Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 259

Chapter 259: Locked Within

[Emperor Cassius’s POV — Imperial Palace—Midnight]

I held her in my arms, and for the first time in centuries, the weight of helplessness crushed me. Her body was so light, so fragile, so achingly... pale. Her chest rose and fell in the faintest of motions, almost imperceptible. Every second felt like an eternity, and every beat of my heart hammered in terror.

No. Not again. Not her. Not my Lavinia.

"She... she’s breathing," I whispered, barely daring to speak the words, as if saying them too loudly might shatter the fragile thread keeping her here.

Around me, chaos reigned. Maids scurried, physicians muttered incantations and measured herbs, and Ravick—my ever-unflinching knight—stood frozen, his face pale, his hands shaking.

Even Marshi, ever so proud and composed, slumped at her side, his tail drooping, eyes wide with fear.

I pressed a trembling kiss to her forehead. "Lavi... my heart... you can’t leave me. Not again. Please..." My voice broke. "You are not allowed to leave me... not this time."

Every shadow in the room, every flicker of lamplight, seemed to mock me. I had survived wars, assassins, betrayals, and even the collapse of kingdoms—but this... this fear, this helplessness, was unbearable. It was worse than any blade at my throat, worse than any enemy’s siege.

It was the thought of losing her.

I tightened my hold slightly, careful not to hurt her delicate form, yet desperate to anchor myself to her, to keep her here. "I... I failed you before," I admitted in a voice so low it was almost a groan. "I left... I chose poorly... but I will not fail you again. Not in this life. Never again."

Solena flitted nervously from pillow to pillow, chirping softly, as if urging her to wake. My chest ached at the sight of her fear—mirroring my own. Even the air in the room seemed too heavy, too tense, too cruel.

I glanced at Ravick, then Marshi, then the Osric, my mind racing. They were all capable, all powerful—but none of them could reach into her heart and pull back what Fate had tried to steal.

Only I... I could. Only a father’s love could anchor her here.

I took a deep, shuddering breath. "Lavi... my daughter... my light... come back to me. Please. Let me see your eyes, let me hear your laugh, and let me hold your hand again. Scold me and be angry with me, but do not lie there, pale."

Every heartbeat, every silent second, stretched into an eternity. My hands trembled, and my chest burned with panic and guilt. And yet—I refused to move, refused to let her go—even if it killed me to stay.

Not this time. Not again.

Because this time... I would fight. Against Fate itself if I had to.

"Your Majesty..."

I looked up sharply. The palace physician stood before me, pale, trembling, a sheen of sweat on his brow. His voice wavered.

"Speak," I commanded, every syllable sharp, brittle.

He swallowed hard, gulping as if the words were poison. "Your Majesty... Princess... she has fainted from shock."

I clenched my fists. "Don’t tell me all that... just tell me—when will she wake up?"

The physician’s lips parted, then closed again, fear rooting his words. "We... we cannot say, Your Majesty."

I furrowed my brow, disbelief turning to fury. "What?"

He gulped again, voice nearly breaking. "It... it seems, Princess... has fallen into a deep sleep. We do not know when—or if—she will awaken."

The room seemed to tilt, the air thickening like molten iron in my lungs. Before he could speak further, I lunged. My hands gripped him by the neck, hoisting him off the ground. My voice roared, tearing through the chamber like a storm:

"HOW DARE YOU!! SHE IS MY DAUGHTER!! MY BLOOD!! SHE JUST FAINTED IN FRONT OF ME AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SAY SHE MIGHT NOT WAKE UP?!"

The physician dangled uselessly in my grasp, coughing, struggling to breathe, wide-eyed terror reflecting in his face.

"Your Majesty...!" Ravick’s voice rang out, sharp yet restrained. He stepped forward cautiously. "You must... calm yourself. Hear him out fully."

I ground my teeth, letting the physician fall to the ground with a heavy thud. He gasped for air, trembling like a leaf.

Then Osric stepped forward, his voice low but urgent: "What do you mean... she has gone to sleep?"

The physician’s eyes darted toward the priest, who stepped forward, bowing deeply. His voice was calm but carried the weight of fear.

"Your Majesty... Princess fainted from utter shock... and seems to have locked herself in a dark space... inside her own mind. She is not ready... to come out." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I leaned forward, eyes narrowing, breath sharp. "But? But what?"

My pulse raced. My vision narrowed to the single, impossible thought: My daughter, my Lavi... trapped. Alone. Afraid.

BRUST!!! SLAM!!!

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