Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 369

Chapter 369: Convincing Papa

[Lavinia’s POV — Imperial Palace—Emperor’s Chamber—The Next Morning]

I knocked once. From inside, Papa’s voice followed immediately—sharp, commanding, and unmistakably awake.

"Come in."

Marshi and I peeked inside at the same time. I smiled widely. Too widely.

"What are you doing, Papa?" I asked sweetly, stepping in like I hadn’t just woken up with an empire-sized dilemma sitting on my chest.

Papa blinked.

Once.

Then he stared at me.

Long.

Hard.

Suspiciously.

"...What do you want?" he asked.

I gasped—dramatically, hand flying to my chest. "What? I can’t come visit my own father?" I fluttered my lashes shamelessly. "Just... you know. Casually. Out of love. I can’t even do that?"

I even leaned forward slightly. Adorabombs. Full force. Marshi, traitor that he was, immediately copied me—tilting his head, widening his eyes, and swishing his tail in what could only be described as coordinated manipulation.

Papa’s gaze flicked between the two of us.

Then narrowed.

"You’re behaving weird," he said flatly.

I opened my mouth—

"Ravick," Papa barked.

The door opened instantly. Ravick stepped inside and bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

Papa pointed at me without breaking eye contact. "Call a physician."

I froze.

"Possibly a priest too," he added thoughtfully. "My daughter is behaving... weird."

I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. "I just came to meet you!"

"You came willingly," he replied calmly. "That alone is suspicious."

...Seriously?

"Papa!" I protested.

Ravick was visibly struggling not to laugh. Marshi thumped his tail on the carpet, nodding along with Papa like this was a perfectly reasonable diagnosis.

"Alright," I sighed, dropping the act. "Fine. I came because I have something very important to talk about."

Papa leaned back in his chair and smirked. "Ha. I knew it."

Ravick chuckled openly now. Marshi gave an approving little chirp and sat upright like this was a council session.

Papa lifted a finger. "Before you continue—let me set one condition."

I squinted. "What condition?"

He met my eyes, expression smug and entirely too aware.

"Except your marriage," he said casually, "or your love life—talk about whatever you want."

I stared at him.

Well—That’s exactly why I am here.

Yes. You heard that right. I came to talk to him about marriage.

My Marriage.

Rey’s words from last night echoed mercilessly in my head. Another woman. Just imagining Haldor standing beside someone else—smiling that soft, rare smile for another—had ignited something sharp and irrational in my chest.

Was it love?

I didn’t know.

But I knew this much with terrifying clarity—Haldor was perfect to stand beside me. He would listen. He would never go against me. He would choose me over everything.

And politically?

I had already moved the hierarchy for him. He was now the highest-ranked noble outside the royal bloodline.

There was no better candidate.

No safer one. No more dangerous one.

"Why aren’t you speaking now?" Papa asked, eyes narrowing.

I smiled nervously.

"Haha... you see, Papa..." I rubbed the back of my neck. "Actually... I... came for—"

"Lavinia," his voice dropped.

Oh no.

"Yes—yes, Papa?" I answered instantly.

"I said no marriage."

I avoided his eyes. The silence that followed was catastrophic. His eyes widened. He rose from his seat so fast the chair scraped loudly against the floor.

"I KNEW IT. THAT DAMN...COUNCIL MEETING. BUT...LET ME REMIND YOU...I AM NOT LETTING YOU GET MARRIED!!!"

The walls themselves seemed to flinch.

Gosh. Overprotective tyrant father mode: ACTIVATED.

"But Papa," I tried, steady but firm, "the Devereux line has to move forward—"

"I DON’T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THAT!!!" he roared. "We’ll just adopt a child!"

I crossed my arms. "I can’t adopt a child while single. You made that law."

He pointed at me. "I can change the law. I am the Emperor."

"And you know the nobles," I shot back immediately. "They won’t accept an adopted heir. And what happens when we die, Papa? What if they make that child’s life hell?"

His jaw tightened.

I stepped closer, voice quieter but sharper. "If our blood runs in that child... they’ll survive. Tyrants survive, Papa. You taught me that. You and I didn’t rule by kindness. We ruled because we knew how to crush rebellion before it breathed."

He went still.

I pressed on. "And you know this empire eats the gentle alive."

For a moment, I thought I had won.

Then—

"I STILL WON’T LET YOU GET MARRIED!!!" he thundered. "You already broke your heart once because of that stupid Osric—and now again?! NEVER!"

I blinked. "...Osric?"

"Yes, Osric!" he snapped. "Broody. Now Grand duke and Annoying."

"And you don’t need a Partner," he yelled.

. . .

. . .

Wow... I can’t believe I’m the daughter trying to convince her father to let her get married. Did I get reborn into the wrong world—or did fate just decide to mock me this time?

He turned away, pacing like a barely contained storm. "I watched you grow up carrying a crown heavier than most men’s armor. And now you want to add marriage to that burden?"

"Yes," I said. "I went to talk to him about... our marriage, but it seems like—"

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