Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Treasures, Triumphs, and an Unexpected Face

Papa held me securely in his arms, his grip firm yet gentle, as my eyes sparkled with uncontainable excitement. GIFTS! Oh, glorious, shiny, extravagant gifts! And we all know—no matter who we are, where we come from, or how young we might be—everyone loves gifts.

And since I was an Imperial Princess, I could only imagine the treasures that awaited me.

I wiggled eagerly in Papa’s arms, my eyes sparkling with anticipation. Come on, hurry up! I was ready to be showered in riches!

Theon, ever the dramatic announcer, raised his hand with a flourish. "The gifting ceremony shall commence!"

The nobles and officials, lined up like an army of peacocks, straightened their backs. Servants rushed forward, presenting lavishly adorned boxes and velvet-draped trays.

Oh, it will take forever.

But I grinned. Yes, yes, bring me my riches!

The grand hall buzzed with anticipation, the air thick with reverence and awe as the first noble stepped forward. He bowed so low I genuinely feared he might snap in half.

"I greet Your Majesty and Your Highness," he spoke with utmost reverence. "It is my greatest honor to present this humble gift to the Imperial Princess."

At his signal, a servant stepped forward, lifting the lid of an exquisite velvet box with the utmost care. My tiny eyes widened in fascination. Nestled inside was a golden rattle, encrusted with tiny rubies that sparkled under the grand chandeliers.

Oh. That’s fancy. I definitely want that.

Without hesitation, I reached forward, my tiny fingers wiggled towards the beautiful, glittering object. What else was I supposed to do? It was shiny! I must have it! 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Papa, ever the all-powerful Emperor, didn’t even need to say a word. With a mere flick of his hand, a servant immediately stepped forward, bowing deeply before presenting the golden rattle to me with both hands—like it was some kind of sacred treasure.

I grabbed it instantly, shaking it with pure delight. Mine.

The moment my fingers wrapped around the rattle, the entire court collectively gasped.

"Look! The princess has accepted it!" someone whispered in awe.

"Her Highness has chosen her first gift!"

"How wise! How refined!"

...Wait. What?

I blinked, staring at the crowd with mild disbelief. Excuse me? I agree it’s beautiful, but I just grabbed a shiny thing! Let’s not overanalyse this, people!

Papa, however, merely smiled, the expression soft and—dare I say—pleased. "It seems my daughter has taken a liking to your gift."

The noble trembled with joy, his face almost glowing with pride. "I-I am honored beyond words, Your Majesty!"

Before I could process the sheer level of dramatic reactions happening around me, another noble stepped forward. I wiggled excitedly, eager to see what awaited me next.

This time, the noble carried an even grander box, opening it with a flourish. My tiny jaw nearly dropped.

Inside, lying atop luxurious silk, was a tiny jeweled dagger.

What?! Excuse me?! A dagger?!

I gawked at the blade, its hilt embedded with gleaming emeralds, its craftsmanship flawless and intricate.

"Her Highness must have a weapon fit for a ruler!" the noble declared proudly, as if bestowing upon me the most obvious and necessary item for a three-month-old baby.

Slowly—very slowly—I turned my head towards Papa, my crimson eyes silently questioning his sanity.

Papa. Is this normal?! Why are they giving a three-month-old a dagger?!

Papa simply hummed, his expression utterly unfazed, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. "She may not need it now, but one day she will."

One day?!

Papa, I can barely hold my own head up sometimes!

And yet, the entire court nodded in agreement, murmuring their approval.

"Such foresight! His Majesty has thought of everything!"

"As expected of the Emperor’s daughter—she shall be a warrior one day!"

"Truly fitting for a princess of Elarion!"

I stared at them, my tiny fingers still clutching the golden rattle in one hand while the other remained frozen in disbelief. My people were insane. Absolutely insane.

But... you know what? Fine. If they want to believe I’m a baby prodigy, I’m not going to stop them. I puffed up my tiny chest, looking as regal as I could.

Papa chuckled, ruffling my golden curls with his long fingers before placing a soft kiss on my forehead. "My daughter is truly remarkable."

I grinned. Of course I am. But let’s not forget—I’m also fabulous.

Now then. On to the next gift!

One by one, nobles stepped forward, each presenting extravagant gifts: silk blankets embroidered with golden threads, tiny jewel-encrusted shoes, even a ridiculously tiny crown. Oh yes, shower me with riches!

And then...

Marquis Everette strutted forward, his chest puffed out like a peacock in full display. His expression was polite—too polite. His beady eyes flickered over me, his lips twitching as if he’d swallowed something sour.

Oh? What’s this? Suspicion? Disdain? Do I sense him questioning my greatness?

A servant stepped forward, revealing his gift—a silver bracelet with delicate engravings of the imperial crest.

The hall went silent.

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