Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 252

Chapter 252: The Corruption

[Lavinia’s POV — Village Verdelune—At the Dam]

The villagers, for some reason, had followed me toward the dam, their eyes wide with curiosity and a little fear. Sir Haldor walked at my side, Marshi swishing his tail like a tiny, judgmental flag, Solena perched confidently on Sir Haldor’s shoulder, and Sera... well, she was a full-on, judgmental cloud. The morning sun glinted off the water, highlighting the cracked stonework like a silent, hidden warning.

"Looks... bigger than I imagined," I murmured, stepping closer. "Though they said it was just a faint crack."

Sir Haldor cleared his throat and gestured toward a boy standing nervously to the side. "Your Highness... this is the boy who kept sending letters."

Black hair, brown eyes... and by his personality, he sure doesn’t look like some ordinary village boy.

I stepped forward, eyes narrowing slightly. "What’s your name?"

Before the boy could speak, the village head blurted out, "His name is Kalix, Your Highness... he is the son of—"

I whirled around, my gaze sharp as a blade, fixing the belly-laden man in front of me. "DID I ASK YOU, VILLAGE HEAD?" My voice echoed across the dam, crisp and commanding.

The man flinched, his gold chains clinking nervously. "I... I am sorry, Your Highness," he stammered.

"Good. Don’t open your mouth again until I say so," I snapped, eyes narrowing dangerously. He nodded quickly, swallowing hard like a guilty child caught misbehaving. "Your mouth is not yours to open until I allow it. Every breath you take here... is because I permit it."

"Yes, your highness..." he trembled with rage and humiliation.

Turning back to the boy, I let my gaze soften just a fraction, though it was still firm. "Kalix... so... you are the one who sent the letters?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

He swallowed, then nodded without hesitation.

I arched an eyebrow, a sly smirk tugging at my lips. "Hmm... and you know how to write letters... quite neatly too. Like someone of noble training, hmm? Where... might you have learned such skill?"

Kalix looked at me steadily, unafraid. "It was my father who taught me, Your Highness. He used to be the village head before."

Ah... so this boy is the ex-village head’s son. That explains much.

I let the silence stretch, letting the weight of my gaze fall on the current village head.

"And... where is your father now?" I asked softly, tilting my head. My tone was calm, but it carried the sharpness of a blade hidden under velvet.

Kalix’s eyes flicked to the belly man before answering, "He... he was found dead in the forest one day."

I let my eyes narrow into slits, staring straight at the man in gold. Every chain, bracelet, and glinting belt suddenly seemed heavier, oppressive under my gaze.

"So..." I said slowly, letting the words drip like poison, "he was killed... and you... took over his place. Very convenient, isn’t it?"

The village head paled, beads of sweat forming along his brow. He parted his lips to speak, but I raised a single, commanding finger.

"I didn’t allow you to speak yet," I said, my voice calm, cold, and unyielding. The kind of tone that made grown men hesitate mid-breath.

Kalix met my gaze, steady and unflinching, a strange mix of defiance and respect reflecting in his eyes. I allowed myself a faint, fleeting smile, a tiny sliver of warmth meant only for him. Then, without warning, my gaze snapped back to the trembling village head.

I let my eyes sweep over him slowly, measuring every twitch of fear. "Now..." I said, tilting my head slightly as I motioned toward the dam behind him. "Tell me, village head... why haven’t you repaired the dam?"

The man forced a smile, trembling at the edges. "Your Highness... it’s... it’s just a mere crack. I’ve started... looking for people... skilled workers who can repair it."

I arched a brow, my tone sharpening like a blade. "Since... two years ago, you’ve been ’looking’ for workers? Two whole years?"

He flinched, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. That split-second movement betrayed everything I already suspected.

"Sir Haldor," I said, my voice crisp, leaving no room for hesitation, "do you see what’s happening here?"

Sir Haldor bowed, steady and obedient. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Seize his estate," I commanded, each word slow, deliberate, and impossible to disobey. "Search every corner. Something in that place... is very, very off. I can feel it."

***

[Village—Later]

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