Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 343

Chapter 343: The First Candle in the Dark

[Haldor’s POV—Midnight—Same Day]

When my eyes opened, I didn’t immediately realize what was wrong. Then the stillness hit me. The quiet. The darkness outside the window.

Midnight.

I jerked upright so fast the blanket fell off me.

I slept.

I SLEPT.

My breath stopped. My heart crashed against my ribs like a trapped beast. "I left her... alone."

My hands trembled as I grabbed my shirt—half pulling it on, buttons misaligned, sleeves twisted. I didn’t care. Shame burned hotter than fever.

I grabbed my sword, fingers gripping the hilt too tightly—and threw open the door.

But the moment the door swung wide—"Ah—!"

I froze.

She froze.

The world froze.

Princess Lavinia... was standing right outside my room. Holding a small cake. A small... strawberry... cake. Her eyes blinked up at me as she instinctively stepped back.

"Wow..." she murmured softly, eyes widening, "I almost lost the cake to your open... muscle."

I blinked.

Then looked down.

My shirt was half-open, barely hanging off my shoulders.

I yanked it closed, flustered. "Y-Your Highness... what—what are you doing—"

But she took a small step forward, lifting the little cake just slightly, and my voice died in my throat.

Then Sera burst from behind her, breathless. "Princess! You forgot the candles—oh."

Her eyes landed on me—on my half-buttoned shirt—and she went silent. Behind her, Marshi waddled through the hallway with a proud little bounce, and Solena swooped above us, perching on the doorframe with a curious screech.

The princess smiled gently. And said the words that made my heartbeat stop completely.

"It’s midnight, Haldor."

"Y...Yes, Your Highness, but why—"

She cut me off with a softness that pierced deeper than any blade.

"It’s your birthday," she said. "Of course I would celebrate my captain’s birthday."

The hallway went silent.

Absolutely silent. My fingers slipped from my shirt. My breath trembled. My grip on my sword loosened until it almost fell.

Birthday.

That’s right.... I had birthdays too. But she came here at midnight with a cake for me.

And suddenly, something inside my chest—something sealed, locked, and chained for years—cracked open.

"...My birthday," I whispered, barely a breath.

She nodded with a small, proud smile, as if she were stating something obviously important.

"Haldor," she said softly, "today is your day."

My throat tightened.

No one had ever said those words to me. Not once. Not even when I was a child.

Birthdays, celebrations, warmth—those belonged to other people. Not to boys born on hillsides with no family name. Not to orphans who didn’t even get to bury their parents’ bodies. Not to soldiers who only existed to serve, obey, and survive.

But here she was.

Her.

The Crown Princess of Eloria. Standing outside my door with a strawberry cake... just because it was important to her.

Just because I mattered.

No—no, that couldn’t be true.

But her smile said otherwise.

"Come on," she said softly. "At least blow the candles. Sera keeps lecturing me about sugar, so I can’t eat cake at night anymore."

Sera gasped. "Princess!"

"Hush," Princess said. "This is a special occasion."

My chest constricted painfully.

I lowered my sword. Slowly.

Special occasion.

For me.

My breath hitched. My chest tightened so sharply it hurt. I felt my hands tremble—really tremble—for the first time since I was a child.

Sera stepped forward, lighting the candles with quick, practiced motions. "Let’s go inside. Marshi and Solena are already drooling."

On cue, Marshi thumped his tail against the floor, and Solena screeched hungrily from atop Sera.

Princess turned to me, her smile small and soft—dangerously soft.

"Shall we go inside?" she asked.

Just a simple question. Just a gentle smile. Just a small strawberry cake in her hands.

And I—I couldn’t hold myself together anymore. I couldn’t pretend to be calm. I couldn’t pretend to be composed. I couldn’t pretend that this wasn’t ripping open something buried deep inside me.

No one had ever done this for me.

Not once.

Not ever.

Birthday? Celebration? Warmth? A cake with my name on it?

But she—she came. She knows. She cared. My grip on my sword slackened. And the weapon slipped from my fingers—

THUD!!

It hit the ground hard, echoing down the silent hallway. Before I even realized what I was doing—I stepped forward—And pulled her into my arms.

Lifted her straight off the ground.

Held her.

Held her like she was the only thing anchoring me to this world. Her breath caught. Sera yelped, "THE CAKE—!!" and somehow saved it at the last possible second.

But I didn’t let go.

For the first time in my life, I let myself be selfish.

My arms wrapped around her tightly—too tightly—but I couldn’t loosen my grip. I buried my face near her neck, shuddering as something warm and unbearable surged up my spine.

Why did this feel like coming home?

"Happy birthday, Haldor."

"Your Highness..." my voice came out rough, trembling, unsteady—"Thank you."

And then—SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

"—GAH—!!"

"SOLENA!!!" Princess shouted. "STOP ATTACKING OUR CAPTAIN—!!"

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