Stop Hypnotizing Me, Antagonist Princess!

Duke Tierus chose to just touch upon that topic.

He did not linger on the aspect of that member of parliament, but rather surveyed all those present.

At this moment, the atmosphere seemed to have shifted again, compared to the previously tense ambience.

After initially being hard-pressed, Duke Tierus had restrained his own authority, wondering what exactly was on his mind.

The topic of "Who has the right to divide the cake" had evolved into "How to fairly divide the cake."

The original accountability aimed at Moselle and the others suddenly transformed into a discussion about the Empire's political system.

The clever ones among the audience caught the implications and breathed a sigh of relief.

It looked like the Duke still had some apprehensions about the Heavenly Principle Church and the great nobles of the Imperial Capital.

At the very least, he wasn't willing to completely burn bridges.

Thus, he redirected the topic of conversation.

With this in mind, some in the crowd boldly suggested, "Perhaps, one could improve the treatment of the person dividing the cake, allowing him to cut a large piece for himself first. Once his greed is satisfied, he will surely become much fairer."

Duke Tierus shook his head, "Do you think human greed has limits?"

"Once a large slice is divided, they will inevitably covet the second, and in the end, even if they can't finish it, they will want to take the cake home. That is human nature."

The speaker, upon hearing this, hung their head in shame.

Several guests were discouraged in succession, and the people present lost the will to continue the discussion.

However, on reflection, it seemed that what Duke Tierus had said made some sense.

At the same time, a question slowly took root in many people's hearts.

Exactly how could distribution be carried out most fairly?

Clearly, no one was naive enough to think that they were merely discussing cake.

Of course, all those present were influential figures and beneficiaries themselves; the distribution they discussed was limited to their own stratum.

For a moment, the whole room fell into silence.

Seeing that no one spoke, Duke Tierus suddenly revealed a meaningful smile, "Regarding the topic I just presented, does anyone have a better answer?"

"Don't feel too pressured, think of it as a small digression over tea and dinner."

"Additionally, if someone's answer satisfies me, then I will reserve the last half-hour I had planned to spend in my study tonight for him, to hear his ideas and thoughts."

A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples!

Realizing the implication of his words, everyone showed a hint of astonishment.

Clearly, Duke Tierus was extending an olive branch.

Unlike the cornering he earlier did, he was looking to support promising talents!

If someone truly caught the Duke's eye, even if they couldn't gain a foothold in Orn City, it was akin to securing eligibility to enter the social circles of the Imperial Capital!

Compared to this remote corner, it was indeed a heavenly leap!

Immediately, everyone had different thoughts.

Yet recalling how the few prior responses had not satisfied him, hesitation crept in.

After all, the problem of distribution had always been a perennial headache for any country; how could it be solved so easily?

Just as the gathered guests were deep in thought, the Moselle bishop, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly spoke up.

"My Lord Duke, if we were to discuss such a matter in public, I believe that there might be an august presence whose opinion we cannot ignore."

Looking at Duke Tierus, he seemed to have regained his composure.

August presence?

When this statement spread throughout the banquet hall, everyone fell into bewilderment.

Who could be considered more august than Bai Leier Tierus at the scene?

Sensing the uncertainty of the crowd, he did not keep them in suspense but raised his head and looked towards a corner that nobody was paying attention to.

Following his gaze, everyone saw the tall figure standing beside Lady Tierus.

She was dressed in a red gown, wearing a butterfly mask, and looked incredibly aloof.

Not only that, at the sight of her, everyone felt a subtle sense of disgust and anxiety.

Who was she?

The crowd was utterly perplexed.

Seeing this, Moselle raised his voice, "Respected Ivyst, might I ask for your esteemed opinion on the Duke's recent topic?"

Ivyst?!

Why was she at this banquet?!

Could it be that the Royal Family was also getting involved with the border tax issue?!

Hearing this name, many people present instinctively took a step back.

Clearly, they were not unfamiliar with the notorious Third Imperial Princess.

Even if they had not seen the Curse Mark on her face, the mere actions she had committed were enough to be etched into their memories.

In an instant, the scene became somewhat chaotic.

Their gazes, as if by agreement, converged on the red-gowned woman, eyes filled with fear and rejection.

At this stage, things had clearly spun out of control.

Redirect the disaster.

This was Moselle's idea upon learning that Ivyst had attended the banquet incognito.

Shift tonight's conflict and focus onto the despised Third Imperial Princess.

Loathsome perhaps, but they couldn't fault him for it.

Moselle knew all too well the ruthless character of the "Evil Princess."

But would she truly dare?

Would she dare kill a district bishop of the Heavenly Principle Church in public, after angering Saint Laurent VI?

Just because he exposed her identity before everyone?

If she really did that, it wouldn't just be murdering one person; it would also mean declaring war against the Heavenly Principle Church and the great nobility.

At that time, no one could save her.

Although she possessed terrifying strength, in this world one couldn't do whatever they wanted merely because of power.

Even the gods could not achieve this feat.

```

Unfortunately, Bishop Moselle had miscalculated one thing.

He had grossly underestimated the extent to which this madwoman could be merciless in her extreme emotions.

And, fundamentally, what kind of terrifying being she truly was.

Hearing the sudden words from Moselle, Ivyst's gaze swept over coldly.

With a surge of overwhelming intent to kill pervading the atmosphere, even as a Fourth Rank Transcendent of the Heavenly Principle Church, he instantly felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit.

Feeling the emotions hidden within those blood-red eyes brought a wave of fear that was visceral and assaulted Moselle's heart.

He stood there stunned, his legs shaking involuntarily.

No!

She... she really seems like she would kill someone!

Moselle thought subconsciously.

At this critical moment, a voice suddenly broke the silence.

"Your Highness, I would also like to hear your thoughts."

To everyone's surprise, including Moselle who didn't see it coming at all, it was Duke Tierus who spoke.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He held his wine glass, smiling faintly as he looked toward the silent Ivyst in the distance.

"Uncle Tierus, you..."

Staring at Duke Tierus, who for some reason had put her on the spot, Ivyst was puzzled.

She didn't understand.

From being indifferent to her from the beginning to now making her the target of everyone's scorn.

Even if he had little faith in her and was unwilling to support her openly, why go this far?

At this moment, feeling the varying gazes of everyone present, a strong sense of irritation and anger welled up inside her.

This feeling of being treated as an abnormal entity and gawked at had always been a deep-seated issue for her.

She had experienced too many similar scenes from childhood to now.

Each time, just like now, she was isolated and unsupported.

It was as if the entire world had abandoned her.

Ivyst clenched her fist, her fingernails digging deeply into her palm.

Damn it.

She was almost unable to restrain the desire in the depth of her heart to destroy everything.

"Crack!"

At this moment, the sudden sound of glass shattering completely disrupted the already tense atmosphere.

Everyone instinctively looked over.

Among the crowd, a youth wearing a pointed beak crow mask, holding half of a wine bottle in his hand, attracted everyone's attention.

Obviously, he had just smashed the bottle against a nearby pillar, causing the noise.

"Sorry, my hand slipped."

The youth apologized with a smile.

Are you saying you accidentally picked up the bottle on the table and at just the right moment accidentally smashed it against the pillar?

Who would believe that!

Though no one knew what this guy intended, it was clear that it was a foolish move.

Unfortunately, the crow-masked youth didn't know the thoughts running through everyone's minds at this moment.

He walked forward slowly, casually picking up a glass of juice that had been on the table and gently swirling it around.

It was just juice, but this guy stirred it as though it were wine.

"Duke sir, you seemed to be discussing some interesting topics just now. Would you mind if I, an outsider, joined in and happily discussed it together with you?"

The youth asked curiously.

Hearing his words, Duke Tierus raised an eyebrow.

Surprisingly, he didn't feel the same sense of guilt and awe from the youth as he did from the others around him.

It was as if the youth's status didn't exist at all.

Interesting.

"You may," Duke Tierus glanced at the youth, "although right now I am asking Her High...

"Why bother troubling Her Highness over such a trivial matter?"

The crow-masked youth interrupted Duke Tierus's words.

His statement made his position clear.

Duke Tierus paused for a second and then narrowed his eyes slightly.

Following that, he turned and faced the youth of unknown origin.

"Well then, tell me, in your view, what would be the fairest way to distribute a cake so that everyone gets a piece?"

Duke Tierus was curious.

He wondered what kind of answer the guy, who stood up on this occasion and drew fire away from the Third Imperial Princess, would come up with.

If it was just to seek attention, then he...

At this moment, all eyes in the room were focused on the youth.

Yet, this intangible pressure did not seem to affect him at all.

The crow-masked youth shrugged: "It's simple, when it comes to dividing the cake, anyone can do it."

"Anyone can do it?"

Duke Tierus's voice dropped colder.

This answer did not satisfy him.

At that moment, he clearly saw this young man as someone seeking attention.

A faint anger began to rise in his heart.

But before he could express his anger, he heard the youth speak again.

"That's right, anyone can divide it."

"Only... let the others pick first, and the last remaining piece should be his."

```