Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 250

Chapter 250: The Shifting Mountains

[Lavinia’s POV — Hallway — Continuation]

I left all my doubts and worries behind for a moment and forced a small smile. "Alright... go and take some rest. I have... work to do."

But before I could step away, his hand caught mine, firm and insistent. "But... I don’t want any leave, Lavi. I... I never agreed to it."

I stared at him, my heart tightening even as I willed myself to stay resolute. This distance I was forcing between us—it was necessary, at least for now, until I uncovered the truth. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Osric... you should take a leave. You’ve been working tirelessly for me," I said gently, trying to sound more persuasive than commanding.

His eyes held mine, unwavering. "I... I’m willing to keep working for you. Unstoppably."

I blinked. Unstoppably.

What kind of human is he?

Even as Reina Suzuki, in my previous life, would have begged for leave—and here he is, standing before me, ready to throw himself into endless service. And now... here I am, as his boss, ordering him to rest, and he... sighs. What am I supposed to do?

I exhaled slowly, weighing my options. If I couldn’t convince him with words, I had to use my trump card.

"Osric... it’s an order," I said, my tone sharp, leaving no room for argument. "Take a leave. For the time being."

He frowned, a mix of frustration and longing crossing his face. "Lavi..."

I straightened, meeting his gaze with absolute authority. "You... cannot say no to an imperial order, Osric. You know the consequences." I let the words hang in the air, slow and deliberate, letting him feel their weight. "It’s equal to... treason."

His jaw tightened, his breath catching as he stared at me, then finally, with a resigned sigh, he muttered, "Alright."

I allowed a victorious smile to tug at my lips. He stepped closer, pulling me into a tight hug. "Take care of yourself," he murmured, his voice low and tinged with something I couldn’t quite name—fear, longing... or maybe both.

I patted his back lightly, smiling softly. "Yes. I will."

Meanwhile, Sir Haldor muttered, his voice dry as dust. "I... feel so single."

Solena, perched on my shoulder, gave a solemn nod, as if she understood the ache.

Marshi, sprawled lazily behind us, let out a dramatic sigh and gazed at the scene with exaggerated awe, as if silently declaring, I miss my mate.

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me, shaking my head. Even amidst tension, the hallway had turned into a miniature battlefield of affection, duty, and unspoken emotions—and somewhere in it, my heart was trying to remember who was really in charge.

"Alright... I shall leave then," Osric said finally, his voice low and reluctant. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. My lips curved into a warm, fleeting smile at the gesture.

He straightened and looked toward Solena, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "And you... are you staying here or coming with me?"

Solena narrowed her eyes and flapped her head away from him, the movement sharp and decisive, almost as if to say, I’m not moving.

I chuckled softly, watching her with amusement. "I guess... she wants to stay," I said, the corners of my lips twitching in a teasing smile.

Osric let out a soft, exasperated sigh, the kind that carried both defeat and adoration. "Alright," he muttered, stepping back.

I lifted my hand and waved as he disappeared down the hallway, leaving only the faint echo of his boots against the stone floor. I lingered for a moment, staring at the empty space he had occupied, feeling the subtle ache of absence in the quiet that followed.

"Alright... let’s go," I murmured to myself, straightening my shoulders before turning toward the library.

Sir Haldor fell into step beside me, his expression calm but curious. "Your Highness... may I ask... why are we going to the library?"

I glanced at him, determination flickering in my eyes. "I need to see a map of the village, Sir Haldor. If there’s something more important than the dam that they were focusing on... maybe we can find a clue there."

He gave a slow, approving nod, his lips pressing into a thin line as he acknowledged my reasoning. "Very well, Your Highness. I shall follow your lead," he said, his tone carrying the usual mix of loyalty and quiet admiration.

***

[Imperial Library—Later]

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