Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

The table was a feast to behold piles of pastries dusted with powdered sugar, roasted meats glazed with honey, fresh fruits arranged like a painter's palette, and steaming mugs of enchanted hot cocoa that swirled on their own.

Liria yawned as she trudged into the room, her mismatched eyes bleary. Her usually well-kept hair was a chaotic mess, and she was still wrapped in a blanket she'd dragged from her room.

"I hope the coffee is spiked," she muttered, dropping into the nearest chair.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine," Daena quipped from the head of the table. The former Demon Queen looked as regal as ever despite the absurd holiday sweater she wore a vibrant red monstrosity adorned with glowing runes and a cartoonish depiction of her whipping some poor mortal into submission.

Liria squinted at her. "Are those enchanted lights?"

"They blink in sync with my mood," Daena replied smugly, sipping from a mug that read World's Most Fearsome Grandma.

"Subtle," Liria deadpanned.

Before Daena could retort, the door burst open, and in came Enara, looking far too chipper for the early hour. She was followed closely by her parents, Queen Verida and Queen Nyssara. The royal couple looked every bit as intimidating as ever, though Nyssara had added a festive touch with a midnight-blue cloak embroidered with shimmering snowflakes. Verida, however, seemed to have been dragged into the spirit against her will—her muscular frame was wrapped in a green sweater that said Jingle Hell in bold, glowing letters.

"Good, you're all awake," Enara announced, clapping her hands.

"Barely," Liria grumbled, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

Nyssara leaned over to Daena, a sly smile on her lips. "She still not a morning person?"

"Worse," Daena replied. "Now she's not a morning person and a sarcastic brat."

"I can hear you," Liria said without looking up.

"Good," Daena shot back.

Riven appeared next, running into the room with all the energy of a child hyped on sugar. He was dressed in pajamas adorned with tiny swords and shields, his hair sticking up in every direction. Behind him stomped Ananara, now reduced to normal pineapple size but still managing to radiate an air of superiority.

"Why must mornings exist?" the familiar grumbled, floating lazily toward the table.

"They exist for breakfast," Riven declared, climbing onto a chair and immediately reaching for a platter of pastries.

"Hands off until everyone's seated," Verida commanded, her golden eyes narrowing.

Riven froze, his tiny fingers hovering over a croissant. "Yes, Grandma Verida," he mumbled, retracting his hand.

"That's a first," Liria said, smirking. "Usually, he doesn't listen to anyone."

"Fear is a powerful motivator," Verida replied, taking her seat.

Nyssara chuckled as she slid into the chair beside her wife. "Let's not scare the boy before he's had breakfast."

Once everyone was seated, the room descended into a joyful chaos of clinking plates, laughter, and lively banter.

"Riven," Daena said between bites of roasted ham, "did you enjoy your presents?"

"Yes!" he said, beaming. "Especially the sword!"

"What kind of lunatic gives a seven-year-old a sword?" Verida asked, raising a brow at Enara.

"The practical kind," Enara replied without missing a beat. "He needs to be prepared for life."

"Prepared for what, exactly?" Nyssara asked, her lilac eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Everything," Enara said dramatically. "Assassins, rival kingdoms, rogue pineapples."

Ananara scoffed, his tiny golden crown gleaming. "You wish I'd lower myself to such pettiness."

"I still don't understand how he got a crown," Verida muttered.

"He made it himself," Liria said, finally looking more awake as she reached for another cup of coffee. "He's very resourceful when it comes to inflating his own ego."

"And what an ego it is," Daena added, smirking.

As the meal continued, Riven began recounting his dreams from the night before, involving heroic battles and saving his parents from a dragon made entirely of candy canes.

"That's oddly specific," Liria said, trying not to laugh.

"It was scary!" Riven insisted. "It tried to eat me!"

"You'd probably taste like sugar," Enara teased, ruffling his hair.

Once breakfast was over, the family gathered in the sitting room, where a pile of unopened gifts awaited. The tree sparkled with enchanted lights, casting a warm glow over the room.

"Let's get this over with," Verida said, though the slight curl of her lips betrayed her excitement.

The next hour was a whirlwind of torn wrapping paper, excited shouts, and sarcastic commentary. Daena received a new whip ("Finally, something useful," she said), Nyssara unwrapped a set of starry night-themed jewelry, and Verida begrudgingly accepted a cookbook titled Hellfire Recipes for the Busy Queen.

Liria opened a box to find a sleek new sword with a hilt that shimmered like molten silver.

"This is beautiful," she said, running her fingers along the blade. Explore more adventures at empiren/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You deserve the best," Enara said softly, earning a rare smile from Liria.

Riven, meanwhile, was buried in a mountain of toys, books, and clothes, his laughter echoing through the room.

As the day wore on, the family settled into a comfortable rhythm. Ananara floated in a corner, grumbling about the "over-commercialization of mortal holidays," while Daena and Verida engaged in a heated debate over the best way to intimidate a would-be assassin.

Liria and Enara sat together on a couch, watching Riven attempt to teach himself swordsmanship with his new weapon.

"Your swing's not bad," Liria told him, "but your form is all wrong."

Riven frowned at his mother. "You always say I'm perfect."

"I mean you're perfect for me," Liria replied.

Enara chuckled, leaning in to press her lips against Liria's ear. "She means you're a menace who won't stop picking fights until you've run through every toy soldier in the kingdom."

"That's not true!" Riven protested, brandishing his sword.

Enara and Liria burst out laughing at the sight of him.

"Alright, alright," Riven muttered, dropping his weapon. "I'm going to go play with my new bow."

He stomped off toward the tree, where he'd stashed his latest acquisition—a toy bow made entirely of glowing silver, complete with a set of star-tipped arrows.

"Careful with those," Daena called as Riven disappeared behind the tree. "You're likely to take an eye out."

The sound of clashing steel echoed through the room, followed by Riven's frustrated cry: "It's not fair!"

Liria shot Enara a questioning glance. "What's going on now?"

"He's trying to fight his own reflection in the tree," Enara replied, shaking her head.

Verida and Nyssara laughed from their spot by the fireplace, where they sat sipping spiced cider and discussing the finer points of swordsmanship.

"We should really teach him how to throw fire," Verida suggested.

"I'm not sure he needs more encouragement," Nyssara said, her eyes twinkling. "Though it would be nice to see him best one of those toy knights."

Liria sighed, tossing her head back. "This is ridiculous."

"Come on," Enara whispered, her hand creeping onto Liria's thigh. "It's Christmas."

Liria raised a brow at her. "That's no excuse."

"Doesn't have to be," Enara said, leaning in for a kiss.

The rest of the day was spent in blissful chaos—the family laughed, bickered, and enjoyed each other's company as the sun shone brightly overhead.

As the afternoon waned and evening approached, they gathered around the fireplace, watching as Riven attempted to roast marshmallows without catching anything on fire.

"Here, let me do it," Nyssara offered, taking the stick from her grandson. "It's all about patience."

Riven scowled. "I don't need help."

"You definitely do," Ananara said from his spot on Liria's shoulder.

"Mind your business," Riven said, turning away in a huff.

The room descended into an easy silence as Nyssara expertly roasted the marshmallows and distributed them among the family. Liria smiled at Enara as they shared their treat, their tongues tangling in a sweet kiss.

As the night wore on and the last of the marshmallows were devoured, the family settled in for a well-deserved rest. They all gathered in Riven's room, where they spent the evening telling stories and laughing as their son played with his new toys.

As Liria leaned back against Enara, her head on her lover's shoulder and her eyes on her son, she couldn't help but think it was the best Christmas she'd ever had.

"That was fun," Enara murmured, pressing her lips against Liria's cheek.

"It was," Liria agreed, smiling as she turned her head to meet Enara's eyes.

"We make a good family," Enara said, pulling her closer.

Liria chuckled. "We're definitely something."

"Good enough for me," Enara said. She kissed Liria again, soft and slow, before drawing back with a grin. "Shall we go put on something more comfortable?"

Liria smirked, leaning in for another kiss. "I thought we were getting some rest."

"Oh, this is rest," Enara insisted, her hands sliding up Liria's side.

Liria laughed, standing up to pull Enara out of the room. "Of course you'd think that."

As they left, Nyssara turned to Verida with a knowing look. "I do believe they're sneaking off to have sex."

Verida snorted. "What a surprise."

"It's cute," Nyssara teased.

"It's gross," Verida countered.

"Come on, let's leave them alone," Daena suggested, standing up from her spot on the floor. "We can give them a few hours before we send Riven to go find them."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Ananara declared, already floating toward the door.

Verida and Nyssara followed, laughing as they left Liria and Enara to their antics. Riven settled in with a book, too excited to sleep, and the night slipped away into a warm, cozy silence.

Christmas morning may have started in chaos, but it was ending in peace.