Chapter 181 I don’t accept your proposal! - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

The instant Lynn heard that the plot deviation had decreased, an endless torrent of anger and disappointment overwhelmed his heart. At this moment, he gripped Evester's delicate, boneless hand tightly, pinning it against the wall with all his might, almost as if he'd lost control of his senses. This sensation nearly drove him to madness. He had repeatedly emphasized before being captured that she should trust him. After experiencing so much together, he thought they had long since developed at least a basic understanding. He had believed, in his heart, that his relationship with her might have surpassed the boundary of subordinate and superior. Yet, in the end, this foolish, obstinate, and arrogant woman still chose the path the world's will was eager to witness. She completely destroyed his plan. It felt as if, after having smiled all day to please superiors and clients, working hard to earn overtime pay, he returned home only to see his wife flaunt a newly purchased twenty-thousand-dollar handbag. He was so infuriated, he nearly had a stroke. Lynn took a deep breath. At this moment, he was furious not only because the plot deviation might affect the future witch. But more so because of Evester's lack of trust in him. This was a very strange thought. After all, his unwavering loyalty had always been to the Witch. Yet, why did Evester’s act of "deception" leave him so profoundly irritated? Lynn's grip tightened. The already pained Evester began to have tears shimmer in her eyes. "Lynn, you're hurting me." The princess, who was usually authoritative and stern, sounded as if she were pouting at that moment. After all, she was a woman. Hearing this, Lynn felt a twinge of guilt and instinctively loosened his grip. However, the next moment, upon seeing a trace of triumph and teasing in her eyes, his anger reignited. A body of a sixth-tier demigod, would she really feel such pain from a mere squeeze from him, who was only at the second tier? This deceitful, lying woman! Even though Evester had given him an out, he had no intention of letting the matter slide so easily. Lynn extended his hands again, pressing down on Evester's shoulders, pinning her firmly against the wall. "Can't we share even the most basic trust between us?" He tried to restrain the fury within, gazing into her ruby eyes. "Or have you never thought of trusting me from the beginning? Hmm?" At this moment, Lynn's expression was incredibly grim. This was a side of him Evester had never seen before. Even when he had previously threatened her with his life or when revealing the existence of the Doomsday Witch, he never showed a loss of composure, always giving off a sense of having everything under control. Perhaps it was hearing the Blake Congressman mention how she'd paid the price for him that revealed such a vulnerable side. "Answer me! Do you not believe I can resolve this?" Seeing Evester remain silent, Lynn shook her shoulders with force. Her originally neatly tied black hair came loose with the successive shaking, cascading down her shoulders. This lent an unexpected frailty to the usually noble and solemn princess. The situation had reversed, as if he were the one in control, reprimanding the woman before him. This was something unimaginable under normal circumstances. Seeing Lynn exhibit such anger for the first time, Evester remained silent for a long while before gently tucking her hair behind her ears and raising her head. Even though she often found herself in a superior position, Evester knew well that their relationship had long transcended the ordinary master-servant dynamic, and her feelings for Lynn were deeply profound. Thus, even in this moment, being pinned against the wall by Lynn in a seemingly offensive manner, she felt not an ounce of anger. In fact, she felt a subtle warmth in her heart. Only when feelings reach their utmost depth would one exhibit such vulnerability. She could sense from the subtle bodily memory of Lynn that even if he lost all memories related to her, he would still instinctively express such sentiments. Upon realizing this, she withdrew the teasing glint in her eyes. "Of course I believe you can resolve this," Evester offered a faint smile. "As the most outstanding and adorable subordinate of this princess, how could you be defeated by those vermin?" She raised her hand gently, caressing Lynn's cheek. Lynn's expression froze: "Then why did you—" "A kiss, and I'll tell you." The princess's cool, delicate finger gently touched Lynn's lips. The anger that had subsided in him suddenly flared again, "Evester!!!" "Just joking." Evester retracted her finger appropriately. "On the contrary, precisely because I have utmost faith that you’ll accomplish this, I made this choice." Lynn gazed into those scarlet eyes, confirming again and again that she wasn’t lying, before quietly asking, "...Why?" He couldn't understand. If she believed he could meet her expectations, why push things to this extent? It was no wonder Lynn was so on edge. The plot deviation, painstakingly improved over time, had suddenly fallen again because of one or two seemingly insignificant choices. Anyone would find it hard to bear. Hearing Lynn's question, Evester chuckled softly, "Release me first… Rest assured, I won’t run." After a moment, with her regained freedom, Evester lifted her hands and tidied Lynn's somewhat disheveled collar, like a caring wife. Meanwhile, she spoke in a gentle tone, "Come to think of it, I have been quite an inadequate master, haven’t I? Always placing you in the most perilous situations, leaving you bruised and battered every time." "If it weren't for that guy's reminder, I might never have realized." Time shifted back to the previous evening, at the Batlian Estate. "Solve the case in three days?" In the drawing room, Evester's expression was icy. "Who made such a demand, I, the princess, would personally like to ask." She and Lynn had just returned to the capital, hardly having had the time to process the transition of the Night Punishers, let alone having any buffer time. Yet these people clung tenaciously to this point, eager to charge Lynn with dereliction of duty. For a moment, the atmosphere turned silent and cold. Sensing Evester's anger, the Fourth Prince, Joshua, sitting across the sofa, gently set down his teacup. "Dear Third Sister, venting your anger on me won't help." He smirked slightly, adjusting his glasses, "That's the collective decision of those old geezers in the imperial council, not something I mandated.” "Though admittedly, I'm not fond of your subordinate, it's indisputable my rank is only fifth in line for the throne. Influencing them is beyond my power." "I'm afraid even if Felite personally went to plead, the outcome wouldn't change." This was something everyone was painfully aware of. Out of apprehension, they applied all sorts of means to weaken Evester's influence. It was her frightening innate power to blame. Often, when one gains much, more is lost unnoticed. "." Evester took a deep breath, trying to calm the unrest and irritation in her heart. Every time she returned to the capital, she was engulfed by this sense of powerlessness and anger, unable to escape. It was an intangible constraint, named rules and order. She had hoped that this time with Lynn's assistance, that feeling would lessen. Yet, to think trouble would pile up just a day without him by her side. However, reaching this point, Evester didn’t consider relying on Lynn something to be ashamed of. "You came to me today not just to report this matter, did you?" She stated calmly. "Let's hear what those old coots promised." "Third Sister, it seems this trip to the border has matured you greatly." The Fourth Prince, Joshua, adjusted his glasses, scrutinizing her. Evester remained silent, her expression icy. Seeing this, he offered a slight smile, "In that case, I won’t beat around the bush." "Apart from the task of solving the major case involving the Limb Replacer within three days, the old folks of the Imperial Council have provided you with another option." "You should be quite familiar with the Hermemius Tomb, no?" Upon hearing this name, Evester's eyes slightly narrowed. Unexpectedly, just after discussing it with Silina, Joshua brought it up in front of her tonight. The whole situation felt like a massive net that, unbeknownst to her, had closed off all her escape routes and was tightening, leaving no room for movement. "Due to the tomb's unique nature, they believe it would be inappropriate to continue sending vital personnel for exploration and instead should assign it to someone adept at handling such matters—you." "After all, you've always played such a role." "You can view this as an exchange or consider it a commission." "In any case, as long as you personally visit the Hermemius Tomb, regardless of the outcome, they will not threaten your subordinate’s life by any means or under any guise." "Moreover, the Council will lift the power restrictions on the Batlian family, helping them reintegrate into the military." "The terms are quite enticing. I hope you'll consider it." As the head of the Saint Lorraine Institute, Prince Joshua was very interested in the Hermemius Tomb, believing it could solve many pressing issues. Thus, he especially hoped the Imperial Council would force Evester to get involved. As his words settled, the atmosphere grew silent. Joshua was in no rush, calmly waiting, sipping a cup of tea with confidence that Evester wouldn't turn down the offer. However, moments later, the woman opposite him unexpectedly let out a light laugh. "Sorry, I refuse the offer." Evester gently tucked her hair behind her ear, her demeanor seemingly relaxed. Joshua's brow furrowed instantly, as if he couldn't believe the response. Was the intelligence incorrect? Did she not truly care about that man's safety? Joshua's hand involuntarily clenched. "Why?" he asked quietly. "Could you tell me your reason for refusal?" At this, Evester responded calmly, "The reason is simple." "Because I promised to trust him." "Just because of that?" Joshua seemed to think it absurd. "Is that not enough?" Evester raised an eyebrow, appearing perplexed. This time, it was Joshua who fell silent. Clearly, he hadn’t overestimated this master-servant relationship, but greatly underestimated the rapport between them. "If there’s nothing else, you may leave." Evester uncompromisingly issued a dismissal. Yet Joshua sighed gently. He hadn't intended to resort to this. But it appeared that, apart from this, he had no other means to push her into making a decision. If not for his formidable and detestable second brother, Felite, showing up before he arrived and uttering some bizarre, cryptic remarks, he might have been at a total loss now. As for Felite's reasons for doing so, Joshua had asked. The answer was simple. Because it would be interesting. After dropping this statement, Felite had simply walked away. "What are you still dawdling here for?" Just then, Evester’s impatient words snapped Joshua back to reality. "Wait, Third Sister," he took a deep breath, "before I leave, I have a few more things to say to you." "Go on." Evester glanced at her slender fingers, responding nonchalantly. "You possess an extraordinary trust and reliance on Lynn Batlian, and he has consistently been able to meet your expectations perfectly." "This is, indeed, something quite enviable." Though Evester's exterior remained nonchalant upon hearing this, inwardly, she felt a surge of warmth. However, Joshua suddenly changed his tone. "Think about it carefully, throughout this journey, everything he's done has been to prioritize the safety of you and those around you." "As if, as long as you're unharmed, he’s willing to endure anything." "For instance, did he really lose control of his temper at Duke Terthus’s banquet, resulting in the audacious shooting of the Moscra family heir? Or was it to extricate you from an awkward situation or to seize an opportunity to associate with the Elector?" "Or consider the Wish Jar incident. Although it remains a mystery how he survived, he likely endured significant hardship, which can't be downplayed with a single sentence." "Moreover, on that fateful night in the chamber, it was evident to any observer that he publicly killed Eunice to establish your authority. Even though he might have faced a death sentence afterward, he proceeded regardless." "Such actions resulted in facing relentless retaliation from the Moscra family and slander from the opportunistic old folks of the Imperial Council." "Additionally, I heard he was found at the murder scene with a noticeable wound on his chest. Just a few inches further, and it could have pierced his heart?" "To your mind, who did it?" "A hired assassin sent by those ill-intentioned to squash his rising brilliance? Or something else?" These words rendered Evester's hand frozen mid-air. "What exactly are you trying to say?" "My point is, perhaps he does have a way to resolve this year-long unsolved case in a mere three days." "But a person's methods are not easily altered." "So, I speculate that even if he can accomplish it, he will surely employ some unconventional means." "And such methods will undoubtedly, as always, place him in grave danger." "He seems entirely unaware of this himself, for it symbolizes a noble and heroic spirit of sacrifice." "And you, Third Sister, have perhaps overlooked this due to over-dependence, unconsciously treating him as an omnipotent being, believing that come what may, he has a fix for the predicament." "This abnormal and twisted relationship, upon examination, is indeed quite frightening." When Lynn came to his senses, Evester had already slipped from his embrace, standing in the corridor not far away. Because she cared, she made such a choice. She preferred to confront danger and the unknown herself, rather than let him be placed in harm's way. Furthermore, she was already planning on heading to the Hermemius Tomb to remove the curse mark on her face. As a sixth-tier demigod, her margin for error was significantly greater than that of a mere second-tier transcendent. "No matter how upset or helpless you feel, what's done is done." Evester smiled gently, "Don't worry. It's just a minor tomb. This princess has handled numerous similar cases since childhood. Everything is well under control." You're lying. Aligned with the Deceiver's reverberation, Lynn instantly sensed that Evester was far from as confident as she outwardly appeared. Additionally, a vision rushed through his mind. In a room bathed in moonlight, a woman with an exquisite expression, a tear of helplessness slipping at the corner of her eye, seemed to be confiding in him. When did this happen? Lynn pressed against his throbbing temple, disoriented by this sudden memory. Yet, now wasn't the time to delve into such irrelevant matters. Having read the original text, Lynn was acutely aware that the Hermemius Tomb was an exceptionally perilous place and shouldn't have appeared at this point in time. The only explanation was the unseen hand of the world's will orchestrating everything from behind the scenes. Subtly, it had even influenced Evester’s choices. At this point, she hadn't absorbed the core properties of the Wish Jar, hence hadn't fallen into slumber because of it. Therefore, the power attempting to correct the world's will was steering her toward yet another trap. The Hermemius Tomb. As soon as anyone entered, Lynn could tell, even through instinct, that no matter how thorough the preparations were, various errors would surely arise. And the sole outcome of these errors would once again cause Evester to fall into slumber. After all, this was in line with the main plot development in the original story. The first signs of this return to the main storyline began when Evester initially harbored thoughts of killing all the executioners. Had she acted on this impulse, the Imperial Council wouldn’t even have needed Lynn as a hostage to justifiably hold her accountable and send her to the Hermemius Tomb. That was the first signal of the plot realigning itself. The second occurred just now. The Blake Congressman publicly announced Evester’s decision, voluntarily agreeing to go to the Hermemius Tomb. Between these two events, what exactly did Lynn do to prevent further decreases in the plot deviation? The answer was simple. Ultimately, the proposal to visit the Hermemius Tomb was merely the Imperial Council's trap. From the beginning, they’d offered two different options. First, solve the case within three days. Second, have Evester personally explore the tomb. The princess opted to eliminate the first option to protect him, precisely falling into the Imperial Council's trap. Thus, the solution was rather straightforward. When Lynn returned to his senses, the princess had already slipped away, perhaps intending to give him time to accept this predetermined outcome. After a brief silence, Lynn began to walk steadily out of the Punishers' headquarters. A glance outside revealed the First Princess murmuring quietly with Siya and the others, while Evester and Eleanor waited expectantly by the carriage across the street, keeping an eye out for Lynn. As for the Blake Congressman, he was descending the steps surrounded by attendants. At this moment, Lynn stood alone at the top of the Punishers' headquarters steps, overlooking everyone. His expression was calm, as if he was contemplating something. Just then, a familiar voice emerged from behind. It was the belated Fourth Prince, Joshua. "Isn't it great that everything is resolved perfectly?" His voice sounded genuinely pleased. So far, everything seemed to be unfolding exactly as he'd hoped. After all, he and Lynn were akin to fire and water, with him having previously used his sister Eleanor as an experimental subject, draining a considerable amount of her blood. And Evester, being closely tied with him, now presented an opportunity for weakening, something Joshua was happy to see unfold. Moreover, with Evester acting as the pathfinder, it wouldn't be long before he could begin research on the Hermemius Tomb. As for her safety, although siblings, royal family bonds were typically shallow. Thus, apart from viewing Evester as a tool just like their father, Joshua harbored no soft feelings. Like many nobles in the capital, he secretly wished for her demise within the tomb. Hence, he couldn't help but feel pleased. Looking back, his fear of this man due to Eunice's death now seemed utterly ridiculous. After all, he was a noble prince! With this in mind, Joshua allowed himself a smile before walking past Lynn and down the steps. Yet just then, a voice called out from behind him. "You seem rather pleased?" Joshua halted and looked back. However, after making this remark, Lynn didn't continue focusing on him, soon shifting his gaze. "Blake Congressman, please hold on." Lynn raised his voice slightly. Instantly, all eyes were drawn to the black-haired youth standing at the summit of the steps. Blake Congressman, who was just about to enter his carriage, subtly frowned upon hearing the call, ceasing his actions to look up at him. To be honest. Being looked down upon in this manner was somewhat displeasing to him. "Lynn Batlian, is there something else you wish to discuss?" Blake Congressman inquired coolly. From afar, Silina also cast a puzzled look, pausing her conversation with her subordinates. Only Evester appeared somewhat stunned, a sense of foreboding growing in her heart. She was about to cross the street toward Lynn when she heard him speak first: “Does the Imperial Council's proposal have a contract drafted yet?” While it was a commission, it couldn't merely be established through verbal exchange. On one hand, the Imperial Council wouldn’t easily trust Evester's promises, while on the other, Evester was quite wary of these old councilmen. Thus, a strongly binding contract was essential. And creating such extraordinary documents often required extensive preparation time. Therefore, Lynn guessed the proposal was merely verbal at this stage. As expected. After a moment, Blake Congressman spoke: "The originally scheduled time was three days from now, but if it's urgent..." “No, there's no rush at all.” The young man shook his head from atop the steps. "In fact, there's too many loopholes, so I don’t accept this proposal." "Don't accept?" A flicker of disbelief appeared in Blake Congressman's eyes. "If you don’t accept, you’ll have to solve the Limb Replacer case within three days." "Fail to do so, and you’ll face unprecedented and severe accountability from the council." "For a Punisher, a severe dereliction of duty leads to one outcome: the death penalty." "Agreed, I'm up for it." Lynn responded without hesitation. Seeing this, Blake Congressman began to sense matters spiraling beyond his expectations. His voice turned somewhat frigid: "Make sure you think this through. The council only gives three days." This statement aimed to threaten Lynn, to force him into retreat. After all, having Evester venture to the Hermemius Tomb to weaken her powers was the desired outcome for everyone. Who could have predicted that Lynn would suddenly burst into laughter atop the platform: "Why all the fuss about three days? Blake Congressman, do you take me for a fool?” “What are you implying?” Seeing this, Blake Congressman couldn’t help but frown deeply. “What I mean is, this case can be solved right now,” Lynn declared.