Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 138: This Is My Future Prince Consort

As the dazzling white light dissipated, Xiya and his companions found themselves transported across half the empire back to the capital. A slight dizziness lingered in their heads—a typical aftereffect of long-distance teleportation via the Magical Array. None of them made much of it.

The blond youth leading the group steadied himself, quickly realizing they were standing atop a raised platform engraved with intricate teleportation patterns. Below, hundreds of uniformed soldiers stood at attention, led by their commanding officer, Colonel Hayden.

The moment Xiya appeared, a wave of joy flashed across the soldiers' faces. As one, they saluted crisply and bellowed in unison:

“Welcome back, Captain Xiya, the hero of battle, to Glostein!”

The atmosphere became celebratory as magical fireworks burst into the air, painting the sky with vivid colors.

Scanning the crowd below, Xiya’s eyes gleamed slightly. He returned the salute sharply and descended the platform, heading straight toward the tall woman in a cloak who stood at the forefront of the crowd.

“Your Highness, I have fulfilled my mission,” Xiya said, dropping to one knee with a deferential bow.

Yet, out of her sight, a flicker of admiration and longing glimmered in his gaze.

This noble and ethereal woman was none other than the one to whom Xiya had sworn his allegiance: Lady Shirina Roland Alexini, the Grand Princess of the Saint Roland Empire.

Known as the most beautiful woman in the entire empire, few could look upon her for the first time without being utterly captivated. Xiya was no exception.

“Killing a Fifth-Rank Legendary while at the Fourth Rank, even with the aid of teammates and a Sealed Artifact, remains an extraordinary feat,” Princess Shirina remarked softly as she helped him to his feet. Her voice carried a gentle warmth. “You’ve done well. Truly, you are a subordinate I am proud of.”

“Your will is my command,” Xiya replied reverently, daring to meet her gaze with bold intensity.

This mission had brought him unprecedented glory, making Shirina’s name resound throughout the capital. He was certain she would reward him handsomely. Yet for Xiya, rewards were secondary.

Sensing the fervent look in his eyes, Shirina chuckled softly, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear:

“What’s this? Entranced, are we?”

“Your Highness, I...” Xiya began, instinctively reaching out for her hand.

“That’s enough,” Shirina interrupted, taking a subtle half-step back to evade the intimate gesture. “There are many eyes here. If you have something to say, we can discuss it later.”

This was, after all, a public occasion. As the Grand Princess, how could she disregard the empire’s dignity and openly flirt with a subordinate?

Moreover, though she was well aware of Xiya’s feelings, their relationship hadn’t reached that point yet. Even Shirina wasn’t entirely certain whether she truly admired him as a person or simply saw him as a useful pawn.

Seeing her reaction, a trace of disappointment flickered in Xiya’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

Meanwhile, the other members of his squad approached, bowing respectfully in unison.

“Your Highness.”

Among them, Tiya momentarily exchanged a glance with Shirina, a flash of coldness in her eyes.

Shirina, perceptive and intuitive, instantly guessed Tiya’s thoughts and found them somewhat amusing. Yet she had no intention of offering an explanation, instead speaking soothingly to the group:

“Soon, we will head to the Royal Palace District together. His Majesty has arranged a banquet in the Council Hall to honor you all, and the awards ceremony will follow shortly after.”

“But for now, we need to wait a moment,” Shirina added, glancing at the teleportation array, which was glowing once more. “There is another group arriving via teleportation.”

“They are the true heroes of tonight’s banquet.”

Xiya looked puzzled. He had assumed this grand event was prepared exclusively for him. However, upon reflection, he realized it made sense—this was a banquet attended personally by Saint Roland VI, implying an unprecedented level of formality.

Preparing to leave the teleportation facility with Tiya and the others to freshen up and change, Xiya overheard a whispered conversation among the soldiers as he passed by.

“Word is, the second group includes the Third Princess Yveste and her entourage. They’ve all earned commendations from His Majesty for their pivotal role in quelling the border unrest...”

Yveste?

Hearing her name, a faint sense of aversion surfaced in Xiya’s heart. Perhaps it stemmed from her infamous reputation in the capital.

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought.

However, just as he was about to step out of the teleportation facility, his sharp ears caught one soldier muttering an additional remark.

“...The youngest son of the Bartleon family, Lynn, didn’t die in the border conflict. Instead, he’s managed to survive and has even gained the favor of the Third Princess. He’s been brought back to Glostein along with the rest of her group,” a soldier whispered.

“Ha, I wonder how the nobles will react when they hear about this,” another added with a chuckle.

Lynn Bartleon?

Hearing the name, an uncontrollable wave of hostility surged through Xiya, so intense it left him agitated.

Why?

Why does the mere mention of that stranger's name fill me with such overwhelming hatred, as if he’s someone I must eliminate at all costs?

Clutching his face, Xiya tried to calm his restless heart.

“What’s wrong?”

The concerned voices of his squad members, including Tiya, snapped him out of his thoughts.

“It’s... nothing.” After a moment, Xiya lifted his head, his expression neutral. “You all go on ahead. I need to stay behind for a while.”

Though uncertain, the group trusted Xiya’s tendency to keep things to himself and left without further questions. Tiya, however, remained silent, quietly choosing to stay by his side. She wasn’t the type to offer comforting gestures, so this was her clumsy way of providing support.

As the teleportation array activated, Lynn felt a familiar tugging sensation, akin to the one he experienced whenever visiting the Pantheon. Luckily, he was used to it by now, so the dizziness and nausea were manageable.

Moments later, the blinding white light faded, and Lynn stepped out of the array first.

What greeted him left him utterly stunned.

Below the raised platform, hundreds of soldiers knelt on one knee, saluting as if welcoming some revered figure to Glostein.

The sight left Lynn flabbergasted.

“Rise, my loyal subjects?” he muttered instinctively, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Hearing this, Colonel Hayden, who led the troops, instinctively looked up and locked eyes with a pair of sea-blue irises.

The colonel froze. “Who... are you? Where’s the Third Highness?”

Typically, the first person to emerge from the teleportation array was the most important. Naturally, he had assumed it would be Princess Yveste.

“Oh, her? She’s in the back—” Lynn began, gesturing toward the array as more people emerged.

But before he could finish, a haggard blond youth stumbled out, bending over and heaving.

“Ughhh!” The retching echoed across the platform.

“Dammit, Greya! Don’t puke on me!” Lynn recoiled in disgust, stepping aside.

“Help... me... I’m dying...” Greya groaned weakly, clutching Lynn’s shoulder for support.

The chaotic scene left the soldiers exchanging bewildered glances, unsure whether to rise or remain kneeling.

Shirina, standing at the forefront, furrowed her brows imperceptibly. She said nothing, watching silently as the scene unfolded into a farcical mess.

Finally, the crowd parted, and a striking black-haired woman emerged gracefully.

She wasn’t wearing a mask, revealing a pale face partially covered by faint black Cursed Sigils. Her calm gaze swept over the assembly.

“Good, everyone’s fine,” Yveste said, her serene demeanor completely ignoring Shirina’s scrutiny and the soldiers' continued kneeling.

With a wave of her hand, she signaled Lynn to come closer.

Lynn reluctantly obliged, walking toward her.

As their eyes met, a faintly vulnerable expression flickered in Yveste’s crimson gaze—a strikingly poignant look that seemed to silently convey: Your master overexerted herself to get you back to the capital ahead of schedule. Now, I’ve become as weak as a kitten. You’d better take responsibility and hold me tightly in front of everyone.

Her unspoken plea lingered in the air.

The next moment, Yveste's performance reached its peak. Her face turned pale as she clutched her chest and deliberately toppled sideways.

This was a calculated act.

It wasn’t just to declare her claim over Lynn in front of the entire capital from the very moment of her return—it was also to leave an indelible mark on him. She wanted everyone to know that this young man shared a close relationship with her, sending a clear warning: If you intend to mess with him, you’d better think twice about whether you’re up to the task!

A glimmer of triumph flashed through Yveste’s eyes, confident that everything would proceed as she had planned. She expected to fall into his familiar, warm embrace under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Unexpectedly, Afia, seemingly prepared for this exact scenario, appeared from nowhere with a brand-new wheelchair and gently helped Yveste into it.

...What?

For a moment, Yveste’s shock was evident. But that quickly shifted to an icy expression.

Afia wouldn’t dare ruin her plans on her own.

There was only one explanation.

Her gaze darkened, and she directed her displeasure toward Lynn, who was standing beside her.

Didn’t I already destroy every last wheelchair in advance? Where on earth did you find this one?!

She shot him an accusing look.

Lynn’s expression flickered with guilt, but he quickly replied with a glance of his own: Your safety is my priority, Your Highness. As your subordinate, I ensured there were no gaps in preparation.

But this answer only deepened Yveste’s dissatisfaction.

Her piercing gaze bore into him further: Do you really think I wouldn’t guess that this was that wretched woman’s doing?

Lynn felt a chill run down his spine, beads of sweat forming.

A woman’s intuition was terrifying.

The night before, the Witch had contacted him urgently via parchment, forewarning him of what might happen today and advising him to avoid playing along with Yveste’s whims. Otherwise, the trials ahead would become far more complicated.

Being caught between two formidable women was an incredibly harrowing experience.

Lowering his gaze, Lynn avoided her eyes and feigned meekness.

“Cheaters are so boring,” Yveste finally huffed, ending the scene with an irritated expression—or perhaps it was because someone in the crowd had finally broken the tense silence.

Seeing that Yveste hadn’t fallen to the ground, Shirina let out a small sigh of relief and smiled gently.

“Little Yve, it’s been so long. Why don’t you greet your elder sister?”

At the sound of her voice, Yveste’s expression instantly turned aloof.

“Push me down,” she murmured to Lynn.

He nodded and carefully wheeled her down the platform, stopping in front of the woman who had spoken.

Lynn’s gaze naturally shifted to her.

What a stunning woman.

Wrapped in a voluminous cloak, Shirina exuded an elegance that took Lynn’s breath away.

Her platinum blonde hair, softly curled, was neatly coiled at the back of her head. The cloak concealed a waist so slender it seemed unreal, while a tailored gown emphasized her figure—full and alluring, to the point that even Yveste paled in comparison.

Truly deserving of the title Mother of All Creation.

Perhaps only the White-Hatted Lady he had encountered in Orne City could surpass her.

Despite her sensuous physique, Shirina’s face was ethereal, her beauty dignified and noble, like that of a holy goddess. Her eyes, shimmering with compassion, seemed to embrace all who looked upon her.

Unable to resist, Lynn opened his system.

[Character Name: Shirina Roland Alexini]

[Plot Level: S]

[Deviation: 0.00%]

As expected.

Another S-tier storyline character had appeared, aside from the princess herself!

“Do you like what you see?”

Just as Lynn was absorbed in his thoughts, Yveste’s indifferent question broke the silence.

Shirina frowned ever so slightly but didn’t say anything.

With her experience, she could tell Lynn’s gaze wasn’t disrespectful—far from it. His curiosity was merely that of someone encountering an unfamiliar beauty for the first time, devoid of vulgarity.

Yet Shirina couldn’t defend him, as Lynn wasn’t her subordinate.

Knowing her sister all too well, Shirina could only lament inwardly. This poor boy was in for it.

Hearing Yveste’s seemingly emotionless remark, the boy didn’t cower in fear as the onlookers expected. Instead, he let out a soft sigh, breaking the tense atmosphere.

“Your Highness, I was simply curious. I wanted to see for myself what kind of beauty could make people lose their senses—someone hailed as ‘the most beautiful woman in the capital.’ To be honest, though, meeting her today has been quite unexpected,” Lynn said with a calm demeanor, his tone genuine.

“Rumors, as it turns out, are rarely reliable. You, Your Highness, are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Shirina: ...What?

The crowd: ...What?

Yveste: φ(゜▽゜*)♪

“The ring didn’t glow.” Yveste glanced at her slender fingers, a radiant smile spreading across her lips. “He’s telling the truth.”

Turning her gaze back to her elder sister, Yveste’s tone was light and playful.

“Shirina, thanks to you, I had the fortune of encountering some wonderful people and experiences at the frontier.”

For reasons she couldn’t fully grasp, Shirina felt a strange sense of absurdity seeing her usually troublesome sister in such a cheerful mood.

It almost seemed as though... her unruly little sister had changed in some profound way.

What on earth had happened?

Instinctively, Shirina turned her eyes toward Lynn, hoping for a clue. Yet as soon as their gazes met, the boy quickly averted his eyes, as if he had just seen something unpleasant.

Even Shirina, known for her exceptional grace and composure, felt a fleeting pang of exasperation.

I was about to speak up for you, and this is the thanks I get?

What a sly little fox of a boy!

Still, Shirina held back her frustration and maintained her gentle smile.

“Aren’t you going to introduce him?”

Yveste toyed with a lock of her dark hair cascading to her waist, amusement flickering in her eyes.

Then, to Shirina’s astonishment, Yveste suddenly took the boy’s hand, interlocking their fingers tightly.

“If you insist on an introduction,” Yveste said with a bright smile, her voice carrying clearly in the stunned silence, “then allow me to present him to everyone.”

Under the gaze of the entire crowd, she turned her head slightly toward Lynn and declared:

“This is my future prince consort and the future prince of this nation—Lynn Bartleon.”