Stop hypnotizing me, villain princess!

Chapter 252 I Am Innocent (9k)

As dusk settled, figures moved about in the ancient council chamber of the Mosgra family.

On the evening of the same day the general assembly concluded in the council hall, most of the Mosgra family members, including Marquis Fred, gathered there to discuss Saint Laurent VI's decision that day with righteous indignation.

"They could have just executed this demon, but they insisted on staging the Sacred Tree Judgment."

A young Mosgra member slammed his fist on the oak table, which he considered completely unnecessary.

His remarks resonated with many people in the audience.

“That’s right, Your Majesty shouldn’t create unnecessary trouble. Since he has already surrendered himself, we can proceed directly to the final trial for such a vicious criminal!”

A withered-looking woman responded in a hoarse voice.

She was Eunice's mother, who had witnessed her daughter being pierced through the body with a spear by Lynn at that banquet, draining every drop of blood from her body.

Hatred had long since permeated every inch of her soul, completely devouring the once elegant and composed noblewoman.

"Quiet!"

Marquis Fred sat in the main seat, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over every family member present.

His eyes were red-rimmed, as if he was suppressing anger, but in the end he still managed to restrain himself and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty has his reasons."

Although most of the people here are his own, given his understanding of that person, there might be spies of Saint Laurent VI among them.

So there are some things that can't be said.

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. The trial of the Sacred Tree is absolutely fair and just. According to our intelligence, at least the killing of the Fourth Prince Joshua is a crime that Lynn cannot refute no matter what.”

Theodore Mosgra, with his slightly wavy long hair, spoke first.

As the youngest grandson of the Marquis de Fred, he was known for his composure.

Even at banquets where noble children indulged in revelry, he habitually stood quietly by the pillars, acting as a listener and observer.

As soon as he said these words, the previously noisy council hall immediately quieted down.

Clearly, everyone agreed with what he said.

"Since the founding of the Saint Laurent Empire, there has never been such a heinous incident as the murder of a prince or princess by thugs. Lynn's actions are not only murder, but also an attempt to shake the foundation of the empire and a blatant provocation against the sacred imperial authority!"

"That's right, he will face the cruelest punishment in the entire Saint Laurent Empire!"

"..."

Everyone chatted amongst themselves, but Marquis Fred himself looked solemn, as if he were waiting for someone to arrive.

As luck would have it, the door to the council chamber was knocked on the next second.

Everyone fell silent instantly, staring intently, and then were surprised to find that the newcomer was actually Cardinal Connor of the Church of Heavenly Reason.

The two old foxes exchanged a glance and nodded knowingly.

As for the others, they were somewhat surprised by Bishop Connor's sudden visit, and for a moment they felt awkward and apprehensive.

Only Theodore Mosgra was not surprised by this.

The reason is simple.

For both the Church of Heaven and the Mosgra family, killing Lynn was a shared goal.

Therefore, in order to thoroughly nail that prodigy to the gallows, Bishop Connor personally came to Marquis Fred to discuss the matter, in order to ensure that the trial would be foolproof.

As a cardinal of the Church of Heaven, Connor held a transcendent position, even surpassing Marquis Fred in stature.

It should be noted that the appearance of a cardinal from the Church of Heaven at a private meeting of the Mosgra family was a major event that was enough to shake the capital.

"Good evening, everyone." Stepping onto the soft red carpet, Bishop Connor, bathed in the gazes of the crowd, slowly walked to the center of the room, his tone calm. "It seems you've encountered some trouble?"

As Marquis Fred rose to greet him, he asked in a friendly manner, "What are your thoughts, Your Excellency, on the case of Lynn Bartleyon?"

After he welcomed Bishop Connor to his seat, he waved away some of the family members around him, leaving only the core members and his direct descendants to listen.

Upon hearing this, Bishop Connor shook his head: "It's not exactly a brilliant idea, but Marquis Fred, are you absolutely certain that you can sentence Lynn to death?"

Marquis Fred remained expressionless as he took out a parchment scroll from his pocket: "This is the detailed arrangement of the trial proceedings. The Tree of the Holy Spirit will only read Lynn's memories of that night at the old factory."

"At that time, the entire city will witness firsthand how he brutally murders Prince Joshua."

Therefore, Lynn is doomed to die!

After receiving confirmation from Marquis Fred, Bishop Connor breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He was familiar with the process of the Sacred Tree Trial.

The Tree of the Holy Spirit can read the host's memories and play them on the celestial screen for the entire city to watch; therefore, choosing the nodes of the memories is very important.

Although Bishop Connor knew that Lynn was hiding many secrets, if he could use the Tree of the Holy Spirit to read his memories, he might get many unknown secrets, and might even be able to glimpse some of the Third Princess's forbidden possessions.

Bishop Connor was extremely interested in this.

Unfortunately, if too many memories are read, it might cause unforeseen complications, leading this trial, which was originally destined to have an unknown outcome, to an uncertain conclusion.

Therefore, reading only Lynn's memories of that night at the old factory is undoubtedly the safest approach.

Moreover, the judgment process of the Tree of the Holy Spirit is fair and just, and they cannot manipulate the specific details.

However, after a moment of silence, Bishop Connor thought again and realized that in the past, there had been so many times when the Third Princess was in a life-or-death situation, but in the end, that boy had easily resolved it.

Perhaps, they could not have given this prodigy named Lynn the due respect they deserved.

Upon realizing this, Bishop Connor's Adam's apple bobbed, and a hint of madness flickered in his eyes.

"Besides the Mosgra family, it seems we need to prepare another trump card that can completely kill Lynn."

Thinking of this, he narrowed his eyes and a plan came to mind.

At this moment, the last rays of the setting sun outside the window were swallowed up by the night.

"When, when, when..."

The large clock in the attic struck seven times, as if counting down to the upcoming trial.

……

Several days have passed since Lynn was arrested.

For several days, he had been missing without a trace, and the Third Princess, Yves, remained in a coma. This left the people of Bartleyon Manor, who had once again been saved by Lynn—Morris, Greya, Rhine, and Lynn's sister, Eleanor—as if their souls had been ripped out, wandering aimlessly between the corridors and the hall all day long.

It felt as if stopping would lead to being swallowed by despair.

Undoubtedly, after losing their two pillars of support, everyone fell into deep anxiety and despair.

Not only Maurice, Greya, Rhine, and others, but even Lynn's sister Eleanor tried every means possible, using her family's connections to try and get her brother released.

But at this point in time, who would dare to defy public opinion and mention anything related to Lynn?

Eleanor bit her lower lip, flipping through the family's letters again and again, trying to find those old friends who had benefited from the Bartleyon family.

But it was all destined to be in vain.

The reason is simple: this time Lynn killed the fourth prince Joshua, thus offending the royal family of the Saint Laurent Empire.

Even blood relatives would likely back down at such a critical juncture.

Therefore, these days, everyone has been rejected countless times, and now they are gathered in the manor with pale faces, not knowing what the future holds.

"Failed again..."

Three days have passed since she sent a letter to the presiding judge of the Imperial High Court, and she still has not received a reply. It's as if the letter has sunk into the sea. Eleanor murmured to herself, her voice as if all her strength had been drained.

You should know that this now high-ranking Justice Cornell of the Saint Laurent Empire's legal profession is Eleanor's last hope.

Forty years ago, on that snowy winter night, Cornell was just a thin young man huddled in the slums of the capital's lower district, full of ambition but frustrated by his lack of success.

When he collapsed on the steps of the library, his frozen fingers were still clutching half of the Saint Laurent Code, which was soaked with snow.

If he hadn't happened to meet the head of the Barthleon family, Eleanor's grandfather, who had just finished a court meeting, and found this young man, who was still thinking about legal statutes in the blizzard, interesting, and taken him home, there probably wouldn't be the renowned Grand Judge of the Empire today.

"It's no use. Judge Cornell is known for his integrity. If you're hoping he'll step in to save Lynn, you'd be better off believing I am Saint Laurent I."

Rhein sighed.

Greia stood silently by the window, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the scratches on the window frame. His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible: "Everyone is afraid of being implicated, which is only natural. After all, who would offend the entire noble class and His Majesty the Emperor for someone who is not really related to them?"

Everyone understands this principle, but no one is willing to do nothing and just watch Lynn be tried and hanged. This is unacceptable to them.

Is there really no way to turn things around?

Even the slightest miracle?

These people, who had fought side by side to the last moment in the battle to defend the manor, now regarded each other as comrades they could completely trust.

Therefore, despite past misunderstandings, everyone still asked Rhine, the only one who could be considered somewhat intelligent at the moment.

The other party responded without hesitation, saying "You will definitely die."

From any perspective, Lynn, caught in the vortex, would inevitably be devoured by the nobles of the entire capital without Ivy's protection.

This answer left everyone even more disheartened, unsure of what to say.

"So we can only watch him get executed?"

Morris jumped to his feet, the chair scraping loudly on the floor.

Rhine looked up at him, his gaze almost cruelly calm: "Unless you plan to break into prison and then be hanged together."

The air suddenly solidified.

After trying all methods and finding them ineffective, the only option left might be to forcibly break Lynn out of prison, but doing so would only lead to everyone's death.

Just when everyone was in utter despair, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open.

With a light footstep, everyone realized that it was Afia, who had been missing for a long time, who had returned.

At this moment, although the cat-like girl's eyes were red, her posture was very upright and her complexion was much better, as if she had suddenly unloaded a heavy burden and felt much more relaxed.

Then everyone remembered that she was responsible for going to the eldest princess to ask for help, and their hopes were rekindled.

After all, Sylrina held a transcendent position in the Empire, and the power she wielded was far beyond what Yvesette, who was fighting alone, could compare to.

Just as everyone looked at Afia with anticipation, she shook her head and said:
"Her Highness the First Princess also said she was at a loss."

Upon hearing this, the anticipation on everyone's faces froze instantly, as if they had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

Morris frowned and looked her over:
"Afia, you came back empty-handed, so why are you so happy?"

Everyone then realized that Afia's expression seemed somewhat out of place compared to everyone else present.

Everyone was almost in despair, unwilling to accept the cruel reality that Lynn was going to be executed.

But Afia didn't seem sad or upset at all, which puzzled them.

To everyone's surprise, Afialy replied even more matter-of-factly, "Although Her Highness Hillina said she was also helpless in this matter, when she went to visit Lynn in prison, the bad guy asked her to pass on a message."

She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over the instantly tense faces of the crowd, before repeating, word by word:
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

This sentence is like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.

The term "bad guy" was Afia's exclusive way of calling Lynn, and upon realizing this, everyone subconsciously sat up straight.

The air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.

For a moment, everyone fell silent, their expressions varied.

Admittedly, they felt a slight flutter in their hearts when they first heard those words, but they immediately recognized the harsh reality before them.

They thought it was just Lynn's way of comforting them.

"Ha!" Morris laughed weakly. "Has that guy been tortured in jail until he went crazy? Saying things like that at a time like this?"

"Perhaps he just didn't want us to worry."

Greer lowered his head, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

"But this guy is really something else. Even when he was about to die, he was still thinking about us. It's impossible to hate him."

Rhein sighed.

Although there was some grudge between him and Lynn because the guy had ruined his reputation, ultimately it was Lynn who had caused the trouble.

And after spending these days together, his hatred for Lynn had lessened considerably.

There was even a hint of admiration.

On the other hand, compared to the utterly despondent expressions of the others, Eleanor and Afia were quite different.

Their eyes sparkled; clearly, they didn't think Lynn's words were merely a consolation.

"My brother said he would come back..." "Then he will definitely come back!"

Eleanor suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet firm.

She stood by the window, the afterglow of the setting sun gilding her profile, and her eyes, so like Lynn's, shone with an unquestionable trust.

“That’s right,” Afia walked to Eleanor’s side, then looked around at everyone, a sweet smile on her lips, “Ladies and gentlemen, when have you ever seen Lynn go back on his word?”

The flickering firelight from the fireplace cast shifting shadows on everyone's faces.

Some people frowned, some were skeptical, but the two girls standing in the light had a light in their eyes that was brighter than the fire in the furnace.

……

Time flew by, and the day of the execution soon arrived.

Cleric Square, the most magnificent place of judgment in the capital, was now completely submerged by a dark mass of people.

One after another, noble carriages drove into the outer edge of the square, and the drivers had to shout loudly to barely clear a narrow path through the crowded streets.

The citizens stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, wanting to witness this "sacred trial" with their own eyes, as if Lynn's death could wash away some unease in their hearts.

On the high platform in the center of the square, the shadow of the gallows fell to the ground, like a hideous crack.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Lynn will end his young and "sinful" life on this gallows after the trial concludes.

In the aristocratic viewing area on the east side of the square, several nobles dressed in fine clothes were talking in hushed tones. Their voices were low, but they could not hide the contempt and glee in their words.

"I have finally waited for this day."

The Marquis of Saxton chuckled coldly, tapping lightly on the silver wolf carving at the top of his cane, the emblem of his family.

The Silver Wolf family and the Bartleyon family are sworn enemies; the Marquis of Saxton's ancestor and Lynn's ancestor both served in the Third Legion of the Empire.

The two should have been comrades-in-arms fighting side by side, but a strategic disagreement caused them to become complete enemies.

The Marquis of Saxton's ancestors advocated sacrificing the lives of thousands of civilians in a small town to secure the final victory in the battle. Lynn's ancestors strongly opposed this, and that night, he led his cavalry in a flanking attack without authorization, ultimately achieving a great victory.

When Lynn's ancestor returned victorious, he discovered that the Marquis of Saxton's ancestor, disregarding his objections, had taken it upon himself to sacrifice the entire town's commoners.

Because of this incident, Lynn's ancestor was furious and broke with the Marquis of Saxton's ancestor, and reported the matter to the military.

Finally, the Marquis of Saxton's ancestor was punished, and he was eventually made a marquis rather than an earl based on his merits, and he held a grudge against Lynn's ancestor.

The Marquis of Saxton played a significant role in bringing the Bartleyon family to this state.

He had thought the Bartleyon family had completely fallen into decline, but unexpectedly, Lynn, who had been reduced to a useless person, suddenly rose to prominence again and even got involved with the Third Princess, Yves, showing signs of a resurgence and a potential to lead the declining Bartleyon family to rise again.

This greatly disturbed the Marquis of Saxton.

Unexpectedly, before he could even make a move, Lynn collapsed on his own. Having committed the heinous crime of murdering the Fourth Prince, he was already doomed anyway.

"If you ask me, hanging would be too lenient on him. A lawless madman like him should be tied to the gallows and let crows peck at his flesh until his bones are weathered away."

Lady Olivia, standing beside the Marquis of Saxton, had a mocking smile on her lips. Although she had no personal grudge against Lynn or the Bartleyon family, she personally loathed Yves.

As Lynn was Yves's lackey, she was naturally happy to see Lynn hanged.

"Ha, you guys are in such a hurry."

Earl Wallis slowly straightened his clothes, his eyes sinister. "Don't forget, the Third Princess is behind him. Who knows if she might suddenly wake up and cause trouble again?"

"That freak?"

Lady Olivia scoffed, "She can barely take care of herself right now. Whether she'll even wake up is uncertain. What kind of trouble can she possibly cause?"

Earl Wallis narrowed his eyes and glanced at the other side of the square, where several men with solemn expressions stood, clearly Lynn's supporters.

At a time like this, the only ones who would remain steadfast in their support for Lynn were clearly Morris and Greya.

After turning his gaze away from them, Earl Wallis sneered and suddenly lowered his voice:
"How about... we make a bet?"

"What are you gambling?"

The Marquis of Saxton raised an eyebrow.

"I'm betting on whether he'll die today."

Earl Wallis's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I bet he'll be hanged in public and his body hung for three days to quell the people's anger."

After all, quite a few ordinary people have died at the hands of those who perform limb repositioning.

“Then I bet he’ll be torn to pieces by the angry citizens before his execution,” Olivia chuckled. “After all, who would tolerate a prince’s murderer living even a second longer?”

Marquis Matthew Augustine, who had remained silent all along, pondered for a moment, then suddenly revealed a meaningful smile:

"I bet... he won't die."

Those around were taken aback when they heard this, then burst into laughter, as if they had heard some absurd joke.

"Matthew, have you lost your mind from the sun?"

Olivia scoffed, "If he makes it out of this square alive today, I'll swallow the badge on my chest whole..."

Matthew did not refute, but looked meaningfully at the platform, and then met Olivia's gaze.

"Forget about swallowing the badge whole, Olivia, you'll probably choke to death."

Matthew said lazily, a smile playing on his lips, his grey-blue eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. His mindset today was not entirely the same as that of the nobles around him.

Olivia gave him a cold glance. "Who gave you the audacity to think Lynn would walk out of Cleric Square alive?"

Matthew shrugged, his tone flippant: "I just think your badge is poorly made, with raised edges; swallowing it might cut your throat."

"Or...why don't you swallow mine?"

Matthew paused, which made Olivia think he was making a dirty joke, and a blush instantly appeared on her face.

As the sole heir of the Augustinian family, this kid seems to be only eighteen years old this year. His father died suddenly when he was sixteen, which led to him inheriting the title at a young age. He's probably still quite young.

Before Olivia could even retort to this brat who dared to flirt with her, Matthew suddenly pulled out an exquisite silver family crest from his pocket and flicked it lightly with his fingertip:
“Look how perfectly smooth and round our Augustine family crest is polished, and how delicious it is.”

The badge traced a silver arc in the air before being slapped away by Olivia, her eyes blazing as if she wanted to burn a hole in Matthew's face: "Are you looking for death?"

Matthew feigned surprise, widening his eyes: "I'm saving your life, dear Mrs. Olivia."

Earl Wallis chuckled, interrupting their farce: "Alright, Matthew, that mouth of yours will get you killed sooner or later."

Matthew picked up the badge that had fallen to the ground, casually tucked it back into his collar, and said with his smile unchanged, "Shouldn't you be more concerned about your wallets than my words?"

"Since you proposed the bet, if you lose, each of you should give me ten thousand gold coins!"

"That `s a deal."

After speaking, Matthew looked past the crowd and toward the high platform.

Right now, the entire city of Grossington is practically deserted, with everyone eagerly following this unprecedented event.

When the sun was high in the sky, everyone finally saw the culprit, who was chained in heavy shackles. However, many people were stunned when they saw him, because they never expected that the perpetrator of the limb-splitting serial murder case would be such a young boy. Although he was dressed in rags and looked weak, his handsomeness was still hard to hide.

Lynn was then led to the dock, the shackles around his neck gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Matthew's gaze swept over Lynn from head to toe, and a hint of admiration inadvertently surfaced deep in his eyes.

He slowly turned his head and looked at each of the nobles who had made the bet with him:

"hey-hey……"

“Don’t forget… he’s Lynn.”

Seeing Matthew's somewhat erratic behavior, the Marquis of Saxton and Lady Olivia looked on with disdain.

Indeed, Lynn's record is verifiable, and he created many miraculous feats.

Given the current situation, they don't believe Lynn has any chance of turning things around.

Putting everything else aside, just for killing the fourth prince Joshua, Saint Laurent VI would have absolutely no chance of letting him go!
At this moment, whether they were shocked or not, the square, which had been bustling with activity just moments before, suddenly fell silent.

The trial proceedings then officially began!
Chief Justice Cornell stood on the high platform, his aged yet authoritative voice echoing across the square as he read out Lynn's charges—"The public assassination of Senator Black, resulting in his lifelong paralysis; the murder of the Fourth Prince Joshua; and the mastermind behind the limb-splitting case..."

With each charge read out, the anger in the crowd rose a little higher, and citizens waved their fists, their curses surging like a tidal wave.

Justice Cornell's relationship with the Bartleyon family was no secret, yet Saint Laurent VI still allowed him to preside over the trial, which shows that his integrity had earned the king's approval.

"Hang him!"

"This demon does not deserve to be judged; he should be executed immediately!"

"Gods above, please unleash divine punishment and slay this demon!"

The citizens began to hurl insults.

Among the crowd, the people from Bartleyon Manor looked at Lynn with worried expressions, their hearts heavy. But to their surprise, Lynn's expression was very calm, and he even smiled at them in a reassuring way.

This smile did not make them feel relaxed; on the contrary, it made their mood even heavier.

Even though Eleanor believed her brother would return safely, her heart was still breaking.

If she could, she really wished she could stand there in her brother's place and be tried.

“Lynn Bartholomew,” Justice Cornell’s voice was cold and solemn, “Do you plead guilty to the charges against you?”

The square fell silent instantly; everyone held their breath, waiting for his answer.

however--

Lynn simply stood there quietly, a slight smile playing on her lips, but she didn't utter a single word.

He chose to remain silent.

Justice Cornell frowned, clearly displeased with Lynn's attitude, but the trial proceedings had to continue.

“Since the defendant refuses to plead guilty, we will proceed directly to the trial at the Holy Tree,” he announced in a deep voice. “The Tree of the Holy Spirit will decide your fate.”

Justice Cornell gave a signal, and two staff members led Lynn toward the Tree of the Holy Spirit, preparing him for trial.

However, at this moment.

Something unexpected happened!

A ferocious killing intent flashed in the eyes of the two guards who were escorting Lynn. Under the watchful eyes of the entire city, they suddenly unleashed their superhuman power and attacked Lynn from the left and right!

They intend to skip the trial at the Sacred Tree and kill Lynn directly!

Outside the crowd, Bishop Connor, sitting in his carriage, had a cold expression; it was clearly his doing.

Time seemed to slow down at that moment. The people of Bartleyon Manor looked at the scene before them with despair, as if they were powerless to stop the tragedy from happening.

"Die, you unforgivable demon!"

One of them growled and conjured a sharp ice blade in his hand, aiming straight for Lynn's throat!
The other man pulled out a poisoned dagger from his sleeve and stabbed it directly into Lynn's heart!

The crowd in the square erupted in an uproar, some gasping in surprise, others shouting excitedly.

However, at this critical moment, when the ice blade and the poisoned dagger were only inches away from Lynn, a familiar and powerful crimson light suddenly emanated from his body, activating the power belonging to the Third Princess Ivy!

The light was not as magnificent and vast as when Ivyst used it, its power was less than one ten-thousandth of that, but it was equally intense, like burning blood.

The two guards didn't even have time to react before they were killed on the spot.

The whole place was dead silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.

Lynn slowly raised his head. At this moment, the sickly look on his face was gone, replaced by a calm and solemn expression, as if he had been reborn.

The changes and reversals came so suddenly that no one had time to react.

It turns out that he had been deceiving everyone these past few days. After Yvested used Life Sharing on him, the causal punishment and injuries from being a prisoner of fate within him had mostly healed. At the same time, because his life was tied together with that of the princess, or perhaps due to some of his own special characteristics, Lynn was able to use a small portion of Yvested's unique abilities.

Although he wasn't powerful, he achieved his goal—buying himself time!

"Stop him!"

Judge Cornell said coldly.

The next second, countless superhumans who were monitoring Lynn suddenly sprang into action. Although they didn't know why the two guards had attacked earlier, their mission was to monitor Lynn and prevent him from escaping.

Of course, there were also some scheming individuals among them, who were ordered by their respective masters to eliminate Lynn in one fell swoop and kill him on the spot to avoid any unforeseen complications.

But it was too late.

Suddenly, Lynn transformed into a blur, weaving through the gaps in the countless attacks, and arrived in front of the trunk of the Holy Spirit Tree in the blink of an eye.

Then, to everyone's stunned gaze, Lynn slowly raised his hand and placed it on the ancient tree trunk.

"I do not admit to any of the crimes you have accused me of."

(End of this chapter)