Chapter 266: Caught in the Act

Chapter 266: Caught in the Act

[Lavinia’s POV — Everheart Estate—Afternoon]

I threw open the massive doors of Everheart Estate with all the subtlety of a cannon. SLAM! The sound ricocheted off the marble floors and gilded walls like a drum of doom.

"OSRIC VALERIOUS EVERHEART...!!!" I bellowed, my voice shattering glass somewhere—or at least it felt like it did. "COME OUT!!!!!!"

Marshi let out a ROAARRRRRRR!!!that could have frightened a dragon into retirement. The sound sent the servants scattering into corners, the butler nearly toppling over, and the cook’s hat went flying. Everyone froze, wide-eyed, trying to process the chaos that had just landed in their hall.

"Your Highness... the... Crown Princess?!" one of the younger servants stammered, eyes the size of teacups.

The butler, face pale as parchment, hurried forward on trembling legs. "G-greetings... greetings, Your Highness..." His bow almost became a full-body tumble. "M-may I... may I know the reason for your... honorable visit?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Where. Is. Osric?"

The butler blinked repeatedly, looking like he might faint on the spot. "H-he’s... he’s... training, Your Highness. Practicing his... sword."

I squinted, narrow-eyed, as Marshi squinted too, his tail flicking like a metronome of judgment. He let out a suspicious sniff, clearly unimpressed. Training? More like hiding like a rabbit in a haystack.

"Training, hmm?" I said, voice syrupy sweet but dripping with menace. "And where, pray tell, is this... oh-so-secret training ground?"

The butler gulped, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "I... I shall take... take you there, Princess... immediately." He shifted nervously, gesturing for me to follow while avoiding Marshi’s glaring stare.

I nodded. "Lead the way."

***

[Lavinia’s POV — Everheart Training Ground—Later]

The afternoon sun glinted off polished armor and the tips of spears. I could almost smell the sweat, leather, and—oh no—the undeniable scent of him.

Sera walked beside me, her brow quirked. "Your Highness... what exactly are you planning to do once you meet him?"

I smirked confidently. "Of course I’m going to be angry. Furious, even. How dare he—"

Sera’s lips twitched in amusement. "Are you sure? Because I have a feeling you’re going to melt the second you see him."

I scoffed, brushing off her teasing like it was a fly. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. I am a princess with dignity. A terrifyingly furious princess."

We rounded the last bend and... CLANG! CLANG!

The sounds of metal on metal crashed through the air. My eyes widened. There he was. Osric. Practicing sword forms.

And... shirtless.

SH-LA-LA.

My brain froze. Heart thumped. Thump. THUMP!

He moved with fluid precision, muscles flexing under the sunlight with every strike and parry. Sir Aldric, his sparring partner, lunged, and Osric twisted effortlessly, deflecting the blade in a perfectly calculated arc.

Thud!

My heart slammed against my ribs like a war drum.

I blinked, trying to focus, but it was impossible. Every movement—every powerful sweep, every sinewy flex—was like a magnet dragging my attention straight to him.

Sera nudged me, smirking. "Melting yet, Princess?"

"Impos—," I sputtered, a little flustered, cheeks heating. "I... I am not melting. I am... admiring strategic combat. Yes. That’s all."

Osric pivoted, spinning to deliver a controlled strike. His hair clung slightly to his forehead, and—oh no—the sunlight gleamed off his chest, highlighting every defined curve of muscle. My carefully plotted anger instantly evaporated.

"Princess?" Sera’s voice cut through my haze. "Are you... going to run up and tackle him?"

I blinked, coming back to myself. "No! That would... ruin the aura of fury!" I muttered under my breath, but honestly, I was wobbling inside. My hands curled into fists, half from indignation and half from trying not to stare like a lovesick fool.

Sir Aldric launched another attack. Osric’s blade met his in a shower of sparks, muscles taut, sweat gleaming, and every heartbeat of mine seemed synchronized to the rhythm of his movements.

Thud! THUD! THUD!

My chest ached in a way that had nothing to do with anger.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain composure. "Yes... very disciplined. Fierce. Terrifying. And... handsome."

Sera leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially. "I warned you. You’ve officially melted."

I glared at her, attempting dignity. "Nonsense. I am composed... strategic... calculating... fiercely furious, remember?"

Marshi roared softly, tail flicking side to side. She’s going to collapse before she gets a word in, he seemed to say.

And then, in a perfect whirlwind of motion, Osric disarmed Sir Aldric with a flourish, spinning, landing in a perfect stance, chest heaving, sword poised, muscles gleaming like a warrior-god...

And my jaw hit the floor. My poor heart couldn’t keep up.

"Princess...?" Sera’s voice was flat, but I caught a hint of amusement.

"I... I... he’s... dangerous," I whispered. "And... incredibly... unfairly hot."

Sera chuckled under her breath—or perhaps it was a scoff—but either way, I had officially lost all pretense of fury.

Osric Everheart... you are so going to pay for hiding like this.

And then it happened. His eyes... his eyes met mine.

Time slowed—or maybe it was just my heart thumping like a drum in my ears.

His sword froze mid-air, the world narrowing until it was just him

"Lavi...?" His voice was barely a whisper, but it cracked somewhere between disbelief and awe.

I smiled—big, triumphant, annoyingly smug—and waved slowly.

"Hi there... long-lost boyfriend," I purred, the words dripping with equal parts amusement and menace.

Silence fell. Heavy. Thick. Deliciously awkward.

Sir Aldric froze mid-step, the sword in his hand forgotten. Marshi’s tail flicking with glee, clearly enjoying the show.

The butler cleared his throat, eyes darting nervously between us. "I... I shall... bring refreshments to... cool things down?" His voice wavered like he was trying not to laugh—or faint.

***

[Everheart Estate—Garden—Later]

The garden smelled warm and alive, every flower and hedge basking in sunlight, but I barely noticed. My attention was fully locked on Osric.

A nervous maid appeared with a tray of cold drinks, her eyes flicking between us like she had wandered into a battlefield. She carefully set the glasses down on the table and backed away, leaving us alone.

I perched on the chair, leg crossed over leg, hands folded neatly on my lap, but my gaze? Laser beams. Directly aimed at Osric Everheart.

He sat opposite me, posture perfect, spine rigid, trying desperately to radiate dignity—but let’s be honest, the boy was sweating just a little.

The maid had barely left when I broke the silence. "So... where exactly were you hiding, hmm?"

"Working," he said, tone flat. Too flat. My jaw twitched.

"And why," I pressed, voice dripping sugar-coated fury, "haven’t you come to see me? Not once! Not even a single note! Not even a flower—Osric!"

He blinked, perfectly calm, and said, "Well... didn’t you tell me to take leave, Your Highness... the... crown... princess?"

I froze mid-laser-beam stare.

...Oh.

Right.

That was me. The very words had slipped out in the chaos of my dramatic recovery.

I blinked, my face twitching in pure frustration. "Damn it! Fine, so you technically obeyed orders... but that doesn’t excuse your vanishing act!"

Osric leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing with a mixture of amusement and mischief. "Vanishing act? I was literally staying in my estate, training with my sword, and following your orders. You call that vanishing?"

I leaned forward, fingers twitching like I might just poke him in that stupidly handsome face."Obeying my order?" I hissed, lips curling into a dangerous smile. "Osric Valerious Everheart... you are in so much trouble!"

He raised a brow, utterly unbothered. "Oh, really? And what exactly are you going to do, Princess? Bore a hole in me with those fancy eyes of yours?"

I gasped, dramatically clutching my chest. "Excuse me?! Are you mocking my beautiful

He didn’t answer—just looked at me. And for a moment, the air changed. I tilted my head, my voice dropping low.

"Do you really think... I’d leave you, Osric?"

His shoulders stiffened. For a second, his teasing mask cracked—his eyes flickered away, that faint, pained hesitation glinting beneath the calm.

He flinched.

I softened. Slowly, I reached across the table, my fingers brushing his hand. "Osric..."

He looked up—those storm-brown eyes filled with something raw and breaking.

"I’m not going to leave you," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "No matter what happens, no matter what truth we find. Because all I care about... is this—our life now. You’re my everything, Osric."

He stared at me for a long moment, and then, just as I thought I’d finally reached him, he pulled his hand away—his expression closing off.

"Still, Lavi..." he murmured, voice low, thick. "I don’t think I’m good for you. The Emperor was right."

My heart twisted painfully. "Osric—"

"I don’t deserve to stand beside you," he said, cutting me off. Then, abruptly, he stood, chair scraping against the marble. "You should leave, Your Highness. I’ll resume my duty after this week."

I froze.

That idiot.

I came here to make peace, to melt this iron-hearted fool, and he’s—what?—sulking like a tragic heroine in a cheap romance novel?!

He turned away, taking a step—And that was it.

Enough.

I grabbed his wrist and yanked him back.

Before he could speak, before he could run again, I pulled him down—And kissed him.

Hard.

His eyes widened in shock, his breath hitching against my lips. But I didn’t stop. My hands fisted in his collar, my lips pressing harder as I kissed him hard and bit him until his lips bled.

"You belong to me, Osric. And I belong to you. So don’t you ever talk about leaving me again."

For a moment, he didn’t move. Then—slowly—his hands came up, one sliding around my waist, the other cupping my jaw. His eyes softened, the tension melting away as his lips curved into a faint, dangerous smirk.

"Then..." he murmured, voice deep enough to send shivers down my spine, "prove it again, Lavi."

I blinked, my lips still tingling. "Prove it—?"

But before I could even finish, he tugged me closer, his hand firm on my waist, his forehead resting against mine. Our breaths mingled—warm, uneven. My heart thundered in my chest.

I smirked back, my voice barely a whisper. "Gladly."

I leaned in again, eyes fluttering shut—

CLANK!!THUD!!!

Both of us jerked our heads toward the sound—And there, standing frozen with a dropped sword and a horrified expression—

—was Grand Duke Regis.

Mouth open.Face pale.Soul clearly leaving his body.

For a long, awkward moment, none of us moved. Then, in perfect synchronization, Osric and I muttered under our breath—

"...Damn it."