Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

The rare sound of silence greeted me as I opened my eyes. No Enara barging in with some absurd demand, no Seraphis shouting about the importance of discipline, and most importantly, no Ananara screaming insults at me before I'd had my morning tea. It was... unsettling.

Stretching under the plush covers of my bed, I let out a groan that was half relief and half disbelief. A day off? Surely some cosmic mistake had been made. The last time I'd gone without some life-threatening ordeal or grueling training session was—well, I couldn't even remember.

[Host, you appear disoriented. Shall I remind you of the pending tasks on your agenda?]

"Pending tasks?!" I hissed, glaring at the empty space where the system's voice emanated from. "I thought this was supposed to be a break!"

[Rest is essential for optimal performance, Host. However, it would be wise to review—]

"Nope!" I cut it off, shoving the blankets over my head like they were some magical shield against responsibility. "No tasks, no training, no responsibilities. Just me, my bed, and maybe some snacks if Ananara bothers to show up."

There was a pause, long enough to make me wonder if the system had finally given up.

[Very well. Enjoy your... reprieve.]

The faint trace of judgment in its tone was undeniable, but I ignored it. Rolling onto my side, I stared out the window, where the pale morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. The demon capital sprawled out in the distance, its towering spires and ominous architecture somehow looking less threatening when I wasn't being forced to scale them or dodge fireballs.

I decided to venture out of bed, my curiosity eventually outweighing my exhaustion. The thick carpets cushioned my steps as I padded over to the wardrobe. If today was truly mine to enjoy, I might as well dress the part.

By the time I made it to the dining hall, the aroma of fresh-baked bread and spiced tea was already wafting through the air. To my surprise, the room was empty save for a single, familiar pineapple perched smugly on the table.

"Well, well, if it isn't my absentee familiar," I said, dropping into a chair with exaggerated exhaustion. "What's the deal, Ananara? You've been sneaking off more than usual."

The pineapple sniffed or at least made a sound that vaguely resembled a sniff. "Unlike you, Host, I have duties that extend beyond loafing around and complaining."

"Loafing?!" I grabbed a slice of bread and waved it at him accusingly. "I've been training nonstop! I deserve to loaf!"

Ananara didn't dignify that with a response, but his silence spoke volumes.

I spent the morning exploring the quieter corners of the castle, marveling at how different everything felt when I wasn't racing against some dire deadline. The library, usually a place of hurried research, became a sanctuary of towering shelves and forgotten stories. The gardens, bathed in the golden glow of mid-morning light, were a riot of color and fragrance. Even the kitchens well, they were still chaos, but at least I wasn't the one being yelled at this time.

Lunch was a decadent affair. The chefs, perhaps sensing my need for indulgence, prepared an array of dishes so extravagant that even Ananara was impressed.

"This is acceptable," he conceded after sampling a spiced fruit compote.

"High praise coming from you," I muttered, savoring a bite of honeyed pastries.

By mid-afternoon, I found myself back in the gardens, lounging on a sun-warmed bench. Enara had yet to appear, presumably occupied with some royal duty, and Daena had given me strict instructions to "relax and do nothing." For once, I intended to listen.

[Host, your heart rate has lowered significantly. This state of relaxation is beneficial.]

"Thanks for the analysis, system," I replied dryly, staring up at the sky. "Any other fun facts about my body you'd like to share?"

[Your magical reserves are recovering at a rate of 12% per hour. This pace is—]

"Stop," I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Just let me have this one day, okay?"

[Understood.]

For a moment, I thought I detected a note of amusement in its tone, but surely that was just my imagination.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Was I wasting time? Should I be doing something more productive?

Then I remembered the chaos of the past weeks the battles, the training, the constant pressure to prove myself. No, today wasn't wasted. It was a reminder that even in the midst of all the madness, I was still allowed to breathe.

As I made my way back to my chambers, Ananara trailing behind with his usual air of superiority, I caught sight of Daena watching from a balcony above. She gave me a small nod, her expression unreadable.

As I made my way back to my chambers, the corridors seemed quieter than usual. The castle's usual buzz of activity felt muted, like even the stone walls were enjoying their respite. Ananara floated lazily behind me, humming what could only be described as an off-key symphony of smug superiority.

"You know," I began, glancing over my shoulder, "for someone who does so much 'important work,' you sure have a lot of free time to follow me around."

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"Correction," Ananara replied, his tone dripping with condescension. "I follow you because your life is a continuous cavalcade of poor decisions, and someone must document it for posterity."

"Posterity?" I snorted, pushing open the door to my room. "You're a pineapple, not a historian."

Ignoring him, I stepped inside and flopped onto my bed, the softness enveloping me like a cloud. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was no immediate danger, no looming responsibility. Just me, my thoughts, and—

[Host, I detect elevated levels of fatigue in your system. Shall I analyze further?]

I groaned. "System, you don't need to analyze everything. Sometimes a girl just wants to lie down and not think about magical reserves or optimal heart rates, okay?"

[Noted.]

There it was again—a subtle inflection in the system's voice, like it was humoring me. Could an artificial construct develop a sense of humor, or was I just imagining it?

Before I could dwell on it further, there was a knock at the door.

"Enter!" I called, half-expecting to see Daena or Enara. Instead, a young maid stepped inside, bowing so low that her braid nearly touched the floor.

"Miss Liria," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "The royal kitchens have prepared a special evening tea for you. Would you like it brought here, or shall I set it up in the garden?"

I blinked. Special evening tea? For me?

"Uh, the garden," I replied, sitting up. "Why not?"

The maid scurried off, and I glanced at Ananara, who was perched arrogantly on my desk.

"Special tea," I mused aloud. "Think they're finally acknowledging my greatness?"

"Or they've mistaken you for someone important," Ananara quipped.

I threw a pillow at him, which he narrowly avoided, floating just out of reach with an infuriating chuckle.

A few minutes later, I found myself in the castle's western garden, where a table had been set up amidst the twilight blooms. The air was cool but pleasant, and the lanterns hanging from the trees cast a warm, golden glow over the scene.

The spread was impressive: a porcelain teapot emitting fragrant steam, delicate pastries arranged in perfect symmetry, and even a small platter of sliced fruits that looked like they'd been carved by an artist.

As I settled into the cushioned chair, I couldn't help but feel a pang of suspicion. This was... too nice.

[Host, caution is advised. This level of hospitality may be unusual, given the circumstances.]

"You think?" I muttered under my breath.

Still, the allure of freshly baked scones proved stronger than my paranoia. I poured myself a cup of tea, the liquid a deep amber hue, and took a tentative sip. It was spiced with cinnamon and honey, warming me from the inside out.

"Not bad," I admitted, reaching for a pastry.

As I bit into a flaky, cream-filled delicacy, I heard footsteps approaching. Turning, I saw Enara strolling toward me, her expression a mix of amusement and mock indignation.

"And here I thought you were resting," she said, taking the seat across from me without waiting for an invitation.

"I am resting," I replied, gesturing to the table. "This is self-care."

Enara raised an eyebrow. "Self-care involves eating your weight in pastries?"

"Absolutely."

She rolled her eyes but reached for a scone, taking a small, dignified bite. For a moment, the two of us simply enjoyed the peace, the soft hum of the evening filling the silence.

"I heard Daena made sure you got today off," Enara said after a while, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I nodded, swallowing a mouthful of tea. "Yeah. She said I've been pushing myself too hard."

"Or she's just tired of seeing Seraphis try to break you," Enara said with a smirk. "You know they used to—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I interrupted, waving a hand. "Ex-lovers, bad blood, eternal grudge match. You don't have to keep reminding me."

Enara's smirk widened. "I just think it's funny. Seraphis acts so high and mighty, but Daena has her wrapped around her little finger."

"Speaking of Daena," I said, changing the subject, "has she been acting... weird to you lately?"

Enara tilted her head. "Weird how?"

I hesitated, unsure how to put it into words. "I don't know. Just... watching me more closely than usual. Like she's waiting for something."

Enara's expression grew thoughtful. "She's probably just worried. You've been through a lot recently."

"Maybe," I muttered, though the feeling lingered.

Before I could dwell on it further, Ananara materialized on the table, eyeing the remains of the pastries with disdain.

"Truly, your ability to indulge in mediocrity is unparalleled," he said, snatching a crumb and inspecting it like it might offend him.

Enara snorted. "You really know how to pick your familiars, Liria."