Stop Hypnotizing Me, Antagonist Princess!

"Dad, you really are something," Lynn said. "You've been loyal to the Emperor your whole life, and when trouble hits, they can't even be bothered to protect you."

"Look at you now, bedridden and unable to move, causing our entire family to fall apart."

"You should learn from your son—me. I know I'm not all that capable, so I clung to a strong leg early on. Who cares about the outcome? At least I'm alive for one more day, right?"

"Alright, enough bullshitting with you. Though I don't know if you can hear me now, I promise you,"

"Don't worry, I'll try to keep the family going."

In the bedroom, Lynn sat by the bed, rambling on.

Staring at Marquis Bartleion lying on the bed with his eyes tightly shut...who should now be called an Earl, Lynn sighed softly.

He who should have been in the prime of his life, now had white hair and a withered frame.

If it weren't for the occasional rise and fall of his chest, even Lynn might have thought he was already dead.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Lynn tidied the covers around his stepfather and quickly left the bedroom.

Facing the Border Servant Leader's respectful demeanor, Lynn's expression was impassive. "Well, did you get anything out of them?"

The leader nodded. "Just as you expected, Mr. Lynn. Most of these people are spies that the Mosgla family has planted over the past year, trying to covertly control your family."

"Additionally, they say that Miss Eleanor is currently at the academy, attending a deployment banquet for the fourth-year students about to head to the frontline."

A deployment banquet?

Lynn thought carefully. Before he went to the battlefield of the Demon Clan, there seemed to have been a similar event.

However, he was well aware that given Eleanor's nature, with such a major shift befalling her family, she would definitely not attend such a banquet unless she was forced into a corner.

It looks like the Mosgla family has a longer reach than I thought.

Could it be because of that bitch Irina wanting to push things further?

Lynn pondered for a moment.

After a while, he spoke, "I'm going to change my clothes. Get the car ready, and take me to the academy later."

Saying so, Lynn prepared to turn and leave.

However, the leader seemed troubled. "Mr. Lynn, what should we do with these people?"

Lynn glanced at him. "Tie them up properly and bring them along."

Outside the mansion, night had fallen.

A grand play seemed to be about to begin.

...

Royal Transcendent Academy, Opal Hall.

As the largest public building in the entire academy, the hall was now brightly lit and splendid.

Students with delicate makeup and dresses both luxurious and elegant walked in pairs into the hall to attend tonight's grand ceremony.

Although most of the students appeared youthful, their noble lineage gave them an extraordinary demeanor and a dignified aura. Coupled with the high standards of the banquet, there was almost a touch of the upper-class social atmosphere of Glostit.

At this moment, in the first floor hall, groups of students held drinks and champagne, talking and laughing about campus anecdotes, or occasionally discussing the border wars.

Most of them would one day enter the administration core of the Empire or the military, following their father's footsteps and becoming the foundation of the country.

Indeed, there were many last names that would evoke a natural reverence when mentioned.

Yet, just for tonight, the most dazzling person in the hall was not any of the aforementioned esteemed individuals.

"Xiya just killed a Fifth Rank Legendary Demon on the battlefield of the Demon Clan. That must have broken the academy record, right?"

"Indeed, reaching Fourth Rank at just twenty years old, and also capable of fighting across ranks, such a person is rare in the history of the academy."

"Rare... so there are others?"

"Are you new here?"

"Apologies, senior. I just transferred here not long ago and am still not very familiar with things in the Imperial Capital."

"Oh, that's understandable... Apart from Xiya, in my memory, there should be two others comparable to him."

"Which two?"
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"One of them is the current 'Empire's Valkyrie.' At the age of 24, she was promoted to Fifth Rank Legendary. She's now stationed at the border, commanding a legion—although it seems to involve some insider secrets."

"Insider secrets?"

"Yes. It's said that the Valkyrie's achievements today are related to another individual, her former fiancé, who I'm about to mention."

"If Xiya hadn't achieved the feat of a Fourth Rank killing a Fifth Rank Legendary before this, it would have been hard to compare with that guy."

"Seventeen years old, Fourth Rank, with 136 Divine-given factors... If that incident hadn't happened, by now... tsk tsk."

"What incident?"

"Cough cough, it involves the Mosgla family..."

"Gossiping behind others' backs is hardly a virtue of the nobility."

As two students were eagerly chatting, a cold voice suddenly interrupted them from behind.

The student who had been spreading gossip jumped in shock, quickly turning his head to see who it was.

A girl in luxurious attire with fiery red lips stood behind them, seemingly having overheard their entire conversation, now looking somewhat displeased.

The girl's features were only average, with slightly high cheekbones giving her a somewhat sharp and unkind appearance.

However, under the guise of her opulent clothing and the aura of nobility she had cultivated over the years, she also exuded a certain degree of authority.

The two whispering students immediately broke out in a sweat, "Eu, Eunice senior..."

Their expressions were full of fear.

They had encountered the host of the evening's gathering and had been overheard gossiping by her. Given the power and status of their families, if she were to take account, it would spell certain doom.

The big fish eat the little fish, as it has always been.

Fortunately, it seemed that she didn't intend to pursue the matter further and merely left them with a cold instruction to "clean up and leave," before she continued forward, escorted by a male companion.

The two students scurried away from the hall, as if granted a reprieve.

Damn it.

Eunice kept up appearances with those around her, but a glint of gloom flashed through her eyes as she recalled the whispers.

Just then, her male companion spoke up, "Actually, they're not wrong."

"If it weren't for using such tricks to absorb the status and wealth of the Bartleion family, if Irina hadn't transplanted that boy's Divine-given factor, your Mosgla family would never have reached the position you have today."

"And even so, such a position seems to me to be built on air, fragile and impermanent."

Hearing this, Eunice felt her heart tighten, and her hand on her companion's arm stiffened.

The youth by her side seemed serious, his demeanor was not one of levity but of a seriousness bordering on solemnity.

His hair was meticulously combed, glasses perched on his nose, giving him an air of refined gentility.

As the two made their way through the hall, they were met with a variety of gazes.

Of course, most of those eyes were fixed on the man beside Eunice.

Fourth Prince Joshua Laurent Alexini.

As the fourth-ranked individual identified by the Holy Oak Organization, he was one of the hot contenders in the King's election.

Though he was significantly behind the Second Prince Felit in the rankings, there were reasons for that.

As the head of the Saint Laurent Research Institute, Fourth Prince Joshua had shown little interest in mundane affairs like the King's election, dedicating himself instead to scientific research.

It was his team that had successfully pioneered the transplantation of the Divine-given factor, earning him more than three thousand points in recognition.

Most of his points were awarded for the various patents his research had developed.

Although there were rumors that he covertly abducted vagrants and orphans to use as experimental subjects, discarded after use, it never seemed to affect him.

It was a consensus in the Imperial Capital that the Fourth Prince had no interest in the throne.

But was that really the case?

At least, the Mosgla family, which had started being marginalized by the Second Prince Felit, found a new ally in him after the Level 0 Sealed Object incident.

They had helped him collect the blood of the Bartleion family for this reason.

Hearing the Fourth Prince Joshua's unsentimental remarks, Eunice managed a strained smile, "Your Highness jests, why discuss such disheartening fellows on such a lively night?"

"Indeed."

Fourth Prince Joshua replied indifferently.

At that moment, a petite figure in a light blue gown flitted from a distant corner and disappeared.

Fourth Prince Joshua paused mid-step, his eyes betraying a flicker of unusual emotion.

"By the way, how is the situation with Eleanor coming along?"

"Your Highness... seems to have a particular fondness for her?"

A shadow passed through Eunice's eyes.

As Eleanor's contemporary, she had always lived in her shadow when the Bartleion family was still in its heyday, overshadowed in both appearance and talent.

And yet, even now, with her own family ascendant and Eleanor's in decline, she found herself losing to her yet again.

She had spent hours preparing for this evening, hoping to dazzle the Prince.

But the tactless man had hardly spared her a glance all night.

At her words, a glint of avarice flashed through Fourth Prince Joshua's eyes.

"Yes."

"Such perfect material, it's a shame it's gone to waste on the outside."

"I want to seize it firmly in my grasp, then dissect it piece by piece, on the experimental table, to reveal every hidden secret of the Bartleion family for all to see..."

For some reason, Eunice felt a sudden chill, shivering uncontrollably.