Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 229

Chapter 229: Mercy in My Hands

[Imperial Palace—Afternoon—Lavinia’s POV — Office— Weeks later]

The sun filtered lazily through the tall windows, painting golden streaks across parchment and ink. My study smelled faintly of roses from the garden, but the towering stacks of reports and scrolls in front of me destroyed any sense of peace.

I tapped my quill against the desk, glaring at the same sentence for the third time. My cheek was pressed against my palm, lips pursed. If staring hard enough could erase paperwork, I would have been free by now.

"Rey..." I sighed, voice dragging. "Did you look over the Marquess’s shipments yet?"

From across the room, Rey peeked over his mountain of documents, eyes rimmed with annoyance. "Princess, don’t you think you’re being a bit cruel? You already buried me alive with guild reports, letters, and contracts—and now you want me to babysit that old traitor’s shipment logs? Do you hate me, or are you just that cruel?"

I narrowed my eyes, shoving a sheet of parchment in his direction. "Do you think I’m free? I don’t have time to roll around in roses while you nap. And what intel have you actually given me lately, hm? Other than telling me that Caelum was the hidden emperor!"

Rey gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as if I’d stabbed him. "Such an ungrateful princess! Doesn’t even recognize my efforts. The empire is doomed. Doomed, I tell you—"

My quill flew from my fingers and landed squarely against his forehead. "Shut up, before I kill you with a quill!"

Before he could retaliate with more theatrics, a knock came at the door.

And then—Osric stepped inside.

"Lavi..." His voice was steady, but there was a warmth in his eyes that made my lips curve despite the paperwork battlefield around me.

I straightened in my chair, energy surging back into my veins. "Hi there... my handsome beloved man. Did you miss me?"

Rey let out the world’s loudest scoff. "Wow. So the Crown Princess actually knows how to love someone. Incredible. Should I write this down in the history books?"

I shot him a death glare. "Shut your mouth before I invent new work just for you."

Osric’s lips twitched into the faintest smirk. He stepped closer, his posture composed, but his eyes never left mine.

"What is it?" I asked, leaning forward. "Did you miss me so much that you ditched your Grand Duke duties just to sneak here early?"

He coughed into his hand, avoiding the bait. "Yes, I missed you but also I have some information. There’s a report... from Aldric."

My smile faded. "What kind of report?"

"There’s movement among the nobles again," Osric said, his voice low.

My brows furrowed. "Movement?"

"Yesterday, a gathering was held at Count Sigurd’s estate. From the outside, it looked like a simple tea party..." He paused, eyes sharp. "But every influential noble was there. Every single one. That doesn’t sound like a casual tea party to me."

The room grew heavier. Even Rey stopped his whining.

He leaned forward slightly. "Do you want me to investigate, Princess?"

"Yes." My tone left no room for doubt. "An immediate meeting of nobles, right after the Marquess and Caelum were thrown into the dungeon... there’s no way this is coincidence. Find out everything—who attended, what they discussed, what they’re planning."

Rey nodded, his playful smirk replaced by something colder.

Then Osric’s eyes softened, but his words cut deep. "Has Caelum confessed anything?"

I sighed, rubbing at my temples. "No. Not a word. And we haven’t found a single ledger that can bring down Everett House. No corruption, no bribes, nothing. Everything is so clean it’s almost suspicious—like they erased their sins long before we ever searched."

Rey raised an eyebrow. "Then what’s next?"

I met his gaze, sharp as glass. "Find out if the Everett family has properties beyond what’s registered. Hidden estates, distant islands, secret trade routes—anything. Even the smallest scrap of evidence."

Rey inclined his head, more serious than usual. "Consider it done, Princess."

I nodded, pushing back my chair and standing. "Good. Let’s go."

Both Rey and Osric looked up at me, a silent question hanging between them. Osric was the first to voice it. "Go? Where exactly?"

I strode to the door, skirts brushing against the polished floor. "It’s time to... visit our old mate."

As the door swung open, Sera appeared, balancing a tray of tea and cakes, her expression bright. "Oh, Princess! I was just bringing you some refreshments."

***

[Imperial Palace—Dungeon—Later]

Pale. Weak. His body a canvas of lashes and bruises, his breath shallow, every movement strained. Once a proud wolf — now nothing more than a dying worm squirming in its own filth.

Before him sat his "meal": a crust of bread blotched with fungus and a cup of water so murky it looked dredged from a swamp.

"I heard you weren’t eating..." I let my voice trail lazily as I lifted a macaron from the plate beside me, biting into its delicate sweetness. I chewed, savoring it, before continuing, "...so I thought I’d come to check for myself." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

His head turned, trembling with the effort, and his eyes met mine and then the refreshment cart filled with pastries and macaroons.

He gave a ragged scoff. "Are you... mocking me, Princess?"

I took another sip of tea, calm as still water. "Mock you? Why would I waste my time mocking a man who has nothing left for me to mock?"

His jaw twitched and then—with what little strength he had—he kicked forward, sending the bread skidding across the filthy stones, the cup spilling its brown water into the dirt.

"I can’t believe you," he spat, voice hoarse. "You actually expect me to eat that?"

I glanced at the ruined bread and puddle, sighing softly as though I’d just watched a servant drop fine china. "Oh my... such a waste."

I handed my cup back to Sera with a faint clink, then rose from my chair. My heels echoed as I crossed the short distance to him, the air tightening with each step.

"You shouldn’t waste food, Caelum," I said, crouching slightly. My voice was light, almost playful, but beneath it was iron. "In this place, it is an insult. To me. To those who would kill for even scraps."

I stooped, picked up the soggy bread with my gloved hand, and inspected it as though it were a curious specimen. "What’s wrong with this? Just a little fungus... well, perhaps more than a little..." I gave a faint chuckle, eyes narrowing. "...but still food, nonetheless."

His jaw tightened. Then I closed the distance between us and gripped his chin, forcing his face upward, my glove pressing against the bruises along his jawline. He tried to wrench free, but he was far too weak.

"Eat," I commanded softly, before shoving the foul bread between his teeth. His gagging made Osric shift behind me, but I didn’t falter.

"This—" I pressed the bread deeper as he struggled, my gaze locked on his, cold and merciless. "—is all you get in my dungeon. And you will eat it, Caelum. Because here... you are nothing more than what I choose to let you be."

I leaned closer, my voice a whisper meant only for him.

"So swallow it. Swallow your pride. Swallow your filth. Because as long as you’re in my hands, even fungus is mercy."