Too Lazy to be a Villainess Chapter 249: Bridges and Barriers

[Lavinia’s POV — Emperor’s Office—Continuation]

Papa finally released from his embrace, though his hand lingered on my shoulder as if reluctant to let go. His gaze was still sharp, searching, like he could see through my skin to the ache buried in my chest.

"Now," he said, his voice steady, slipping back into that commanding tone. "Why have you co to ? Did sothing happen?"

I forced myself to breathe, to push Osric’s pained face from my mind. Not now. I had to keep moving forward.

"I ca to speak of the dam," I said, laying the parchnts carefully onto Papa’s desk, smoothing the edges with deliberate calm.

He furrowed his brows. "The dam?"

I nodded. "Yes. The villagers have requested repairs. It’s only a faint crack for now, but with the rainy season approaching... if the heavens open with a heavy downpour, the whole structure could burst. And if that happens, Papa—an entire village will drown."

Papa’s expression tightened, though not with fear. No, his gaze was sharp and calculating. He stepped closer, taking the parchnt into his own hands, his eyes scanning the lines as though they were enemy strategies.

"Hmm," he murmured. "But such matters fall under the nobles’ jurisdiction. I can summon Regis. He will send n to—"

"No, Papa."

The words left my lips more firmly than I intended, cutting through his command like a blade.

His brows furrowed deeper. "...No?"

I lifted my chin, eting his gaze without wavering. "I would like to handle this matter myself."

"And why," his tone sharpened, slow and deliberate, "would you trouble yourself with sothing so small as a cracked dam?"

I slid the ledger closer, flipping to the pages that had kept awake the last two nights. "Because this isn’t rely a villager’s complaint. Look—here."

My fingertip traced the crooked rows of numbers. "The expenses don’t match the repairs. Coin is missing, shipnts of supplies have been recorded that never arrived, and the counts... the counts are wrong. Too many hands are dipping where they shouldn’t."

Papa’s eyes narrowed. "So you suspect corruption? A nobleman, perhaps a village head?"

"Yes," I admitted, then hesitated, my voice lowering as my finger stilled on one figure inked darker than the rest. "But I think it’s more than that. Sothing is being hidden here, Papa. Sothing beyond missing coin."

The silence stretched.

Finally, Ravick stepped forward, folding his arms across his chest, his deep voice laced with doubt. "With all respect, Princess... what could a re dam be hiding? It is stone and water, nothing more. A crack is a crack."

I turned to Ravick, eting his skepticism with a spark in my eyes. "No, Ravick. You’re missing the point."

I leaned over the desk, pointing to the ledgers and parchnts spread out before us. "Look here," I said, tapping the entries one by one. "These coins, these supplies... they weren’t used for the dam. They were sent sowhere else. Only a few words scribbled in the notes, almost hidden, but the aning is clear."

I paused, letting my fingers hover over the faint ink. "A dam built just two years ago develops a crack this early? And the villagers have been complaining for eight months already... yet no one acted properly. That tells us their focus... wasn’t on building this dam. They were busy elsewhere."

Papa cut in, his voice low, asured. "...Sowhere else."

"Exactly," I said, nodding emphatically. "And because this is a villagers’ developnt project, no big official is directly involved. It’s easy to hide, easy to misdirect... and easy to cover up corruption."

Papa studied for a mont, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he were amused and impressed at the sa ti. "Hmm... alright, then. You may take over this case if you wish."

I bead, the corners of my mouth stretching into a wide grin. "Thank you so much, Papa!"

He smiled back at , eyes softening, and said gently, "But... you’re not allowed to wander outside the palace without proper security."

I lifted a hand toward Sir Haldor, standing silently nearby, his expression stoic as ever. "Don’t worry, Papa. I have Sir Haldor with . And I will also take so knights along. An entire knight squad if you like," I added with a cheeky grin. "But I will handle this myself."

Ravick raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. "But... why Sir Haldor, Princess? You have Lord Osric. Why not him?"

I flinched slightly, my fingers tightening around a parchnt. "...I... I gave him a leave. For so days."

Papa’s brows furrowed, as did Ravick’s. "But... why, Princess?" Ravick asked again, skepticism lacing his voice.

I smiled faintly, the warmth in my eyes softening the sharp edge of my words. "Well... he’s never taken a leave since his oath. Not a single one. I think he deserves it. At least for a few days, I can ease a little burden from him."

Papa’s expression softened, and he reached out, patting my head gently. "He works for you, Lavinia. Always has. You may make any decision regarding him."

I nodded, my chest swelling with a strange mixture of pride and affection.

"If you need anything," Papa added, voice steady and commanding again, "co to . I will help you in any way you need."

I smiled, feeling the bond between us tighten. "Yes, Papa. Thank you... truly."

I turned my heels away, saying, "Alright, papa...see you at lunchti."

He smiled, saying, "Yes."

***

[Hallway—Outside Emperor’s Office—Continuation]

THUD!!!

The doors closed behind , echoing through the hallway as I stretched my arms above my head, letting out a soft sigh.

"Alright... let’s head to the library," I murmured, feeling the weight of the docunts in my hands. Sir Haldor, Marshi, and Solena followed obediently, moving in their usual silent, graceful ways.

Then I froze mid-step. My eyes caught a figure near the window—Osric. He stood there, shoulders squared, yet sothing about him... sothing in the way he lingered... made my heart hitch.

"Why... why is he still here?" I muttered under my breath, a flicker of unease crawling up my spine.

That’s when his gaze found mine.

In a single motion, Osric crossed the room, closing the distance I had tried so carefully to maintain. And before I could even react, he pulled into a hug—tight, desperate, as if trying to erase the days I had pushed him away.

Solena, clearly unimpressed with this display, fluttered from my shoulder to perch on Marshi’s back.

Sir Haldor, standing stoically beside us, didn’t flinch, though his mutter was audible, dry as ever: "I think... this is the wrong place to be hugging soone..."

But then he looked closer, noticing the raw emotion in Osric’s grip—the fear, the longing, and the unspoken apology. Sir Haldor’s eyes softened, and with a resigned shrug he continued muttering under his breath, "...well... never mind, I suppose."

I felt my chest tighten under Osric’s hold. The hug wasn’t just warmth—it was a silent plea, a bridge across the distance I had built between us. And yet, even pressed against him, I could feel the walls he tried to push through, the hesitation he masked behind determination.

"Osric..." I whispered, my voice barely audible, almost lost under the steady thrum of his heartbeat against my cheek. "You... you shouldn’t—"

"Just... let , Lavi... please..." His voice was low, almost desperate, and there was no room for argunt.

I couldn’t find the words to stop him. I surrendered, letting him hold , the warmth of his body pressing the distance I had so carefully built against the wall of my chest.

"You shouldn’t hug here... Papa might... he might actually kill you for real," I muttered, half in warning, half in nervous jest.

His arms tightened ever so slightly, and his voice dropped to a whisper that shivered along my skin. "I don’t care, Lavi... I’m not scared. Not of him... not of anyone. I’m ready to fight—even with the Emperor—if it ans I don’t lose you. Just... just don’t make this distance between us grow any bigger."

I flinched slightly at the rawness in his words, and my hands twitched, wanting to push, to comfort, and to stop him all at once. "The distance... it’s only for the ti being—"

He cut off, firm but trembling, brushing his thumb gently across my cheek, his gaze locking onto mine with a terrifying intensity. "Not even for the ti being... I won’t let you be away from . No matter what."

I froze, staring into his eyes, and for the first ti... I saw it. The fear. The trembling shadow lurking behind his calm, composed facade. His fear wasn’t for himself—it was for .

Is it because he knows? Knows that no matter what, I will find my way to the Divine Library... that I will uncover what he’s trying so desperately to hide?

And yet... there’s sothing more. Sothing sharper, deeper. I feel it coil around my heart, heavy and insistent: the distance I created, even if temporary, is already carving a mark. A scar. One I’m not sure will ever fully fade.

I swallowed, caught in the silence that wrapped around us like a living thing. My chest ached, my thoughts tangled between duty, truth, and this fragile thread of closeness we shared.

Why... Osric... why are you so scared?

And why... do I feel that the distance I built—no matter the reason—might leave a wound in that will never truly heal?