Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 121: What’s with These Chains?!

Chapter 121: What’s with These Chains?!

“This gentleman is?”

Lynn glanced at the approaching Tyrius Duke, his eyes questioning.

“This is His Highness, Second Prince Felit,” the duke softly introduced.

“Just call me Felit,” the silver-haired youth said with a faint smile. “Lynn Bartleon, we finally meet.”

“I’ve been looking forward to—”

Before Lynn could finish, he was interrupted.

“Shh, you’re too loud.”

Lynn frowned slightly, then glanced down at the white-haired woman leaning against his chest.

Her gentle breaths brushed against his chest, causing an inexplicable tickling sensation in his heart.

It was supposed to be their first meeting, yet their relationship seemed strangely intimate.

How odd, Lynn thought to himself.

Felit froze in place upon hearing Lynn's casual tone.

It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to him with such impatience.

Staring at Yveste nestled in Lynn's arms, Felit suddenly felt a strange absurdity.

The ugly duckling they had bullied since childhood, the weird girl who always played the evil witch in games, the despised and unloved "Princess of Sin," was now being held so carefully by someone?

This was...

Watching the harmonious scene between the two, Felit was left speechless.

Monster.

The word surfaced in his mind instantly.

Yveste, cursed by the gods, was destined never to be loved by any living creature in this world, like an outcast monster.

Only someone like her could avoid rejection and disgust.

Felit suddenly understood why this man could accomplish things that normal people could not.

Because he, like Yveste, was also a monster—someone born with destructive power.

If that were the case, it made sense why he had survived the chaos of the Level 0 Sealed Artifact's rampage.

Felit knew as an outsider, he couldn’t hope to fully uncover the details.

So despite his curiosity, he chose to suppress it.

“I’ll leave right away if you answer one question for me,” Felit said, trying to appear calm, though his clenched fists betrayed him.

He wanted to recruit Lynn, to lure him with rewards.

But seeing the look on his face now, that desire vanished instantly.

Because he knew, the boy before him was already deeply tied to Yveste—far beyond what any benefits could sever.

Still, how could anyone show interest in someone like Yveste?

Felit just couldn’t understand.

Hearing this, Lynn raised his head slowly. “What’s the question?”

“The Saint Oak side and all these people outside… how did you do it?” Felit asked without hesitation.

It was clear he was still reeling from the earlier shock, unable to fully process it.

Lynn, holding Yveste in a princess carry, chuckled. “Just your usual rob-from-the-rich-and-give-to-the-poor routine.”

“The nobles were being far too greedy, so I decided to step in and teach them a lesson.”

“Impossible,” Felit shook his head. “The Tyrius Duke didn’t lend you a single soldier. You couldn’t possibly stand against the local nobles and their private armies.”

“Besides, from what I know, the nobles’ grain supplies weren’t large. Even if you took everything, it wouldn’t be nearly enough to feed the city’s 200,000 refugees.”

This was what confused Felit the most.

All feasible options seemed like dead ends.

To rebuild order, he’d need food to pacify the refugees, to fill their stomachs so they could work.

But with such limited resources, could Lynn conjure food out of thin air?

Just as Lynn was about to retort with something smug, he noticed Yveste frowning in his arms.

“Good… doggy…” she murmured softly, seemingly disturbed by the voices, her delicate fingers tightening their grip on his chest.

Seeing this, Lynn froze for a moment before letting out a gentle sigh.

“For the specifics, Duke Tyrius will enlighten you,” he said, glancing at the duke. “I’ll head back first and settle Her Highness into her room.”

As Lynn walked away, the onlookers were left dumbfounded.

He… just left?

Such nonchalance—it was so typical of him.

Thinking this, Greya and Morris exchanged glances, both letting out a deep sigh of relief.

They weren’t just glad to have Lynn back; it was as if his presence restored their sense of direction, no longer leaving them as headless chickens.

This was the peculiar charm he had.

Yet, like Felit, they were deeply puzzled.

Though Lynn had described it all so casually, none of them believed earning 600 points in ten days had been easy.

Even now, they were still overwhelmed by the thrill and shock of his miraculous comeback.

All eyes turned to Duke Tyrius, standing at the center of the crowd.

“Duke Tyrius, please resolve my doubts,” Felit said, bowing slightly.

The duke nodded, a trace of emotion flashing in his eyes. “Honestly, what he did was so simple—so simple that it felt almost incomprehensible. It wasn’t until the results were announced that I finally felt the weight lift off my shoulders.”

“Your Highness, Felit, your confusion boils down to two things.”

“People and food.”

“Regarding ‘people,’ it’s closely tied to the second point,” Tyrius Duke explained.

“As you can see, the tens of thousands of starving refugees outside the manor are the ‘people’ capable of standing against the armed forces of the local nobles.”

Felit’s expression turned incredulous. “These hungry refugees are barely holding back from turning on you as it is! How could you possibly control them?”

“It’s simple—just give them ‘food’ or establish a goal, telling them where to find it,” the duke replied casually.

“Then we’re back to the original question,” Felit said, frowning deeply. “Where did he conjure up such an enormous amount of food out of thin air?”

We’re talking millions of pounds here!

“That’s what I admire about him,” Tyrius Duke said, his tone suddenly turning peculiar. “In these past ten days, he only did two things.”

“First, he used my name to pressure the city council into passing a temporary law, forcibly inflating the market price of grain several times over.”

He’s insane!

The moment the words left the duke’s mouth, everyone—including Felit—stared in utter disbelief.

Grain prices, already spiraling out of control under the manipulation of the nobles, had forced refugees to beg on the streets in desperation, creating scenes of devastation.

It was already on the brink of devolving into cannibalistic chaos.

And yet, Lynn, this madman, didn’t regulate the prices. Instead, he encouraged the insanity, aligning himself with those damned nobles!

With such chaos, rebuilding Orne City’s order was a pipe dream. Things would only get worse!

Seeing their astonished expressions, Tyrius Duke smiled faintly. “I thought the same at first—that the boy must’ve gone mad.”

“But the truth proved that the insane ones were us.”

Only Felit remained solemn, as though verifying his suspicions. “So, the second thing he did was?”

“The second thing…” The duke’s voice carried a tinge of amusement. “Was to spread rumors far and wide to Orne City and the surrounding cities, informing the nobles and merchant guilds that the Tyrius Family was profiting immensely from the disaster.”

I think I’ve seen her before.

Or rather, I must have known her once.

Not the Witch, but Yveste herself.

Sitting by her bedside, Lynn silently observed the peaceful expression of the sleeping woman.

After carrying Yveste back to the room and tucking her in, he had taken a chair and sat beside her, replaying the chaotic events of earlier in his mind.

Everything felt muddled, completely out of character for him.

That inexplicable impulse had driven him to act in ways that didn’t align with his usual self.

And beyond that, Yveste’s behavior, along with everyone else’s reactions, constantly hinted that they had shared a deep bond in the past.

No wonder Tyrius Duke had reacted that way upon learning about his amnesia.

The Witch must know something about it, yet she hadn’t told him anything.

Recalling her insistence back at the Pantheon that he differentiate between her and Yveste, Lynn couldn’t help feeling puzzled. Still, he had begun to understand.

Perhaps she truly disliked his past self and wanted no part in reminding him of it.

But… Yveste felt more human than the Witch.

Simply put, she felt less distant, as though she truly existed in the here and now.

Not to mention, she seemed to harbor some affection for him.

She’s quite a woman—stunningly beautiful, with an incredible figure. Though her power was diminished, she’d surely recover one day.

On top of that, her personality seemed… fiery, rather than the Witch’s cold, nihilistic demeanor.

Even if I ignored the way my “lower head” tries to influence my thoughts, I’d probably fall for her in no time, Lynn mused.

To think the person I’m destined to assist is a woman like her.

Staying by her side?

It… doesn’t sound so bad.

Lynn stared off into space, lost in his thoughts.

Unbeknownst to him, at some point, the woman beside him stirred from her sleep. Her gaze turned blazing as she fixed her eyes on him.

The next moment—

“Clink!”

A cold sensation snapped Lynn from his reverie. A shackle connected to a chain had suddenly materialized around his neck.