Too Lazy to be a Villainess - Chapter 378

Chapter 378: After the Announcement
[Lavinia’s POV — Imperial Palace—Late Night, After the Announcement]

The palace finally slept.

Not truly—this place never did—but the roar of celebration had faded into distant echoes, laughter dissolving into soft music and murmured congratulations. Torches burned lower. Footsteps thinned. Even the nobles, drunk on wine and scandal, had retreated to their chambers to gossip themselves hoarse.

And for the first time since tonight began, I was alone.

I stood by the tall window of my chamber, fingers resting lightly against the glass, watching the moon hang low over the gardens. Silver light spilled across the paths where tomorrow’s rumors would walk freely.

Crown Princess. Soon-to-be Empress. And now—betrothed.

The word still felt unreal.

A soft knock broke the quiet.

“Enter,” I said.

The door opened just enough for Haldor to slip inside, careful, respectful—still so very him. He’d changed from formal attire into simpler clothes, dark and clean, the kind he wore when he wanted to disappear into the role of a soldier rather than stand out as the man the empire now stared at.

“You should be resting,” I said without turning.

“I know,” he replied softly. “But I wanted to see you.”

I smiled.

I turned, and there he was—standing awkwardly near the door like he didn’t quite believe he was allowed to be here.

“You survived my father,” I said lightly. “That alone deserves recognition.”

He let out a breathy laugh. “Barely. I’m fairly certain he memorized at least twelve different ways to execute me.”

“Only twelve?” I raised a brow. “That means he likes you.”

He smiled then—small, warm, real.

I crossed the room and stopped in front of him. Up close, I could see the tension finally leaving his shoulders. The night had taken its toll on both of us.

“You did well today,” I said quietly.

“So did you,” he replied. “You always do.”

There was a pause.

Not awkward.

Heavy.

Important.

“Are you afraid?” he asked suddenly.

I studied him for a long moment.

“No… just worried,” I admitted quietly. “About the empire. The nobles. About what comes next. Too many things are shifting around them, Haldor. I’m afraid it will reach us. Our future.”

He didn’t answer at once.

Instead, he stepped closer—so close the air between us thinned. His hands found mine, firm and steady, grounding. Then he lifted them, reverently, pressing them against his cheeks. His lips brushed my skin, warm and lingering.

“Then…” he murmured, voice low and resolute, “let us protect our future, Your Highness.”

Another kiss, softer this time.

“Let us protect it in such a way,” he continued, “that the generations after us—our children—will never have to endure what we do.”

I blinked. Once. Then again.

“…Why are you calling me Your Highness?”

He froze. Truly froze.

“Pardon?” he stammered. “Then—what should I—?”

“Call me Lavi,” I said simply.

The color drained from his face, only to rush back twice as fast.

“N-No,” he protested, flustered. “Your Highness, I cannot—I—”

“You are my husband,” I cut in calmly. “And I hate it when my husband calls me Your Highness.”

He blushed so hard it was almost impressive. “I am not yet your husband…”

“You will be in two weeks,” I said, tilting my head. “So call me Lavi.”

He looked away, lips parting as if the word itself weighed too much, “La… la… laa…”

I leaned in, deliberately slow. “What was that? I can’t hear you.”

He swallowed. Hard.

“Lavi…” he said at last—quiet, hesitant, precious.

Though I heard it perfectly, I leaned even closer, my forehead brushing his cheek, my breath warming his skin.

“Say it again,” I whispered. “What did you call me?”

He turned his face away, utterly undone. “…Lavi.”

“What?”

“La…Lavi…”

“I still didn’t hear,” I teased.

He finally looked down at me, eyes dark, accusing and fond all at once. “Your Highness… you’re doing this deliberately.”

I gasped, placing a hand over my heart. “Are you blaming me, Haldor? Is that my fault that I have poor ears?”

“No—no!” he rushed. “I mean—I know you heard me calling you…” His voice dropped, rough and honest. “…Lavi.”

I chuckled faintly and wrapped my arms around him before he could escape, pressing myself against his warmth.

“But I didn’t hear it,” I murmured sweetly. “I want to hear my name from my husband’s lips. Is that wrong? Hmm? Come on… say it a little louder, dear husband.”

That was his undoing.

His face burned crimson as he sagged forward, forehead landing against my shoulder. “Y-You’re provoking me, Lavi…”

I smirked, threading my fingers through his hair, gentle and possessive. “There, there… I can’t believe the captain of the Imperial Knights blushes this easily.”

He slid his arms around my waist, holding me close, resting his weight against me as if surrendering.

“You’re really dangerous,” he muttered.

I chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to his temple.

“And you,” I whispered back, “are already mine.”

. . .

. . .

That’s right.He was already mine.

Wrapped in each other’s arms, something settled quietly inside my chest. I realized, with a strange sense of certainty, that I was freer here—more unguarded, more myself—than I had ever been anywhere else. With Haldor, there was no throne, no crown, no weight of empire pressing down on my spine.

Only warmth.Only him.

My hand moved through his hair in slow, absent strokes as the thought escaped me before I could stop it.

“I guess…” I murmured, almost shy, “…I really like you, Haldor.”

He froze. Slowly, he pulled back and looked at me—those wide blue eyes, startled and impossibly gentle.

“Lavi…” he breathed.

I smiled faintly, my thumb brushing his cheek. “I’m more comfortable around you. More free. More me. I … really… like you, Haldor.”

Before I could say another word, he sank down onto one knee.

“What—” I blinked. “I thought you were going to kiss me—”

But when he looked up at me, my breath caught. His eyes were too soft. Achingly so. And suddenly, I remembered the first time we had met—those same blue eyes hollow and distant, as if all the light had been drained from them. A dead ocean. No hope. No warmth. Just endless silence.

Now—Now that ocean was alive and warm.

Moonlight danced across his gaze like silver waves. Starlight flickered there, bright and trembling, full of life and promise. He bent forward and pressed his lips to my bare foot with reverence, as though it were a vow rather than a kiss.

“I love you so much, Lavi,” he said, voice unsteady but certain. “So much that you feel like a goddess in my life. A goddess who gave me my breath back… who pulled me from the depths when I was drowning.”

Our eyes met—crimson against blue.

But in that moment, I was lost entirely in his. It felt like he was pulling me deeper inside the ocean he owns and….I don’t mind getting pulled.

“Why…” I whispered, stroking his face, tracing the line of his jaw, “…are you so beautiful today, Haldor? Those eyes…those brows, those lips…they are so beautiful.”

A soft laugh escaped me. “I think I’d hate it if any woman but me came near you. It’ll piss me off and I might kill that woman.”

He blinked and leaned forward, resting his head gently in my lap, as if the world itself had finally grown quiet enough to rest.

“I am all yours, Lavi,” he said, eyes closing. “You don’t have to worry about other women coming towards me, because my soul, my heart and my body belong to you. Just you.”

I stared down at him for a long moment, heart full to the point it ached. Then I bent forward and kissed his hair, slow and tender.

“Yes,” I whispered, fingers threading through silver and moonlight. “You’re right. I have all rights on you. You’re all mine.”

Beneath the stars, with the empire pushed far beyond the windows and the future waiting in patient silence, it felt—as fairy tales often do—that this was the moment everything truly began.

“Do you want to sleep here tonight?” I asked quietly.

He shifted, nudging closer against my lap, utterly unguarded.”I don’t mind.”

I smiled, my hand moving through his hair again—slow, calming, familiar. And just like that, the empire had found its prince.

Some would already be whispering.Some would be spinning rumors into weapons.Some would be attempting to draw closer to General Luke, testing loyalties, and probing for weakness.

And somewhere, in the shadows, a far more malicious plan was surely taking shape.

Papa, Grandpa, and my brothers were likely already sulking, already worrying, and already planning.

But here—In this quiet room—It was only us.

Warmth.Love.And a faint, honest worry about tomorrow.

“After the marriage,” I said softly, “I’ll be busy. You know that, right?”

“Hm,” he murmured, completely at ease, resting his weight against me. “I don’t mind. I’ll be with you.”

My smile deepened. I kissed his hair once more, slow and certain. “Then… when we’re finally free—and after we deal with those idiotic nobles—let’s go to Meren Beach.”

He lifted his head to look at me, blue eyes calm, trusting, and devoted. “Yes. Whatever you want, Lavi.”

I chuckled, pressing my forehead briefly to his.

And just like that—As if fate itself had turned a page—The day of our marriage arrived.