Chapter 143 Hello, I'm here to kill people - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Eleanor sat quietly in front of the vanity mirror, her expression numb as she picked up her long, black hair and glided the comb from root to tip, repeating the motion mechanically and monotonously. She wore a beautifully crafted dress, appearing every bit the elegant and noble lady, destined to be the center of attention if she were to attend a ball. And indeed, she was set to attend a ball tonight. It was a departure ball hosted by the Royal Extraordinary Academy, held to send off the fourth-year students who were about to head to the demon battlefield to carry out their mission. This was a tradition that had been upheld for centuries at the academy. On the eve of departure, the girls would don glamorous dresses, while the boys wore the military uniforms issued to them. After the cocktail party ended, they would elegantly waltz together in the ballroom. After all, for many of them, this might unfortunately be the last time they would see each other, as many might not return from the demon battlefield. Therefore, even after the Bartlaeon family fell from grace, Eleanor, who disliked such gatherings, had no choice but to abide by the academy's rules. She no longer possessed the privilege of being as capricious as she used to be, in order to avoid being expelled from the academy. "Knock knock knock" The sound of someone knocking on the door brought Eleanor back to reality from her daze. She paused for a moment before furrowing her brow. "Come in." Thankfully, when the door opened, Eleanor saw a freckled maid with braided hair tiptoe into her room. Seeing this, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, yet her eyes remained dim. "Celine, why is it you?" Upon hearing these words, the maid placed a finger to her lips. "Hush, Miss Eleanor, keep your voice down. I snuck over here without the head maid knowing." She quickly approached Eleanor, noticing how her mistress's once delicate and adorable face had become increasingly gaunt, eliciting a faint hint of concern in Celine's eyes. Gently taking the comb from Eleanor's hand, she began to help her style her hair while speaking softly. "Miss Eleanor, I just received news that the Wilson Viscount and his family seem willing to provide you shelter. He once served as an adjutant under the Marquis, so he should be fairly trustworthy." "Uncle Wilson?" Hearing this name, Eleanor's eyes lit up ever so slightly. Currently, she was under the Mosgra family’s strict surveillance, and most of the servants and subordinates around her had been replaced with unfamiliar faces, undoubtedly the handiwork of those people. Her actions were constantly obstructed, making her life less like that of a noble family's daughter and more akin to that of a prisoner with no freedom. She couldn't even buy books without first having them inspected by the head maid, Maria, to prevent her from reconnecting with any remaining allies of the Bartlaeon Marquis. Fortunately, today, her long-absent personal maid, Celine, brought her good news. "Did he say when?" Instinctively, Eleanor clasped Celine’s arm, much like a drowning person seizing a last, desperate straw. Presently, she was trapped in the Bartlaeon estate, with her comatose father the perfect hostage, preventing her from acting rashly. If Count Wilson could take both her and her father away, at least the seed of hope for a resurgence would still remain. Celine's expression was serious. "Tonight, after the academy's ball, he would arrange for someone to intercept your carriage midway." "As for the Marquis' side, you need not worry. Viscount Wilson said he has it covered." Hearing this, a gleam of excitement flashed in Eleanor's eyes. She had been imprisoned in the Mosgra family’s woven cage for so long that she could hardly see the possibility of freedom again. Now that an old friend was willing to offer aid, how could she not feel elated? Over the past year of the family's decline, she had gradually developed a certain shrewdness. Success lies in secrecy. With this thought, Eleanor took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Moments later, when she reopened them, her gaze had dimmed once more, as if nothing had ever transpired. "You should go now, be careful. Don’t let them discover any loopholes," she whispered. Half an hour later, having completed her preparations, Eleanor left her room, temporarily parting ways with Celine. Accompanied by two unfamiliar maids, she proceeded to the head maid's quarters. It was a master bedroom, significantly larger and more lavishly decorated than Eleanor's own room. It felt rather insidious. And when she entered, the head maid, Maria, was already waiting inside. "You’re late." The cold-eyed middle-aged maid glanced at her pocket watch. "Punctuality is a virtue nobility should possess, yet you seem to lack such discipline." "Perhaps the Bartlaeon family did not instill strict values in you, leading to this lack of propriety." "But the future is long. I will teach you these things one by one, so you will never forget." Saying so, she put away the pocket watch, eyeing the beautiful young girl before her as if assessing an object. Though just a head maid, she momentarily assumed an unexpectedly lofty air. Yet Eleanor stood rooted silently, as if she hadn’t heard anything. Seeing this, Head Maid Maria frowned. "Your style leans towards purity, not forced maturity. Therefore, I believe your current hairstyle isn’t quite suitable for this evening’s ball and would reveal an unbecoming side of the Bartlaeon family." "Do you think it needs changing?" The middle-aged maid’s tone was indifferent. Eleanor remained expressionless. "You decide." Seeing this, the middle-aged maid nodded. "Come here." Shortly thereafter, two maids came over, escorting Eleanor to the vanity mirror and undoing her painstakingly woven hair, styling it into a less conspicuous look as per Maria's instructions. Perhaps the real intent was merely to ensure that the stunning Eleanor wouldn’t steal the spotlight. As to who should be the focus, that was self-explanatory. "Eunice from the Mosgra family will also attend the ball," Maria mentioned indifferently while watching the maids do Eleanor's hair. "As one of the ball’s initiators and a socialite of the Grosstein crowd, you should learn from her behavior and demeanor." "Additionally, it’s said the Fourth Prince will also attend, officiating the ceremony under the royal name for the departing students. At that time, you are to accompany him for the closing dance." "Do you understand, Miss Eleanor?" Though phrased as a question, Maria's words carried an implicit authority. Since they were dispatched by the Mosgra family, they indirectly took command of the estate. After all, the rightful owner of the estate, the Marquis Bartlaeon, was currently unconscious, acting more like a comatose patient in need of care. With such a weakness, they weren’t afraid Eleanor might take rebellious action. Hearing her words, Eleanor instinctively covered her wrist with her sleeve, a trace of anger surfacing in her luminous blue eyes. After her previous altercation with Eunice, the Fourth Prince's demand for blood had indeed increased, from one vial to ten. Yet she wasn’t foolish enough to allow herself to be exploited. She promptly cut off the supplies. However, the Fourth Prince seemed particularly interested in her or, more specifically, in the blood of the Bartlaeon family. To coerce her into agreeing to trade, a myriad of troubles had beset her recently, even to the extent that the High Court was to reopen investigations into the Bartlaeon family. This left Eleanor disheartened, making the notion of death seem almost appealing. Fortunately, today, her maid Celine brought one of the few pieces of good news in recent times. "I understand." After a moment of silence, Eleanor spoke softly. Hearing this, the head maid Maria displayed a hint of surprise. "Miss Eleanor seems exceptionally obedient today. Has something good happened?" Maria's words carried a subtle implication. Eleanor's heart tightened, but outwardly she maintained a calm facade. "That's what you all wish for, isn't it?" Maria squinted at her for a moment before nodding. "Since you're so cooperative, it makes our job much easier. Right then, the carriage is ready for you outside. You may depart now." As she spoke, she patted Eleanor's shoulder. Without a word, Eleanor lifted her gown and, accompanied by Head Maid Maria, slowly exited the Bartlaeon estate. Seeing the approaching carriage and recalling the news brought by her maid Celine, Eleanor's heartbeat quickened. Freedom was near. Tonight, she could finally escape this cursed cage and flee from under the Mosgra family's surveillance. At that moment, just as this thought crossed her mind, she was suddenly startled by the abrupt sound of shattering glass behind her. Eleanor instinctively turned her head to see a figure plummeting from a great height. In the brief moment their eyes met, she read fear and despair in the other person's gaze. "Thud!" The dull sound of a body hitting the ground echoed through the air, and a faint cloud of dust rose around the impact site. Eleanor watched in a daze as bright red began to slowly seep and spread from the mangled, unrecognizable body. Her heart seemed to stop, and it felt like her blood was turning to ice. The maid, Celine, who had just been brushing her hair, was now nothing more than a warm corpse. "Perhaps an unruly maid couldn't bear the punishment," Maria's voice floated over, ethereal and detached, as if she had anticipated this scene. "That's why it's important to learn obedience, to ensure a brighter future." "Oh, and Miss Eleanor, wasn't that your personal maid? She was a habitual liar. For your own interest, I removed her from your side." "You didn't believe any of the nonsense she spouted, did you?" At these words, a tear welled up at the corner of Eleanor's eye, her already empty gaze now filled with utter despair. So everything she had done had been under their watch all along. You cursed devils. After Eleanor, lost and broken, boarded the carriage, Maria retracted her gaze and, accompanied by the maids, returned inside the estate. It seemed that Eleanor Bartlaeon's spirit of resistance had been thoroughly crushed. At least, she wouldn't be able to muster any further rebellion in the short term. With that, the last obstacle to the Mosgra family’s plans had been removed. It was a perfect execution of the task assigned to her by the family. Thinking this, a small smile appeared on Maria's lips. Now the estate contained only a comatose Bartlaeon marquis and Eleanor herself. Their eldest son had long perished on the battlefield, and although the widow's whereabouts were currently unknown, she carried a legitimate Bartlaeon heir, which remained a potential threat. The Mosgra family was likely already searching for her. But the expansive domain of the Grosstein made results unlikely to be quick. Fortunately, any further complications were not Maria's concerns. Her job was to maintain control over this estate, awaiting orders from the Mosgra family. With these thoughts in mind, Maria paused her steps and softly asked the maid accompanying her, "Has there been any news of the second son, exiled to the border?" "None, he’s presumed dead." Hearing this, Maria nodded. Moments later, a servant approached to inquire, "Head Maid, dinner is ready. Would you like to dine now?" "Yes." A few minutes later, she appeared in the Bartlaeon dining hall, sitting alone at the head of the table. As she watched the courses being served in turn, the candlelight casting flickers on the scene, she felt a sense of dominion, as though she was truly the mistress of the household. And even if she wasn’t, what did it matter? Even the most beloved Bartlaeon daughter had to bow her head before her. This was the pleasure of power, Maria thought contentedly. Just as she was beginning to lose herself in the delightful ambiance of the evening, a sudden disturbance occurred. "Boom!" With a thunderous noise, the tightly closed main gate of the estate was suddenly kicked open. Alarmed, she stood from her seat, left the dining hall, and looked towards the commotion at the entrance. A group of rugged-looking individuals, bearing the traits of those from the borderlands, surged into the Bartlaeon estate and formed an aisle in the hall as if awaiting some esteemed personage's arrival. "Who are you? This is Bartlaeon land, and without the master’s permission, you have no right to intrude!" Maria demanded with authoritative dignity, all the while signaling her subordinates to summon the estate guards. However, these men paid her no heed, not even sparing her a glance. Soon, unhurried footsteps sounded from the entrance. It seemed the main character had arrived. Maria frowned, eager to see which fool dared to offend the currently all-powerful Mosgra family in the capital. Whoever it was, she’d make them rue the day they crossed her path. With that resolve, she looked up. Her expression froze immediately thereafter. A black-haired, blue-eyed young man walked against the light, smiling though his eyes remained devoid of warmth, shrouded in a daunting aura. "It's you?" Her voice quivered with shock. Not long ago, she had heard from her servants that the second son of the Bartlaeon family was likely dead on the frontier. Yet here he stood, very much alive before her. It seemed like a dream come true. She recalled that all the animosities between him and the Mosgra family seemed to have stemmed from an incident involving Miss Irina and this very second son. For some reason, watching his expression, a sense of foreboding washed over Maria. "Haven't been home in over a year, and I barely recognize anyone here," the young man dusted off his shoulder. "Hello there, I am Lynn Bartlaeon—the legitimate and lawful heir of this household. You may call me master, or simply Lynn." Trouble had indeed arrived. Maria suppressed the chaotic thoughts whirling in her mind and took a deep breath. "Apologies, I wasn’t informed of your return, Master Lynn," her voice was calm. "Before entering, if you could provide identification to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, that would be appreciated." Her intent wasn’t necessarily obstruction; she had already notified the Mosgra family. It was best to stall for time until they arrived. She lacked the authority to handle Lynn, leaving her with no better recourse. Yet, it seemed Maria had miscalculated something crucial. Upon hearing her words, Lynn sighed unexpectedly. "Polite measures clearly aren’t my forte… Forget the formalities," he shook his head before gesturing to the borderland guards. "Seize them… Or rather, capture them first." "And do find out where Eleanor is at the moment."