Too Lazy to be a Villainess - Chapter 381

Chapter 381: Wait… I’m Married?
[Lavinia’s Pov—Imperial Palace— Continuation]

I… am married.

No, let me repeat that properly.

I. Am. Married.

I blinked once. Twice. Then stared at my own hands like they might explain themselves.

When did this happen?

Yesterday, I was a child rolling across Papa’s bed, stealing his ink pens, and watching executions like they were street performances. Yesterday, I was arguing with nobles and threatening people twice my age with a smile.

And today—Today, I kissed a man in front of the entire empire and signed my life away with a ring.

A ring.

I lifted my hand again.

Still there.

Very shiny. Very real. Extremely married.

“How,” I muttered internally, “did I go from ‘being single’ to ‘this one is legally mine’ in such a short span of time?”

Haldor walked beside me, tall, calm, and knightly, pretending like he hadn’t just been assaulted by a princess in public.

My husband.

Oh gods…he is my husband now.

I glanced up at him.

He looked… fine.

Too fine. Like this was a normal day and not the moment my entire identity quietly rearranged itself.

I leaned closer and whispered, “Do you feel different?”

He hesitated. “…Should I?”

“That’s not reassuring.”

He coughed into his fist. “I feel… honored and…trembling from inside.”

I stared at him and nodded satisfyingly. “Yes, that’s the expression I want, because I feel like I accidentally skipped several life stages.”

Married women were supposed to be composed. Elegant. Mature. I had threatened my Papa five minutes ago to not glare at haldor.

“I was literally a kid yesterday,” I whispered dramatically. “How am I someone’s wife now?”

Haldor smiled down at me—soft, fond, and dangerously warm. “You were never just a kid.”

I scowled. “Liar. I bit people.”

His smile widened. “You bit important people.”

I sighed.

The bells rang again somewhere behind us, loud and celebratory, as if mocking my internal crisis. I looked forward. The nobles bowed. The court whispered. The empire watched. And suddenly, it hit me—not with fear, but with something far stranger.

Excitement.

Warmth.

A strange, fluttering sense of this is mine and I chose it.

I squeezed Haldor’s hand.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “I’m married.”

He squeezed back. “Yes.”

I took a deep breath. “…This is actually kind of nice.”

He smiled faintly, cheeks turning the softest shade of pink, and just like that—between chaos and crowns—I understood something important.

I didn’t become a wife today.

I simply became myself…with a few more sparkles added to my life.

As we stepped forward, I drifted closer to Papa. I didn’t even look at him before he spoke—because of course he did.

“I am telling you this again,” he said darkly, voice low and lethal, “if he ever—”

“Yes, yes, Papa,” I cut in smoothly, waving a dismissive hand. “I know. You’ll execute him in a thousand different ways. Slowly. Creatively.”

He nodded, entirely satisfied. “Good. We understand each other.”

I smiled, sweet and unbothered. “But trust me,” I added, turning to face him fully. “Haldor will never cause me trouble. That’s the first reason I chose him.”

I tilted my head. “So… can you trust your daughter’s judgment?”

Papa stared at me.

Long. Hard. As if searching for the little girl who once curled into his arms—and finding instead a woman who carried his blood far too well.

He pouted.

Actually pouted.

Then scoffed. “Fine. I suppose I have no choice but to say it.”

He glanced at Haldor with open reluctance. “…He is my son-in-law.”

I chuckled and hugged him without warning. For a second, his arms came around me automatically—protective, familiar, home.

It should have been a perfect ending.

But then—I looked past him. Into the crowd.

The Talvans were there.

Smiling.

Watching.

Their expressions were too pleasant. Too attentive. Their eyes lingered—not on Haldor, not even on Papa—but on me. Measuring. Calculating. Hungry.

Ah.

So that was how it was going to be.

My smile didn’t fade.

If anything, it sharpened.

I leaned slightly into Haldor, fingers tightening around his hand—not for comfort, but for certainty.

I see you, I thought calmly. And you should be afraid.

Because I wasn’t just a bride today.

I was still Papa’s daughter.Still the empire’s crown.Still the tyrant’s blood—warmed by love, yes… but sharpened by instinct.

I turned my gaze forward again, serene, radiant, married—and already planning.

It’s time we deal with the Talvans, I decided quietly. Before they mistake my happiness for weakness.

After all—I didn’t lose myself today.

I became myself.

And the empire would soon remember exactly what that meant.

***

[Lavinia’s Chamber—Dawnspire Wing—Later]

Sera helped me remove the last of the jewelry, her hands fluttering with barely contained excitement.

“I can’t believe you’re married, Your Highness,” she said for the fifth time, eyes shining as she unclasped a necklace that had probably survived three dynasties.

I smiled at my reflection. “I can’t believe it either, Yet… here I am. Very legally married.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “The palace is in chaos. Nanny was in tears the entire ceremony. I had to physically stop her from running to the altar.”

I chuckled softly. “Yes… she gave Haldor far too many blessings. And a very long lecture.”

Sera grinned. “I heard it.”

I imitated Nanny’s dramatic tone perfectly. “‘I know she is difficult,'” I said solemnly, “‘but you seem strong enough to survive her.'”

Sera burst out laughing. “She said survive?”

“She meant it affectionately,” I replied, deadpan.

Sera wiped her eyes. “And your brothers—oh gods. Lord Thalein cried first, then your brother followed, and then they both pretended it was dust.”

I sighed theatrically. “I suppose the drama really is in my blood.”

She nodded gravely. “Inherited. Entirely.”

Just then—The door creaked open.

Slowly.

Suspiciously.

I turned.

Sera turned.

And there he stood.

Haldor.

Frozen halfway into the room like he had accidentally walked into enemy territory. His posture was straight, his hands awkward at his sides, and his cheeks flushed dangerously pink.

. . .

. . .

Oh…This was entertaining.

Sera blinked once. Twice.

Then coughed.

“Ahem. Well. I suppose,” she said far too casually, “His Highness, Lord Haldor, will… assist you with removing the rest of your jewelry.”

Haldor stiffened. “I—what?”

Sera bowed quickly. “Congratulations again. I shall take my leave.”

And with that—She fled.

Actually fled.

The doors to my chamber closed with a quiet click. And suddenly—It was silent.

No bells.No nobles.No empire holding its breath.

Just… us.

I turned first.

Haldor was still standing near the door, straight-backed like he was on guard duty, hands awkwardly clasped behind him, eyes very carefully not looking at me.

My husband.

Oh gods.

I watched him for a full five seconds before speaking.

“…You can come in,” I said, amused. “This is your room too now.”

He flinched.

Actually flinched.

“I—yes,” he said quickly, then stopped, frowned, and added, “…I mean—if you’re comfortable with that.”

I laughed softly and moved closer. “Haldor.”

“Yes?” He answered immediately. Too immediately.

“You’re allowed to breathe.”

He exhaled. Loudly. Like he’d been holding it since the ceremony.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “I just—this feels… unreal.”

I tilted my head. “Unreal how?”

He glanced at me then, just briefly—and immediately looked away again, ears turning red.

“I walked into your chamber,” he said quietly, “as your knight this morning.”

He swallowed. “And now I’m here as your husband.”

That… did something to my chest. I stepped closer, slow enough not to spook him. “Is that frightening?”

“Yes,” he said honestly.

Then, softer, “But not in a bad way.”

I smiled.

He took another step in, then another, like each one required permission from fate itself. His gaze flickered over the room once before settling—hesitantly—on me.

“You look…” he paused, searching, “…different.”

I raised a brow. “Good different or ‘I offended the empire’ different?”

“Good,” he said quickly. “Very good. Just… softer.”

I hummed. “That’s what happens when I’m not threatening someone.”

He smiled at that—small, fond—and finally, finally looked at me properly.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “As your husband, I mean.”

I stepped close enough that I could hear his heartbeat.

“Easy,” I said gently. “Start by not saluting me.”

His mouth twitched. “…That’s going to take effort.”

I laughed and reached for his hands. He froze when I touched him, eyes widening like this was a battlefield and he’d lost all strategy.

“Haldor,” I said softly, squeezing his fingers, “you’re not on duty.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “Right now, you’re just my husband. And I’m just your wife.”

His cheeks flushed again.

“…Your wife,” he repeated, as if testing the words.

“Yes.”

Something eased in his shoulders then. Slowly. Cautiously. He stepped closer—hesitant, reverent—and rested his forehead against mine, not kissing, just there.

“I’ll try my best,” he murmured.

I smiled, closing my eyes. “I know you will.”

And in that quiet chamber, without witnesses or crowns, I realized—This was the part of marriage I liked the most.

The shy smiles.The awkward pauses.The way love learned how to exist without armor.

I had married my captain.

But tonight—

I was keeping a man.