Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Wrath of the Emperor

The room was really, really quiet. Like the kind of quiet before something very, very bad happens. Thick, suffocating, and edged with fear.

I clung to Papa’s chest, still hiccuping from my very justified meltdown earlier. My tiny fingers curled into his clothes, and I pressed my face against him. His heart was beating fast. Or maybe that was mine. I didn’t know. All I knew was that everyone in the room looked like they were about to cry or throw up.

And, honestly? Same.

Papa was scary.

Like, I knew he was always kinda scary, but this was different. His crimson eyes weren’t just cold. They burned. Like, if he looked at someone long enough, they’d just drop dead on the spot.

And these people? The maids, the guards, even Nanny and Mareilla? All of them were kneeling, heads down, shoulders stiff, like they knew death was already breathing down their necks.

Papa still had his sword out. Oh. Right. There was blood on it.

My stomach twisted. That was... that was from earlier. From when he saved me. When he—when that lady—when she—

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Nope. Nope, I was not thinking about that right now.

I focused on Papa instead. His grip on me was tight, like he was scared I’d vanish if he let go. Which was ridiculous because I wasn’t going anywhere. My legs were wobbly, and my eyes were still all puffy from crying. Theon stood beside Papa, not saying anything because he knew everything was messed up. But one thing I didn’t like was Nanny and Mareilla kneeling too.

Papa took a slow breath, his eyes still burning with anger.

"Raise your heads," he said, his voice cold and ruthless.

No one moved. Or should I say, no one dared.

"I won’t repeat myself."

Everyone obeyed. Heads lifted, but no one dared to look into Papa’s eyes. Except for Nanny. She didn’t move.

She was trembling.

Not like the others. Not like the maids who were scared for their jobs or the guards who were scared for their heads. This was different.

She wasn’t even raising her head.

And I knew why, because today I almost died. And it must have made her remember her dead child—the one she lost in a fire.

I knew she must be feeling useless. She couldn’t even protect me. She must be thinking she failed again. But she doesn’t know that I understand everything. I know my nanny more than anyone in this room.

I saw her hands tremble whenever she held me close. I saw her standing outside Papa’s office even though her foot hurt. I saw the sadness in her eyes when she fed me. Sometimes, I even heard her crying when she thought I was asleep.

Her baby died. And today, I almost did too. That must have brought back all the pain she tried to bury inside her.

And then Papa took a step forward. The sound of his boots hitting the marble was loud in the silence.

Another step.

Then another.

I tightened my grip on his cloak. He stopped right in front of her. The tip of his sword glinted near her bent head.

"Nerina," his voice was cold. "Do you not hear me?"

Nanny flinched but didn’t move. Everyone held their breath.

And, I didn’t like this.

I squirmed in Papa’s arms, but he didn’t notice. His crimson eyes were still burning, still filled with rage. He won’t spare anyone today. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Nanny, please... Just lift your head. Please.

But she didn’t, and I was scared. I felt something tight in my chest. I didn’t like this. I didn’t like this at all.

I have to do something; I have to save my nanny. I wiggled in his arms, harder this time.

"Aaawooo... gaga..."

You cannot kill my nanny, Papa. You cannot.

I kicked my legs. But nothing was happening; Papa wasn’t even looking at me, and now I am scared too much. I cannot lose my nanny. Never.

And then—

"Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!"

I cried.

Loud.

The room froze.

Papa froze.

The anger, the sharpness—it scared me. It made my sobs come harder.

His sword didn’t move, but something flickered in his eyes. He came back to senses.

Then Theon hesitated before stepping forward. "Your Majesty," he said carefully, "the princess has already seen something horrible. You should drop the sword."

Papa clenched his jaw.

Then, slowly—reluctantly—he lowered the sword to the ground.

His arms tightened around me, and he held me with both hands, trying to calm me. "Okay, okay. I won’t do anything."

I hiccuped.

He wiped my tears. "It’s alright now."

The room was silent except for my sniffles. Then Papa turned to Nanny. His voice was still cold but quieter now.

"Nerina. Look at me."

Nanny flinched but finally, slowly, lifted her head. Her eyes were filled with pain, like she was holding all the tears.

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