Chapter 203 Second Hypnosis - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

The suspects consisted of a male and a female, accompanied by corresponding portraits. For the city patrol guards, the information they possessed was all they had to sift through among the millions in Glostin, which seemed like a never-ending task. However, for organizations like the military and the Silent Church, which were official extraordinary forces, they were much more aware of the inside story. For instance, the blessing on Tiya. She was unable to have any physical contact with males, and yet, her partner in this escape was a man. It was undoubtedly a difficult situation for Her Ladyship, the saint. Thus, their task was straightforward. They focused on scrutinizing pairs of pedestrians and travelers, preventing the use of disguises through such sealing items. However, due to the scarcity of detection-related sealing items, major churches and official forces urgently requisitioned them, reducing the available resources distributed within the city significantly. Fortunately, there were other less sophisticated methods they could employ; otherwise, it would be akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Since the fleeing saint was unable to touch any males due to the blessing, it required only a simple test to reveal discrepancies. At this moment, the young officer who stepped into the carriage did so with this precise intent. With a blank expression, he surveyed his surroundings and found three couples seated. His vigilance immediately heightened. Seeing the individuals staring at him dumbfoundedly, the young officer frowned and repeated his earlier command. "Prove to me that you are indeed married, starting with you." He pointed to the young gentleman seated toward the inside of the carriage. Feeling the inquisitive gaze bearing down on him, Lynn internally balked, thinking why on earth was he selected from the many public vehicles on the street, and why was he the first to be singled out? Intending to observe how the other couples reacted, Lynn froze. Realizing he couldn't even pretend to be ignorant, he was forced to act. Should he do it? After all, as a transmigrator, he could negate the curses on Evester and Tiya, a fact unknown to others. All he needed was for Tiya to cooperate in some intimate gesture, like an embrace or a kiss, to prove their innocence. Reflecting on that, Lynn unconsciously touched Tiya’s cold, hidden hand. He found her palm was sweaty. Was it from nerves? Or for some other reason? Though he didn’t look into Tiya’s eyes, Lynn inexplicably recalled last night’s event. Even in her sleep, the girl had been calling Sia’s name. Up until now, the memory of that moment was like a cold splash of water over him. After all, their relationship was never truly intimate; it was driven by guilt towards each other. Tiya genuinely liked the hero. So at this moment, she must have been hesitant, right? Hesitant about whether to sacrifice her purity for someone like him. After all, fundamentally, nothing improper had occurred between them. Even sharing a bed last night was purely necessitated, strictly proper without any incident. In this era, especially for someone raised as a saint by the Silent Church, chastity was of paramount importance. How could she squander it on him, an assassin? Lynn took a deep breath. Suppose the mark hadn’t flared up last night; would he have struck the fall of corruption? He had no idea. He was unwilling to ponder too deeply about a false future. Though that thought lasted only an instant, even fleeting hesitation in this circumstance appeared suspicious. There was no time to hesitate. Damn. When did I become this kind of good guy going all out for someone else’s girl? Lynn expressionlessly glanced at those present. Apart from the leading third-tier military extraordinary, the others were first-tier. But due to the considerable distance and the city being under lockdown long ago, additional squads of patrol guards were visible in the vicinity. With ruling out using Tiya to blend through, not many options remained. Fight or use the Liar’s Swallow. However, if only the officers and patrol guards before him were deceived by the lie, once discovered, a simple investigation would fully expose their trail. Using the public carriage's destination, one could easily guess they were trying to smuggle through the black-market. Therefore, Lynn needed to use Liar’s Swallow, extending the lie’s effect as broadly as possible to create confusion. Back in Orn City, he had employed this tactic against the Genesis Sect’s followers. Yet compared to then, the current conditions and environment were harsher, almost requiring cognitive alteration, necessitating making them forget this memory invisibly. This even involved numerous extraordinary individuals. Even with the magic-infused divine factor boost, achieving this with his body recovering from the Mastermind’s aftereffects remained quite challenging. At that moment, he felt a slight twitch from Tiya’s index finger. Was it unease? Lynn pressed his lips together, gently squeezing Tiya’s soft fingers for comfort. Meanwhile, the officer’s cautious gaze noticed the change, his colleagues and the patrol guards also observed the anomaly, preparing to inform their superiors and encircle the area, aiming to control the scene. Appears both he and Tiya ranked high on their priority list. This mere pause sufficed to intercept them publicly. Upon realizing this, his divine factor circulated fully, instantly eliciting an excruciating pain throughout his body. Not enough, it wasn’t enough. I need to... deceive everyone on the street. As a faint blood-red hue flickered in his eyes, Lynn cleared his throat and then slowly began, "I'm sorry, esteemed officers, I must decline your request." "My love for my wife is not... Ugh?!" Before finishing his sentence, something unexpected happened. With a familiar, tranquil fragrance wafting by, Lynn suddenly felt his face clasped firmly by a pair of cold, trembling hands. Barely registering a response, he was greeted by a moist and pleasantly sweet sensation. The softness of a girl’s lips gently pressed against his dry ones. It was a moment that came and went. What do I do? The moment the officer issued the command, a flurry of panic welled in Tiya’s heart. Only two paths lay before them. Expose their identities and fight, a move that could lead to capture within no time. Or comply with the request, dispelling suspicion. As these two notions emerged, Tiya instinctively leaned towards the latter. The relentless journey and escape had worn her out; though she finally rested well last night, it was only mentally, her internal divine factor remained depleted. From any perspective, avoiding conflict was the optimal choice. But then Tiya suddenly realized their married identity was fictive, there had been no real development. This meant, in strict terms, she hadn’t betrayed Brother Sia. Yet if she engaged in spousal behavior in public, retreat was impossible. Should she do it? Tiya’s palms sweated slightly. What... is he thinking? Instinctively, the girl looked at her "husband." She had assumed he would heed the officer’s command, and she would follow with a pretense of spousal affection. However, contrary to her expectation, he hadn’t even glanced at her, nor sought her consent. To comfort her, the young man gently squeezed her fingertips. Tiya was taken aback. Though they had not known each other long, they had developed a sort of tacit understanding. She instantly understood the young man's intentions. If it were anyone else, Tiya might not have believed their motives were so pure. But with him, there was not a shred of doubt in her heart. He was genuinely considering her well-being, never once thinking to sacrifice her purity and chastity to clear their names. There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation. He... is thinking of me. As this thought crossed her mind, a warm feeling spread from her once hollow heart. Even Tiya herself didn’t notice the unprecedented gentleness in her gaze towards him. In the next moment, slight divine fluctuations from the young man seemed to indicate he was preparing to use an ability with severe side effects. However, she couldn’t just stand by and watch him harm his already injured body. Her trembling hands moved first. “.” Feeling his breath so close, and the strange touch of lips, Tiya snapped back to the present, internally lamenting. This is madness. I’ve surely gone mad. As the carriage resumed its bumpy journey along the street, Lynn remained in a daze. Just moments ago, once suspicion was cleared from the carriage, the young officer exited emotionlessly. "Keep searching!" As he shut the door, he raised his voice, "This is a direct order from Captain Sia! We must find Her Ladyship the Saintess, who was cunningly taken by criminals, and preserve her honor for the Captain!" Yet at this moment, nobody paid heed to his words. As the carriage slowly left the street, the tense and heavy atmosphere inside finally eased a little. The other two couples began chatting casually. Ordinarily, Lynn would have mixed in easily, taking this opportunity to gather information. But now, he remained immersed in the lingering warmth and tenderness from the girl’s lips. He had experienced similar intimacy with the princess countless times before, and had thought himself immune. Yet that small, fleeting kiss seemed to capture his very soul. Perhaps, it was the unique thrill from someone different. Noticing the shift in atmosphere, one of the young wives smiled at Tiya, "You two are quite bold. I thought the officer meant something like a hug or holding hands, but you, ma’am, actually..." In the Saint Roland Empire, common folk leaned towards simplicity and conservatism. Even though the upper class engaged in more flamboyant activities, they still exhibited restraint in public. For ordinary people, even kisses were shared privately. When done publicly, it seemed too daring. Thus, the latter two couples opted for holding hands and hugging, making Tiya's action seem even more outlandish by comparison. Hearing this, the girl nearly buried her flushed face into her chest in embarrassment. Her toes curled within her boots to manage the awkwardness and shyness of the moment. But a trace of a satisfied smile lingered on Lynn’s lips. It wasn’t until Tiya’s boot gently nudged his leg that he returned to reality. Simultaneously, the elderly gentleman looked at them tenderly, as if seeing a reflection of his younger self in the "newlyweds". “Sir, perhaps you haven’t noticed, but your wife truly loves you.” The old man smiled gently, “From the way she looked at you earlier, I could tell; it’s just the way Mary used to look at me.” “Nonsense, aren’t you embarrassed?” The elderly lady named Mary rolled her eyes, yet a sweet smile appeared on her lips. Even at an age where they needed to support each other, they remained inseparable; their enduring love was something many dreamt of. Momentarily, Lynn was lost in thought, before he instinctually murmured, "Uh-huh." The girl next to him nudged him again, neither too hard nor too soft. When the carriage reached the northern district, night was approaching. Their game of pretend marriage concluded. As they entered the inn room, Lynn still felt as if the day’s journey had been a dream while observing the tidier surroundings. He couldn’t fathom how fate had led their relationship down this path. What was he still wrestling with? Was this inevitably doomed escape truly worth pursuing? Having seen through the mists and confirmed the girl's predestined future long ago, why was he still engaging in these seemingly meaningless actions? There were but two paths before him. Adhere to the witch’s desire and convert her into a thrall. Or, end this absurd and tedious escape, presenting her with the harsh reality, persuading her to return to the church, to accept her destined fate. Ordinarily, weighing benefits, Lynn wouldn't have hesitated to choose the optimal path. Yet this time, inexplicably, he wavered. And so, he decided to entrust everything to time. To let this obscure escape journey continue. Until he sorted everything out. Or perhaps... discover new possibilities among limited choices. Lying on the bed, Lynn thought. Just then, as a sharp pain sparked on his tongue, the recently subdued Desire Mark reawakens. Perhaps the day’s kiss on the carriage accumulated a surplus of impulses that needed release. Yet Lynn's physical state at present couldn’t handle the traditional approach. “.” Enduring the surge of desire, he bit his fingertip fiercely, trying to use pain to regain clarity. To no avail. Not only that. Maybe likewise unable to sleep from her own thoughts, Tiya lying on the other side sensed her "bedmate’s" distress. Remembering the pale, exhausted look he had when she saw him that morning, she instinctively furrowed her brow. She had asked him then, only to hear “it’s nothing” in reply. Clearly, he was not being honest. With that thought, Tiya lay silent for a few seconds, then slowly rose from the bed. “Lynn.” In the dark, the girl spoke softly. Upon hearing her, the young man battling his tumultuous desires turned his head instinctively. And witnessed a sight he would remember for life. Somehow, the girl had shed her white stockings, lifting her moon-colored robe slightly, revealing her slender, beautiful, bare legs. A verdant Eye of the Soul mark gently glowed at her thigh.