Chapter 146 Are you worthy? - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

The most tear-inducing moments in life are always those where a light pierces through the darkness of despair. Especially when that light comes from someone you thought was dead. The moment that sudden voice rang out, Eleanor's heart seemed to stop. She instinctively opened her eyes. What she saw was an utterly absurd scene. Countless black threads, as if tearing through the void, shot in from all directions, instantly piercing through the four third-tier extraordinary subordinates of the Fourth Prince, Joshua. They didn't even have a chance to resist before these cunning and invisible extraordinary means impaled their bodies. Four muffled groans of pain emerged, and they fell heavily to the ground, blood flowing around them. "Ah!!!" Before the onlookers had a chance to comprehend what had happened, they gasped, and many noble young women, unaccustomed to such gore, covered their mouths, staring pale-faced at the scene. Clearly, no one anticipated that the lavish banquet would suddenly turn into such chaos. Except for Eleanor. Having spent more than a decade together with the boy she called "brother," she was intimately familiar with every inch of his being. How could she not recognize that voice she yearned for day and night? In an instant, the tears that filled her eyes slowly trickled down her cheeks, dropping to the ground. Feeling the extraordinary power binding her dissipate, Eleanor staggered as she turned toward the direction of the voice. Her eyes held a mixture of hope and sheer terror. As if afraid that everything was just a dream. In sight was a youth with black hair, dressed regally, walking against the light. His sapphire-blue eyes, strikingly similar to hers, held a glimmer of reassurance and encouragement. As if saying, "You've done well." "Brother?" Eleanor's pink lips trembled slightly, her body swaying as if she might faint from sudden joy. Yet, even so, she lifted her gown and stepped forward with unsteady steps. Wearing high heels and wanting to run more freely, she ignored the surrounding gazes, kicked off her shoes, and dashed barefoot towards the black-haired youth she longed for! Throughout the process, silent tears fell behind her, marking her excitement and joy. "Brother!" Like a fledgling seeking warmth, she wanted to throw her petite frame into the young man's embrace. For this moment, she had imagined and awaited for far too long. Now, all her hopes had finally bloomed beautifully. When their eyes met, Lynn, who had suddenly intruded into this upper-class banquet, felt an immense peace wash over him. Previously, he had been suppressing his feelings under the guise of being a transmigrator, afraid that upon meeting Eleanor, he might be treated coldly and deemed an unfit brother due to various reasons. But when he saw the unwavering affection in Eleanor's eyes, the profound familial bond prevailed. In this moment, the stirrings in his heart were genuine. And it was clear that what his adorable sister needed most at this moment was neither promises nor verbal comfort. With this thought, Lynn gently spread his arms, embracing the petite girl rushing towards him. As he was enveloped by her sweet fragrance, he felt a rare tranquility deep within. A sensation even the princess or the witch could not provide. "Brother... I... I've missed you so much." The girl in his arms couldn't stop sobbing, speaking in a muffled voice. Lynn remained silent, gently patting her head, allowing her to express her emotions. Time seemed to freeze. Of course, neither Eunice nor the Fourth Prince, Joshua, nor the students gathered around were truly caught in a time freeze. They were merely engulfed in unprecedented astonishment. How could it be him?! When Eunice witnessed the slender figure wrapped in a cold aura stride into the hall, she was left standing dazed. The one who should have been exiled, perhaps even dead in the turmoil, appeared before them as though playing a joke, suddenly and confidently showing up at the banquet. As if to say, "Surprised?" But no one found humor in it. Was this a return from the dead? Or something else? For some reason, Eunice's heart beat a little faster, her face turning somewhat anxious. Memories flooded back of the proud and formidable boy who always seemed to radiate like the sun, the one who continuously left her feeling powerless. No, why am I feeling anxious?! He had long been stripped of his divine-gifted capabilities, exiled to the borders! Even if he returned to the capital and clung to the lowest-ranked princess, it was nothing more than a final struggle of a defeated creature! After all, that operation back then was orchestrated personally by the Fourth Prince! Thinking thus, Eunice instinctively glanced at the Fourth Prince, Joshua, beside her. However, the youth with black-framed glasses merely furrowed his brows deeply, appearing quite perplexed by the scene. "Killing four third-tier extraordinaries in an instant requires at least a Level 2 Sealed Artifact... But that can't be right; controlling such an artifact requires at least third-tier power. How did he..." The Fourth Prince, Joshua, did not seem angered by the injuries of his guards. He didn't even spare them a glance, his gaze fixed solely on the boy. After all, no one knew better than him that the church had personally stripped every divine element from within him, even branding him as an outcast, destroying any hope of regaining extraordinary prowess. Moreover, Ferit must have lied to me. He claimed the boy was dead, and yet here he stands alive. How deceitful. Next time, the research institute should terminate all cooperation with him. With this in mind, a contemplative expression appeared on the face of the Fourth Prince, Joshua. The students, unaware of the complex history between the individuals involved, merely gasped in awe upon seeing the youth's handsome and refined features. "It's him!" "Senior Lynn? He's... he's back?" "Weren’t his divine abilities supposed to be stripped, leaving him as an ordinary person? How could he wield such a powerful Sealed Artifact?!" "Could he be returning to Gloristine for something...?" The students began whispering amongst themselves. Suddenly, the previously silent hall erupted into chatter. Yet, at the center of it all, Lynn and his sister Eleanor remained an island of calm, silently ignoring the crowd's reactions. After crying for what seemed like an eternity, even soaking the fabric over her chest, Eleanor slowly raised her head. Her red, swollen eyes blinked as she looked at her brother, an adorable gaze on her face. "Brother, I thought... I thought I'd never see you again." "What happened to you this past year?" It seemed as if Eleanor had finally found her anchor. Her previous stubbornness faded, and even her voice carried a hint of reliance and a coquettish tone. Hearing this, Lynn reached out to wipe away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes, then patted her head gently. "Once we're home, I'll tell you everything," he reassured her. "But right now, there are more pressing matters to attend to." His voice suddenly took on a more serious tone as he held Eleanor close and turned his gaze to the distance. Feeling his calm gaze, Eunice instinctively averted her eyes, only to remind herself that he was just a fallen scion. Her face stiffened as she glared back. In contrast, the Fourth Prince took two steps forward, unperturbed. "Lynn Bartley, you have quite the audacity," Joshua chuckled. "You knew someone was attempting to assassinate me, yet you dared to disable my four extraordinary guards in public." "According to the Empire's laws, such an act warrants a death sentence." "Brother, we should go now!" Realizing the gravity of the situation, Eleanor's eyes pleaded. "Please don't clash with them. I'm fine..." "Just stand aside and watch." Lynn patted her head reassuringly and positioned her behind him. As Lynn's grand re-entry into the capital, this performance had to be significant enough to invoke certain officials' vigilance and fear. "The Empire's law?" Lynn shook his head in response to the Fourth Prince's claim. "I assumed Prince Joshua was merely a bookish simpleton obsessed with shady research, but I never imagined your sense of humor was so developed." "Oh? Pray tell," Joshua replied, intrigued rather than offended. Lynn gazed at him calmly. "If we're discussing the Empire's law, as the initiator of the 'Ruins Plan,' do you deserve to stand here and speak to me with such dignity?" It seemed Lynn was hinting at something deeper. At the mention of those four words, the prince's composed facade shattered, revealing a moment of shock and a fleeting glint of murderous intent. This plan was supposed to be known only to his father, himself, and a very select few top officials. How could this person also be aware? Joshua's mind raced with various possible explanations. The atmosphere became tense, as though a deadly confrontation was imminent. Everyone held their breath, fearing blood might soon spill over them. But unexpectedly, Lynn let out a laugh laced with an unfathomable meaning. "Of course, with such a father, these things are unavoidable." What?! Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on the students' backs. Was he implying something about the esteemed Holy Roland VI, Emperor Calderon?! Did he have a death wish?! The onlookers exchanged uneasy glances, too afraid to intervene in such a conversation. Having no permit from the host, they had no excuse to leave, forced to continue witnessing the "spectacle" unfolding before them. Clearly, no one could discern what the Bartley family's second son intended upon returning after over a year. "Brother..." Eleanor timidly hid behind Lynn. He gently squeezed her small hand to comfort her. Following a brief silence, rather than displaying expected anger, the Fourth Prince removed his glasses, wiping them casually with his sleeve. "In a sense, you're right," he admitted. "I have a powerful father, and you don't. That's the difference between us." "So, Lynn Bartley, what is your purpose in crashing our banquet today and disrupting my dance with your sister?" Joshua restored his air of intelligence and composure after replacing his glasses. "Though I scoff at your recent remarks, certain matters ought to be addressed legally on the surface." "I came today to request that His Highness arbitrate and deliver justice." Lynn chuckled softly. "You want me to deliver justice?" The prince's eyes showed a trace of surprise, followed by a derisive laugh. "You're quite the amusing fellow." "Very well then, speak," he invited. Without answering Joshua directly, Lynn turned his gaze toward Eunice, who had remained unnoticed by him until now. Finally being acknowledged, Eunice felt a mix of fury and humiliation boiling, her fists clenching tightly. As a member of the Mosgraal family, she never expected that the Bartley heir, whom they had defeated in past power struggles, would look down on them so openly. Yet, as their eyes met, the dark-haired youth offered a peculiar smile. He then clapped his hands lightly. In the next moment, a commotion of hurried footsteps filled the grand hall as dozens of border guards, dragging individuals with burlap sacks over their heads, flooded in, occupying a vast section of the room. The surrounding students instinctively pressed against the walls, unwilling to share space with these rugged-looking figures. At a signal from Lynn, the leader pushed one of the bound individuals forward and kicked them in the back of the knees, causing the person, their head covered by a sack, to kneel on the ground with a wail. The Fourth Prince narrowed his eyes, attentively observing. "You insolent fool. Get out of here before I have you tossed out!" Eunice demanded through gritted teeth, struggling to contain her fury as she watched the scenario unfold. Such an explosive scene had occurred, yet the guards and security were nowhere to be seen, clearly having been dispatched by these intruders. Her brother Darion fell to this man's hands, and it was rumored that he had since aligned himself with the Third Princess and Duke Tyrvus. This had made the previously insignificant individual somewhat formidable. With her sister Irina still at the border, it seemed only the family's intervention could resolve this. Noticing the unexpected turn of events, Eunice grew more and more unsettled. However, Lynn had no intention of engaging with her. He pulled off the bag covering one person's head, revealing the aged face of Maria, the head maid. Facing her tear-streaked expression, a foreboding feeling gripped Eunice. What is he planning to do?!