was, undoubtedly, a daunting mission. Sensing Lynn’s mood drop, Duke Tyrus didn’t want to burden him further. "It’s alright, you just got back. Rest well for now, and then think about how you want to face the princess." He patted Lynn’s shoulder, trying to offer reassurance. "Leave the royal selection score to me." Hearing this, Lynn shook his head. "Oh, you misunderstood. I was actually pondering how to help Her Highness bounce back." After all, this was a trial set by the witch. As her follower, he must always keep it in mind. "As for the 576-point royal selection score..." As Lynn spoke, he suddenly glanced at Duke Tyrus with surprise, "Isn't that a trivial matter?" "?" Duke Tyrus was stunned. Unbeknownst to Lynn, his words had a massive impact on the elderly man's psyche. In an instant, something sparked in Duke Tyrus's mind, a flash of inspiration. Eureka!