Chapter 90

“This is more unnerving than I expected.”

With an unbearable sense of restlessness, Ivyst’s expression gradually turned icy.

The temperature around her seemed to drop as well.

“Three hundred thousand, let me meet him.”

On the other side, Felix appeared completely oblivious to Ivyst’s current change in demeanor, continuing to speak lightly.

“Felix.” At that moment, Ivyst finally spoke, “If you bring this up again, I’ll kill you.”

Her gaze was sharp and cold, like a knife, aimed at the silver-haired youth.

Hearing this, the Second Prince Felix finally showed a hint of surprise.

Then, a slow smile crept onto his face: “This is getting more interesting, Ivyst.”

“Seems like this guy holds a pretty unusual place in your heart?”

“I’ve never seen you display such feelings for someone before, dear sister.”

“It’s just a matter of cleanliness.” A flicker of astonishment crossed Ivyst’s eyes, but she quickly masked it. “My things are mine; no one’s touching them, even just to brush against them. I’d chop off their hand.”

“You’re no exception, Felix.”

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Seeing this, Felix shook his head: “To be honest, I’m doing this for your own good.”

“From what I know of you, that guy is more likely being sticked to you against his will.” He didn’t seem fazed by Ivyst’s threat. “But how can someone like him truly submit just because of violence?”

“Even if you force him to serve you now, one day he’ll use every trick to escape from your side.”

“When that day comes, how interesting will it be to see your expression as the one being chased?”

“Will you cry non-stop like you did when we bullied you as kids?”

“No need for you to worry.” Ivyst appeared uninterested in his words, her demeanor chilly. “If that day ever comes, facing such a disobedient bad dog, I’ll personally strangle him.”

Felix shook his head: “I take back what I said.”

“Ivyst, it seems you still haven’t made any progress.” He stared into her red eyes, “Someone with a twisted personality like yours doesn’t deserve to be a king.”

“It’s not you who’s impressive; it’s that guy.”

“Yeah, it’s not me. It’s that guy.” Ivyst replied coolly, “So as long as I have him, that’s enough.”

Felix stared at her in disbelief for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Are you not at all curious why I suddenly want to take him from you?”

Upon hearing this, Ivyst slowly furrowed her brows.

In that moment, the previously carefree Second Prince suddenly changed his expression.

From him, Ivyst sensed an invisible, intangible malice.

“Perhaps during the months you’ve been away from the Imperial Capital, you’ve become too complacent, forgetting the schemes that once surrounded us.” Felix’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Or maybe it’s because you’ve got capable subordinates and the support of an elector, making you forget your place.”

“To be honest, from the moment you seriously declared war on me just now, I found it amusing.”

“Ivyst, oh Ivyst.” A wicked glint flickered in Felix’s eyes, “Since the day you were born, everyone has predicted your fate as the ‘cursed princess.’

“You are a person without a future.”

“Even if you seem to have the means to catch up with us now, that statement still stands.”

“After all, you shouldn’t forget why our father didn’t smother you, this disaster, in your cradle on the day you were born.”

As he spoke, Ivyst seemed to be reminded of some painful memories.

A hint of pain flashed in her eyes, and without saying a word, she turned her gaze out the window.

After a long silence, she finally said softly, “Of course, I won’t forget.”

“I am… a ‘tool.’

“A ‘tool’ that has survived to help the empire eliminate hidden crises.”

On the day she was born, every newborn in the Imperial Capital, regardless of wealth or status, perished overnight.

And the cardinal of the Church of Heavenly Justice foretold that she carried a curse, despised by the gods, destined to bring endless destruction and disaster to the world.

Despite such foreboding, Sixth Saint Roland still insisted on keeping her alive and raising her.

Some might feel that this was a display of deep fatherly love.

But only children living within the royal family, like Felix, would understand that in such a cold and heartless court, family ties were the least likely thing to exist.

The only reason Sixth Saint Roland let Ivyst live was that the benefits she could bring outweighed any opposition from the people and the elite.

“Very well.” Felix said coldly, “If that’s the case, as a ‘tool,’ stop daydreaming all the time.”

“This isn’t meant to discourage you; it’s stating a fact.”

“Not just me, but even the nobles in the Imperial Capital, the Church, and the elders in the council all think this way.”

“The reason I want that kid from you is precisely because of this.” “Instead of wasting a life alongside someone who has no future, it’s better to seek out a wise lord who will surely make a name for himself in the future history of the Saint Roland Empire.”

Upon hearing this, Ivyst opened her mouth to retaliate, but Felix raised a hand to stop her.

“Moreover, I think what you should really worry about right now isn’t about Lynn Bartleon.” He smirked, “After all, don’t you think you’ll soon need to worry about your own safety before you can concern yourself with others?”

When Ivyst heard this, she froze for a few seconds.

Suddenly, it seemed she remembered something, and a look of disbelief appeared in her eyes.

Seeing her like this, Felix stood up slowly from the sofa, reached into his pocket: “You guessed right.”

“The main purpose of my visit to Orlen City is actually you.”

As he spoke, he gently placed another letter sealed with wax on Ivyst’s desk.

“Upon learning that you didn’t successfully retrieve the sealed item from the Creation Sect, our dear father, far away in the Imperial Capital, raged in front of everyone.”

Staring at the letter, for some reason, Ivyst’s face began to pale.

“You’re a ‘tool,’ yet you’re perpetually stubborn, and ordinarily, father would tolerate your antics.”

“But let me ask you, if one day the obligations you should fulfill are cast aside due to this stubbornness, will father still turn a blind eye?”

Ivyst didn’t respond to Felix’s remarks.

She stared at the letter on the desk, trembling fingers reaching out to pick it up.

As she looked at the familiar handwriting, filled with reprimands and fury, Ivyst’s expression darkened.

No one knew what exactly was written in that letter, but it gradually drained the color from the princess’s face.

The atmosphere once again fell silent.

But this time, it felt more oppressive.

After a long silence, Ivyst eventually put down the letter, lowering her head to speak: “If… I refuse this task, what will happen?”

“You’ll be stripped of your title as the Third Princess and reduced to an ordinary noble.” Felix said, narrowing his eyes, expressionless, as he relayed Sixth Saint Roland’s order, “Naturally, without that title, you’ll be expelled from the Saint Oak organization and lose your right to compete for the throne.”

Felix’s expression remained indifferent.

“Of course, I personally suggest you choose to refuse.”

To him, Ivyst had never been someone worthy of his attention, nor did he ever think her existence would hinder his path to the throne.

If she were smart, she would refuse Sixth Saint Roland’s order to ensure her own safety.

But for Ivyst, that was impossible.

From the beginning, her goal had always been the throne.

Even if no one believed in her, that determination had never wavered.

“I accept.”

It was unclear how much time had passed, but Ivyst finally whispered.

However, since she was looking down, Felix couldn’t see her current expression.

“Is that really okay?” Upon hearing Ivyst’s response, he didn’t seem surprised. “You’re not new to fulfilling the duties of a ‘tool’—you should be more aware of the risks than anyone else.”

“I remember the last time you dealt with that Rank 1 sealed item; you were unconscious for five months.”

“Everyone thought you wouldn’t wake up again, but in the end, you gave us a ‘surprise.’

“But what about this time? How long will you be unconscious? Will you have the same luck as before?”

“Or, even if you manage to wake up from the endless pain and torment, you may not be able to control the curse, mutating into some terrifying evil presence?”

“…”

Ivyst didn’t respond, simply clenching the envelope in her hand tightly.

At this moment, maintaining her current appearance was already taking all her strength; she could not answer Felix’s questions.

The formidable Third Princess had vanished, replaced by a tortured and helpless soul.

Perhaps, besides the royal family, no one had ever seen such a desperate and struggling side of her.

Seeing her like this, Felix felt he had conveyed enough and was ready to leave.

In his eyes, Ivyst had never had a chance.

If anyone were to blame, it would be that Lynn, who gave her hope that had never existed.

And in the end, she fell again into the abyss.

This behavior was truly cruel.

“Think it over carefully.” Felix said without looking back, “That kid from the Bartleyon family is interesting. The Imperial Capital is really his stage—there’s no need for him to take this kind of risk with you.”