Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169: Crushing Fate

[Osric’s POV—Imperial Palace—Afternoon]

The afternoon sun spilled across the marble of the imperial palace, turning the dewdrops clinging to the hedges into scattered gems. My steps were measured, but my mind was elsewhere—on the reason I was heading to His Majesty’s office.

And then I saw her.

Lavinia walked out of the room, arms stretching lazily as if shaking off the weight of the work. A soft, almost petulant mumble left her lips—

"Papa is torturing his precious daughter..."

She looked so careless. So unaware. So infuriatingly unserious. Yet every time I looked at her, I saw something more. Something... dangerous to me.

Her crimson eyes—bright, vivid, and brimming with life—caught the light, and I felt myself drown in them all over again. Her golden hair, tumbling in gentle curls down her back, glimmered as though even the sun had conceded she was the brighter of the two.

The confidence in her stride, mingled with that lingering trace of childishness, was disarming. I wondered if there could possibly be another woman in this empire who could rival her beauty—inside or out.

And I knew the answer.

No.

I could watch her for hours, for days, for years, and still never feel bored. But was it love? Or was it obsession?

I didn’t know. Perhaps I didn’t want to know.

Because obsession wasn’t the right word—it sounded too dark, too consuming.

This was... survival.

She was my survival. My air. My world. And if it meant being lost in her forever, I would gladly be lost.

Sometimes I still couldn’t believe she was His Majesty’s daughter—a tyrant emperor feared across continents. A man who would turn kingdoms to ash for her sake. But... I would do the same.

If anyone dared to lay a single wrong finger on her...

The thought alone made my blood boil. I would feel the irresistible urge to rip their head from their shoulders, to make them regret the moment they even thought of touching her. Not because of duty. Not because she was the princess. But because she was Lavinia.

And Lavinia was mine to protect—whether she knew it or not.

In my last life, I lost her because of one foolish decision. But in this life... I swore I would be hers, and she would be mine. That was the real reason behind my oath—not just to protect her but to love her until my last breath.

That’s when she noticed me. Her lips curved into a smile. "Oh! Osric."

And then her brow furrowed almost instantly as she rushed towards me.

"Where were you? Does it take this long to come?"

She looked... like an angry little rabbit—ears twitching if she’d had any. I almost laughed at the sight, and unfortunately, I let out a low chuckle.

Her gasp was sharp. "You—! Are you laughing at my misery?"

"I’m not," I said quickly, though my lips betrayed me.

"Yes, you are." She took a step closer, narrowing her eyes and scanning my face. "I can see amusement hiding in your lips."

Too close. Far too close. Her perfume drifted up to me—soft, sweet, and maddening. Every breath felt like an invitation to lean in, to close the space. My chest tightened at the thought.

Then, with no warning, she let her body slump against my shoulder.

"Papa," she groaned dramatically, "made me read those dreadful documents and announced that starting tomorrow, I will have to manage the palace budget."

My heart was already thundering from her proximity, and now... now I had her warmth pressed to me.

"I know you can do that, Princess," I murmured, the corner of my lips lifting into a smirk. "You’re... very smart."

She leaned back just enough to meet my eyes, a proud grin forming. "Hah... I know I’m smart."

Then she sighed heavily, her head dropping again. "But I feel so tired just from looking at those documents. All those numbers... they look like an army of ants marching to war."

I chuckled, tilting my head so my words brushed against her hair. "If it’s war, then I’ll fight those numbers for you."

Her hand lifted lazily, fingers curling into my shirt as she murmured, "Careful, Osric... If you keep saying things like that, I might start thinking you actually like me for real."

My voice dropped lower, almost a whisper. "What if I do?"

. . .

Her head tilted just slightly, eyes flicking up to meet mine. And for a moment—just a moment—neither of us moved.

***

[Emperor Cassius’s POV—Imperial Palace—Cassius’s Office]

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