Chapter 265: Missing Boyfriend
[Lavinia’s POV — Imperial Gardens—Morning—Weeks Later]
The morning air felt strangely alive.
The wind carried whispers of warmth, of new beginnings—yet my heart... it wasn’t sure whether to feel light or heavy.
I sat in the garden with Papa beside me, quietly reading his newspaper as if the world hadn’t nearly shattered two days ago. The smell of magnolias drifted through the breeze, the sky glowed pale gold, and for the first time in a while... things almost felt normal.
Almost.
Because beneath that peace, my heart still ached.
Still, I decided to see it as a new beginning. Because Rey’s words wouldn’t stop echoing in my mind:
"Your fate was stolen, Princess."
Stolen.
Those words haunted me more than any nightmare.
I finally understood—Papa, Osric... they weren’t merely bound to me by coincidence or fate. Something—someone—had forced our paths, twisting love and destiny into something unrecognizable.
Even though Marquess Everett and Caelum were dead, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Eleania... wasn’t capable of something as deep and dark as fate manipulation. This wasn’t a simple curse. It was black magic. Ancient, forbidden, and powerful enough to rewrite lives.
I glanced at my hands, the faint green shimmer of healing light pulsing softly against my skin. Maybe... maybe Mother gave me her power because she knew something like this would happen. Maybe she was preparing me for the danger that still lingered ahead.
I sighed, lost in thought—and then, like lightning striking through serenity, a horrifying realization hit me.
There is one very serious issue right now and that is...
#MISSINGBOYFREIND
Because since I woke up, my boyfriend has been missing for an entire week.
The silence of the garden shattered as I trembled in sheer outrage.
That idiot Osric! He hadn’t come to see me once since I woke up. Not a letter, not a visit, not even a pathetic flower bouquet to fake guilt.
"Where the hell is he!?" I hissed under my breath, clutching my teacup so hard it almost cracked.
Papa lowered his newspaper just enough to peek over it, his Crimson eyes narrowing. "Who?"
I blinked, forcing the sweetest, most innocent smile I could muster. "Oh, nothing, Papa. Just... wondering about my new healing powers."
He studied me for a moment longer, clearly unconvinced, then gave a short nod and returned to his newspaper.
Good. That was close.
I exhaled slowly—then clenched my fists under the table, my face twitching with barely restrained fury.
That stupid Heir of Everheart! How dare he vanish after everything! Does he think just because Papa brought me back from the brink of death he gets to disappear like some tragic background character?!
My eye twitched.
No. Enough is enough.
If Osric thought he could escape me, then he was about to learn what it meant to anger the Emperor’s daughter.
I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the marble floor. Papa glanced up again. "Where are you going?"
"Just out for a walk," I said sweetly. "A peaceful, completely non-violent walk."
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further.
Perfect.
I turned on my heel, the hem of my gown brushing against the cobblestones as I muttered darkly to myself, "Time to hunt down one missing, emotionally constipated lover..."
As I stepped out of the garden, sunlight filtering through the pillars, Sir Haldor approached, bowing with crisp formality.
"Greetings, Princess."
I straightened, brushing invisible dust off my skirt. "Sir Haldor," I acknowledged, tone calm but brisk. "What’s the latest update?"
He shifted slightly, his armor glinting. "We’ve stationed imperial knights around the Blue Magic Stone Mountain, as ordered. The dam repairs are complete, and we’ve dispatched Archmages to examine the remaining stones. It appears the area is stable—for now."
I nodded approvingly. "Good work, Sir Haldor. Make sure the Archmages handle those stones carefully. We can’t afford any other mistakes and did you seal the area?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
I nodded. "Good."
He hesitated, then asked, "What do you plan to do with the extracted stones?"
I hummed, tapping my chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... perhaps something productive. Maybe we can refine them into jewelry for the noble auctions—or offer them to the Academy for magical research." My lips curved faintly. "I’ll bring it up in the next imperial council meeting. You’ll have my decision by then."
Haldor smiled faintly. "Understood, Princess." Then, with a curious glance, he added, "If I may ask... where are you headed now?"
I blinked, feigning innocence before a mischievous grin tugged at my lips. "To drag someone out of their hole."
His brows furrowed. "I... beg your pardon?"
Someone seems to have forgotten his girlfriend exists after nearly dying twice. I plan to fix that.
I smirked. "We are going to the Everheart Estate—right now."
He blinked. "The Everheart—wait, to meet lord Osric?"
He blinked hard. "The Everheart—wait, you mean to meet Lord Osric?"
I turned, smiling far too sweetly for what was about to follow. "Oh, you catch on fast, Sir Haldor."
He hesitated, darting a glance toward Papa, who was still lounging in the garden with his newspaper. "What about His Majesty? Shouldn’t you—uh—inform him first?"
I waved my hand dismissively, the very picture of innocence. "No need. He has no reason to stop me anymore. All his fears have vanished."
"...All of them?" Haldor asked warily.
I smiled wider, the kind that made grown knights shift in their boots. "Every single one."
He blinked again, then bowed stiffly. "V-Very well, Princess. I shall prepare the carriage."
As he hurried off, I stretched, cracking my knuckles with purpose. "Alright, Osric Valerious Everheart..." I muttered under my breath. "Your girlfriend is coming to collect you."
***
[On the way to Everheart Estate—Later]
The carriage hummed over the cobblestones and I sat with the practiced grace of a princess—ankles crossed, skirts settled, smile locked in place—while my heart did somersaults like a caged thing.
Sera glanced at me from where she’d perched across the carriage bench, one eyebrow arched. "So... you’re actually going to attack him, then?" she asked, neutral but sharp—like she was reading a battle plan rather than discussing a boyfriend.
I blinked, turning on my most innocent smile. "Attack the love of my life? Do you think me cruel, Sera?"
She said it as flat as a blade. "Yes."
. . .
. . .
I blinked again, only half-offended. "At least pretend to hesitate."
Sera scoffed and folded her arms. "I am serving you, Princess. If I hesitated, would it change his cowardice? No. So no pretending." Her voice had that calm steel to it—exactly like the woman who’d disobeyed a general once and lived to smile about it.
Marshi grumbled in agreement and nosed his head into Sera’s lap. Sera’s hand folded into his fur as if it were the most natural thing in the world; his tail thumped happily and absurdly, the picture of contentment amid my plotting.
I pressed my lips together, feigning offended dignity. "At least let me hunt my man in peace." Then an impish grin spread over my face and I tilted my head. "What about your man, huh? Where is Rey these days?"
Sera’s smile wavered—forced—and her hands clenched just slightly where they rested on Marshi. She forced the politest reply possible, though I could see the fire under her control. "I am patiently waiting for him, Your Highness," she said through a measured breath. "The moment I see him, I will make sure he never leaves my sight again."
My smile turned wicked. "Rey... you’re doomed."
Sera’s jaw tightened. "I prefer the word ’secure.’"
"You sound threatening," I teased, leaning back so the light caught the faint green glow around my palm. "And I like it."
She rolled her eyes but the corner of her mouth softened. "Good. Because you’ll need allies if you plan to drag Lord Osric out of whatever hole he’s in without ripping his stubborn head off."
I laughed, a small, dangerous sound. "Then let’s be merciless, shall we? We’ll take him by surprise, knead his conscience raw, and—if all else fails—make him tea until he apologizes properly."
Sera made a face at the last part. "Tea? Really?"
"Never underestimate the power of poisoned—er, persuasive—tea," I said, nodding solemnly.
Marshi snorted—yes, he snorted—and Sera bumped him with her knee, laughing despite herself. The camaraderie warmed me in a way nothing else had since waking.
The city rolled past, and with every beat of the horses, my resolve hardened.
Osric Everheart: prepare yourself. Your girlfriend is coming. And she’s brought an army of patience, fury, and badly brewed tea.