Too Lazy to be a Villainess novel Chapter 394

Chapter 394: When Blood becomes Weapon

[Haldor’s POV—Capital City of Eloria—Night]

The road beyond the capital narrowed into shadows.

Stone gave way to dirt, lanterns surrendered to moonlight, and the sound of the city—laughter, metal, life—faded behind us like a memory that did not wish to follow.

Zerith rode behind me in silence.

I did not turn, yet I felt him.

The way his horse matched my pace was too perfectly, the way his breathing remained steady, unhurried, the way his presence felt...Measured.

Not reckless.

Not careless.

Calculated.

We passed a fork in the road; I slowed my horse deliberately; he followed without hesitation. That was when I finally spoke asking, "How long have you known about Astreon?"

For a moment, he did not answer, but I saw it—his fingers tightening around the reins, knuckles pale beneath the moonlight.

"I was... curious," he said slowly. "About an empire that never meddled in others’ affairs. An empire that chose isolation over influence."

I turned my head slightly.

"Curiosity does not last this long," I said quietly. "Define longer."

He looked at me then; the moonlight brushed across his face. His expression was calm—but the playfulness that once lived in his eyes was gone.

"I read about it," he said at last. "In the public library in the city, before you married Her Highness."

The words settled heavier than they should have.

Before I married her, before I became a crown prince, before I became a threat.

I said nothing and turned my gaze forward and urged my horse ahead.

"Alright," I replied evenly. "Then let us go."

But inside—My thoughts did not move as calmly as my body.

’Before I married her.’

That meant before Astreon became dangerous, before my blood became political, before my name became a reason.

Zerith rode closer.

"You think I hide things from you," he said quietly.

"I think you choose your truths carefully," I replied.

A faint smile touched his lips, "Don’t we all?"

We rode in silence again, the path curved between trees, shadows stretching like long fingers across the ground.

Then I spoke, my voice low. "If Astreon truly moves against Eloria..."

I paused.

"...I will not protect blood over empire."

He studied my profile.

"And if Eloria is the one who moved first?" he asked softly.

I turned my head slowly, meeting his gaze, "Then Eloria will answer for it."

Our gazes met, something shifted between us.

Not anger.

Not betrayal.

But awareness.

That the truth ahead would not be clean, and neither of us would walk away untouched by it.

I looked forward again.

"Whatever waits at that lounge," I said quietly, "will decide what kind of men we truly are."

Zerith’s voice followed calmly. "And what kind of enemies we become."

The road stretched ahead, dark and narrow, and I knew—We were no longer riding toward information.

We were riding toward a fracture between empires.

Between loyalties.

Between ourselves.

And the moon above us watched in silence, because it already knew—Not everyone would return the same from this path.

***

[Lavinia’s POV—Imperial Palace—Lavinia’s Chamber—Same Time]

My fingers tapped slowly against the armrest.

Once.Twice.Three times.

Each tap echoed my thoughts—controlled, measured, restless—and then a knock interrupted the rhythm.

"Come in," I said.

The door opened, and Rey stepped inside. He did not smile. That alone told me this was not casual.

He took the seat across from me and spoke quietly, "I did what you asked, Your Highness. I placed a mage behind Haldor. Invisible. Silent. He will not know and when it’s necessary...he will protect him with his shield."

I exhaled slowly.

"Good," I said. "Thank you."

Rey studied my face. "You should have gone with him when you’re this worrid about him."

I leaned back against the chair, eyes lifting to the ceiling for a brief second.

"Haldor is strong," I said calmly. "He does not need my protection; I am just making sure he is safe."

Then my gaze hardened, "But strength does not make one untouchable."

Rey did not interrupt.

"These days," I continued softly, "I feel like I am standing in a hall of mirrors. Every face reflects something different. I don’t know who belongs to Talvan. I don’t know who Talvan has already bought. I don’t know which smile hides a knife."

My fingers curled slightly.

"So I gave him a shield," I said. "Not because he is weak. But because he is precious to me and I protect what’s precious to me."

Rey nodded slowly. "Especially with Astreon involved."

"Yes," I replied. "We don’t know what kind of Astreon people they are who entered eloria illegaly. Warriors? Politicians? Believers? Assassins."

I leaned forward slightly. "And worse... they might try to use Haldor."

Rey frowned. "As a pawn?"

"As a bridge," I corrected quietly. "Between blood and betrayal."

Silence settled between us.

"They may try to make him doubt me," I added. "Or make him doubt himself. Or make the empire doubt him."

Rey’s jaw tightened.

"They will fail," he said.

***

[Haldor’s POV — The Lodge Outside the Capital]

Silver Ember Lodge.

"...And the auction gives us the spark."

"...Talvan is confident. Too confident."

I felt my jaw tighten, one of them laughed quietly, "Eloria always believes its crown is untouchable."

The other replied calmly, "Then let them keep believing. Belief is the easiest thing to break."

I clenched my fingers beneath the table; zerith glanced at me briefly.

Not with surprise, with understanding.

One of the Astreon men lifted his cup and spoke again, "The Crown Prince will be blamed first. His blood makes it convenient."

My chest tightened.

"Blood makes everything convenient," the other replied softly.

I did not move.

I did not breathe loudly.

I listened.

"...Once the people turn, the throne will crack."

"...And when the throne cracks, Astreon will not need to touch it."

"...It will fall on its own."

Zerith’s jaw hardened, and I leaned closer, whispering just enough for him to hear. "They are not here to fight."

He nodded saying, "They are here to orchestrate."

I exhaled slowly.

I had expected enemies.

I had not expected architects.

The first man finally said something that froze me, "And if the Crown Princess interferes?"

The second answered without hesitation, "Then we remind her... that love is always the weakest point of a ruler."

My vision darkened slightly.

Zerith shifted, but I placed a hand on his wrist under the table—a silent command.

Not yet.

The men stood a moment later, placing coins on the table.

"We leave before midnight," one said.

They walked toward the stairs.

I watched their backs, and in that moment, I knew—They were not just enemies of Eloria.

They were enemies of Lavinia.

And that—That made them mine.

I rose slowly.

Zerith followed.

"We follow," he whispered.

I nodded, "Yes, quietly."

We moved toward the shadows of the stairwell because the lodge was no longer just a resting place.

It was the doorway—To a plan that would decide whether Eloria burned...or whether Astreon would regret ever stepping into its breath.