Chapter 215: He Took Everything Upon Himself for You - Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

"Did Her Highness cry?" Afiya and Eleanor, two little girls, exchanged glances while staring at the tightly closed bedroom door. When Iviste returned to the Bartleon estate, it was already deep into the night, stirring the entire household staff who came out to greet her. Instead, they received an unreserved scolding. Only Afiya, who shared a closer bond with her, held Eleanor's hand with a heavy heart, silently trailing behind her. An inadvertent meeting of eyes between the two girls hinted to them that the princess's mood was absolutely foul, with even a faint redness visible around her eyes. "Out." Upon entering the room, Iviste coldly commanded and promptly shut the door. Shortly after, the familiar sound of things being smashed was heard again, mingled with faint sobbing. She really is crying. Afiya looked sadly at Eleanor. If anyone could make their mistress this upset, it wouldn’t be anyone other than a particular someone. The good news was that from Her Highness's reaction, Lynn was likely not in any mortal danger. The bad news, however, was that he probably did something to upset Her Highness, hurting her deeply. Afiya, who had always been by Iviste's side, understood well that beneath her seemingly majestic and domineering exterior, Her Highness harbored a lonely little girl within, easily hurt by the things she cherished. Though her way of expressing emotions was distorted and twisted, it was a result of the environment she had grown up in. The situation escalating to this point wasn't solely the princess's fault. The more this was the case, the more Lynn, as her subordinate, should be considerate of her feelings. Sensing Afiya's drop in spirits, Eleanor patted her on the head. Since moving into the Bartleon manor, due to her brother's relationship with them, Eleanor quickly became acquainted with the group. Besides Milanie, Afiya was the closest to Eleanor. She would often transform into a cat and play with her. "Brother must have something important to do," Eleanor comforted Afiya, gently holding her small hand. "I believe in Brother. He'll definitely be able to make Her Highness happy again, and then they'll reconcile." No sooner had she spoken than the faint sobbing inside the room suddenly ceased. "Don't mention that bastard in front of me again!!!" Her Highness's voice, utterly cold, faintly echoed, "Next time I see him, I'll kill him with my own hands." Upon hearing this, Eleanor's face turned pale, seemingly startled by her words. After all, they had not known each other for very long. Though she addressed her as "Sister-in-law," her identity as a princess held more weight. Years of ingrained beliefs in societal hierarchy influenced Eleanor, making her subconsciously take the words literally, her expression tense. Only Afiya looked at the door, then her playmate, and sighed softly, subconsciously wanting to lick her paws, only to remember she was currently in human form. She then effortlessly leaped up, transforming into a black cat and perched on Eleanor's shoulder. "Don't worry," the black cat lazily said, licking Eleanor's hair, "Her Highness is just saying that; she won't really do it." Perhaps it wasn't like this for others. But solely regarding Lynn, the princess's "I'll kill you" might hardly differ from "I love you." "Bang!" The next second, accompanied by hurried footsteps, the door suddenly swung open. Iviste flung something out from inside the room, shutting the door again with a "clang" before anyone could clearly see what it was. Startled, the two girls immediately looked at the unfamiliar creature that had fallen to the ground. White fur, drooping ears, an expression both pitiful and vigilant, with soft cries to bolster its courage—clearly, it was a newborn little puppy. "Wow!" Eleanor's earlier tension immediately dissipated as her attention shifted, and she quickly went to pick up the puppy. The poor, grubby little dog, with its pitiful demeanor, sparked the maternal instincts within the women. Watching the whimpering puppy, Afiya fell into thought. "This feels like... someone," Afiya murmured. "Like Brother?" Eleanor pondered for a moment, then shook her head, "No, Brother to me is more like a big, fluffy dog, warm to hug and always protecting the family in times of danger." "You don't understand," Afiya shook her head. She was recalling their first meeting. Clearly exiled alone to the frontier, faced with interrogation, everything was under the princess's control, yet he remained unyielding, like a wary puppy, baring his teeth defiantly, trying to escape, only to be caught and collared back by his mistress. Could this be a case of seeing in the pet the absence of Lynn? But with her understanding of Her Highness, there's no way she'd act out of random sentimental fondness. Not without a special reason would she, on a whim, pick up a stray puppy from the street. Unless its existence was connected to Lynn. Sure enough. Moments later, Iviste's voice was once more heard from the room. This time, however, it lacked the previous firmness. "Take this little beast and clean it up. It's so dirty and stinks to high heaven. Disgusting." "And remember, be sure not to harm it." Upon hearing this, Eleanor and Afiya exchanged glances and nodded, "Understood, Your Highness." After they had walked away from Iviste's room, Eleanor finally relaxed. "Oh, let's give it a name." "Hmm, it seems to be a little girl dog!" "How about... Lynn?" "Giggles, Brother will surely be upset when he finds out~" Unlike the joyous atmosphere at the Bartleon manor, the mood inside the silent church's infirmary was grim and cold. Earlier, to prevent Kushtaine's emergence, Tia had fought desperately, then fled with Lynn for a week, culminating in a fierce battle against “Hound” Frank at the black market, leaving her gravely injured. Such exertions had drained her physically, leaving Tia in a severely weakened state. In essence, she wasn't much better off than Lynn before. She persevered merely for the flicker of determination burning within her. She couldn't allow Glosteen's hero, who had saved the day, to suffer any further injustices. Even if clearing his name was impossible in the short term, she had to at least preserve his life. In the end, her hopes crumbled like mirages. The strange emotions she harbored were shattered entirely by the youth's cold and merciless mockery. Even though she consumed vast amounts of moonlight elixir and various healing potions during her recuperation, Tia still appeared pallid. Her once vibrant green eyes had turned hollow, the vitality drained from her, leaving her a mere shadow. She once thought that, upon realizing the truth, her sole focus would be on vengeance, driven by an unyielding resolve until she finally took him down. Yet, when all was said and done, Tia discovered the desire for revenge had eluded her. Moreover, the prevailing thought consuming her was one of self-destruction. Was it because her shameful deeds had seen the light, or because the boy's sincerity had never existed, leaving her face to face with nothing but his fabricated lies? Tia had no answers. Perhaps, for the first time in her brief life, she confronted such a dilemma alone. No one was able to help her escape her current plight. "Tia, Sister Gretel is asking you something." Feeling distant, Louise's concerned voice reached her ears. So close, and yet it felt as distant as ever. "Oh, apologies." Tia slowly lifted her head, her gaze weary as she looked at the middle-aged nun before her. Compared to Sister Teresa, who died at the hands of Borshum the Graftor, Sister Gretel, the head of the Silent Convent, was known for her cold and strict demeanor, always rigid and meticulous in her ways. Tia and Louise, having grown up under her supervision, had been scolded and punished by her countless times, so they harbored a faint fear deep in their hearts. Or perhaps, aside from Sister Teresa and Louise, Tia had never truly experienced the warmth of human affection within the Silent Church, despite living a life of luxury. "Your Highness the Saintess, I'll ask you one last time." Sister Gretel's expression was stern and icy as she leaned in slightly, placing her hands on Tia's shoulders. "Were you defiled by him?" "This answer is crucial. Please be honest." Ah, Your Highness the Saintess. What an ironic and laughable title. After giving it some thought, Tia realized that this had been the label surrounding her since childhood. Even Sister Teresa, whom she regarded as a mother, had never called her "Tia." At times, she could even sense unusual emotions hidden within the kind and gentle gazes directed at her. It was as if the nuns only saw this vessel of hers, not the soul and persona named "Tia" within it. Aside from Brother Sia and Louise, no one had ever called her by her real name. Oh, and now there was also Lynn. At that time, her heart secretly felt a hint of joy. But in the end, she realized that the notion of "Viya" was nothing more than a fabricated lie. Feeling Sister Gretel's unwavering gaze, and the increasing pressure on her shoulder, that familiar sensation returned. Was it connected to the upcoming Moonlight Canon? Tia didn't know. But she involuntarily responded, "No, Sister Gretel, he didn't do anything to me." After all, whether it was a kiss or helping him release, those actions were of her own will. Lynn had never coerced or even requested it; he had been considerate of her the entire time. And here it was again, that tendency to absolve him subconsciously. Besides, lying was not something the former Tia would do. It was as if being around him had imparted the ability to tell lies without a hint of guilt. Perhaps because of the persona she had maintained all along, no one could believe that Tia, the Silent Saintess, could lie brazenly, so after scrutinizing her for a while, Sister Gretel finally breathed a sigh of relief. This behavior perplexed Tia even more. This was, after all, her body—whatever happened to it was her choice. Why should it concern them? But she wasn't given time to ponder further. "This incident has had significant repercussions; Your Highness must reflect on your actions, always remember your responsibilities, and not betray the Church's expectations." "Additionally, your body is no longer in the critical condition. You can be discharged tonight." Sister Gretel's wrinkled face made her seem particularly solemn. "The Moonlight Canon is in two days. I hope you're prepared to welcome the Divine Descent Ceremony." ".I understand." Not entirely sure what emotions stirred within her, Tia responded absent-mindedly. It wasn't until the nun left the room that Tia snapped back to reality. At this moment, only she and Louise remained in the room. Gazing at the empty surroundings, Tia pondered something, her head hanging low. Louise, as her friend, seemed to notice her low spirits, choosing not to speak, allowing silence to envelop them. After a while, Tia's voice faintly broke the stillness. "What's happened to him since?" Him? Louise instinctively thought Tia referred to Sia, understanding well the situation between them. But then she realized, her expression turning complicated. "Recently, an incident related to him has occurred in Glosteen," Louise took a deep breath. "Those survivors from the demon incident were being treated at a private hospital under the Green Chamber of Commerce, awaiting the day they'd awaken and shed light on the night's truth." "Given the Empire's council's distrust towards the Church due to your previous affairs, they dismissed any records provided by them." "Then, two nights ago, a fire erupted at the hospital, and every informed survivor perished in the flames." "Do you think it's merely a coincidence or someone's maneuvering behind the scenes?" Tia, stunned, gently shook her head. "Perhaps someone is trying to falsely incriminate him… but Louise, that isn't the information I seek." "What happened afterward? Please don't hide anything from me. Tell me everything." Hearing this, Louise's gaze wandered. As a survivor, she knew better than anyone the truth of that night. She knew Lynn was actually the hero who saved Glosteen, though he had been taken away by Tia. Now that they had successfully rescued her, the Church wouldn't be foolish enough to clear Lynn's name. With someone willing to shoulder all blame and exonerate their Saintess, they were naturally pleased. Seeing her friend's determined gaze and her weak, pale face, Louise hesitated momentarily before finally speaking. "Currently, Lynn Bartleon is still wanted as the Graftor and the mastermind behind the murder of the prince and the assassination of a councilman," she spoke slowly, cautiously watching the girl before her, "As for the reason…" "That night, after you lost consciousness, he took all the blame upon himself in front of everyone." Instantly, Tia's vibrant green eyes widened. "What, what did you say?"