Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194: When Silence Cuts Deep

[Imperial Palace—Emperor’s Office—Later]

I didn’t know what was wrong with Papa. Did he suddenly remember he’s the "terrifying tyrant emperor" everyone whispers about? Whatever it was, I didn’t like the way he treated my man like that.

So, I did the only thing I could—I finished every single one of those cursed documents as fast as my quill could fly. My wrist was crying, my brain felt cooked, but finally I slammed the last paper down and shot up from my chair.

"I AM DONE!" I declared to the world—or at least to the overbearing man sitting at the desk.

Papa only glanced up, unfazed, like my outburst was background noise. "Good," he said simply.

Good? GOOD? After my heroic sacrifice? I gritted my teeth but kept my mouth shut.

"Alright," I huffed, turning toward the door. "I’m leaving, Papa."

"Wait."

I froze mid-step. Slowly, I looked over my shoulder. "...Yes?"

"Where are you going?" His tone was calm, but it carried that dangerous weight.

I gave him my sweetest, most innocent smile. "Oh, nowhere special. Just thinking of writing to Grandpa Thalein or Brother Lysandre. You see, Papa, Marshi’s losing control of his power lately and I’d like to know why before he accidentally blows up my wardrobe—or, worse, my chamber."

That earned me a furrowed brow. "He cannot control his power?"

I nodded seriously. "Exactly. It’s been getting worse. I need to know the reason."

Papa thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Keep me informed."

And that was that.

The moment I stepped out, my eyes instantly found him—Osric. Still standing like a statue outside the office, his posture perfect, his face unreadable.

"Osri—" I started but stopped cold.

Because he bowed.

Bowed.

Osric only bows to me when nobles are around or when Papa’s watching. But here? The hallway was empty. It was just the two of us.

And his eyes... his eyes were hollow.

My heart lurched. Without thinking, I rushed to him, catching his hand in both of mine. "Osric, what happened? Why are you acting like this? Did Papa say something to you? Why are you so... distant?"

He looked down at me, and for a second I thought I saw something—pain, maybe—but it was gone before I could catch it.

"Your Highness," he said, his voice steady but colder than usual. He gently slipped his hand from mine. "It’s time for your training."

And that was it. No smile. No quiet joke. No warmth.

Just duty.

My fingers curled into a fist, nails biting into my palm. First Papa, now Osric? The two men who mattered most to me were suddenly acting like drunk idiots.

Well, tough luck for them—I’m not some tragic heroine who waits around, weeping in silence, for the other party to speak first.

I reached for his hand, my grip firm. "We need to talk. Now."

He stiffened, eyes flickering with something unreadable. "Your Highness, you shouldn’t skip your training—"

That was the last straw. My patience snapped like a brittle string. I fixed my gaze at him, voice sharp and commanding.

"Enough. I wasn’t asking, Osric. That was an order. I am the Crown Princess of this Empire, and when I command, you obey. Now shut your mouth and follow me."

His lips parted, maybe to protest, but one look from me silenced him. Without giving him the chance to breathe another excuse, I turned on my heel and dragged him behind me toward my chambers, every step a silent declaration: I will not be ignored. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

***

[Dawnspire Wing—Later]

As soon as I stepped into my chamber, Sera was calmly feeding Marshi and Solena pieces of cake, as if nothing in the world could shatter this peace. My grip on Osric’s hand didn’t loosen. My voice was steady, but there was an edge to it.

"Sera, leave us."

She blinked at the unusual tone but bowed.

"Take those two creatures with you," I added, sharper this time.

Without a word, she gathered both Marshi and Solena, sensing the storm in the air. The door closed behind her with a quiet click.

The silence that followed was deafening.

"Now," I said, still facing away from him, "do you want to tell me why you’re behaving like some hollow ghost? Or should I command it out of you?"

Nothing. Not even a shift of breath.

I turned, and there he stood—rigid, distant, his eyes dull in a way that made my chest tighten. This was not the Osric I knew.

I crossed the room in two strides and took his hands in mine, forcing him to look at me. "What happened? Yesterday you were fine. Today you’re... this. What changed?"

"Your Highness..." His voice was low and strained, as if every word hurt. "Please. We should not—this is not right. There are boundaries we should not cross."

"Boundaries?" I repeated, my grip tightening. My heart thudded painfully. "You mean the boundaries you already crossed when you—when you gave me your heart? When you confessed your love to me? Are you talking about those boundaries?"

His jaw tightened, and he looked away, shame flickering in his eyes. "I was foolish. Reckless. It will not happen again. It cannot."

Something in me snapped—fear, frustration, I couldn’t tell. I stepped closer, forcing him to meet my gaze, and yet I tried to be calm and warm.

"And what if I want you to cross that line again? What if I am telling you that I—" My voice caught, but I forced the words out. "That I want you."

"I... I love you. I love you so much that I would tear down every law, rewrite every rule, and defy the world itself if it dared to keep us apart."

"Hah," I scoffed, running a hand through my hair before gripping my temple. "You’re really testing my nerves today."

"Now listen to me," I said, my voice low, dangerous, trembling with raw emotion. "I told you I love you, Osric. And you’re acting like I handed you a death sentence. What’s wrong? Tell me. Because I’m not leaving this room until you do."

"Look at me." My grip tightened as he resisted. "I said, look at me, Osric."

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