Too Lazy to be a Villainess - Chapter 371

Chapter 371: ‘Do not Marry my son’
[Lavinia’s POV — Office—Later]

“…This is the report from Meren, sent by General Arwin this morning, Your Highness,” Sera said, stepping closer and placing the neatly folded parchment into my hands.

I took it with a quiet hum. “Hmm…”

My eyes skimmed the lines quickly—numbers, locations, dates—then slowed as the meaning settled in.

“The damaged castles have been repaired,” I read aloud, tapping the page lightly. “No signs of corruption among the current nobles… and farming resumes next month.” I paused, then allowed myself a small nod. “That’s… better than expected.”

Sera smiled, clearly relieved. “Meren is developing very fast, Your Highness. If this continues at the same pace…” She hesitated, then asked carefully, “Will you open the seaside as well?”

I leaned back slightly in my chair, fingers drumming once against the desk. “Hmm… yes. But not all of it.” I glanced back down at the report. “Only certain sections. The salt mine we discovered is still under inspection, and I won’t risk contamination or unrest for speed.”

Sera nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense.”

Then, curiosity lighting her eyes, she added, “I also heard a rumor—we may have found another salt mine? Near the ancient village?”

“Yes,” I confirmed, lifting my gaze to her. “We’ve received preliminary reports. But until we confirm the type of salt and its stability, it remains sealed.” I exhaled softly. “Still… once we ensure the coast is safe, I intend to open it.”

“For nobles?” Sera asked.

“For everyone,” I replied smoothly.

She blinked. “Your Highness… do you really think the nobles will agree to share the seaside with commoners?”

I smiled.

Slow. Knowing.

“They won’t,” I said simply.

Sera frowned. “Then how—”

“That,” I interrupted, leaning forward slightly, eyes sharp with intent, “is why I plan to open two sections.”

She froze. “…Two?”

“One coast designated for common citizens—open markets, fisheries, public access,” I continued calmly. “And another for the nobles. Controlled, regulated, and taxed accordingly.”

Sera’s eyes widened. Then slowly—very slowly—her face lit up.

“That’s… actually brilliant,” she said. “They get their exclusivity. The people get opportunity. And no one can accuse you of favoritism.”

I smirked, folding the report and setting it aside. “I know.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Sometimes I forget how dangerous your ideas are, Your Highness.”

I rose from my chair and walked toward the tall window, gazing out where the sea shimmered faintly in the distance—far beyond walls, laws, and noble complaints.

“Dangerous ideas,” I murmured, “are the only ones that change empires.”

Sera smiled.

I turned back and patted Marshi’s massive head, leaning down to plant a kiss right between his ears. He immediately shoved my face away with one enormous paw.

“…What?” I blinked. “You don’t want kisses?”

Marshi growled low in his throat, stretched dramatically like an offended noble, and stalked off to the corner of the room with his back very pointedly turned to me.

I stared after him. “Wow. He’s so moody.”

Sera tilted her head, lips twitching. “He’s just like you, Your Highness.”

I sighed, stretching my arms above my head and yawning. “Rude. But fair.”

I turned toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go see where the captain is.”

Sera’s smirk turned dangerous. “Hehe… it’s nice to see a wife looking for her husband.”

I froze mid-step.

Blink.

“…I’m not married yet. Papa didn’t approve and I’m just curious,” I said quickly, turning my face away as heat crept up my cheeks.

“Of course you are,” Sera replied sweetly. Far too sweetly.

I marched out the door before she could say anything else. Behind me, Marshi cracked one golden eye open, reconsidered his dramatic exit, then stood up and padded after us like nothing had happened.

We hadn’t taken more than a few steps into the corridor when—”Are you going to meet my son?”

The voice was slow. Calm. Unreasonably deep and it came from right behind a pillar.

“AGGHHHHH—!!”

Sera screamed.

Even I jumped.

And marshi almost launched a fire spell on instinct.

“What—WHO—?!” I spun around, heart pounding.

General Luke stepped out from behind the pillar, arms folded, expression entirely too amused for a man who had just taken ten years off my life.

I stared at him.

Then yelled, “MAKE A SOUND, FOR GOD’S SAKE!”

He raised an eyebrow. “I did. I spoke.”

“That does not count as a warning!” I snapped.

Sera clutched her chest. “Sir, I think my soul left my body.”

Marshi huffed in agreement. Luke glanced between the three of us, then nodded thoughtfully. “Noted.”

I crossed my arms, glaring. “Why were you lurking behind a pillar like a haunted ancestor?”

He shrugged mildly. “I was waiting.”

“For what?”

“For you,” he said, then added casually, “And yes—I assume you’re going to see my son.”

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “Why does everyone suddenly know my schedule?”

Luke smiled—soft, proud, unmistakably paternal. “Because when a tyrant crown princess goes looking for one man in particular… the palace notices.”

Sera coughed. Loudly.

I shot her a look. “Don’t.”

She grinned. “I didn’t say anything.”

Marshi flicked his tail.

Luke gestured down the corridor. “Shall we? I’d rather not miss the moment you pretend you’re ‘just curious.'”

I muttered under my breath, already walking. “This palace is unbearable.”

But despite myself—I was smiling.

***

[Later—Private Garden]

[Later—Private Garden]

THUMP.

The sound of porcelain hitting wood rang sharper than a sword strike. General Luke set his teacup down with far more force than necessary.

I didn’t flinch.

I leaned back in my chair instead, crossing one leg over the other, studying him with calm, imperial interest.

“What is it,” I asked mildly, “that you wanted to talk about, General?”

He didn’t answer immediately. He stared into his tea as if it had personally offended him.

Then—without looking up—

“I heard,” he said flatly, “that you intend to marry my son.”

I nodded once. “Yes. I do.”

I opened my mouth with an unnecessary proudness and continued, “I know you’re grateful. But you don’t have to—”

“PLEASE. CHOOSE. ANOTHER. MAN.”

The words came out cold. Dead. Final.

I blinked.

Once.

“…Pardon?” I asked slowly.

He finally lifted his cup, took a calm sip, and said, as if discussing the weather, “I do not want you as my daughter-in-law, Your Highness.”

Silence.

Actual silence.

The birds seemed to pause mid-chirp, Marshi dropped his macrons, Sera gasped and I just stared at him.

Why…why did that sting? No…why do I feel so offended and pissed?

“Interesting,” I said carefully. “And here I was, thinking you’d be relieved your son was marrying the Crown Princess instead of being dragged into some political slaughterhouse of a noble family.”

“My son,” Luke said, setting the cup down again—gently this time—”is innocent.”

I tilted my head. “So?”

“He is kind-hearted.”

I blinked again. “General… innocent and kind-hearted are not crimes and it’s the same thing.”

“They are,” he replied instantly, eyes snapping up to meet mine, “when paired with you.”

Ah.

There it is.

I smiled. Sweetly. Dangerously. “Do explain.”

He leaned forward slightly, forearms resting on the table. His gaze was sharp now. Protective. “You are a tyrant.”

The word hung between us.

Tyrant.

I laughed. Actually laughed. A soft, amused sound that made his brow furrow.

“Oh?” I said. “Is that what they’re calling me now, finally?”

“You rule through fear,” he continued. “Through pressure. Through impossible expectations. You bend men until they break—or become something unrecognizable.”

I rested my chin on my hand. “And yet,” I said calmly, “your son has survived me remarkably well.”

“That’s exactly my point,” Luke snapped. “He doesn’t see your danger. He sees your resolve. Your weight.”

He straightened. “And men like my son… they love without armor.”

My smile faded—just a fraction.

“You think I’ll destroy him,” I said.

“I think,” he replied quietly, “that the world you live in will.”

I leaned forward now, eyes sharp, voice low, “And you think another man wouldn’t suffer the same fate?”

He hesitated.

I pressed on.

“Any noble you marry will want my crown. My power. My future.” I tapped the table lightly. “Your son wants me. The nobles around us…will devour this empire and as a responsible future ruler…I want a man who stands strong beside me, is not influenced by any noble, and…I will protect my man with everything I have.”

Luke clenched his jaw.

“That,” he said, “is exactly what terrifies me. What if…haldor falls in danger, your highness? I have found my son after so long…and I am letting him sacrifice for any empress.”

I studied him for a long moment.

Then I said, evenly, “General… I am not asking your permission because I am weak.”

He looked at me.

“I am asking,” I continued, “because I respect that you are his father.”

Luke stared at me.

Long.

Hard.

Then he exhaled through his nose and muttered, “…Gods help us all, but still…no matter how much my son is good for being a crown prince… I still do not want him to marry you. I am not ready to lose my son to any tyrant empress.”

I stared at him coldly and he stood up bowing. “That’s all, your highness; I shall leave.”

I watched him go and sighed, looking at the sky. “Gosh…looks like this is going to be tough.”