Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 139: Kill Him

“What the f*** is it with this woman?!”

Lynn was utterly stunned as he heard Yveste’s near-confession in front of the crowd.

And he wasn’t the only one.

Even Shirina, along with everyone else, was left in shock.

For a moment, countless gazes filled with curiosity and complex emotions zeroed in on him. Some even began whispering among themselves, finally recognizing who Lynn truly was.

This was the first time a Princess had ever publicly declared her marriage plans.

Though it wasn’t clear if she was serious, the mere possibility of what had just transpired spreading would undoubtedly cause an uproar in Glostein.

Shirina, sensing the situation spiraling out of control, gradually became serious.

She raised her voice slightly, her previously soft gaze now tinged with the authority of a Princess.

The murmuring around them finally subsided after a moment.

Taking a deep breath, Shirina turned her solemn gaze toward Yveste, who was sitting in her wheelchair with an air of casual defiance. “Did you decide this on your own?”

“Shouldn’t one’s marriage be one’s own decision?” Yveste chuckled as she looked back at Shirina.

The once-irritable “villainous Princess” now seemed strangely at ease, even in front of her elder sister.

Shirina’s expression turned colder. “This is ridiculous.

“Royal marriages have always been arranged by the Saint Oak Institution. How could you think this is your decision to make?”

The Saint Oak Institution existed to ensure the purity and sanctity of the royal bloodline. Every member of the Saint Roland royal family had their spouse chosen through its evaluation process, selecting candidates of impeccable lineage, appearance, and character.

Even Saint Roland VI himself had been subject to this rule before ascending the throne.

“Take back what you just said, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it. I won’t let today’s events reach anyone’s ears.”

Shirina was using her authority as the eldest sister to shield Yveste.

If word of this did spread, it wouldn’t be Shirina who faced punishment or penalties in the Succession Ceremony—it would be Yveste herself.

Even Colonel Hayden, who had remained silent until now, was drenched in cold sweat as he chimed in, “Her Highness Shirina is right. Princess Yveste, please take back your words. The military won’t let this incident leak.”

D*mn it.

I just want to stay out of this whole Succession nonsense. Why does trouble keep finding me?!

Clearly, Hayden had realized the gravity of the situation and reluctantly stepped out of his self-preservation mode.

The tension grew thick enough to cut with a knife.

Yveste’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded the group around her as if they were staging a coup.

She gently squeezed Lynn’s hand, their fingers interlocked, as a pitiful expression appeared in her gaze. She looked up at him like a forlorn puppy.

They’re bullying me, master...

Her crimson eyes seemed to plead silently.

Oh, come on. That’s just not fair!

Lynn instinctively looked away, trying to appear indifferent.

“Answer me, Yveste.” Shirina’s tone was utterly serious now, even calling her by her full name.

But Yveste paid no attention to her elder sister. She simply kept gazing up at Lynn, as if entirely confident he would relent and stand by her side.

Finally, under the bizarre weight of her gaze, the boy sighed softly.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” Still holding Yveste’s hand, Lynn straightened his posture and adopted a serious tone. “Instead of fretting over trivial matters regarding Her Highness, perhaps you should start considering what to do after you leave the military.”

His abrupt words left everyone dumbfounded.

Leave the military?

How did he pivot from Yveste’s antics to this?

Even Shirina frowned in confusion, unable to see the connection between the two topics.

Lynn shook his head at their puzzled faces. “Didn’t get it? Let me spell it out for you.”

“You’re all about to be discharged. A bunch of dead men walking who haven’t even realized it yet.”

“Nonsense!” Colonel Hayden couldn’t hold back anymore. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it. There’s no need to stir panic here!”

Hearing this, Lynn glanced at him and nodded. “Fine, I’ll lay it out for you.”

The next moment, he moved with abrupt precision, pointing toward a distant group of people.

“There’s a demon infiltrator among you.”

When the black-haired, blue-eyed youth appeared within the teleportation array, Xiya felt a peculiar unease.

It wasn’t because of Lynn Bartleon himself, but rather how the world seemed to reject him.

Like a speck of grit in an otherwise smooth stream, he stood out starkly, yet remained untouchable—freely traversing the river of time.

The loathing and revulsion bubbling deep within Xiya now surged to the surface. He clenched his fists tightly, struggling to suppress the impulse to kill him on the spot.

This was his mortal enemy.

Even though it was their first meeting, Xiya’s gut told him so.

From start to finish, the black-haired youth didn’t spare him a single glance.

But Xiya used the opportunity to glare at him with smoldering hatred.

Behind the boy stood Third Princess Yveste, another figure he inexplicably despised, though nowhere near as strongly as Lynn.

Despite her apparent weakness, she was a Sixth-Rank Demigod. Killing that boy would inevitably make her his enemy.

Better to find an opportunity to eliminate him discreetly.

As Xiya contemplated his plan, he suddenly noticed the black-haired youth pointing straight at him.

In an instant, all eyes fell on his face.

What’s going on?

Xiya froze, dumbstruck.

Lynn’s words struck like a boulder in a calm lake, sending ripples of shock through the crowd.

All eyes turned toward the young officer he’d singled out, their faces filled with disbelief.

After a brief silence, murmurs began to swell once more.

As the crowd turned to Lynn with expressions that screamed "idiot," Colonel Hayden let out a cold laugh. "Do you even realize who you're accusing?"

"Who?" Lynn asked curiously.

"That’s Xiya Asolant, the man who personally beheaded the Fifth-Rank Legendary Demon, the 'Lord of the Dead,' in the battle of Saint Pharos Fortress. He’s here in Glostein to attend the celebration banquet with the Third Highness."

"And you think someone like him could possibly be a demon infiltrator?"

The crowd, including Shirina, subtly shook their heads at Hayden’s reasoning.

But Lynn merely chuckled. "So, just because he killed a Fifth-Rank demon, that proves he isn’t an infiltrator?"

"Besides him and his team, who else witnessed the entire fight? Or are you certain his consciousness wasn’t corrupted by that so-called 'Lord of the Dead,' making him indirectly controlled?"

"Honestly, you’re too naive."

Hayden froze, his retort stuck in his throat.

It wasn’t that he believed Lynn’s nonsense—he just couldn’t figure out how to refute it.

To be fair, Lynn’s scenario sounded more plausible than the idea of a Fourth-Rank defeating a Fifth-Rank Legendary Demon.

But... Xiya was a freak of nature.

He boasted multiple faiths, an unusually high number of Divine Factors, and power that left no one questioning his accomplishments.

Still, did lack of doubt mean ruling out every possibility?

Hayden’s expression turned sour as he realized Lynn was making an absurdly compelling argument.

"Think I’m just playing word games?" Lynn smirked, reading his thoughts. "Fine. Let’s settle this. Bring him over, and I’ll ask him directly."

Lynn’s eyes calmly drifted toward the golden-haired youth in the distance. Internally, however, he couldn’t help sighing.

So it’s come to this—going head-to-head with the original male protagonist.

Strangely, despite repeated attempts, Lynn’s system refused to display Xiya Asolant’s character profile. The girl standing stoically beside Xiya, though, was another story. She was an S-tier storyline character, just like Shirina.

[Character Name: Tiya Yuhesti]

[Plot Level: S]

[Deviation: 0.00%]

Recalling the Witch’s cryptic words on the parchment last night, Lynn began crafting his plan.

On the other side, Xiya, though annoyed by Lynn’s commanding tone, reluctantly stepped forward. He bowed slightly toward the two princesses.

"Your Highnesses."

Yveste ignored him entirely, her gaze remaining fixed on Lynn. The confidence and composure he radiated in moments like these never failed to captivate her.

Shirina, however, spoke icily. "Xiya is my subordinate. Ask your questions here, in front of everyone."

She understood Lynn’s real aim—to deflect the controversy back onto her.

Still, she was certain Xiya couldn’t possibly be a demon infiltrator, and curiosity drove her to see what nonsense Lynn would spout next.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lynn discreetly attempted to withdraw his hand from Yveste’s grasp. After all, appearances mattered—how could he play the part while being lovey-dovey with her?

Unfortunately for him, Yveste wasn’t having it.

Maintaining a calm demeanor, Lynn turned to the golden-haired youth. "Tell me, who do you worship?"

Xiya frowned. "I’m a follower of the Silent Church, devoted to the Goddess of the Moon."

In truth, he adhered to several faiths, including the Divine Order Church, the Church of Abundance, and even the War God Cathedral.

But Lynn had no interest in correcting the details. "If that’s the case, will you swear to your goddess that you’ll answer all my questions truthfully?"

"Why should I—"

Shirina’s sharp gaze cut him off, leaving Xiya with no choice but to suppress his frustration. "Fine. I swear."

"Good," Lynn nodded.

"Captain Xiya, have we had any prior interactions before today?"

"No."

"Have I, or anyone related to me, ever done anything to harm you?"

"No."

"So, for a stranger like me, you should have no reason to harbor hatred, correct?"

Xiya stiffened slightly, a realization dawning in his mind.

But under the encouraging gazes of the crowd, he took a deep breath. "That’s correct."

Lynn’s expression grew more serious. "Then answer this: Why, from the moment I stepped out of the teleportation array, have your eyes been filled with hatred and killing intent whenever you looked at me?"

"Or would you claim, here and now, that my observation is a complete fabrication?"

Yveste glanced at the lie-detecting ring on her hand, waiting for Xiya’s response.

Xiya glared at Lynn, irritation flashing across his face. "I thought you had something worthwhile to say."

"And now, because I happened to dislike a stranger at first sight, you want to brand me as a demon infiltrator? Ridiculous."

He shook his head dismissively.

Lynn’s lips curled into a faint, cryptic smile. "So you admit that you’ve harbored unprovoked hatred and killing intent toward a stranger?"

Xiya’s eyes turned cold. "Yes. So what?"

Lynn shrugged. "Nothing. You’re free to feel however you want about strangers."

But not me. Not someone carrying a demonic curse and marked by Kushustain’s order for eradication.

Lynn had deliberately kept the curse intact, knowing situations like this would arise after surviving two powerful demons and returning to the capital.

It was his fallback plan.

"I’m done," Lynn said softly to Yveste.

Throughout the exchange, her ring had remained inactive, proving Xiya’s answers were truthful.

Yveste nodded lightly, then casually turned to her subordinates.

"Kill him."