Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Existence Loathed by All Living Beings

Ivyst had never encountered anything pleasant in her life.

This seemed to be foreshadowed from the very day she was born.

Her mother had died during the agonizing childbirth, her eyes never closing until the very end.

Not only that, all the newborns in the Imperial Capital who shared her birthday quietly perished that same night.

When people laid eyes on her wrapped in swaddling, they displayed terror.

Babies were supposed to be symbols of purity and cleanliness.

But they clearly saw that dark, sinister magical patterns grew on her face.

Those patterns seemed like cursed marks, deeply seared into her skin.

Anyone who gazed upon that curse would feel a profound fear and revulsion rise from their very souls.

Even those with weak wills would faint just by getting close to her.

Members of the Church of Heavenly Justice had come to see her.

Then, they made a prophecy before Sixth Saint Roland.

This third princess of the empire was doomed to be loathed by the gods from the moment of her birth; her existence itself was a source of evil and fear, destined to bring catastrophic disaster to all.

The cursed mark was called “Evil Spawn,” a curse that gathered all the wickedness and filth of the world.

Every living being born from this world would feel a deep-seated disgust and rejection upon seeing her for the first time.

According to traditional customs, Ivyst, still in swaddling, should have been sent to the Inquisition to be executed.

But in the end, Sixth Saint Roland spared her.

Yet, she was the one who caused the death of his beloved wife, so even as her father, he had never shown Ivyst any kindness.

In her memory, Sixth Saint Roland’s attitude towards her was always different from his other children, filled with scolding and punishment.

She seemed to have never been loved by anyone.

Ivyst realized this when she was very young.

The servants around her always wore fearful smiles in her presence, yet behind her back, they called her “monster,” their disgust clear as day.

Her playmates never stayed long, either dying or going mad.

Over time, she gradually understood that just existing in this world was already a mistake.

Because of the curse, no living being in this world could ever love her.

At most, they would only fear her because of her devastating power.

But since this life was given to her by her mother, Ivyst didn’t want to abandon it so easily.

So, after much contemplation, on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, she announced something in front of a crowd.

She intended to participate in the royal selection ceremony, competing for the throne against the other eight princes and princesses.

Ivyst had a vague feeling, or perhaps hope, that maybe once she became the next Saint Roland Emperor and transformed the world into something less ugly, where everyone lived in beauty and hope, people might change their perception of her.

Of course, this idea was seen as a joke by everyone.

How could a woman regarded as a calamity and demon possibly sit on that throne with dignity?

But Ivyst didn’t care about their opinions.

In fact, from that day on, she donned a mask, forever concealing her looks.

Ironically, her mother had once been the most beautiful woman in the Imperial Capital.

But in the end, she became a being who dared not show her true face.

The “Evil Spawn” curse on her face and the tremendous power she was born with were not seen as glory; rather, they felt like a shameful scar.

Due to her noble status, the impact on those around her lessened considerably after she wore the mask.

Gradually, people began to pledge their allegiance to her.

But no one dared to mention words like “appearance” or “looks” in her presence.

Because they knew that the curse on her face had always been a heartache for Her Highness the Princess.

Who would dare expose her scars before her? If anyone did, that would clearly be a death wish.

So when Lynn foolishly removed Ivyst’s mask, a wave of suppressed shame and anger, along with a nearly tangible hatred, surged within her.

“You’re asking for it!!!”

She couldn’t help but admire this down-on-his-luck kid from the Bartleyon Family.

Just as he said, the skills of her subordinates were indeed subpar, nowhere near the level of the other princes.

Over the years, she had increasingly craved talented individuals to assist her.

Many things couldn’t be accomplished merely through power. So upon meeting Lynn, she shockingly felt a flicker of “affection.”

But anyone who crossed her bottom line had only one fate.

Death.

As the surge of power flowed, countless blood-red thorns seemed to echo her fury, ripping open the earth like waves as they surged toward the figure before her.

Human life was truly fragile.

A regular person like him could be utterly shattered with just a little effort.

Just as Ivyst was about to use his life to cleanse her inner shame, a faint voice suddenly reached her ears.

“So beautiful…”

The thorns halted at the last moment, stopping right above Lynn’s body.

Ivyst instinctively froze her actions.

“What did you say?”

When she heard that unfamiliar word, Ivyst’s mind came to a standstill.

Beautiful? What beauty?

Carriage? Thorns? Night? Or was he talking about her? Feeling Lynn’s gaze resting upon her face, the answer was all too clear.

Ivyst took a deep breath.

She looked into Lynn’s sparkling blue eyes, searching for fear and disgust in his gaze.

Even the slightest quiver, and she would not hesitate to turn him into blood and mud.

But whether it was due to getting too lost in his gaze or the poison in the blood-red thorns taking effect, he seemed a little dazed.

In any case, she didn’t detect any of the negative emotions she had grown accustomed to over the years.

What’s more, she even sensed a hint of… obsession in his eyes?

This was just bizarre.

Every living being born from this world should feel nothing but disgust upon seeing her face.

What was happening now?

In an instant, Ivyst found herself engulfed in unprecedented confusion.

The anger and shame that had earlier lingered in her heart had vanished without a trace.

In their place emerged a bewildering emotion.

“Hey, be clear with your words!”

She grabbed Lynn by the collar, raising her voice slightly.

But at some point, he had sunk into sleep, lightly snoring.

Damn it, don’t sleep! This princess hasn’t even finished her questions! Feeling a twinge of regret for her earlier impulsive actions, Ivyst grew increasingly agitated.

After a long while, she gently waved her hand.

The frenzied thorns that had uprooted the manor’s lawn suddenly shattered into scattered points of extraordinary power, drifting away with the wind.

Then, the elderly female steward returned.

She still wore her indifferent expression, not sparing a single glance at Lynn from start to finish.

“Your Highness, do you wish to dispose of him?”

The steward bent down and asked.

“…”

Ivyst remained silent, tossing the person in her grasp to her.

The steward nodded and prepared to leave, making sure this little thief who had provoked the princess’s wrath would completely vanish from the world.

But the next moment, she suddenly heard a hesitant voice from behind.

“Send him to the lab, let Milani take care of it. Try to preserve his life.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The elderly female steward, facing away from her, revealed a hint of surprise upon hearing this order and unexpectedly glanced at Lynn.

Then, she dragged him back towards the underground prison.