Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 384

Chapter 384: Our Destined Partners

[Lavinia’s Pov—Council Chamber—Later]

As the council chamber doors opened, Haldor and I stepped inside together. At once, every noble rose.

"We greet Her Highness and His Highness," they said in near-perfect unison, bowing deeply.

I observed them calmly. Some faces held curiosity. Some carried seriousness. Some were amused. Some... clearly displeased.

Papa did not stand.

Of course.

His crimson gaze shifted briefly to Haldor, sharp and unmistakably possessive.

"From now on," he said flatly, "you will sit opposite her."

Haldor immediately bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."

And just like that, his place was fixed. Not behind me. Not beneath me.

But beside me.

He took the seat next to mine, directly before Grand Duke Osric. The shift was small—but politically loud.

I sat gracefully and folded my hands. "Let us begin."

The High Minister cleared his throat. "First agenda—border taxation from the western ports. Trade has increased by twelve percent since last quarter."

A noble lord scoffed. "Because pirates have simply changed banners."

Another replied, "Still, profit is profit."

"Not if we lose control of shipping lanes," Osric added coolly.

I listened.

Haldor remained silent, posture composed, eyes scanning the room with the quiet discipline of a knight who understood power better than most nobles ever would.

A lady from House Renvale spoke next. "The grain storage in the southern province is unstable. We must increase imperial funding."

"And burden the capital again?" another snapped.

I tilted my head slightly. "Or we could reduce luxury imports from the north. Wine can wait. Hunger cannot."

The chamber stilled for half a second. Then murmurs of agreement followed. Papa watched me from his throne with a look that was neither pride nor approval—but recognition.

The meeting continued.

Trade. Military patrols. Noble disputes.

All ordinary.

All expected.

And all deliberately allowed to pass.

I waited. Then, when the final report ended, I spoke again.

"Now," I said calmly, "we will move to the final matter."

The chamber quieted. Even Talvan straightened slightly, asking, "A final matter, your highness?"

"Yes, This is not a financial issue," I continued. "Not a military one."

I paused.

"This is a legal one."

Every noble leaned in. I turned my gaze slowly across the room.

"It concerns inheritance."

Silence fell. A ripple moved through the chamber. Talvan’s smile sharpened.

I continued, eyes steady, voice controlled. "For centuries, noble houses have passed leadership only through sons. Daughters are married away, their names erased, their blood considered secondary."

I paused.

"Today, I propose a law that ends that."

Silence.

Pure. Heavy. Dangerous.

"A daughter," I said quietly, "shall hold the same right to inherit as a son."

Gasps.

Whispers.

A chair scraped.

Count Talvan finally laughed.

"A beautiful thought, Your Highness," he said smoothly, "but empires are not built on sentiment."

I smirked.

"Interesting," I replied lightly. "Then tell me, Count Talvan—if you can accept me as your future empress, why can a noble woman not rule her own house?"

Several nobles shifted in their seats.

Talvan did not.

He inclined his head slightly. "I apologize if my words offend you, Your Highness. But we accepted you because you are the sole heir of the Devereux line. If His Majesty had a son..." he paused deliberately, "...he would be the one sitting on the throne. Not you."

The air tightened.

I felt Haldor’s hand curl into a fist beside me. Osric’s jaw clenched.

Haldor spoke, his voice calm but edged with steel. "Mind your language, Count. You are addressing the Crown Princess. Do not forget—as a woman, she conquered a kingdom at a very young age."

Talvan turned his gaze to him slowly. "I apologize, Your Highness," he said coolly. "But my words may be bitter... they are still the truth."

Silence fell.

Not a single noble dared to breathe too loudly.

Papa did not move.

Neither did I.

We simply stared.

Then—

I smiled.

"I had thought," I said softly, "that I would pass this law through council vote."

Talvan’s brow lifted slightly.

"But," I continued, tilting my head, "you have changed my mind, Count Talvan."

His smile thinned. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"I mean...this law will pass. Without. Any. Votes."

"How dare you raise your voice in my presence," I said quietly. "If you wish to raise something, I will respectfully send you to raise a sword on the battlefield instead."

"Of course, I agree with my dearest daughter." Then his eyes sharpened. "But before that—"

"Let me be very clear, Talvan. Even if I had a son... I would still have chosen my daughter as my successor. Because she has proven why she deserves the throne."

"My daughter’s new law will pass." Then he turned and walked away, his voice echoing behind him.

The words settled strangely in the air.

I looked at him.

For a heartbeat, silence lingered between us—filled with things unsaid and things long buried.

Then Osric continued, his voice quieter. "I realized it late... but I apologize for my rude behavior in the past."

I smiled gently. "It’s alright. I am simply glad you did not stand with those who wished to oppose me."

He smiled faintly. "I wouldn’t dare to go against a crazy princess. Besides..." he hesitated, then added, "...I have someone I wish to protect now."

I frowned slightly. "Someone?"

"Yes," he said. "I have been seeing someone for the past few months."

Haldor tilted his head. "Is she a noble?"

Osric shook his head. "No. A commoner. Someone who regrets her past... after being abandoned."

My heart skipped. I stared at him.

"...Don’t tell me," I whispered. "Eleania?"

His smile was small but certain. "I suppose I was always fated to her."

I felt something inside me loosen. In my last life, Osric had married Eleania—even when I had been his fiancée.

And in this life... Once again. Different path. Same ending. Even though we recall our last life, we couldn’t change our destined partners.

Papa turned the time for me, changing my entire fate but not my destiny.

I smiled softly. "You want my approval to marry a commoner, Grand Duke Osric?"

"If you allow it," he asked sincerely.

"You really love her?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "She has changed, Your Highness. And I believe... everyone deserves a second chance."

I stood slowly.

"If you believe her, who am I to stop you? You have my approval," I said calmly. "And one day, I would like to meet the next Grand Duchess... without any trouble."

He bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Highness."

And just like that—I turned and walked toward the door with my destined partner.

"Let’s go, Haldor."

He followed immediately.

As we stepped into the corridor, I asked lightly, "Should we have some tea?"

Haldor held my hand without hesitation. "Whatever you say, Lavi."

And as we walked away from the council chamber—

From old grudges.From twisted fates.From broken destinies—

I realized something quietly, beautifully clear.

The empire was changing.

And this time...

It was changing with me.