A woman's appearance and beauty are often intricately linked to love and affection.
Even though Lynn had tried to prove to her time and again that the curse mark on her face could not affect him in any way, Ivyst still couldn't get over the mental hurdle.
A short while later, moans mixed with pleasure and pain emanated from the washroom.
"Sorry, master isn't trying to ignore you..."
"Just wait... until... afterwards..."
The sound of gurgling water was at times rapid, at others slow.
Ten minutes later, Ivyst emerged in Hillena's study, dressed and composed as if nothing had happened, her expression cold as ice.
This was also the first time the sisters had been alone together at such close quarters since their childhood.
Looking at the hot tea Hillena had prepared for her, Ivyst did not accept it but spoke indifferently, "Tell me everything you know about the Helimus Mausoleum."
She just walked away like that?
Watching the two figures depart, Lynn's eyes widened in what seemed to be confusion.
It was obvious that even now, Lynn was filled with confusion about Ivyst's reaction today.
It was as though she was the one whose memories had been sealed.
After a long silence, Lynn scratched his head, clearly annoyed.
Looking at the lively atmosphere of the banquet, Lynn picked up a champagne from a passing waiter's tray and downed it in one go.
Although Ivyst had asked him to wait here, Lynn, now idle, didn't quite know what to do.
Before coming here, he had already imagined Ivyst facing difficulties and ridicule from the Glostit noblewomen at the dinner, and how he would stand up to retort in her defense.
In the end, nothing of the sort happened.
She had only come to discuss matters with Hillena.
However, at that moment, his keen instincts suddenly made him aware of a hostile gaze coming from a corner.
His previously distracted mind instantly tensed up.
Meanwhile, using the action and posture of drinking, he subtly glanced at the silverware hung on the wall.
The well-maintained, bright and shiny surface allowed him to vaguely discern the source of the gaze.
It was a petite girl with light brown short hair.
Although she wore a drab half-face mask, one could tell from her exposed skin that her complexion and features were quite ordinary, with a temperament and figure to match, her nose dotted with a few freckles, making her one who would blend into a crowd unnoticed.
However, there were so many noblewomen who had come tonight, with makeup and extraordinary accessories to enhance their appearance, any one of them picked at random would be a beautiful woman with both looks and figure.
In contrast, the "ugly duckling" in the corner was especially memorable.
Such a poor disguise.
[Character Name: Tiya Yohusti]
[Plot Deviation: 0.55%]
After seeing the personal information provided by the system, Lynn put down his glass.
The irritation and loss that had been in his heart just a moment ago disappeared instantly.
In its place was a thrill of the hunt.
It seemed that this might not be such a dull evening after all.
Though he didn't know how long Ivyst would take to talk with Hillena, he surmised she wouldn't leave him much time.
Therefore, Lynn had no intention of letting go of this unexpected surprise.
The next second, the power of the Lie Swallowing surged up.
"Excuse me, did you by chance grab the wrong mask as mine?"
Lynn suddenly looked apologetic and addressed a man beside him.
The man, oblivious, nodded in agreement, "In that case, let's switch back."
Moments later, Lynn, who had removed his crow mask, put on a beautifully crafted bull mask and quietly left the banquet hall.
I shall launch my attack in the guise of a minotaur!
Watching the figures of Hillena and Ivyst depart, Tiya, concealed within the crowd, breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Perhaps the Bright Moon Goddess was looking out for her, thus creating this coincidental opportunity.
So Tiya stopped hiding her gaze and carefully observed the black-haired boy who was drinking alone.
At the same time, she meticulously pondered in her heart.
How could she possibly lure that guy to a place where no one was present?
Generally speaking, striking up a conversation would be the best method.
After all, men's spirits are often dissipated after drinking, and if they were approached by a young girl, their minds would mostly be filled with those filthy thoughts.
However, her appearance was now heavily disguised, to the point where not even those closest to her could detect it.
This meant that, to the observer, she appeared completely ordinary, even below the average male aesthetic standard.
If only she had made herself look prettier.
Tiya bit her lower lip, a touch of irritability crossing her mind.
Meanwhile, Xiya, who was alone in the distance, likewise seemed bored, yet his scrutinizing gaze occasionally lingered on the faces of the female guests.
As if he were searching for someone.
Seeing this, Tiya could not help feeling a tinge of guilt, as if she were a thief caught in the act.
It seemed that Big Brother Xiya had become wary of her unusual behavior this time, which was why he decided to attend this banquet, trying to find her among the crowd.
Just as Tiya was anxiously pondering, she suddenly caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, of the young man donning a minotaur mask and silently leaving the banquet hall.
Tiya's eyes brightened slightly, sensing an unprecedented opportunity.
Thus, she no longer hesitated and, slightly lowering her hat brim, stealthily followed after Lynn, who had disappeared.
At the banquet, Xiya, who had just declined several invitations from women, drained his glass of wine in slight frustration.
Hillena was not here; she had gone to the study to talk with that monstrous Third Imperial Princess.
But he had searched for a long time and still had not spotted Tiya in the crowd.
That was impossible, right?
After all, the Imperial Princess herself had personally handed two invitations to her.
For some reason, he felt the premonition that things were about to deviate from their intended course.
It wasn't a figment of Xiya's imagination, but rather a special ability he had possessed since childhood.
This ability had allowed him to turn danger into safety time and again and had become a powerful asset he relied on to this day.
Scents of various cosmetics mixed in the air, imbuing it with their essence.
This odor, different from the natural fragrance of women he was accustomed to, made Xiya slightly uncomfortable.
Thinking this, he loosened the bowtie at his neckline and then, setting down his wine glass, stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked towards an area away from the crowd.
He felt quite uncomfortable in this atmosphere and wanted to go to the fourth-floor balcony for some fresh air.
When Tiya silently followed that figure to the fourth floor, she found that the person had already vanished in the corridor.
However, the glass wood door leading to the balcony was ajar, indicating someone had just entered.
Tiya took a deep breath and tiptoed quietly toward the balcony.
At the same time, the plan she had originally prepared surfaced in her mind.
At the moment of encounter, directly use her Extraordinary Ability to control him; if he cooperated, they would move on to the interrogation phase; if he resisted, then she would have to...
As Tiya was recalling the plan, as the door was slowly pushed open, an unexpected scene appeared before her eyes.
Hillena's residence was situated high up and, being on the fourth floor, the balcony was bathed in the cold, bright luminescence of the moon, gentle yet evocative.
To be here alone, or to bring up two glasses of wine and chat with a beloved about life's aspirations while leaning on the balcony, was a very romantic notion.
Furthermore, as the Silent Saintess, she had always relished the feeling of being enveloped in moonlight.
However, the appearance of the masked young man disrupted the previously tranquil and beautiful atmosphere.
He had climbed onto the balcony at some point and, with arms wide open, stood at the edge of the railing—a single step more would see him plummeting from the height.
Even for a Transcendent, without a powerful physical enhancement ability, a fall from such a height could lead to serious injury or even death.
Was he thinking of suicide?!
The sudden turn of events thoroughly scrambled the plans Tiya had prepared.
Facing this unforeseen situation, the girl, who should have been as emotionless as a doll, exhibited a rare look of astonishment on her face.
(ps: Most matters have been settled, and from today, the updates will return to the original schedule. There will be another update tonight.)