Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69: No White Horses in Elarion

[Emperor Cassius’s Pov]

He didn’t stop.

"But that doesn’t apply to your daughter’s life, Cassius."

"What the hell does that mean?"

The room fell silent again, but this time, it was the kind that came before a storm—one I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop.

"It means just because you chose to avoid marriage and romance like a plague doesn’t mean Princess Lavinia will follow your lead. One day she’s going to fall in love."

My entire body locked up. "She will not."

"Oh, she will. And not with someone you approve of."

He leaned forward again, looking far too entertained.

"Just imagine it, Cassius. One day, a boy on a white horse from another kingdom rides into Elarion. Maybe he has curly hair. Big eyes. He recites poetry. Princess sees him in the garden. Her heart flutters. They exchange flowers. Letters. Next thing you know, she runs off to his castle like it’s a bloody fairy tale."

My fingers clenched into fists.

"I will kill that bastard."

"Sure, you can kill him." Regis nodded seriously."You’ll probably burn his whole kingdom, slaughter his family, and bring Princess back in chains—very on-brand for you. But what then, Cassius?"He leaned in, his voice suddenly low. "What if your daughter starts to hate you?"

Something snapped inside me. That... that word felt like poison.

Lavinia... hate me?

The mere thought was absurd. Insulting. Terrifying.

Regis, that smug bastard, saw it on my face and pressed in with all the elegance of a dagger between ribs.

"That’s why," he said lightly, "to avoid such tragic betrayals and melodrama, let’s just tie our children together now. Easy solution. No white horses. No random princes. No dead kingdoms. Just me gaining a daughter-in-law I already adore, and you keeping your little princess in the family."

He grinned. "It’s a win-win."

My hand on my blade was still. I wanted to rip the grin off his face. But... in that moment, my mind betrayed me.

I imagined it.

Lavinia, older, wearing some frilly gown I hated, smiling at some prissy foreign boy with too-perfect hair.

She’s laughing. Holding his hand.

And then—she’s leaving me.

Looking back with tears in her eyes as the carriage rolls away.

"I’ll write to you, Papa," she says sweetly.

She never does.

She never returns.

Because some idiot with roses and rhyming couplets swept her off her feet.

And I—I let it happen.

"No." My voice came out tight. "No. I’ll raze every kingdom that tries to send me a suitor. I’ll burn every white horse. I’ll make poetry illegal."

Regis burst out laughing. "You’ll ban poetry?"

"Yes. I’ll hunt down every bard personally."

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "You’re such a tyrant father."

"Damn right, I am. If keeping my daughter with me makes me a tyrant, then I am."

Regis leaned forward again, more serious this time."That’s why... I want you to think about my proposal."

I went silent.

I couldn’t stand the thought of Lavinia getting clingy and whispering sweet nonsense to anyone—not even that little brat Osric.But... I couldn’t deny Regis’s words either.

I sighed. "...First catch that bastard baron. We’ll talk about this later."

I stood up and glanced toward Theon.

"...And Theon."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

My jaw tightened.

"Seal the borders. Do not let any young men on white horses inside Elarion. And... do not let any charming person, except me, near my daughter."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out.

Behind me, Theon bowed and said, "Yes, my lord."

***

As I walked down the corridor, each step echoed louder than it should have. My mind was a storm—lightning thoughts and thunderous dread.

Love?

For my daughter?

Absurd.

Unforgivable.

I scowled at the very idea. Lavinia. My little Lavinia. Talking sweetly to some lovesick boy. Blushing. Smiling. Letting him touch her hair—her hair.

I stopped mid-step.

My fists clenched at my sides.

"Should I ban marriages?" I muttered.

Lavinia didn’t need that. She had me.

Yes. Marriage was a sickness.

[Lavinia’s Pov]

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