Reincarnated as the Villainess's Unlucky Bodyguard

Chapter 53 A Sabotage in the Making

Liria sighed, flopping back onto her bed. "Great. Now even the pineapple is being weird."

Ananara, still perched on the chair, let out an exaggerated yawn, his leafy top drooping as he slid off the cushion. "Weird? I'm exhausted, thank you very much. My brilliance takes energy." He waddled toward the corner of the room, muttering something about ungrateful mortals, and promptly curled up in a suspiciously cozy pile of Liria's spare blankets.

She rolled her eyes, grateful for the silence. "Finally," she muttered, staring at the ceiling.

[You're lucky he didn't demand a bedtime story,] the system quipped.

"Please don't give him ideas," Liria grumbled, her voice low.

The system, as usual, ignored her complaint. [So, what's the plan? You can't exactly stroll into training with Seraphis now, can you? Not with that new distrust brewing in your mind.]

Liria frowned. "No kidding. If half of what Enara said is true, I want nothing to do with her. But how do I get out of this without making things worse?"

[You could try feigning incompetence,] the system suggested. [Or maybe developing a sudden and mysterious aversion to training.]

Liria snorted. "Yeah, because the demon queen's ex is totally going to fall for that. No, I need something better. Something foolproof."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

[Foolproof? From you?] the system teased.

"Har har," she muttered, sitting up. "First, I need to know if Enara's gossip holds any water. And there's only one person who can confirm that."

[Daena?]

"Bingo," Liria said, swinging her legs off the bed. "Time for a late-night heart-to-heart with everyone's favorite retired demon queen."

[And by heart-to-heart, you mean barging into her room and demanding answers?]

"Exactly."

The system sighed. [At least you're self-aware.]

Liria crept out of her room, careful not to wake anyone or alert Ananara, who was snoring softly in his blanket nest. The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering sconces casting long shadows that made her shiver despite herself.

Daena's chambers were at the far end of the hall, guarded by an ominously carved door featuring snarling demon faces. Liria paused in front of it, suddenly second-guessing her decision.

[Scared?] the system asked, its tone almost smug.

"No," she hissed. "Just... mentally preparing."

[Sure.]

Gritting her teeth, Liria knocked on the door.

Nothing.

She knocked again, louder this time.

"What?" came Daena's voice, muffled but unmistakably irritated.

Daena eyed her suspiciously but didn't press the issue. "Just be careful, Liria. Seraphis is cunning. Don't let her manipulate you."

"Noted," Liria said, slipping out the door.

[So? What's the plan now?] the system asked as she made her way back to her room.

"Simple," Liria whispered, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "I'm going to make her regret choosing me as her apprentice."

[You're playing a dangerous game, Liria.]

"Dangerous is my middle name," she quipped.

[No, it isn't.]

"Shut up."

As Liria padded quietly back to her room, her grin only widened. She could already feel the thrill of her plan taking shape. Seraphis might be cunning, but Liria had spent her whole life navigating chaos—and if chaos was the game, she would win.

[This is either brilliant or doomed,] the system said, breaking the silence in her head. [Care to explain the genius part to me?]

"It's simple," Liria whispered. "If Seraphis is looking for a star apprentice, I'll make myself the exact opposite. No teacher wants to waste their time on someone who's utterly hopeless."

[You mean you're going to fake incompetence?]

"Exactly," she said, smirking. "But not just incompetence chaotic, infuriating, 'oh-why-did-I-ever-agree-to-this' incompetence."

[And you're sure she'll just drop you? What if she doubles down, trying to 'fix' you?]

Liria paused mid-step, her confidence wavering. "I'll cross that bridge if I get to it," she muttered.

[That's... not comforting.]

"Relax," she said, waving off the system's concerns. "I've got this. I just need to figure out how to really sell it."

Her thoughts spun as she entered her room and found Ananara still snoozing in his blanket cocoon, occasionally mumbling something about sandy dunes. She tiptoed past him, flopping onto her bed and staring at the ceiling.

"Tomorrow's going to be fun," she said quietly.

[Fun for you, maybe. For me, this feels like impending disaster.]

"Disaster is just success in disguise," Liria said, yawning as her eyelids grew heavy.

[That's not how that works.]

"Goodnight, System," she mumbled, her grin softening as sleep began to claim her.

[Good luck, Saboteur Extraordinaire,] it replied dryly.

Liria drifted off, her mind full of chaotic schemes and a stubborn determination to outwit the demoness who dared to make her an apprentice.