In the Doghouse - Chapter 223
The hypnotist filled the glass bowl with water. Courtney, her voice tinged with anxiety, asked once more.
“It isn’t dangerous, is it?”
“No, please don’t worry. I won’t so much as lay a finger on His Majesty’s body.”
To prove his harmlessness, he raised both hands. Val and Anton also seemed wholly indifferent. It appeared Courtney was the only one in the room treating the Emperor like a child left unattended near water.
The hypnotist, kneeling on the floor, pointed to the glass bowl.
“Please look inside.”
Richard bent forward slightly and peered into the bowl. Courtney, too, looked inside along with him. The water was a transparent shade of violet. The color was a bit peculiar, but there seemed to be nothing else unusual. The hypnotist continued.
“Do you see the ripples in the water?”
“No… Oh, maybe a little.”
Richard nodded. Courtney tilted her head. Ripples in the bowl? She didn’t see even the faintest wave.
But both the hypnotist and the Emperor remained serious throughout.
“While gazing at the ripples, please answer a few questions.”
“Alright.”
She had expected that, since this was supposed to resolve inner problems, the questions would be rather probing, but the hypnotist’s questions were quite mundane. The day of birth, parents’ names, animals raised in childhood, and so on.
The last question was about the happiest day of his life. Richard replied, without hesitation, that it was Foundation Day several years ago. Courtney recalled exactly when that had been, her face turning slightly aloof.
A spring day when she had been carrying Lyle and Larissa in her belly. A night of celebration when the two had affirmed their love for each other. It was an exceptionally special day for her, too.
That was the end of the questions. The hypnotist then spoke in a deliberately solemn tone.
“Now, please close your eyes.”
Richard closed his eyes. The atmosphere grew heavier, and Courtney, feeling tense for no reason, swallowed hard. The hypnotist continued.
“Can you feel the ripples within?”
“Hmm…”
Richard was silent for quite some time. His tightly closed eyelids trembled, and his face contorted as if in pain. Alarmed, Courtney called out.
“Richard?”
The hypnotist brought his index finger to his lips. Courtney bit her lip and fell silent. It seemed she shouldn’t interrupt.
Only then did Richard answer.
“I can see…”
“Yes, do you hear my voice?”
“…Yes.”
Richard replied in a cracking voice, his expression twisted with discomfort, his tone childlike. Courtney’s eyes anxiously shook.
But it seemed this was all a natural part of the process. The hypnotist spoke calmly.
“I will count the numbers. When you open your eyes at zero, you will be reborn. Five, four, three, two, one… zero.”
Richard slowly lifted his eyelids. Then, like someone waking from a nap, he lightly shook his head side to side. Courtney let out a sigh of relief. The hypnotist cleared away the glass bowl and asked,
“How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure anything’s changed.”
“That’s normal. You’ll notice it gradually.”
The hypnotist said the used water must be poured under the largest tree in the garden. Anton stepped forward to guide him. Before leaving the room, the hypnotist bowed deeply once more.
“Then, I hope this has been of help to both of you.”
It was just a simple farewell, but Courtney felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort. Richard was the only one who had undergone the hypnotic healing, so it was odd to say it should benefit both of them.
Once they had left, only Courtney and Richard remained in the reception room. Courtney promptly asked him,
“How was it?”
“It really felt like nothing. If anything, I just feel a bit calmer…”
Richard shrugged his shoulders. But Courtney, eyes wide, pressed him.
“You do?”
Richard let out a short laugh. She must really not trust him.
Well, he couldn’t blame her, considering how he always acted so restlessly. Courtney crossed her arms, feigning indifference.
Richard rose to his feet first and said,
“Well, it doesn’t seem dangerous. Let’s just wait and see.”
He wasn’t wrong. He had even undergone a demonstration using the Emperor’s own body, and nothing had happened. If all it did was calm the mind, it might actually be a positive influence on high society, which was always tormented by envy and jealousy.
“Alright.”
Courtney nodded, having no choice but to agree.
Because the hypnosis session had passed by so uneventfully, she soon completely forgot it had ever happened.
