After receiving a satisfactory answer, Ivyst finally lowered her head.
"Where are the flowers?"
Seeing Lynn's empty hands, she couldn't help but frown.
"Your Highness, I ran through all the streets nearby, but I couldn't find a single flower shop. Of course, if it's urgent, I can now..."
"I'll spare you this time," Ivyst huffed coldly, "Make up for it next time."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lynn felt the jade feet in his arms gently move, then cross into another position.
After that topic ended, the two were once again enveloped by silent stillness.
Thinking about it carefully, their communication seemed scarce whenever they were alone.
Only when Ivyst thought he was under hypnosis would she slightly open up.
Perhaps apart from himself, no one had ever seen her true self hidden deep within.
After an indeterminate amount of time, her cool, pleasant voice reached him again.
"Have you read the 'Chronicles of Xino'?"
This question seemed rather abrupt and confusing.
However, Lynn's spirits lifted.
After being busy all day, being ordered around like a servant, Lynn's efforts were for this moment.
The first time he went to the Pantheon and met the Witch, he saw her sitting on the steps holding a book.
Although at that time his focus was entirely on the grandeur of the Pantheon and the shock of discovering he was on a timeline tens of thousands of years in the future, Lynn still caught a glimpse of the book in her hands.
"The Chronicles of Xino."
A novel mentioned within the original work.
Because the original mentioned it many times, Lynn had a deep impression of this book.
According to the setting, this book narrates the story of a minor character rising from obscurity, through the baptisms of battlefields, bloodshed, and glory, gradually growing into a marshal of the Empire.
The content spans over fifty years, from youth to old age, encapsulating the protagonist's dramatic life.
This was about the extent of Lynn's knowledge regarding the content.
However, the real reason he remembered the book wasn't this.
In the Saint Laurent Empire, all underage princes and princesses are required to read "The Chronicles of Xino" after learning to read, aiming to instill ambitious goals and aspirations from a young age.
The Great Imperial Princess Hillena was particularly enamored with this book.
Its content and the rise of the original male protagonist were even similar enough that Hillena subconsciously noted it, thereafter always regarding him in a special light.
This is the starting point of the interaction between the male and female protagonist in the original text.
And as a member of the Royal Family, Ivyst had naturally read this book too.
From Miss Witch's reaction at the time, the book had also had a significant impact on her.
It might even be possible that the first time she harbored thoughts of participating in the King's election was inspired by it.
Therefore, after receiving this test, Lynn had immediately rushed to the library at Augusta Manor and read the book overnight.
There was one plot development he found particularly striking.
At the time, the protagonist Xino was still a rookie in the army, and everyone laughed at him as a novice.
The night before the army was set to depart, fearing he'd die on the battlefield with regrets, Xino secretly ran out of the camp and infiltrated the Baron Mansion to confess to a noblewoman.
Unexpectedly, the noblewoman reciprocated his feelings, and after exchanging heartfelt words, Xino made a bold decision.
He abducted the lady, who was like a bird trapped in a cage, disguised as lovers, took her out on a date, and showed her for the first time how wonderful the outside world was.
However, all this was ultimately just a fleeting illusion.
After a brief moment of joy, the lady had to return to her cage-like mansion to be groomed like a canary and wait to marry the Baron's corpulent son.
The subsequent story was somewhat lackluster.
For Lynn, who experienced the impact of 21st century web novels, this was just a typical plot twist where the fortune of one side wanes as the other waxes. A few years later, Xino, returning with the army with distinguished military exploits, was knighted and then slapped the face of the Baron to win the beauty.
However, in the current era, "The Chronicles of Xino" was undoubtedly a classic with comedic, thrilling, emotional, and dramatic elements.
Because similar works were far too scarce.
No wonder these princes and princesses loved this book so much.
After all, when Lynn first read "Battle through the Heavens," his level of obsession wasn't any less than theirs.
Back to the main point.
For those who had read "The Chronicles of Xino," the aforementioned night meeting with the noblewoman was undoubtedly a remarkably memorable scene.
After all, in the original work, Hillena was abducted in this manner.
Hence, Lynn's entire set of date procedures today were according to what was described in the book.
Clearly, the Princess had also noticed this.
So Lynn slightly lowered his head, "Indeed, Your Highness, I have read it."
Ivyst casually said, "So, you staged all this today, is there something you want to tell me?"
It's said that when one offers undeserved help, they're either plotting or stealing.
Clearly, Ivyst had realized this too.
If possible, please don't include me when you go out on missions; just let me return to the Imperial Capital first.
Lynn really wanted to say this frankly.
But he also knew that, with Ivyst's personality, once he voiced this request, it would never be realized.
Therefore, without any hesitation, he answered, "Because I felt that your mood didn't seem very good yesterday."
"Just last night, I was idle and happened to read this part, so on a whim, I wanted to muster the courage to take you out for a stroll."
Ivyst was not wearing a ring now, so he could fib at will.
"Why did you choose this book?"
"In the Saint Laurent Empire, probably no one dislikes it."
For some reason, Ivyst suddenly let out a mocking laugh at Lynn's response.
Lynn looked at her somewhat puzzled.
"The Chronicles of Xino is the book I hate most in my life."
If you hate this book, why are you still holding it and reading it for millennia?
Lynn was dumbfounded.
Could it be that it wasn't a hint from Miss Witch, and he was overthinking everything?
Could he really not seize this opportunity to escape from her presence?
In an instant, a sense of futility, as if all his efforts were in vain, surged in his heart.
However, Lynn still managed to speak with difficulty, "Could you tell me the reason, Your Highness?"
Ivyst's gaze suddenly became vacant, as if her consciousness had traveled back to her memories of more than a decade ago.
"When I was a child, Hillena and the others liked this book very much, so when we played house together, we would always act out some of the classic scenes from it."
"That detestable woman always managed to choose the female protagonist, surrounded and celebrated by all our siblings, laughing very happily."
"And I...I was always tasked with playing the role of the evil witch skilled in cursing, who would be defeated by their combined efforts in the final chapter."
She slightly lifted her head, gazing at the boundless starry sky, and spoke in a low voice.
Looking at Ivyst in this moment, Lynn's heart twitched slightly.
It probably wasn't true hatred.
Perhaps...in many moments of her past, she too had felt envy.
"Speak," Ivyst moved on after a moment, "I can sense that you have a purpose today in doing all this, but at this point, I, the Imperial Princess, can't be bothered with that."
"Given my current mood, I promise you anything you wish for."
"Even if you want to return to the Imperial Capital right away, it's the same."
Ivyst's crimson eyes glanced over, looking down from a higher position at the youth holding her feet.
Different from the previous mockery and taunts.
This time, there was no such malicious emotion in her eyes, only the imposing dignity of an Imperial Princess.
Through the Lie Swallowing, Lynn realized that she was telling the truth at this moment.
Indeed, the one who understands me best must still be Miss Witch herself!
I have finally explored the only path leading to a brighter future from countless dead ends!
Lynn tried to shout excitedly in his heart.
But suddenly, he realized that his heart wasn't as thrilled as he had imagined.
He stared blankly at the beautiful red-eyed woman in front of him.
A breeze blew by, her long black hair cascading down her waist fluttering in the wind.
Ivyst unconsciously raised her right hand, gently pressing it against her ear, letting her long skirt sway back and forth.
I should say I want to return to the Imperial Capital first.
That's how Lynn should have responded.
But for some reason, as he looked at Ivyst's now gentle and relaxed brows and eyes, the words at his lips inexplicably turned into another phrase.
"Please tell me the real reason that has troubled Your Highness these past few days."
A brief emotion of surprise flitted through Ivyst's eyes.
She hadn't expected that, even after she had agreed to let him return early, he would still not seize this opportunity.
After a long silence, Ivyst suddenly withdrew her feet from his embrace.
"Come to my room tonight."
I'm such a damn fool!
Late at night, staring at Ivyst's room door, Lynn wished he could slap himself.
The head was once again ruled by the heart.
Why am I so disgraceful?
Haven't I had enough of these days serving as her dog?
The brief passion always ends up bringing nothing but endless emptiness and regret—why can't I ever see through such a simple reason?
With these thoughts, Lynn sighed and pushed open Ivyst's room door.
The clear moonlight flowed like water, quietly filling the spacious room.
At this moment, Ivyst was dressed in a simple and cool nightgown, leaning against the wall and sitting at the edge of the window, gazing at the full moon in the sky.
In her hand, she held a wine glass, with two empty wine bottles beside her.
Clearly, she had already drunk quite a bit before this.
Lynn slowly approached, "Your Highness?"
Ivyst didn't respond, only gently raised her hand.
In her palm, the green Eye of the Soul mark was glowing.