Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64: The Grim Reaper and the Apple Pie

[Lavinia’s Pov]

WHAT—?!

Ravick? The Grim Reaper of the Battlefield... is going to be my royal knight?

Like... my personal bodyguard? Right next to me? All day? Every day?

Wow. I can’t believe it.

"You? Guard me? Personally? Like, all day? Every day?" I asked, just to be sure I hadn’t misunderstood and he wasn’t talking about some other baby princess hiding behind my toy chest.

"Yes, my princess," Ravick replied, completely unbothered by my dramatic flailing and inner happiness. "I shall remain by your side at all times, ensuring your safety from this day forward."

...

Okay, deep breath.

Let’s rewind.

I used to be a salarywoman with 70-hour work weeks and three plants I couldn’t keep alive. Now I’m being guarded by the captain of the Black Knights, the most feared knights in the empire—no, probably the whole continent. The guy who never shows mercy. The same one nobles whisper about like a bedtime story gone wrong.

And he’s going to protect me. A tiny, spoiled baby princess who hoards cookies and occasionally chews on her blanket.

Sometimes, in the middle of playing or stuffing sweets into my mouth, I freeze.

I realize—I really am reborn. As the empire’s sole princess. The next empress. The imperial cinnamon roll of the century.

This is insane.

"B-but don’t you have, like, important things to do?" I asked curiously, tilting my head. "Slay monsters, terrify noblemen, stare meaningfully at bloodstained walls?"

He didn’t even blink.

"Your safety is my most important task, Princess Lavinia."

Eep.

That was kind of cool, actually.

I smiled, trying to look elegant and not at all like someone whose internal monologue just screamed "COOL COOL COOL COOL COOL."

"Then... I will be in your care, Ravick," I said sweetly, placing a hand on my puffed-up dress like a true little princess.

Ravick’s lips twitched. Just barely. But I saw it. A faint smile.

Aha! Emotion detected!

He nodded silently.

But something still bugged me. I tilted my head again and squinted.

"...But why were you standing outside? You should’ve come in, you know. What if you caught a cold?"

Then a voice chimed in, warm and teasing: "He was guarding you all night, my precious."

I turned around like lightning and gasped.

"Grandpa!"

And before anyone could stop me, I zoomed across the room on my tiny legs and threw myself at him. Grandpa Thalein scooped me up with a laugh, spinning me once before cradling me close.

"Ohhh, my precious! My lovely! My moonlight and stars! My soft and squishy treasure!" Grandpa rubbed his cheek against mine like a cat trying to mark its favorite pillow.

"Ahahaha—Grandpa!" I squealed, wiggling in his arms as he nuzzled me like a lovesick feline. "That tickles!"

"Good! Laughter is good for growing bones," he said seriously, now kissing my forehead, then my cheek, then my other cheek.

"I thought Papa would be here," I said with a pout.

"Your father’s finishing up some important matters," Grandpa said, glancing at Ravick with a knowing smile. "But I couldn’t resist coming to see my little sunshine after such a scare. Yesterday my precious treasure almost got hurt; I nearly fainted."

"I’m okay now!" I declared bravely, puffing up my chest. "You healed me, and Ravick saved me!"

"Yes, he did," Grandpa nodded solemnly. "And now he’ll keep saving you every day. Isn’t that reassuring?"

I nodded. Then reached up and patted Grandpa’s cheeks.

"But Grandpa..."

"Yes, my moonberry?"

"...Why do you smell like apples?"

He paused. Then grinned. "Because I brought you pie."

"PIE?!" I gasped like he’d told me Santa Claus was real.

He held up a small box with a ribbon.

"Fresh from the Nivale Kingdom. Your favorite."

My stomach rumbled right on cue. Ravick blinked in surprise. I coughed awkwardly and looked away.

"Anyway. Let’s eat."

***

Oooo...ho ho.

The crust. The taste.

OH my...it felt like I had just tasted heaven itself. A buttery, golden, warm piece of heaven, sprinkled with cinnamon and joy.

Should I tell Papa to hire Nivale’s royal pie chef?

No, seriously. I must. Papa would hire him in an instant—I know it. He once built me a private garden just because I said flowers were "cute." Hiring a pie man? A mere flick of his imperial fingers. Poof. Endless pie forever.

As I plotted my future dessert empire, Nanny hummed softly and gently combed my hair, tugging just enough to make my head wobble.

"Looks like our princess is in a happy mood today," she said with a smile.

"Of course I am," I said smugly, hugging Nanny like a warm pillow. "I have pie. A knight. And a grandpa who gives me secret sugar before sunrise."

Nanny chuckled. "I see. Since you like Lord Thalein so much, why don’t you write him a thank-you letter? I’m sure it would make him very happy."

"Letter? But Nanny..." I pouted, "I don’t know how to write properly yet."

She patted my head gently. "Then why don’t you draw something instead?"

***

[Emperor Cassius’s Pov]

HOW DARE THEY!

She is my daughter. My daughter.

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