Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Liria was dreaming of fire.

Not the wild, uncontrollable kind that burned and devoured, but something steady hers, bending to her will, flickering between her fingertips like a living thing. The embers danced around her in a rhythmic pulse, warm against her skin, wrapping around her in a cocoon of strength.

She had never felt so at peace.

Which was why it was such a rude awakening when something slammed into her face.

"WAKE UP, YOU INSOLENT CHILD!"

Liria jerked upright, arms flailing, her heartbeat exploding in her chest. She barely had time to process what was happening before she registered the heavy weight smacking against her forehead again.

It took her a moment to recognize the culprit.

A pineapple was perched on her chest, looking at her with a level of disdain that should have been impossible for a fruit.

Liria blinked, still caught in the grogginess of sleep. "What…?"

Ananara huffed. "Finally. You're awake."

Liria groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Did you just headbutt me?"

"I gently encouraged you to wake up," Ananara said loftily. "You were drooling on your pillow, it was quite unseemly."

Liria glared. "You attacked me."

"Details," Ananara said with a dismissive wave of her tiny leafy top. "More importantly, you look positively dreadful."

Liria let out a long sigh, rubbing her eyes. The remnants of sleep still clung to her mind, thick and heavy. The dream—the training—had left a lingering exhaustion in her limbs, like she had truly been fighting all night.

Which, in a way, she had.

She groaned and flopped back onto the mattress, pulling the blankets over her head. "I'm going back to sleep."

Ananara shrieked.

"Oh, absolutely NOT."

Something hard and spiky slammed into her stomach. Liria wheezed.

She shoved the blankets off and glared at the sentient pineapple. "For the love of the Abyss, WHAT?"

Ananara sniffed, unimpressed. "I have had enough of your mopey behavior."

"I literally just woke up!"

"And yet, you still manage to look like an absolute mess."

Liria pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ananara. If I throw you out the window, will you take the hint?"

Ananara gasped, offended. "How dare you. You are nothing without me."

Liria groaned and swung her legs over the side of the bed, sitting up properly. "Fine. What do you want?"

Ananara smirked. "Breakfast."

Liria stared at him. "You don't eat."

"That is beside the point."

Liria groaned and stood, stretching out the soreness in her muscles. The fire from the dream still seemed to pulse under her skin, warm and waiting, like it had truly become a part of her now. She flexed her fingers and felt the faintest flicker of energy dance along her palm.

Stronger. More in control.

She exhaled slowly.

It was real.

Ananara cleared his throat loudly. "You're doing it again."

Liria blinked. "Doing what?"

"Being broody. Like some tragic heroine in one of those awful human romance novels."

Liria scowled. "I am not broody."

Ananara tilted his body slightly, as if giving her a deadpan look. "You stared at your own hand for thirty full seconds. I counted."

Liria groaned and headed toward the door. "I am leaving before I commit an actual crime."

Ananara bounced after her. "Yes, yes, let's get going, useless child."

Liria didn't bother arguing this time.

She wasn't sure where she was going—maybe to find something to eat, or maybe just to clear her head—but after everything that had happened, staying still felt impossible.

Her mother's voice still lingered at the edges of her thoughts, a ghost of a whisper.

You will always be mine.

Liria's jaw tightened.

No. She wasn't hers.

Not anymore.

And she was going to make damn sure of it.

As Liria made her way through the halls of the castle, she tried to push away the weight pressing against her chest. The training had given her a newfound control over her power, but it hadn't erased the fear.

Because she knew, deep down—

This wasn't over.

The Dark Sovereign wasn't done with her.

The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

She had spent so long pushing down the questions, the doubts, but last night had changed something. Seeing her mother, hearing her voice… it had unsettled something deep inside her.

Liria clenched her fists.

No. She couldn't think about this right now.

She needed something to ground herself. Something—

"Liria?"

She stopped.

Enara stood at the end of the hallway, watching her with those sharp, midnight eyes.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, Enara's gaze narrowed.

"You look terrible."

Liria let out a breathless laugh. "Wow. Thanks."

Enara frowned, stepping closer. "Are you okay?"

Liria hesitated.

She could lie. Say she was fine. Push it down, ignore it—

But Enara had been there. She had seen what happened when Liria lost control. She had fought her when the Dark Sovereign's power had taken hold.

If there was anyone who deserved the truth, it was her.

Liria sighed. "I… had a dream."

Enara raised a brow. "A bad one?"

Liria tilted her head, lips curling into a lazy smirk.

"Maybe," she said. "Or maybe it was a prophetic vision. You ever think about that?"

Enara crossed her arms, unimpressed. "You? Having visions?"

"Sure," Liria said breezily. "Maybe the gods themselves have chosen me as their divine messenger."

Enara snorted. "The gods would sooner smite you than speak through you."

Liria gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. "Enara, how could you say that? I am a paragon of virtue."

Enara gave her a flat look.

"You tried to light the principal's office on fire."

"Accidentally."

"You threatened to throw your pineapple out a window."

"Justified."

"You once told a priest that if the gods really existed, they should 'square up' and fight you."

Liria waved a hand. "That was a joke."

Enara arched a brow. "You were completely serious."

"…Okay, yeah, maybe a little."

Enara sighed, shaking her head. "So. Not a vision, then?"

Liria grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Enara gave her an exasperated look. "Liria."

Liria stretched her arms over her head, letting the silence hang for a moment before finally relenting. "Fine, fine. It was just a dream."

Enara studied her, clearly unconvinced.

Liria kept her expression carefully neutral.

She had no intention of telling Enara about the system—just as she had never told anyone. That was hers. Her secret, her advantage.

But teasing Enara?

That was just fun.

Enara narrowed her eyes. "You're hiding something."

Liria grinned wider. "Am I?"

"Yes."

"Nope."

"Liria."

"Enara."

Enara let out a frustrated sigh. "You are impossible."

"I prefer the term 'enigmatic.'"

Enara rolled her eyes but didn't push further. Instead, she studied Liria for a long moment, her usual sharpness shifting into something more… thoughtful.

"…You look better," Enara said finally.

Liria blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

Enara gestured vaguely. "Yesterday, you were… different. Distant. But now, you seem more like yourself."

Liria hesitated.

She hadn't really thought about it, but… Enara was right.

The weight of last night still lingered, but it wasn't as suffocating. The fire was still there, but it was hers now. Under control.

She met Enara's gaze, something warm settling in her chest.

"Yeah," she admitted. "I think I am."

For a moment, there was only silence. A quiet understanding passing between them.

Enara smirked. "Good. Because if you started acting weird again, I'd have to beat you up."

Liria snorted. "Please. You couldn't take me even if you tried." Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

Enara grinned. "Is that a challenge?"

Liria stretched lazily. "Depends. You feeling brave today?"

"Oh, I'm always brave."

They stared each other down, the tension charged, electric.

Then, simultaneously, they both lunged.

The scuffle was entirely unnecessary but that had never stopped them before.

Liria darted forward, aiming to tackle Enara, but the demon princess was fast. She sidestepped at the last second, catching Liria by the wrist and twisting Liria spun, breaking the hold, and went for a leg sweep Enara jumped over it with infuriating grace and shoved Liria backward.

Liria stumbled but quickly recovered, lunging again with renewed determination.

They moved fast, blocking, dodging, countering neither of them using magic, just instinct and skill.

It was exhilarating.

Liria grinned through the adrenaline, her body thrumming with energy. This was what she needed something real, something that grounded her here, in this moment.

No Sovereigns. No voices whispering in the dark.

Just them.

Enara swiped at her, aiming for a feint Liria caught her by the waist and yanked.

They both went down, hitting the floor hard.

For a second, there was only silence.

Then—

Enara groaned. "You cheated."

Liria grinned. "I adapted."

Enara shoved her off, sitting up with a huff.

Liria flopped onto her back, laughing breathlessly.

Enara watched her for a moment before finally shaking her head, a small, reluctant smile tugging at her lips.

"You're ridiculous."

Liria turned her head, meeting her gaze. "You love it."

Enara scoffed but didn't deny it.

They sat there for a moment, breathing heavily, the world quiet around them.

And for the first time in a long while Liria felt light.

Like maybe, just maybe , she could handle this.