Chapter 214: You Called Him 118 Times - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

By all rights, when Iveste met Lynn again after several days apart, her heart should have overflowed with uncontrollable anger. After all, upon reflection, he had engaged in a series of actions that were considered truly unforgivable to her. Just taking into account his insistent actions at the Punisher's headquarters was enough for Iveste to consider placing Lynn under house arrest. Deep down, the actions of the two of them were not really different. In Lynn's view, he had already told Iveste to trust him on this matter, yet she still chose to venture to the Heremius Tombs, coaxed by the provocative words of the Fourth Prince Joshua, falling into the cunning trap set by those old schemers of the Imperial Council. On the other hand, for Iveste, she was evidently the more powerful one. Her adorable little dog should just lie quietly in his master's embrace. In the end, Lynn nearly exhibited a "better to break than bend" attitude, choosing a mutually destructive path against the Imperial Council, not only leaving the Senator Black crippled for life but also killing the Fourth Prince Joshua, shouldering all the consequences alone. Technically speaking, Joshua was her half-brother. Unfortunately, Iveste felt nothing at the news of his death; she even wanted to applaud. While both bore the brunt of consequences, their actions were essentially the same by nature. The difference was that Lynn had the foresight of the future, whereas Iveste did not. And she was unaware of this fact. Thus, after knowing everything, Iveste ought to have felt furious. In a certain sense, the two of them were uncannily alike in character. Even on Lynn's side, he held the domineering notion of "I'm doing this for your own good, so you should just accept it." When Iveste arrived on the scene and learned that shameless woman named Tia Juhesty had taken her puppy away, she was ready to explode. The mere thought of her little dog possibly having close contact with that prostitute nurtured by the Church of Silence triggered an overwhelming surge of possessiveness in her. Even though she knew that someone with Lynn's character would never fall for that vile woman, some things simply must not be done. Her stuff, even if ruined, would never be cheapened for others. That was Iveste's life creed. She had initially planned to severely punish her obedient dog once she saw him again, bullying him from head to toe until he begged for mercy. However, dreams were vivid while reality was harsh. Iveste imagined a thousand ways she might react upon meeting him, but the moment the door opened, she was faced with a pale and weak-looking boy. Her heart, which had been steely moments before, softened immediately. It was like spotting her beloved dog lost for days, suddenly seen miserably scavenging trash on the streets. Her maternal instincts surged forth instantly. By all rights, as a princess, especially one who grew up in such an environment, even witnessing her biological father, Saint Laurent VI, being flayed alive would not have stirred the slightest emotion in Iveste—in fact, she might even have laughed heartily. In the end, only Lynn was her vulnerability. So when they were reunited, any anger she might have felt dissipated, and the soul-searching questions related to Tia that weighed on her heart were never voiced. Wasn't this a form of change and concession? And later, when Lynn suddenly embraced her and proactively sought a kiss, Iveste felt an unprecedented joy well up inside her. Strictly speaking, this seemed to be the first time her little dog had so eagerly yearned for her on his own. Her first kiss was stolen. A hint of shyness flickered across the princess's mind, though she remained on guard. She couldn't believe her playful pooch, after frolicking outside for so long, would return to her side so easily. Ultimately, he needed to be locked in the basement for a good lesson. But the next second, the boy's words left Iveste frozen in place. "Your Highness, I've regained my memories." Upon hearing this, her scarlet eyes widened instantaneously, filled with unprecedented bewilderment. The hands that had been discreetly caressing him paused, as if she was filled with confusion. Huh? What was he talking about? Recovered memories? Clearly, Iveste's mind went blank for a few seconds, seemingly unable to process the current situation. In Her Highness's view, this was a struggle between her and that wretched woman in the future. With her self-awareness, once she had set her sights on something, she would stop at nothing, using any underhanded or dirty means to achieve her goal. Especially when it came to her beloved dog. Therefore, in Iveste's worldview, she was certain her future self, ten thousand years down the line, would never easily lift the memory seal from Lynn's mind. She never expected the other party to be kind-hearted, merely accumulating strength quietly while secretly searching for items capable of breaking the divine seal. Yet what transpired before her eyes had far exceeded her expectations. "What... what did you say?" Iveste felt like she had heard something incredulous, instinctively cupping Lynn's chin and scrutinizing his face closely. "I said, I remembered everything about us," Lynn murmured gently while seizing the opportunity to hold her hand on his face gently, "I'm sorry for how I treated you before." His voice was soft, reminiscent of that time he had bravely shielded her from a level 0 sealed object outbreak in the Solon Mountains. Had that woman had a change of heart? Or had something happened in the future? Various conjectures flitted through Iveste's mind but were quickly discarded. At this moment, she had no desire to ponder such trivial matters; her moist eyes quivered slightly, and her breath grew rapid. Iveste's vibrant red lips parted slightly as if to say something, but in the end, nothing emerged. Gradually, a film of moisture gathered in her beautiful eyes, her eyes reddening slightly. "You..." At this moment, the usually dignified and imposing princess appeared defenseless. A sense of grievance mixed with joy. Seeing this, Lynn, who had been looking for a chance to extricate himself, felt his heart soften. Ultimately, the memories stored in his mind about the past were not false. However, there were more pressing matters at hand. Sorry, Your Highness. Lynn tried to harden his heart to steel. After all, not everyone could maintain their composure in the face of Iveste's breathtaking beauty when she appeared so pitifully delicate. Unfortunately, Iveste was unaware of the duplicitous thoughts brewing in Lynn's mind. It was as if she suddenly realized something, instinctively loosening her grip, ready to activate the hypnotic mark in her palm in an attempt to place him under a trance. After all, she had been deceived by this scoundrel many times before. So now, even though her heart was overflowing with joy at reclaiming what was lost, Iveste cautiously sought validation. After all, this could easily be a lie he concocted to mislead her. Having spent much time with Lynn, she knew he was capable of such deceit. Yet, these words were no lie. And Lynn caught sight of that fleeting moment of slackness in her eyes. Perfect timing! As soon as Iveste loosened her hold and before she could activate the hypnotic mark, a hazy glow of destiny shimmered over Lynn's body, clearly the activation of the Harbinger's power. The distance between them was so minimal that even with the Time Veil, it would likely be interrupted by her. Thus, he had to create some space first. Right then, at the far end of the alley, Lynn suddenly sensed the faintest weight of destiny, likely from a newborn life. Without hesitation, he invoked the power of grafting. "You lied to me?!!" The moment she realized what Lynn had done, Iveste's previously aggrieved and tender expression turned icy cold. A terrifying force erupted, powerful enough to make any supernatural being tremble to their core. Besides someone meddling with her belongings, Iveste despised liars above all else. Especially if it was Lynn. So, as soon as it happened, she raised her hand, intending to grab Lynn and thwart his escape. "Your Highness, I haven't deceived you. Please, just give me a bit more time. There are still matters I need to settle," Lynn pleaded sincerely. The moment the connection was complete, he activated the miraculous power he held as the Harbinger. Simultaneously, the creature in the depths of the alley revealed its true form. It was a newly born puppy, curled up in a corner, trembling and whimpering pitifully. In the next second, the fates of both parties were exchanged. Lynn transferred the "being caught by Iveste" fate to the puppy. With everything in place, Lynn's figure abruptly vanished. Iveste quickly realized that her outstretched hand had not grasped Lynn's body but rather a soft, furry object. She looked down in fury. When she saw the little, shivering puppy in her hand, her anger reached its peak, and she instinctively considered squeezing it. However, the puppy's barely open eyes and innocent, frightened gaze gave her pause. It felt... strangely familiar. Meanwhile, from the depths of the alley, Lynn's voice wafted over. "Your Highness, at this moment, my destiny thread is intertwined with his... In other words, if it dies, then there's a good chance I wouldn't survive either." "LINN!!! COME BACK TO ME, YOU SCOUNDREL!!!!" Due to the tears that had yet to dry, her urgent cry held a hint of vulnerability. Iveste stood stubbornly in place, gripping the puppy by the scruff, her eyes reddened as she gazed at Lynn. Behind him, the spectral clock appeared once more, heralding the use of his Timeshift ability for an escape. As their gazes met, Lynn offered a resigned smile. He couldn't say for sure whether her tearful display was genuine or a cunning performance, but no matter what, he couldn't let himself be captured—not when Tia was in such precarious danger, facing inevitable elimination in the Moonlight Festival. If the festival concluded without a hitch, the future he fought hard to change would revert to its grim course. He couldn't allow that. "Three days—no, at most four. I promise to return to the basement willingly, Your Highness." "You insolent fool!!!" The dim bathroom, the pain of wounds, the harsh, relentless words, the unyielding truth... Fragmented memories lingered like nightmares in her mind, causing Tia indescribable torment. Suddenly she awoke with a start, her heart racing as she whipped her eyes open, feeling sweat bead on her brow and back and her fingers tremble lightly. Was it a dream? Tia automatically sat up, clutching at the bandage on her shoulder, looking around in confusion, as though searching for someone. Yet, upon spotting Shirlina at the bedside, her gaze dulled as realization set in. "How long did I sleep?" She asked softly, smoothing the tangled strands of her chestnut hair tucked behind her ear. "One day and a night." Noting her awakening, Shirlina set her book down, crossing her legs as she gave Tia a contemplative look. Hearing this, Tia stayed silent for a moment before lowering her head. "Why... Are you here? Where's my brother Sia?" Despite the turmoil and hesitation within her heart, Tia ultimately spoke up. Shirlina's eyes flicked with complexity. "He was too emotional to stay by your side, so we sent him back to the military headquarters." "" Realizing she felt an unexpected sense of relief in response, Tia's heart stopped, quickly overtaken by a deep-seated guilt. Everything stemmed from her disastrous choice that had led to the current debacle. Her relationship with her brother Sia was in tatters, and the Church's reputation had been tarnished as well. Ultimately, it was all his fault. Recalling the events of that night, Tia closed her eyes painfully. Merely remembering the scene almost drove her to the brink of collapse. Why? Why did he do this to her? Her breathing quickened like a drowning person, instinctively clutching the bedsheet beside her. If left unresolved, this torment might develop into a deep-seated issue for Tia, even triggering acute stress responses. How did she truly feel about him? Was her heart filled with pure rage and a desire to kill? Or was there... something else? Tia wasn't sure what the answer would be, nor did she dare to dig deep enough to find out. Fearing to uncover an answer that might shatter her. Watching Tia's current state, Shirlina seemed to comprehend, offering a gentle sigh. "During your sleep, whether it was just dreaming or lingering emotions..." "Anyway, you called out to him thirty-six times over, repeating 'I'll kill you' each time." Hearing this, Tia was taken aback. Yet Shirlina didn't wish to involve herself in Tia's emotional affairs, standing slowly. "The Silent Church will send someone later to question you, likely regarding the Moonlight Festival in three days." "For now, rest assured and recover. Once this turmoil passes, we'll discuss 'Lynn Bartleon's true nature.'" Leaving these words, Shirlina walked away without looking back, her heels clicking with each step. Tia became ensconced in an unusual silence as she watched her leave. After exiting Tia's room, Shirlina leaned against the corridor wall, arms folded. Staring at the ceiling, she fell into quiet contemplation. There was something she hadn't told Tia. During her slumber, Tia indeed repeated the words "Lynn" and "kill you" thirty-six times. Yet this wasn't the entire truth. Actually, for the remaining one hundred and eighteen times, she called out "Don't go," even shedding silent tears. As a fellow woman, Shirlina understood what this meant. What kind of allure did that guy possess? Despite being an infamous rogue, he managed to mesmerize Tia so completely. Yet was it truly enchantment? For some reason, Shirlina recalled the scene that night. Amidst the fury from Sia and the supernatural retaliation from the Silent Church practitioners, a force potent enough to raze several blocks was unleashed. However, in their fervor, none of them realized this. Or perhaps, they simply deemed themselves different from mere mortals, elevating their status. But the boy everyone labeled a murderer intervened, halting the supernatural chaos, thereby saving fifteen innocent lives. As he departed, like a performer taking their final bow, he inadvertently locked eyes with Shirlina. From his gaze, Shirlina discerned no aura of murder nor brutality, but calm warmth. His earlier arrogance appeared to be an act. His departing silhouette left an indelible mark on her heart, leading her to reconsider it over and over. There seemed to be some hidden narrative behind it all. Considering this, Shirlina exhaled softly. However, given the turn events had taken, everything seemed set in stone. The truth, perhaps, was of little concern to anyone else. "What a peculiar guy," Shirlina mused, shaking her head and walking away. Now that the Silent Saintess had been rescued, that chapter could temporarily close. But the machinations of the Empire's council were unlikely to subside. Yet for those devoted to the Moon Goddess, a once-in-years vibrant festival was on the horizon. The entire Glostine was enveloped in an atmosphere of impending turmoil, as if presaging the gathering storm. It felt like the calm before an undercurrent of chaos; an eerie silence hinting at upheaval.