Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 311

Chapter 311: A Flag in the Wind

[Lavinia’s POV — March to the Black Wall — Dawn]

The first light of dawn crawled across the horizon like a blade cutting open the sky.

Hooves thundered beneath us. Armor rattled. Banners snapped in the cold morning wind as the Elorian army surged forward in disciplined waves. The forest swallowed our columns, torch after torch extinguished as sunlight broke through the trees in fractured gold.

Ahead of me, the Black Wall rose like a scar across the horizon.

A fortress carved into the edge of the Frostplain cliffs—jagged, towering, impossible to mistake. Even from miles away, it radiated the kind of silence that promised violence.

"Your Highness," General Arwin called from beside me, his horse keeping pace with mine. "Scouts report no movement yet. No Meren banners. No activity on the battlements."

"Which means they’re watching," I replied. "Just hidden."

Sir Haldor rode on my right, quiet but alert, his hand never leaving the hilt of his blade. Osric on my left, Solena perched on his arm, scanning the skies with sharp, knowing eyes.

The air felt thick—not with fear, but with the weight of something inevitable.

We were close.

Too close for Meren to pretend to sleep now. A messenger galloped ahead, breathless. "Your Highness! Sighting ahead—five hundred meters—"

His words cut off as—

SWOOSH—!!

An arrow whistled past his ear and buried itself deep into a tree trunk.

Another.

Then another.

Then an entire storm.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Arrows descended from the sky like rain, sharpened to kill.

"SHIELDS UP!!" I shouted, raising my arm.

In a heartbeat, rows of shields flew upward, snapping into locked formations. The air filled with the sound of THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! as arrows hammered against steel.

A few pierced through gaps. A soldier grunted beside me, another cursed, and Marshi growled low, his fur puffing out like flame.

"Haldor!" I called.

"Already on it."

He kicked his horse forward, his sword slicing an arrow out of the air with terrifying ease.

Osric pulled his mount closer to mine. "It’s them. The Meren snipers. They’ve seen us."

"No..." I narrowed my eyes at the cliffs. "They’ve been waiting."

And then—CLANG—!!!

Something heavy hit the ground ahead.

A spear. Black-tipped. Twice the length of a man. It had been thrown. Thrown from the top of the Black Wall.

A low hush fell over the front ranks.

General Arwin exhaled sharply. "Monsters. They’re using their cliff warriors."

"Good," I said, calmly drawing my sword. "Then we make our entrance."

Osric glanced at me sharply. "Lavi—"

I smirked. "What? Should I knock politely?"

His jaw clenched. He knew better than to argue now. I lifted my sword skyward.

"EVERYONE—SPREAD OUT! MOVE ACCORDING TO THE PLAN!"

The command cracked across the battlefield like lightning. In an instant— Haldor and the Iron Battalion peeled toward the western gate, shields raised.

General Arwin led the eastern flank, siege-breakers rolling behind him.

Osric surged toward the southern entrance, Solena exploding upward in a storm of feathers and light.

And I—I rode straight toward the north main gate.

"Let’s go, Marshi."

ROAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR—!!!!!

The roar shook the earth. The divine seal on his body flickered awake—golden markings igniting across his fur like living fire.

Arrows rained down from the top of the Black Wall.

Hundreds. Thousands. They smashed against our shields. Ricocheted off armor. Buried into the earth like black rain.

We moved anyway.

Step by step.

Sword by sword.

*CLANG!!

My blade caught an enemy spear, pushed it aside, and sliced clean through his chestplate. Another soldier lunged. Marshi leapt—snarling, divine energy rippling across the battlefield—and crushed him with a single sweep of his paw.

Blood splattered the stones.

He was a beast made for war. And he made sure everyone saw it. But the arrows— The endless, merciless arrows— My soldiers shielded me, but even the strongest formation couldn’t withstand this forever.

Men were falling.A few at a time.Then more.

"They’re shooting from above!" one shouted.

"No opening—!"

"They’ll kill us before we reach the gate—!"

I looked up through the chaos. The archers weren’t on the battlements. They were higher. Hidden in the cliff towers carved into the stone itself—just like Arwin suspected.

A vantage point no ordinary soldier could reach fast enough.

"Someone needs to get up there," I muttered. "And stop those arrows before they tear us apart."

The sky darkened with another volley.

"MARSHI."

He landed beside me with a thunderous thud, golden eyes blazing. I pointed upward—toward the jagged cliff openings where the enemy snipers hid.

"There," I said. "That’s our goal."

His fur bristled. Divine energy pulsed. Then—

ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR—!!!

The air vibrated.

And Marshi leapt.

Higher than a beast should. Higher than a horse. Higher than physics ever intended. Up the cliff face, claws digging into the stone as though it were soft earth.

Arrows shot at him—He ripped through them. Destroyed the archers like they were made of paper.

"AAAGHHHH!!!!!!"

BOOM!

BOOM!

CRAAAAAACK—!!

The gates exploded inward, iron splintering like bones under a giant’s fist. And then—ELORIA POURED IN.

The chorus that followed was a symphony of dominance—the roar of my army, Marshi’s divine scream from above, and the thunder of boots hitting stone.

We had breached the Black Wall.

General Arwin’s voice boomed behind me: "PROTECT HER HIGHNESS!"

THUUNK!!!

BOOOOOOOMMMMM—!!!!!!!!

Once.Twice.

Then a third time—the sound of a fortress falling.

I removed my helmet, letting the cold air hit my face, and stared at the flag now towering above Black Wall. A slow, sharp smirk stretched across my lips.

"This," I said softly, my voice carrying across the battlements, "is just the beginning."

Below us—Meren soldiers were already breaking ranks, fleeing in panic.

Their shouts carried through the mountain wind:

"She breached the Wall—!!""RETREAT! RETREAT!""The Princess is here—!!"

I stepped onto the edge of the battlement, eyes locked on the sweeping kingdom of Meren spreading below—mountains, rivers, and cities.

All of it is waiting.

"I’m not here for a fortress," I murmured, almost to myself. "But for a kingdom."

My fingers tightened around my sword hilt.

"Our goal," I whispered, eyes burning with cold fire, "is to plant our flag in every corner of Meren—until even their shadows bow to Eloria."

The wind roared, whipping my hair back as if the world itself bowed before the declaration.Behind me, the Elorian banner snapped like a living creature—hungry, victorious, unstoppable.

Black Wall had fallen.

And the rest of Meren—trembling under the echo of our horn—was next.

"Congratulations, Your Highness."

Sir Haldor’s voice cut through the wind—steady, respectful, but carrying a current of something deeper. I didn’t turn. I just kept my eyes on the kingdom sprawled beneath us like prey.

"Not now, Sir Haldor," I said, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Save your congratulations... for when I’m sitting on that throne."

I lifted my chin toward the distant silhouette of Meren’s capital palace—dark, towering, arrogant.

He bowed, the faintest glint of pride in his eyes. "As you command, Your Highness."

I finally turned, facing my commanders, the battlefield, the blood-soaked stone.

"Inspect every inch of this land," I ordered. "Search the remains of their armory, barracks, and tunnels. And—"

My voice dropped, cold as steel.

"—send word to every nearby village. Tell them who their new ruler is."

Sir Haldor placed a fist over his heart. "As you command. I will begin immediately."

He descended the stairs with soldiers following him like shadows. Osric stayed where he was, watching me.

For a moment, the war quieted around us—just crackling fires, distant groans, and the soft brush of wind.

Then he smiled faintly. "You did well, Lavi."

I walked past him, shoulder brushing his armor, my steps sure and unyielding. "You did well too, Grand Duke," I said without slowing. "But don’t celebrate yet. Because Meren won’t sit still. A beast only gets louder when cornered."

The wind seemed to hush, listening.

"And now," I continued, eyes narrowing toward the distant mountains, "they’ll be more dangerous than ever."

His expression darkened, the weight of my words settling like stone between us. I stepped down from the battlements, boots echoing against the cold stone.

"Come," I said. "This victory is only the opening strike."

My gaze swept over the horizon, the golden flag above me snapping like a herald of doom.

"Meren will make their move soon." A slow, dangerous smile curved my lips. "And when they do...we’ll crush their kingdom from the inside out."