Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 243

Chapter 243: A Crown Princess and Her Partner-in-Crime

[Dawnspire Wing—Private Garden—Later that Morning—Lavinia’s POV]

I leaned back, smirking as Sera clutched the tray like a shield, cheeks still burning. "Lesson one," I announced, tapping my finger against the table with all the gravitas of a seasoned professor, "is about posture. You must appear confident, graceful, yet utterly irresistible. Understand?"

Sera nodded vigorously, although her hands were shaking ever so slightly. "Yes, Your Highness! I—uh—I think I can manage."

I raised an eyebrow. "Think? No, Sera. You will manage. A kiss is an art form. Precision, timing, subtlety... and the absolute ability to read your partner’s reactions."

She swallowed hard. "Reactions...?"

"Yes." I leaned closer, letting my grin stretch dangerously. "For example, if he—" I paused dramatically, glancing toward the palace wings as if Osric himself might hear me—"if he stares at you like he’s trying to solve a riddle, you freeze. If he leans closer... you respond. Always three steps ahead. Always."

Sera nodded again, wide-eyed, hanging onto my every word like a devoted student.

And then, as if the universe enjoyed mocking me, my thoughts refused to stay in this ridiculous, perfect bubble of teaching.

Papa. His words. That odd, heavy "this time" when he promised to protect me. Osric. Rey. The vision at the altar. The library...

And I couldn’t shake the feeling that while Sera was rehearsing "lesson one," the real lessons—the ones that could save me or shatter everything—were quietly waiting in shadows somewhere in the palace.

I shook my head, trying to focus. Sera leaned forward again, whispering, "Your Highness... what happens in lesson two?"

I smirked, lowering my voice to a teasing murmur. "Lesson two... is all about chemistry. But Sera..." I let my words hang just long enough to make her squirm, "you might want to master lesson one before you accidentally cause a scandal in the garden."

She groaned, burying her face in her hands again. "This is torture!"

I laughed, but even as I did, my eyes drifted toward the horizon where the palace towers met the morning mist. Something was coming. I could feel it in the way the wind whispered through the garden, in the distant clatter of guards, and in the very air I breathed.

And I knew, with a sudden, icy certainty... that not all lessons could be taught with kisses and macarons.

Some lessons... would cost blood.

Sera was pouting in the air, arms crossed, floating as if she were some ethereal soap opera heroine. "Am I doing right, Your Highness?" she asked, voice trembling with exaggerated fragility.

But my mind was miles away, at the temple. At that vision. The altar. The veiled figures.

"...Highness..." I muttered, lost in thought.

"Your Highness!!" Sera’s voice sliced through my fog like a dagger.

I flinched. "Huh? What?"

She blinked at me, tilting her head like a very concerned owl. "Are you... alright?"

I exhaled, trying to gather myself. "Yes... let’s... go with lesson two—"

"No, Your Highness!" Sera snapped, landing gracefully beside me like a feline queen.

"Huh? What?" I squinted at her. "Don’t tell me you don’t want lessons now?"

She stood straighter, lips trembling in faux tragedy. "Your Highness... you seem... disturbed. Something happened, didn’t it?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Do I... look disturbed?"

"Yes... Your Highness," she said solemnly, nodding like a devoted courtier delivering a death sentence.

I rubbed my temples, sighing, leaning back in the chair, trying to maintain my dignity.

"Is something troubling you, Your Highness? You can tell me... maybe I can help?" she asked, voice dripping with sweet concern—but also suspiciously dramatic.

I gave her a sidelong glance. "It’s nothing, Sera... just... this and that. You don’t need to worr—"

THUD!!!

I gasped. Sera had flopped to the ground like a soap opera actress mid-scene, arms flung across the marble tiles.

"I... I... shared my biggest secret of my life!" she wailed, voice cracking like a violin string. "I told you who my—who is my boyfriend—"

I cut her off sharply, folding my arms like a general reviewing a foolish soldier. "You didn’t tell me. I guessed it."

But she ignored me, continuing her dramatic performance with Olympic-level flair.

"...And yet... I can’t believe you don’t even have a single shred of trust in me! I left my family... my HOME... to serve you!"

"...I traveled through different cities to reach you!" she cried, flinging her arms wide, head tilted toward the sky, eyes sparkling with the very essence of betrayal.

"...I wake up early in the morning to serve tea, macarons, cakes... handle your documents... and—" She whipped her head toward me, dramatic hair flick included, "—and yet... you don’t even trust me!!"

I opened my mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again. Then closed it again. My hands itched to clap... just clap for the theatrical brilliance I was witnessing—but I controlled myself, because no, I am the Crown Princess. The Empress-in-training. I must retain some dignity.

Wow. Just... wow. My lady-in-waiting was slowly revealing her true colors—dramatic, relentless, and completely unfiltered. Who would’ve guessed she was this theatrical? More dramatic than even me, the Crown Princess, the future Empress herself.

My ego quivered.

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