Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 240

Chapter 240: Questions of the Heart

[Temple—Hallway Outside Ceremonial Hall—Lavinia’s POV]

As everyone else was busy talking or basking in their own congratulations, I slipped away like a thief in the night. Marshi padded silently at my side, his golden eyes alert and sharp. I smirked, feeling a thrill of mischief.

"Hah... did you see that, Marshi? Your master is a master of stealth," I whispered, hands on my hips as I walked down the polished hallway. "Not a soul noticed me slipping away."

Marshi’s ears twitched, and he gave a small, approving nod.

I continued forward, my grin widening. "Now... time to uncover the mysteries behind the Divine Library."

But then—a prickling sensation at the back of my neck. Goosebumps rose along my arms. My heartbeat quickened.

"Why the hell do I feel like someone is following us?" I muttered under my breath.

Damn it. I really hoped it wasn’t Papa. The collapse of my carefully plotted escape would be catastrophic. And nobility? Please—today I had no patience to unleash my snarky temper all over again.

"Marshi..." I whispered.

He growled low, rumbling in his chest like distant thunder. His golden eyes glimmered as if confirming my suspicions.

"Yes," he seemed to say with that steady gaze. "Someone is here."

I drew my sword with a flourish, the cool metal sliding smoothly into my hand. Just as I was about to glance behind me, Solena swooped in, landing squarely on Marshi’s back. Her wings flared as she batted him lightly, a perfect SLAP across his face, as if to say, Where are you going, you foolish divine, without me?

I couldn’t help laughing. The absurdity of it made my shoulders shake, though my senses remained sharp.

And then...

A smooth, firm hand slid over my waist, warm and familiar. My breath hitched.

"Where do you think you’re going, my Crown Princess?"

I spun around and of course... there he was. My heart leapt. Osric. The mischievous glint in his eyes, the easy confidence in his stance—it was like he had appeared from my daydreams.

I threw my arms around him, hands settling on his shoulders, and pressed close. "Osric..." I murmured, voice soft but filled with relief.

He smiled, brushing his lips briefly against my temple before pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. "Did you miss me?" he asked, voice gentle but teasing.

I slumped into his chest, letting out a small, content sigh. "Yes... so much. You weren’t here today... and it felt... empty. Like the hall was just... hollow without you."

He chuckled, deep and warm, wrapping his arms around me as if anchoring me to reality. Then he pressed a tender kiss to the crown perched atop my head. "I missed you too. It felt like an eternity without you."

I squinted, trying to mask the smile creeping across my face. "Oh, c’mon, that’s overdramatic. You’re exaggerating."

"No," he replied simply, lips curling into that infuriatingly charming smile. "Not at all. Every moment away from you today... every clapping, every ceremony... it meant nothing until I saw you again."

My chest fluttered, warmth flooding me from crown to toes. Even Marshi and Solena seemed to sense the shift in energy between us, quieting down and watching with silent approval.

I leaned up just enough to glance at his face. "You really do have a way with words, don’t you?"

He raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly closer, their foreheads nearly touching. "Only for you, my Crown Princess. Only for you."

And with that, the tension of the hallway—the eyes of nobles, the weight of the crown, the unseen threads of power—faded for a moment, leaving just the two of us.

I let a small laugh escape me, shaking my head against his chest. "Alright, alright... but don’t think that lets you follow me everywhere. I’m still in charge of discovering the library’s secrets."

He pressed his forehead to mine, voice low and teasing. "Oh, I wouldn’t dream of stopping you... as long as I get to stay by your side while you do."

My heart skipped another beat. The Divine Library could wait. For now... this fleeting warmth, this stolen moment with him, felt more powerful than any magic or blessing I had ever known.

I tilted my head slightly, gazing at his lips, and whispered, almost shyly, "I... I feel like kissing you."

He flinched, blinked rapidly, and then his gaze darted around the hallway, almost comically careful. "Patience, my princess... this is a holy temple."

I groaned, pressing against him in a hug, letting my frustration show. "Gosh... sometimes I sound like a complete pervert, don’t I?"

He chuckled, a deep, warm sound that made my chest flutter. "Well... I suppose I am in love with a pervert princess, then."

I gasped, "How dare you?"

Then quickly laughed, shaking my head. "Alright, I shall forgive you; only you have the right to call me that."

I blinked, unsure how much to reveal. My mind spun, tangled with the memory—or was it a vision?—from earlier during the Benediction. Should I tell him? Could I even explain it without sounding insane?

But... he was Osric. My boyfriend, my best friend, my protector, and the Grand Duke of the Empire. He would understand. He had to.

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