Too Lazy to be a Villainess Chapter 399: The Night of Judgement

[Lavinia’s POV—Imperial Palace—Private Garden—The Next Day]

Sera poured the tea with careful hands, though her eyes kept drifting toward the woman seated across from .

Eleania.

Her posture was straight, but her gaze was lowered, as if she feared the garden itself might judge her. I studied her for a long mont before speaking.

"You can relax, Eleania."

She flinched slightly, then nodded. "I am... relaxed, Your Highness. I was only wondering why you wished to speak with privately."

Sera stepped back behind my chair as I lifted my teacup.

"I wished to have a conversation," I said calmly, "with the future Grand Duchess of Eloria."

Eleania’s fingers tightened around her cup.

I tilted my head. "Do you feel anger toward ?"

She shook her head quickly. "I would never dare, Your Highness. How could a re commoner hold anger toward the Crown Princess?"

A faint smile touched my lips.

"You are allowed to be angry," I said. "You are no longer a commoner. You are the next Grand Duchess; that truth will not change."

She finally lifted her eyes to .

"At first... I was angry," she admitted softly. "I thought I had lost my first love. I believed destiny had taken everything from ."

She hesitated. "But slowly, I realized my obsession blinded . I blad myself more than anyone else, but—"

I interrupted gently, "Destiny plays a greater ga than any of us, Eleania. Osric was always ant to walk beside you."

Then I added with a faint smile, "You may call him Osric in front of ."

Her lips curved into a fragile smile. "Thank you, Your Highness. And... I apologize for the troubles I once caused you."

I set my cup down. "You are forgiven."

She looked startled.

"I would like to build a bond with the future Grand Duchess of this empire," I continued. "Together, we can rule wisely. And this ti... I choose to place my trust in you."

Her eyes widened. "But why? I have done nothing to deserve it. I only caused you trouble in the past."

I leaned forward slightly, "If a person learns from their past and grows from it, then we judge them by who they are now—not who they once were."

My gaze softened but remained firm, "You have not yet proven yourself. But I believe you will not betray . Nor this empire."

Her voice trembled. "Thank you... for giving that chance. And congratulations on your marriage. Captain Haldor truly deserves to stand beside you."

I smiled, "Yes. But you must know... the nobles are stirring. They wish to destroy the Devereux line."

My eyes sharpened as I t hers.

"And they are using Haldor as their pawn, and I would never let that happen, so... I want your help."

She stiffened. "But Your Highness... I was cast aside by Count Talvan. How can I help you?"

I replied calmly, "...That is exactly why you can."

She stared at for a long second, then whispered, "Do you wish to know where Talvan hides his illegal ledgers?"

A slow smirk curved my lips. "You are sharper than I expected, Eleania."

She smiled faintly. "I will help you, even I have many debts to repay for that house."

I lifted my teacup again.

"Then I shall enjoy tea with you once every week," I said lightly. "It will be... refreshing."

She raised her cup at last. "As the next Grand Duchess, I swear loyalty to you."

Sera clapped softly. "Should I bring more macarons?"

I nodded. "Yes, Sera."

The sunlight filtered through the garden leaves as two won sat across from one another—not rivals, not enemies.

But allies.

"Osric is fortunate to have you," I said.

She smiled. "Lord Haldor is even more fortunate to have you."

And in that quiet garden, with tea and fragile trust between us, two important won of Eloria began preparing to bring down a wicked house.

***

[Haldor’s POV—Sa Ti—Hallway Window]

I stood by the tall window with Grand Duke Osric on one side and Rey on the other, all three of us silently watching the garden below.

Lavinia, Eleania, and Sera.

They sat together with teacups in hand... smiling far too calmly, far too wickedly.

Rey crossed his arms and shivered dramatically. "...Why do I suddenly feel like the empire is about to suffer?"

Osric chuckled softly. "It will, but for the first ti, Eleania is not alone. I am... relieved she has found soone to gossip freely with."

I tilted my head, eyes still on the garden, "For gossip... or for plotting the downfall of noble houses?"

Rey burst out laughing, "Obviously for plotting. My father always said, Won are more dangerous than any man alive, and he was damn right."

I snorted. "Your father sounds wise."

Osric smiled faintly, watching Eleania laugh for the first ti in days. "If our won are planning to stir chaos... perhaps we should make their work easier."

Rey shot him a look. "Oh? Is this courage coming from a man about to get married?"

"Planning to marry?" I asked.

Osric blinked, then coughed into his fist, "Yes, I... am planning to marry her after Her Highness takes the throne."

I smiled genuinely. "That sounds like good timing."

Rey’s face twisted in mock offense. "Wait—why is everyone getting married except ? My future father-in-law keeps glaring at like I’m a criminal."

I laughed. "That’s because you behave like one."

He placed a hand over his heart. "I am wounded. Deeply."

Osric shook his head with amusent. "You should consider yourself lucky. At least you are alive."

We all looked back down at the garden again. Below us, Lavinia leaned closer to Eleania, whispering sothing. Sera covered her mouth as if hiding laughter.

Rey narrowed his eyes, "They’re definitely planning sothing."

I folded my arms. "Sothing dangerous."

Osric exhaled slowly. "Sothing necessary."

A quiet understanding passed between us. Then I spoke, voice steady. "Shall we support them?"

Rey smirked. "Of course."

Osric nodded once. "Yes."

Three n standing above a garden... Watching three won reshape the fate of the empire with tea and trust.

Rey stretched. "Well then, gentlen... let us prepare for chaos."

I smiled.

"Let us make sure it succeeds."

***

[Later—eting Room—Lavinia’s POV]

The round table was heavy with presence.

Haldor stood at my right. Papa sat at the head, one hand resting on Marshi’s fur. General Luke and Ravick flanked him like living walls. Rey leaned casually against a pillar, eyes sharp despite his lazy posture. Osric, Sera, Eleania, Zerith, and Theon ford the circle.

No one spoke until Osric placed a thick parchnt bundle on the table.

"These are the noble houses," he said quietly, pushing it forward. "Gathered from spies, intercepted letters, and old ledgers recovered through... persuasion."

I unfolded the parchnt slowly.

Nas that smiled in court and sharp crests, bloodlines, and old power.

"...They have allied themselves with House Talvan," Osric continued, "either through money, marriage promises, or foreign backing. Their goal is simple—the fall of the throne."

Silence pressed in.

Papa scoffed. "Ambitious rats."

I did not speak imdiately. I traced a finger over the nas.

"They are not united," I finally said. "That is their weakness."

Rey looked up. "How?"

"So want power. So want revenge. So are simply afraid of change," I said calmly. "Talvan is not their leader—he is their banner."

I looked at Eleania."Remove the banner... and they scatter."

Eleania nodded. "Talvan keeps records. Ledgers. Nas. Paynts. He trusts paper more than people."

Ravick smiled thinly. "Then we expose the paper."

Theon stepped forward, frowning, "But how? We don’t know where he hides those ledgers."

"I do," Eleania said suddenly.

All eyes turned to her.

I straightened, intrigued. "Speak."

She took a breath. "The previous Empress—His Majesty’s stepmother... Talvan’s sister. Everything is hidden behind her."

Osric’s brows knitted together. "Behind her?"

Sera tilted her head. "You an... behind a portrait?"

Eleania nodded. "Yes. In Talvan’s office, there is a large fra of his sister’s painting. Everyone believes it is placed there out of grief."

Her voice hardened, "But the fra is not for mory. It is a door."

Silence struck the room.

"A door to his corruption," she finished.

My lips curved slowly.

Then—SLAM.

My palm struck the table.

"Then we attack."

Haldor looked at sharply. "Right now?"

"Yes," I said without hesitation. "Right now—before those rats sense danger. Before they scatter into holes and pretend innocence."

My gaze swept across the room.

"I do not intend to play a foolish ga of cat and mouse," I continued coldly. "I intend to end every house that dared rise against ."

General Luke’s hand tightened around his sword hilt.

Papa’s eyes burned with approval, and I straightened, my voice carrying authority. "Tonight, we strike."

Ravick nodded. "Black Knights will move first."

"The Magic Tower will mask all movents," Rey added with a smirk. "No signal leaves the city."

Osric stepped forward. "My n will seize Talvan’s estate."

Zerith crossed his arms. "And the auction house?"

"I will handle the rest," I said. "Every noble house tied to treason will be searched. Every record seized. Every na dragged into the light."

They all bowed their heads.

Papa then looked at sharply. "Where is your pendant?"

I blinked. "Pendant?"

"The one your grandfather gave you."

I pulled it from beneath my collar—the green gem glowing faintly in the candlelight.

Papa nodded once. "Good."

Rey’s eyes glead. "The empire is about to expand."

I exhaled slowly and turned toward the doors.

"Enough talk," I said. "Let us clean the city."

One by one, they stood. Steel, magic, loyalty, and rage moved as one, and thus—the night of judgnt began.