Stop Hypnotizing Me, Villainous Princess!

Chapter 145: Sibling Reunion

Although the banquet was lavish, the proceedings were all too familiar, leaving little to surprise anyone accustomed to such events. For some, the evening felt rather dull.

In the ballroom, young men in pristine military uniforms danced gracefully with elegantly dressed girls. The rhythmic clicking of heels and the swaying of skirts created a lively atmosphere, brimming with youthful vigor.

Meanwhile, Fourth Prince Joshua sipped his champagne in boredom.

Breaking a long silence, Yunis hesitated before voicing her confusion. “The... secrets of the Bartleon family?”

It was clearly the first time she’d heard such an explanation.

Joshua glanced at her. “It’s no secret within certain circles.”

“Growing up alongside Eleanor, didn’t you ever wonder how, despite the Bartleon family’s sparse lineage, every child who reaches adulthood demonstrates extraordinary talent in the realm of the Extraordinary?”

Eleanor’s two brothers were prime examples.

The eldest, William, had died heroically on the battlefield, yet his military exploits remained legendary. If he had lived, he likely would have surpassed Irina and reached the Fifth-Rank Legendary first.

As for the second brother, Lynn—his unmatched brilliance needed no explanation.

Even Eleanor, though younger, was not far behind her brothers. At just 14 and a mere year into her status as an Extraordinary, she already outshone her peers at the academy.

Most children of noble families wouldn’t even pass the First Rank trial until her age. After all, a child’s body is rarely ready to endure the awakening process before the age of 13.

“This is the power of bloodlines,” Joshua remarked with a faint smile. “Such occurrences are rare. If the Bartleon family hadn’t declined, I wouldn’t have been able to find a suitable specimen.”

“Even Xiya, who was recently recruited by my sister Shirina, possesses a similar bloodline. His is purer than the Bartleon family’s, but unfortunately, she guards him like a treasure. She wouldn’t even let me draw a single vial of blood.”

“So for now, I’ll settle for second best.”

For some reason, Yunis felt a twinge of pity as she glanced at Eleanor’s petite figure in the corner. In her heart, she’d already sentenced the girl to death.

“Well, that’s enough of the banquet. I’ve shown my face,” Joshua said, draining his glass. “I still have to head to the council chamber. Father is holding a ceremony to award medals to the war heroes.”

“I hear my foolish Third Sister stumbled into some military achievements at the border. What a joke.”

Shaking his head, Joshua began making his way toward Eleanor.

In the corner of the hall, Eleanor leaned against the cold wall, her head bowed low as she stared blankly at the polished marble floor beneath her feet.

Hours had passed, yet she still felt shaken to the core.

Whenever silence fell, the image of Maid Celine’s brutal death would surface in her mind, leaving her with a deep emotional wound.

To Eleanor, Celine wasn’t just a servant. She was family, a loyal companion through the darkest times. And now, her life had been snuffed out as if it were nothing by those monstrous people.

Her once-bright azure eyes had dulled, filled with despair as if the future held no light.

What should I do?

Clutching her face, Eleanor felt on the verge of tears, yet none would fall.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure standing before her, holding out a handkerchief.

Startled, Eleanor quickly composed herself and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I...”

But when she raised her head and saw who it was, her expression instantly turned cold.

“May I have the honor of this dance to close the evening?”

Joshua, unfazed by her refusal of the handkerchief, smiled lightly as he tucked it back into his pocket. He extended his hand toward her, ostensibly to invite her to dance. Yet the gesture seemed to carry a deeper, more ominous implication.

Behind him, Yunis shot Eleanor a pointedly threatening look.

The Mosgra family had the Bartleon family in a stranglehold. Even the life of her father lay in their hands. With such leverage, Yunis was confident Eleanor wouldn’t dare disobey.

“...”

Seeing Yunis’ warning gaze, Eleanor’s heart sank further into despair.

She knew all too well what accepting Joshua’s offer would entail—becoming a mere experimental subject in his lab, never to see the light of day again.

But if she refused, what of her comatose father, her missing sister-in-law, and her brother at the border whose fate was unknown?

This was no choice at all. It was a gamble of her life for her family’s survival.

And yet, Eleanor knew that dealing with these devilish figures was akin to drinking poison to quench thirst.

Even if she accepted Joshua’s terms, would her father and brother truly remain safe?

The answer was obvious.

Trapped in this dilemma, Eleanor’s empty eyes became increasingly hollow, her hands trembling under her sleeves.

Joshua frowned slightly at her hesitation. Did she still dream of reuniting with her family?

“Here’s a bonus piece of information,” Joshua said suddenly. “Felit visited me after returning from the frontier. He told me something interesting.”

“He said he saw a familiar name on the Orne City memorial for the fallen.”

“Guess whose name it was?”

Joshua’s words were like a dagger, stabbing straight into Eleanor’s heart.

She stared at him blankly, her lips quivering, but no words came out.

If there was anything that had kept her going, it was the thought of her second brother, who had been exiled to the frontier.

She had always believed that one day, her resourceful brother would regain his strength, return to the family, and rescue them from despair.

But as she looked into Joshua’s unwavering gaze, she suddenly wanted to cover her ears.

As if not hearing the truth would make it less real.

But no matter how she tried to escape, reality would not change.

Joshua’s calm voice shattered what remained of her hope.

“That name was... Lynn Bartleon.”

“No... no...”

Eleanor sobbed, clutching her ears and shaking her head helplessly.

If not for the wall behind her, she might have collapsed altogether.

In her mind, a mocking voice echoed, ridiculing her efforts over the past year as futile. The Bartleon family was no more, existing only in name.

Her heart cracked audibly, as if it were about to shatter completely.

William was dead.

Lynn was dead.

Now, only she and her father remained.

Eleanor, your hopes, buried deep within, have long since become a joke to everyone else.

Must you continue resisting a destiny already sealed?

Silent tears streamed down Eleanor’s cheeks, but she didn’t bother to wipe them away.

Seeing her despondence, Fourth Prince Joshua felt a flicker of irritation.

“The dead cannot return,” he remarked coolly, his tone devoid of warmth. “It is precisely because life is so precious that we must cherish it. For the dead, we can only mourn. But for the living, we must seize the moment, don’t you agree?”

There was a pointedness to his words.

“So, what is your answer?”

Joshua extended his hand toward the silent, black-haired girl once more.

Trading her life for her father’s was the only option Eleanor could grasp at this moment.

“I...”

Eleanor’s delicate hand slowly rose.

Joshua’s lips curled into a faint smile.

A willing subject for his experiments would eliminate many complications, drastically improving success rates.

But in the next instant, his expression froze.

The hand she raised didn’t take his; instead, it revealed a slim dagger.

Under Joshua’s astonished gaze, Eleanor pressed the blade firmly to her throat, raising her head. Her tear-reddened eyes shone with tragic resolve.

“Even in death, I will not let you have your way.”

The deaths of Maid Celine and her brother Lynn had pushed her past her limits, stripping her of all desire to live.

The sudden scene caught everyone’s attention, plunging the hall into an eerie silence.

“You—put that knife down!” Yunis hissed under her breath, her face pale as she noticed the varied gazes around them. “Think of your father! Don’t you care about his survival?”

She had never expected Eleanor to go this far, threatening to expose the sordid truth in public.

“If my father were awake, he would agree with me.”

Even in death, Eleanor was determined to uphold the dignity of her noble lineage.

She would rather die than become a pitiful puppet, enslaved by others.

Hearing this, Yunis’ face grew even darker. Nervously, she glanced at Joshua. “Your Highness, I—”

“It’s fine,” Joshua interrupted, casting a dismissive glance at Eleanor. “I see what you’re trying to do.”

“Unfortunately, reputation means nothing to me.”

Then, in a louder voice, he commanded, “Guards! Seize this assassin who dared to attack a prince!”

At his shout, four figures materialized from thin air.

In an instant, an invisible Extraordinary force immobilized Eleanor, rendering her unable to move.

Four Third-Rank Extraordinaries.

Despair washed over Eleanor’s face as her slim frame trembled.

“This is the reality of this world,” Joshua remarked, his tone slow and deliberate. He stared at the immobilized girl as if lecturing her. “There are times when you simply can’t do as you please, no matter how much you want to.”

Not even allowed to end her own life?

Eleanor’s heart sank into desolation. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the fate that awaited her.

But then—

Thwack!

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The piercing sound of flesh being torn apart echoed repeatedly. Black threads, sharp as arrows, shot through the air from every direction.

“She can, of course, do whatever she wishes,” came a calm, yet domineering voice. “After all, as her brother, it is my privilege to indulge her whims.”

“Do you have a problem with that... Prince Joshua?”

Joshua turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the figure emerging from the shadows.