Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 187

Chapter 187: The Moment My Heart Panicked

[Lavinia’s Pov—Dawnspire Wing—lavinia’s Chamber]

It was damn hard to convince Papa to let me walk out of the imperial palace. Honestly, if I didn’t use my most serious "responsible face," I think he would’ve just locked me in the tower like some fairy-tale princess.

But this wasn’t about adventure—this was about duty. My duty. I was in charge of the empire’s food supplies, so if a rat was sabotaging us, then it was my solemn responsibility to catch that criminal with my own two hands.

"Alright, Sera..." I twirled dramatically in my commoner’s dress, skirts fanning out like I was about to star in a village festival play. "Do I look like a normal lady of the empire now? Just... ordinary. Blending in. Nothing suspicious at all."

Sera tilted her head, smiling in that way that told me she was definitely thinking something strange. "Yes, yes, Your Highness. Perfectly normal. Except you still sparkle too much."

Before I could protest, Osric walked over, holding a rough brown cloak.

"Yes, yes, Lavi. You look... beautiful." Without asking, he draped it around my shoulders and pulled the hood low over my head. His fingers brushed lightly against my cheek as he adjusted it, and he murmured in that calm, maddeningly steady voice of his, "Now let’s just go before His majesty changes his mind."

I nodded in agreement. "Right! Papa can change his mind very fast!"

Sera clasped her hands behind her back and beamed at us like a mischievous little fox. "Please cover yourselves well, my lord too. The both of you are... less human."

"Less... human?" I blinked.

Osric froze mid-step, one hand still on my hood, then slowly turned to stare at her. "...Your new lady-in-waiting likes to speak in riddles."

I sighed, nodding as if I’d carried this burden for centuries. "I am used to it. Completely used to it."

Osric chuckled under his breath, tightened the cloak neatly around me, then stepped back with a satisfied smirk. "Now, we’re ready. Let’s move before—"

"Papa changes his mind!" I blurted, nodding frantically.

"Exactly."

Before following Osric, I glanced back at Sera. "Please take care of Marshi and Solena while I’m gone. And make sure Marshi doesn’t burn the curtains this time."

"Leave it to me, Your Highness!" Sera waved her arms dramatically, like I was marching off to battle instead of sneaking out. "And remember—cover your faces! Don’t stand out! You both sparkle too much when you’re together!"

GASP!

I clutched my chest. "What?! Sera!"

Osric calmly tugged my hood lower, covering almost half my face. "She’s not wrong, Lavi."

My jaw dropped. "But—"

"Let’s go," he interrupted smoothly.

***

[Elorian Empire—Commoner District]

The streets of the commoner valley were buzzing with noise—hawkers shouting about bread, children darting between carts. To everyone else, it was just another normal day.

I tugged on Osric’s sleeve and whispered, "Did Sir Aldric leave the imperial palace already?"

He leaned in, his hand resting lightly at my back, lowering his voice. "Yes. He’s disguised as a driver. He’ll circle the area until we give the signal."

I nodded. "Alright."

Behind us, Damien—one of the Everheart knights—stood like a stiff statue before muttering under his breath, "I feel like a third wheel here..."

My cheeks puffed up immediately, and I tried to move away from him, but he held me tighter.

Osric’s sharp glare silenced Damien.

"Focus," Osric said. "The driver’s contacts usually gather near this district. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch someone making the drop."

We didn’t even have to search long. The imperial carriage rolled steadily down the cobbled street, its wheels creaking faintly. Sir Aldric sat stiff at the driver’s seat, cap pulled low, looking every bit the weary coachman.

"There he is," Damien muttered, sharp eyes narrowing.

But before the carriage could reach the square, a man with a round belly and sweat-streaked face waddled into the street, raising a hand. He didn’t shout, didn’t wave—just pressed his thumb to the side and tilted it toward a shadowed alley.

My breath hitched. "Is... is that the contact?"

"Seems so." Osric’s voice was low, dangerously calm behind me.

Without hesitation, Aldric flicked the reins, turning the carriage obediently into the narrow alley. The sunlight vanished the moment the wheels touched the shadows.

I tugged my hood lower. "Let’s go."

We followed, steps quiet against the stone. Damien’s armor clinked faintly, but Osric’s presence was like smoke—silent, heavy, watchful.

When we reached the mouth of the alley, I pressed my back to the wall and peeked inside.

Five men were waiting. Two lounged against the crates stacked to the side, another perched on a barrel, and the round-bellied man strode forward with an air of authority.

"You can go now," one of them said gruffly to Aldric. "We’ll handle everything from here."

Aldric’s eyes flicked, just briefly, in our direction. My heart pounded. I gave the smallest nod, and he dipped his head in return, stepping down from the seat with the perfect imitation of a servant’s deference before slipping out of the alley.

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