Too Lazy to be a Villainess Chapter 72: From Giggles to Gasping

[Emperor Cassius’s Pov]

I leaned back in my chair with a sigh, letting the weight of my position settle over like a heavy cloak. Regis sat across from , his eyes fixed on with that all-too-familiar intensity. He couldn’t hide it; I knew exactly what he was after.

"Stop staring and speak up," I growled, my voice dripping with the kind of authority only an emperor could muster.

Regis leaned forward, an eager glint in his eyes, as if he was about to ask sothing of great importance. "Did you think about it?"

There it was, the ridiculous notion that had been swirling in his mind for days, slowly poisoning everything around him. The idea that he thought might be sohow acceptable. And yet, I allowed the silence to stretch, playing the ga, letting him believe I was unaware of his thoughts.

"What?" I asked, a single word laced with mock innocence.

Regis’s smile was far too wide, far too eager. "About our kids... getting engaged to each other."

I blinked, a slow, deliberate motion. Then cursed myself inwardly. I really should throw him in the dungeon for a year. Maybe two, just for his own good. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

Instead, I let a smirk curve my lips saying, "I did."

Regis’s eyes practically glowed with excitent. "Really?" he asked, barely able to contain himself.

I nodded, leaning back in my chair with a confidence that was second nature. "Yes. I thought... marriage is a very crucial and sensitive topic. And I cannot decide my daughter’s future without her permission."

The eagerness in his eyes was unmistakable, like a starving dog waiting for a bone. "Oh, well, we can just ask them, right?"

I couldn’t believe he was still going with this. A four-year-old child. I wasn’t about to entertain this nonsense.

"The princess is four," Theon interjected, his voice calm, rational—everything Regis was not. "I’m sure she doesn’t know much about marriage."

I smirked, leaning forward just a bit, my pride swelling. "That’s right. My daughter doesn’t know about marriage. In fact, she told just yesterday that she would marry ."

Regis blinked, looking utterly lost. "She said that?"

I nodded, my chest puffing out in absurd pride. "Yes, she did. And it’s quite clear that my daughter wishes to stay with forever. She has no intention of living without ."

Regis looked like he wanted to argue, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen to his ridiculous reasoning. I raised my hand to silence him before he could speak. "But I won’t disappoint you. Since you are loyal... and, perhaps, a friend by your own delusions, I will ask my daughter about it."

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Really?"

I nodded, leaning back once more, savoring the mont. "Yes. I’ll ask her when the ti is right."

Regis, like a dog being dangled its favorite treat, leaned forward, practically vibrating. "When will you ask her?"

I didn’t hesitate for even a second. "Maybe...at her coming-of-age ceremony."

For a mont, Regis just stared at , mouth agape, before he exploded. "WHAT?! But... but that’s too long!"

I stared at him, my patience wearing thin. "Then do you want to ask my four-year-old daughter about her marriage plans, Regis?"

He froze, instantly shrinking back as if struck. Good. He should understand his place. Regis sank back into the couch, defeated. "I knew... I knew you would decline my proposal."

A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Good. That ans you know ."

Regis muttered sothing under his breath, sothing about how he "really wanted our children to get married."

I didn’t bother replying. There was nothing to say. Let him stew in his disappointnt. I had far more important matters to attend to—matters that didn’t involve the foolish dreams of the Grand Duke.

Still, I couldn’t resist one final thought, my lips curling into an almost imperceptible smirk.

As expected... I’ll be the one to decide my daughter’s future. No one else gets a say in this, no matter how many ridiculous proposals they make.

***

[Lavinia’s Pov]

I sat by the window, my tiny feet dangling off the edge of the cushioned bench, staring out at the vast palace grounds. The birds flitted by, the wind made the trees sway, and everything just felt... so peaceful. But not in a good way.

Gosh... I sighed loudly, slumping over dramatically. I am so bored.

How was this possible? I was four. Four! And yet, here I was, bored out of my mind. There was so much I could be doing, so many things to explore, but instead, I had to sit in this nursery all day.

Boring. Boring. Boring.

Then there was a sudden sparkle in my eyes. I know what to do! I jumped up, pumping my tiny fists in the air.

"I’m going to et Papa!" I announced, filled with a new burst of energy.

I strutted toward the door, each step echoing across the marble floor. My tiny shoes went click click click, and in my mind, I was already halfway to Papa’s arms, being lifted up high and smothered in love.

But just as my hand reached the door handle, a large figure appeared in front of like a boss at the end of a level.

"No, Princess, you cannot."

It was Ravick.

I blinked up at him. "Huh?"

What was his problem?

I tilted my head, asking, "Why not?"

Ravick stood there like a castle gate with legs. "His Majesty is busy with sothing important, Princess. I suggest you wait for him."

Busy?

Hmm... suspicious.

Papa was always busy. He was the emperor, after all. But no matter how busy he was, he always made ti for .

Before I could launch into an epic debate about parental priorities, Nanny swooped in behind with her usual I’m-about-to-lie-to-you smile.

She patted my head and said, "Princess, why don’t you read so books?"

Books?

I blinked.

I squinted at her like a tiny detective. "Nanny... I haven’t even started my studies yet. And let’s be real, I don’t plan to for a very long ti."

She flinched like I’d just slapped her with a hardcover. "W-Well," she stamred, "you could... You could look at pictures!"

Now I narrowed my eyes. Okay. This is weird.

Why were they so desperate to keep here? What was going on? Were they hiding sothing? Was Papa okay? Was the palace being attacked by giant frogs?! (Probably not, but still.)

I was a princess, not a porcelain doll. I needed adventure! Excitent! At the very least, I needed Papa!

I planted my hands on my hips and gave them my fiercest glare—the kind that could shatter glass (or at least crack so nerves).

Then an idea hit . A brilliant, wonderful, genius idea.

I grinned like a villain in a bedti story.

"LOOK, IT’S A UFO!" I shouted, pointing dramatically at the ceiling, as if the very air was filled with otherworldly objects.

Of course, it was a completely empty ceiling, but my audience—Ravick, Nanny, Marella, and the rest of the servants—looked up at the ceiling as if they had just spotted a flying saucer. Every single one of them. I was totally winning.

I an, honestly, what would a UFO even do in a nursery? Kidnap for being too cute?

Without missing a beat, I bolted.

"SORRY NANNY, BUT I AM GOING TO SEE PAPA!" I shrieked gleefully, dashing out the door with the speed of a squirrel who just stole a cookie.

Behind , chaos erupted.

"Princess, no!""Wait, co back!""It’s dangerous!"

Too late. The great escape had begun.

I zood down the hallway, my tiny feet slapping against the floor, my giggles echoing like triumphant music. This was the excitent I needed! A chase! A rebellion! An act of pure toddler defiance!

As I rounded the corner, I grinned to myself, feeling unstoppable.

Gosh, being a princess is way too easy when you’re as clever as .

I dashed straight toward Papa’s office, already imagining him dropping everything just to scoop into a hug. But when I reached the door, it was... empty.

Weird.

Just then, I saw a group of knights sprinting down the corridor—toward the throne room. My steps slowed.

They looked... tense. No, scared.

And they weren’t alone. Several nobles I didn’t recognize were hurrying behind them, whispering urgently to one another.

I tilted my head. Did sothing happen?

Curiosity burning in my chest, I tiptoed after them, my earlier giggles now replaced by quiet breaths.

When I reached the throne room, I peeked out from behind a tall pillar.

And then I froze.

My eyes went wide. My heart dropped.

Papa’s hands were drenched in blood.

Blood that dripped onto the marble floor like sothing from a nightmare.

My lips trembled. My breath caught. "Papa... is he... Is he injured?"

I wanted to run to him, but my feet wouldn’t move. I was frozen, my heart too loud, my thoughts too quiet.