Chapter 163 I will attack in Minotaur form - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Lynn wasn't sure what had come over him, why he suddenly blurted out those words. Perhaps it was due to the cold and distant demeanor of Her Highness in the carriage, or maybe it was some form of compensation for losing to the witch lady. Those around him fell silent, casting varied glances in his direction. Especially the Grand Princess Silina, her eyes filled with frustration and helplessness, as if regretting why she had bothered with such trivial matters. She knew all too well that this guy was nothing short of trouble. Yet, as the protagonist of this little episode, Evester hadn't spoken for a long time. Though it was the first time Lynn directed such passionate gazes at her, unexpectedly, there was no reaction from her at all. It was as if the once wistful woman who would be moved by Lynn's longing no longer existed. "Thank you." Evester responded softly to his almost confession-like fervent words. Graceful yet tactful, leaving no room for criticism. But the lack of criticism was the greatest problem in itself. The atmosphere instantly turned awkward. How could this be? Is this the Evester he once knew?! Sensing the strangeness in Evester's behavior, Lynn felt a rare sense of absurdity. The rose scent lingering at his nose was so clearly discernible, those lips he had kissed countless times still as usual, glistening with a moist sheen that stirred an instinctive urge to capture them once more. A vague irritation emerged in Lynn's heart. It felt as if, for the first time, things had strayed beyond his expectations. He could somewhat understand Evester's reaction. It seemed losing to the witch lady had struck her deeper than he had anticipated. But where did this inexplicable panic and agitation in his own heart come from? Was he angry at her indifferent response? Why? For a moment, Lynn furrowed his brows, filled with confusion. Evester, however, did not let her gaze linger on him for too long. She calmly lifted her head, fixing her eyes on Silina, "Can we end these boring games now?" Silina sighed at her words. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." With that, she prepared to leave, surrounded by a few noble girls. Before she could turn away, Evester spoke again, "I didn't come here for such trifling matters. Silina, I have something to ask you." Hearing Evester’s cold words, Silina was stunned for a few seconds, then comprehended. No wonder Evester had agreed to attend tonight’s banquet. Her real purpose lay elsewhere. Realizing this, Silina whispered a few words to the noble girls around her. Once they dispersed, she glanced at Evester and the silently brooding Lynn. "Follow me." She said softly. To her surprise, Evester glanced at Lynn, "You stay." Without waiting for Lynn's reaction, she silently followed Silina upstairs. Upon reaching the third floor, the previous clamor gradually quieted down. "Let’s talk in my study." Silina pointed to a room further away. But for some reason, Evester suddenly frowned, "Where is the restroom?" Restroom? Being a sixth-level transcendental, someone who has surpassed normal physiological phenomena like excretion, this was unexpected. Though puzzled, Silina directed her to the end of the hallway. Moments later, Evester appeared in the restroom with an icy demeanor. After meticulously locking the door to ensure no interruptions, she finally exhaled a small breath in relief. Gazing at her reflection, Evester's once calm and icy expression finally relaxed. After a brief rustling sound, a piece of purple fabric, warm from her body, appeared in her hand. It bore faint traces of moisture. In the mirror, Evester’s originally pale face seemed to suddenly overload with a flush, appearing strikingly beautiful. The distant look she maintained before Lynn could no longer be faked. In just seconds, her bright red eyes welled with a misty sheen, entrancing and filled with desire. "Ah." Recalling her adorable little pup wagging his tail in front of her, she instinctively reached below her gown. Clearly, she wasn’t as indifferent to Lynn's earlier words as she seemed. In truth, her heart was brimming with excitement and burgeoning passion. Had it not been for the people around, she might have revealed her wildest side to Lynn. But none of that happened. Evester had long devised a strategy for herself. And as part of this strategy, including the conflict from last night, and lifting the curse on her face to restore a visage matching the witch of the end, was imperative. Only by defeating the self-doubt and cowardice that had haunted her for over two decades could she be assured of victory against that wretched woman. A woman's appearance and visage are inherently linked to matters of love. Even with Lynn proving that her facial curse had no effect on him, Evester could never get past her internal barrier. Soon, moans mingled with pleasure and pain emanated from the restroom. “Sorry, it wasn’t intentional to ignore you, dear.” “Just wait... until later...” The sound of flowing water fluctuated from rapid to slow. Ten minutes later, Evester emerged, composed and cold, into Silina’s study as if nothing had happened. This marked the first time the sisters found themselves alone at such close quarters since childhood. Eyeing the hot tea Silina had poured, Evester didn’t accept it but instead said softly, “Tell me all you know about the Heremaius Tomb.” Just like that, they left? Watching their retreating figures, Lynn's eyes widened, seemingly at a loss. Clearly, Evester's displayed demeanor today left Lynn puzzled. It was as though she was the one with her memories sealed away. After a prolonged silence, Lynn scratched his head in slight discontent. Glancing at the vibrant party scene before him, he took a glass of champagne from a passing server's tray and downed it in one gulp. Though Evester left him waiting there, Lynn found himself unsure of what to do with his downtime. Before coming, he had envisioned Evester being taunted by Glostrine's noble girls at the banquet, and then himself stepping up to retort in her defense. But in the end, nothing happened. She was merely there to discuss matters with Silina. Lynn sighed lightly. At that moment, with his sharp instincts, he suddenly sensed a gaze filled with hostility from a corner. His distracted mind snapped into focus. Using the pretext of drinking, he subtly cast a glance at the reflective silverware lining the wall. The silver surface was well-maintained, shining brilliantly, allowing him to discern the source of the gaze. It was a petite girl with short, light-brown hair. Though she wore a stiff half-face mask, her exposed skin suggested her complexion and looks were rather common, as were her demeanor and stature, with a few freckles dotting her nose — the type easily lost in a crowd. Yet among the numerous noble girls attending the party, adorned with cosmetics and extraordinary accessories, each was a beauty in both form and visage. In stark contrast, the "ugly duckling" in the corner was particularly memorable. What a poor disguise. [Character Name: Tia Yuhestie] [Plot Level: S] [Plot Deviation: 0.55%] Upon glimpsing the personal info provided by the system, Lynn set down his glass. The irritation and disappointment that had gripped his heart moments before vanished instantly. In their place was a spark of excitement. It seemed this might not be such a dull night after all. Though he wasn’t sure how long Evester and Silina would be engrossed in conversation, Lynn didn’t expect to have much time. Thus, he had no intention of letting this unexpected opportunity slip away. The next second, the power of the Deceiver surged within him. "Excuse me, sir, could it be that we’ve exchanged masks by mistake?" Lynn suddenly donned an apologetic expression and spoke to the man beside him. The man, unsuspecting, nodded in agreement, “In that case, let's switch back.” Moments later, having swapped his raven mask for a finely crafted bull mask, Lynn quietly slipped away from the party scene. I will strike as the bull-headed warrior! She’s alone! Watching Silina and Evester depart, Tia, hidden among the crowd, breathed a small sigh of relief. Perhaps the moon goddess was watching over her, creating this coincidental opportunity. No longer needing to disguise her gaze, Tia scrutinized the black-haired youth sipping wine alone. At the same time, she pondered carefully. How could she lure that fellow to a secluded spot? Tia hesitated. Generally, starting a conversation directly was the best approach. After all, when men drank, their minds tended to drift; if approached by a girl, their thoughts would likely wander to less noble realms. However, her appearance was so heavily disguised that even those closest to her couldn’t detect anything amiss. In her current form, she appeared quite ordinary, perhaps even falling short of average male aesthetic standards. She wished she had adorned a more attractive appearance. Tia bit her lip in frustration. Meanwhile, further away, Sia seemed equally bored, his scrutinizing gaze resting from time to time on the faces of female guests. It was as though he was searching for someone. Seeing this, Tia couldn't help but feel a pang of guilty anxiety. It seemed Brother Sia had grown suspicious of her unusual behavior this time, thereby attending the banquet to try and locate her. What should she do? Just as Tia grew increasingly anxious, she caught sight out of the corner of her eye of the boy, now wearing a bull mask, discreetly exiting the party scene. Huh? Tia's eyes lit up, certain she had seized a rare opportunity. She wasted no time, pulling her hat lower, follow Lynn's disappearing figure in stealth. Damn it. Back at the banquet, after refusing several female invitations, Sia emptied his wine glass in a fit of irritation. Silina wasn’t here, having gone with that monstrous third princess to the study for a discussion. That was bearable. But despite searching for a long time, he hadn’t caught sight of Tia among the crowd. How could that be? His highness had personally handed her two invitations, hadn’t he? A gut feeling began to rise within him, suggesting that events might veer off their intended course. It was not a baseless suspicion but a peculiar ability he possessed since childhood. This ability had often helped him avert crises and was now his reliable asset. The air was thick with assorted cosmetic scents, the likes of which were off-putting for Sia, who preferred the natural fragrance of women. With such thoughts, he loosened the bow tie at his collar, set down his glass, and tucked his hands into his pockets, heading toward an area away from the crowd. The atmosphere here was suffocating, and he desired to take a breather on the fourth-floor balcony. When Tia stealthily followed that figure up to the fourth floor, she realized he had already disappeared down the hallway. Not far ahead, the glass and wooden door leading to the balcony was ajar, suggesting someone had recently passed through. Taking a deep breath, Tia quietly approached the balcony. Simultaneously, she recalled the pre-planned strategy in her mind. Upon meeting, she would use her extraordinary abilities to restrain him. If he cooperated, she would proceed to the interrogation phase; if he resisted, she would— As Tia was recalling her plan, pushing the door open slowly, an unexpected scene unfolded before her. Silina’s residence was situated on high ground, and being the fourth floor, the moon's cool and pristine light bathed the balcony in a gentle embrace. Alone there, or with two glasses of wine in hand, sharing dreams and aspirations with a cherished person would indeed be quite romantic. Especially as the Silent Saint, she adored the sensation of being enveloped in moonlight. However, the appearance of the masked boy shattered the original serene and lovely atmosphere. He had, at some point, climbed onto the balcony, opening his arms at the edge of the railing; just one step forward and he would fall from a great height. Even for an extraordinary being, without a formidable physical defense, such a fall could result in severe injury or even death. He, he wants to commit suicide?! The unforeseen situation completely unraveled Tia's premeditated plan. Faced with this unexpected outcome, the girl, usually as cold as a marionette, displayed a rare expression of shock.