Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

The royal carriage bumped along the winding road to the Academy, the lush, dark forests stretching endlessly outside the windows. Liria sat stiffly across from Enara, her chin propped on her hand, while Ananara perched on the seat beside her, radiating his usual haughty disdain.

Enara leaned forward, her piercing midnight eyes narrowing. "You've been fidgeting since we left. Spill it. What's wrong?"

Liria blinked at her, startled. "What? Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

"Liria." Enara's tone was sharp enough to cut through steel. "You're the worst liar I've ever met. Something's clearly bothering you."

Ananara didn't even bother looking up. "She's probably just nervous about being dragged back to face Seraphis. Honestly, if I had any semblance of pride, I'd jump out of this moving carriage before groveling to that woman."

"I'm not groveling," Liria shot back defensively, though her shoulders stiffened at the mention of the principal. "I'm just—"

[What's going on?]

The familiar mechanical voice of her system cut into her thoughts, and Liria had to fight the urge to physically react.

Oh, you're back? Took you long enough, she replied silently, keeping her expression neutral.

[Don't sass me. I was temporarily disconnected for a few minutes. Something interfered with my signal. What happened?]

You tell me, she thought with a mental shrug. You're the all-knowing one.

[Don't play coy. Did you feel anything unusual? A disturbance in your emotions or surroundings?]

You mean aside from the fact that I've got an angry principal waiting to roast me alive? Nope. Business as usual.

[Hmm. This isn't the first time my connection's been disrupted recently. It could be related to—]

"Liria, are you even listening to me?" Enara snapped, her voice cutting through Liria's internal dialogue.

"Yes! Totally listening!" Liria said hurriedly, only to realize she had no idea what Enara had been saying.

Enara sighed dramatically. "You're impossible. Just don't embarrass me when we get there, okay?"

"Define 'embarrass,'" Liria muttered, earning a smirk from Ananara and an exasperated groan from Enara.

When the carriage rolled to a stop outside the Academy's grand gates, Liria stepped out with a sense of impending doom. The towering spires loomed above her like judgmental fingers pointing out her crimes.

"Here we go," she muttered under her breath.

As they entered the main hall, students bustled around them, casting curious glances at Liria. Some whispered to each other, clearly having heard about the incident in the principal's office.

"Don't look so guilty," Enara whispered, giving her a small nudge. "You're making it obvious."

"I can't help it!" Liria hissed. "Everyone's staring at me like I'm some kind of delinquent."

"Gee, I wonder why," Ananara said dryly, floating just behind her.

Before Liria could retort, a sharp voice rang out behind them.

"Miss Silverthorn."

She turned to see one of the Academy's attendants, dressed in a crisp black uniform, staring at her with a stony expression.

"The principal has requested your presence in her office. Immediately."

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Liria sighed heavily. "Of course, she has."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Enara gave her an encouraging look. "You've got this. Just… try not to set anything on fire this time."

"No promises," Liria muttered as she followed the attendant.

Seraphis's office was exactly as intimidating as Liria remembered, though it had been meticulously restored after the last time she was here. The walls gleamed with dark wood paneling, and the scent of burnt parchment had been replaced with lavender incense.

Principal Seraphis stood behind her desk, her crimson lips pressed into a thin line. Her piercing silver eyes locked onto Liria the moment she entered.

"Miss Silverthorn," she said, her voice cold and precise. "Have a seat."

Liria swallowed hard and sat down, trying to ignore the weight of the principal's gaze.

"I trust you understand why you're here," Seraphis began, folding her hands neatly on the desk.

"Yes," Liria said quickly, her voice small.

The principal raised an eyebrow. "Do you, now? Because the destruction you caused in this very office suggests otherwise."

Liria's cheeks burned. She'd been prepared for this, but that didn't make it any easier.

"I…" She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. For what I did. It was wrong, and I shouldn't have… uh… burned everything down."

Seraphis's eyes narrowed slightly. "Go on."

Liria shifted uncomfortably. "And I shouldn't have… um… insulted you. Or well, maybe you deserved some of it, but—"

The principal's glare intensified, and Liria quickly backtracked.

"I mean, I'm really sorry! It won't happen again. Probably."

Seraphis leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. "You realize an apology doesn't erase the damage you've done. Trust is not so easily rebuilt."

"I know," Liria said, staring down at her hands. "But I'm trying to do better. Even if I mess up sometimes. A lot of times. But still."

The silence stretched for a moment before Seraphis sighed. "Very well. I accept your apology for now. But you'll need to prove that you can handle yourself with more maturity."

Liria nodded quickly. "Got it. No more fire. Scout's honor."

"And another thing," Seraphis added, her tone sharp. "I assume this means you're ready to take your apprenticeship seriously."

Liria froze. "Uh… about that."

The principal's eyes narrowed again. "What about it?"

"I, uh…" Liria scratched the back of her head, trying to find the right words. "I've been thinking, and… maybe being your apprentice isn't the best idea for me."

Seraphis's expression darkened. "Excuse me?"

"It's not you," Liria said quickly. "It's me. I just don't think we're… compatible. Like, our teaching styles, and, uh, personalities. You know?"

The principal's glare could have melted steel.

"Miss Silverthorn," she said slowly, her voice dripping with menace, "are you telling me that you set my office on fire just to avoid becoming my apprentice?"

Liria winced. "Well, when you put it like that, it sounds bad. But… yes?"

The room fell deathly silent. For a moment, Liria thought Seraphis might actually explode.

Then, to her surprise, the principal let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

"You truly are insufferable," Seraphis said, shaking her head. "But fine. If you're so determined to squander this opportunity, I won't waste my time trying to change your mind."

Liria blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, really? You're letting me off the hook?"

"For now," Seraphis said, her silver eyes gleaming. "But mark my words, Miss Silverthorn: one day, you'll regret walking away from this."

"Noted," Liria said, rising quickly to her feet. "Thanks for understanding! Gotta go!"

She bolted from the office before the principal could change her mind, her heart pounding in her chest.

Back in the hallway, Liria let out a long sigh of relief.

[That could have gone worse,] the system remarked dryly.

No kidding, Liria thought. I'm just glad I survived.

[You may have survived, but I wouldn't get too comfortable. Seraphis doesn't strike me as the forgiving type.]