Chapter 145 Brother and Sister Meet - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Although the banquet was held with grand pomp, it essentially followed a format already familiar to many. As a result, to some, tonight’s events seemed somewhat lackluster and unremarkable. In the ballroom, young lads in sharp military uniforms were leading elegantly dressed academy girls in dance. Their shoes clicked on the floor, skirts swirled, and energy unique to youth was joyfully evident. Fourth Prince Joshua sipped his champagne, clearly disinterested. Meanwhile, beside him, Eunice broke a long silence with a puzzling question: "The secret of the Bartleons?" Evidently, this was the first time she had heard such a reason. Joshua glanced at her. "This matter isn't much of a secret within the circle." "As someone who grew up alongside Eleanor and others, aren't you even a bit curious? The Bartleon family has few members, yet every child that survives seems to demonstrate extraordinary talent in the superlative realm." Eleanor’s two brothers were the most obvious examples. The eldest, William, despite dying on the battlefield, had left a prestigious mark within the military, holding numerous records. If he hadn’t perished, he would likely have reached the fifth-tier legendary status before Ilina. As for the second son, Lynn, his prodigious life needs no explanation. Even Eleanor, at her current age, isn't far behind her brothers. At the academy, she distinguishes herself as a singular talent. Though currently only at the second tier, she's merely 14 and became extraordinary just a year ago. How many noble-born devotees merely complete the first-tier trial at her age? After all, a child’s body isn’t fully developed and struggles to withstand the baptism of extraordinary power. Typically, 13 is considered the best awakening age. "This is the power derived from bloodline," Joshua remarked with a faint smile. "Such cases are rare. If it weren’t for the Bartleon family’s decline, I wouldn’t even have found a suitable sample." "Sia, a newly acquired subordinate by my sister Silina, possesses a similar bloodline but far purer. Unfortunately, she treasures him so dearly that she won’t let me draw a single vial of blood." "So for now, I must settle for less." For some reason, upon hearing Joshua's calm explanation, a glimmer of pity emerged in Eunice's eyes as she glanced at the petite figure in the corner. In her heart, she had already sentenced the girl to death. "Alright, regarding the banquet, making an appearance should suffice," Joshua said, downing his drink. "I still need to go to the council hall later, where Father is awarding medals to the triumphant heroes returning from war." "I hear my foolish third sister got some lucky break at the frontier and earned herself some military merits." "How amusing." Joshua shook his head, then slowly walked toward Eleanor, who stood in the corner. There, Eleanor leaned against the cold wall, her head hung low as she stared at the smooth marble tiles beneath her feet. Even after several hours, she remained somewhat shaken. Whenever silence enveloped her, the image of maid Celine's tragic death in front of her replayed vividly. This event inflicted deep trauma upon her heart. During her most challenging times, Celine had become akin to family for Eleanor. Yet her life was taken, as if effortlessly, by those demon-like people. Eleanor’s radiant blue eyes were dull and lifeless, devoid of any hope. What should she do? She weakly covered her face, desperately wanting to cry, but not a single tear came. Just then, she noticed out of the corner of her eye a figure approaching, offering her a handkerchief. Eleanor quickly composed herself and took a deep breath, "Sorry, I..." But when she looked up and saw who it was, her expression turned icy. "May I have the honor of a dance?" Joshua asked, as a gesture to conclude the evening's banquet. Seeing her rejection of his handkerchief, Joshua casually smiled, tucking it back into his pocket, and reached out his hand towards Eleanor. It appeared he merely wished for a dance, yet his extended hand seemed to bear a different significance. Behind him, Eunice cast a threatening glance, full of implication. Currently, the Musgrave family had complete control over the Bartleon family’s destiny, even holding the marquis’ life in their hands. With such leverage, Eunice didn’t believe Eleanor would dare defy her command. Feeling Eunice's gaze, Eleanor was consumed by despair. She understood well. Accepting the Fourth Prince’s olive branch would surely lead her into dark, inescapable human experimentation, a fate from which she would never return safely. But if she refused, how could her comatose father, missing sister-in-law, and her brother, whose fate at the frontier was unknown, possibly fare? This was a choice. To exchange her life for her family’s survival. However, Eleanor knew full well that negotiating with these devilish entities was a foolish endeavor. If she accepted the Fourth Prince’s proposition, would her father and brother truly remain unharmed? Even with minimal contemplation, the answer was clear: impossible. Caught in a dilemma, Eleanor's eyes turned increasingly vacant, and her wrists quivered beneath her sleeve. Seeing this, Joshua frowned. Even now, the girl still harbored dreams of reuniting with her family. "Let me give you a piece of information," Joshua suddenly said. "After returning from the frontier, Ferit sought me out and shared something quite interesting." "On the memorial for the fallen in Orne City, he claimed to have seen a familiar name." "Care to guess whose name it was?" His words were like a knife, unexpected and piercing straight into Eleanor's heart. She looked up in a daze, her gaze fixed on the man before her, lips trembling yet unable to utter a word. If anything sustained her will to persevere till now, it was the second brother exiled to the frontier. She always believed that one day her miraculously gifted brother would regain his strength, return to their family, and rescue everyone from despair’s quagmire. This belief had been her motivation. Yet, feeling the certainty in Joshua’s gaze, Eleanor suddenly wished to cover her ears. As if not hearing it would shield her from such a harsh reality. But no matter how far she ran, reality persisted. The Fourth Prince, with cold determination, aimed to shatter the final illusions and hopes within her heart. "Indeed, that name was... Lynn Bartleon." "No... no..." Eleanor sobbed, clutching her ears as she shook her head helplessly. Had it not been for the wall behind her, she would have collapsed, unable to keep herself upright. A buzzing echoed in her mind, as if mocking her year-long efforts as futile, the so-called Bartleon family a relic of the past. The cracks within her heart creaked under the strain. It seemed as though if things continued in this manner, Eleanor's spirit would utterly collapse. William was dead. Lynn was also dead. Now, only she and her father remained of the entire family. Eleanor, oh Eleanor, the hopes buried deep in your heart have long become a subject of derision to others. At this point, can you still resist the fate that has already been predetermined? Silent tears streamed down her face, yet Eleanor made no move to wipe them away. Witnessing this, Joshua felt a tinge of impatience surge within. "The dead can’t be brought back," he stated coolly. "Life is precious because of this transience, and we can only remember those who have departed." "Precisely for this reason, we must seize the present, cherish those who still live, mustn't we?" He hinted at something more. "So, what is your answer?" He extended his hand yet again to the black-haired girl who stood with her head bowed in silence. Using her life to exchange for her father's was the only option Eleanor had left. "I..." The girl slowly raised her hand. Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Fourth Prince Joshua's lips. If she willingly became a test subject without resistance, the success rate of many procedures would significantly increase. Yet, in the next moment, his expression froze. The hand she raised did not reach for him; instead, a slender dagger appeared somehow. Under Joshua's astonished gaze, she unhesitatingly placed the dagger against her own throat and lifted her head. Though her eyes were red with tears, her expression was a haunting mix of defiance and tragic beauty. "Even in death, I will not fulfill your wishes." The deaths of maid Celine and Lynn, one after another, had dealt her overwhelming blows, extinguishing all hope she had for life. The sudden commotion drew the attention of everyone present, plunging the hall into complete silence. "Put down the knife!" Eunice demanded, her expression tense as she whispered, "Think of your father. Do you not care about his life or death?!" Clearly, she hadn’t expected Eleanor to go this far, exposing such disgrace in public. "If Father were awake, he would surely agree with my decision." Even in death, uphold noble dignity. Rather than become a pitiful subject of manipulation. Hearing this, Eunice's face turned even grimmer. She cautiously glanced at the Fourth Prince. "Your Highness, I—" "No matter," Joshua replied, giving Eleanor a look. "I know what you're planning." "It's just a pity that reputation means nothing to me." "Guards! Arrest this would-be assassin of the prince!" His voice rose sharply. In an instant, four guards appeared seemingly out of nowhere. An invisible force of extraordinary power instantly bound Eleanor's movements. Four third-tier extraordinaires... A sense of despair swept over Eleanor’s eyes. "This world is full of helplessness," the Fourth Prince said slowly, watching the immobilized black-haired girl. "Sometimes, it's not about what you want to do, but about what you're allowed to do." Not even allowed to die? With her spirit crushed, Eleanor slowly closed her eyes, ready to embrace her end. "Whoosh—" "Whoosh whoosh whoosh—" Suddenly, the sound of flesh being pierced echoed continuously, as countless black threads shot forth like arrows from all directions. "Of course, she can do whatever she wants. This is the indulgence I, as her brother, extend towards her whims." "Do you have any objection to that, Prince Joshua?" As the unexpected voice declared, the atmosphere shifted.