Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Deep within the Abyssal Rift, where time stretched infinitely and light dared not linger, the Dark Sovereign sat upon her throne of obsidian and fire. The air around her was thick with power, suffocating and intoxicating to those who knelt in her presence. Her golden eyes, molten like the core of a sun, blazed with an intensity that silenced even the boldest of her followers.

The room, cavernous and jagged, echoed with murmured whispers and the distant crackle of abyssal flames. Around her, shadowy figures knelt, their forms flickering between solid and spectral, as though the Rift itself struggled to hold their existence together. These were her most loyal followers, those who had given their very essence to serve her will.

The Dark Sovereign's lips curled into a smile—not warm, but razor-sharp. She leaned forward, her crimson skin glowing faintly in the flickering light. "Speak," she commanded, her voice a symphony of menace and allure. "What news do you bring me?"

A figure stepped forward, his features obscured by a hood that seemed to drink in the surrounding light. His voice was low, reverent. "My Sovereign, your daughter continues to grow stronger. She has begun to wield the black flames, though she remains unaware of their true origin."

The Dark Sovereign's smile widened. "Good. The seeds I planted are bearing fruit. And what of her guardians? The fools who think they can shield her from her destiny?"

Another figure, a woman with silver markings etched into her shadowy form, spoke up. "They suspect nothing. They see her as a curiosity, an anomaly. Even Daena, with all her vigilance, does not yet comprehend the truth."

The Dark Sovereign laughed, a sound that sent shivers through the air. "Daena. Ever the watchdog. She was a thorn in my side once, and now she guards my greatest weapon without realizing it. Poetic, isn't it?"

Her gaze shifted, piercing through the space as if seeing something far beyond the Rift. She had watched Liria stumble and rise, struggle and triumph. The child was as stubborn as she was, a fact that amused the Dark Sovereign greatly.

"She's strong," the Dark Sovereign said, her voice softening with a hint of pride. "Stronger than I expected. But she will need more than strength. What of the others?"

The hooded figure hesitated. "Your spies report progress in sowing discord. The princess, Enara, grows attached to her. Their bond could be exploited when the time is right."

The Dark Sovereign's eyes narrowed. "Careful. The princess is no fool. She's her mother's daughter sharp and unyielding. Push too hard, and she'll turn against us."

The silver-marked woman stepped forward. "My Sovereign, there is a new development. The taupe within the academy has uncovered a secret archive documents that may reveal a way to weaken the seal that binds you."

For the first time, the Dark Sovereign's expression shifted, her interest piqued. "An archive, you say? And what do these documents suggest?"

"They are fragmented, but they speak of an ancient ritual. One that requires… her," the woman said carefully, gesturing vaguely as though Liria was present.

A heavy silence fell over the chamber. The Dark Sovereign's gaze turned inward, calculating.

"Of course," she murmured, almost to herself. "The child was always the key. Her existence is a perfect paradox half human, half demon. A bridge between realms. With her, the Abyss can spill into their world."

The hooded figure bowed deeply. "Your insight is unparalleled, Sovereign. How shall we proceed?"

The Dark Sovereign rose from her throne, the movement graceful and predatory. Her hair, a cascade of living fire, swirled as though caught in an unseen wind. "We proceed carefully. The time is not yet right to reveal our hand. Ensure the taupe remains undetected. Let them feed me every scrap of information they uncover."

"And the child?" the silver-marked woman asked hesitantly.

The Dark Sovereign's smile returned, dark and dangerous. "Watch her. Guide her, if necessary. But do not interfere directly. Her journey must remain her own she must believe she is carving her own path."

Her voice hardened. "But should anyone discover the truth Daena, the queens, or even that meddlesome Seraphis ensure they are silenced. Permanently."

The followers murmured their assent, their forms flickering as they bowed lower.

In a quieter corner of the Rift, a figure sat hunched over a table covered in scrolls and glowing runes. The taupe within the academy, a master of deception, worked tirelessly to unravel the secrets of the archive. Their identity remained shrouded, even to the other followers, but their loyalty to the Dark Sovereign was absolute.

They muttered to themselves, their hands moving swiftly over the parchment. "The seal's weakness… it's here, somewhere. The ritual aligns with her awakening. If I can just—"

A surge of dark energy swept through the room, and the taupe froze, glancing up.

The Dark Sovereign's voice echoed in their mind, a command impossible to ignore. Do not fail me.

"I won't," the taupe whispered, their voice trembling. "For you, Sovereign, I'll see this through."

Back in her throne room, the Dark Sovereign dismissed her followers with a wave of her hand. As they vanished into the shadows, she remained, her golden eyes glowing with an intensity that could pierce worlds.

She reached out with her mind, her power brushing against the threads of reality. She could feel Liria's presence, vibrant and defiant, like a flame refusing to be snuffed out.

"You will be mine," the Dark Sovereign whispered, her voice a blend of affection and possession. "Not even the Abyss can keep us apart."

She leaned back, her laughter filling the Rift, a sound that promised both triumph and terror.

The Dark Sovereign sat alone on her throne, the silence of the Abyssal Rift broken only by the soft crackle of the ever-present flames. Her mind remained fixed on Liria, the daughter she had not seen since the day she had been ripped away. It wasn't love that bound her to the girl—it was destiny, woven tightly into the fabric of both their existences.

Stretching her hand out, the Dark Sovereign conjured an image in the air. A shimmering portal flickered to life, showing Liria as she moved about the castle's royal kitchens, surrounded by Enara and the demon cooks. The girl's energy was unmistakable, her black-and-silver hair and mismatched eyes reflecting her unique heritage. Enjoy exclusive content from empire

She watched as Liria's lips curved into a playful smirk, her laughter ringing through the kitchen as she teased Enara about her cooking skills. For a moment, the Dark Sovereign's lips twitched, almost curving into a smile.

"Such fire," she murmured, her golden eyes glowing brighter. "Just like her mother."

But the warmth was fleeting. Her expression hardened as she saw the others around Liria Daena, Verida, Nyssara. Guardians, protectors, obstacles. Each one a barrier between her and her daughter.

"They cling to her like fools," the Dark Sovereign muttered, her voice laced with disdain. "As if their fragile bonds can shield her from her purpose. Pathetic."

Her fingers curled, and the image shifted. Now she saw the taupe within the castle a shadowy figure lurking in a dim corridor. The taupe whispered into the ear of a passing servant, slipping a sealed letter into their hand before vanishing into the shadows.

The Dark Sovereign's lips parted in a satisfied sigh. This particular agent had been placed years ago, their loyalty unwavering. While others sought to protect Liria, this one ensured that the threads of her destiny remained untangled, ready to pull tight when the time was right

The Dark Sovereign waved her hand again, and another vision appeared. This time, it was the school Liria's academy, where the girl's potential had begun to manifest more clearly. The principal, Seraphis, stood at the edge of the vision, her expression as unreadable as ever.

Seraphis had been a surprising variable in the equation. Her power was undeniable, and her connection to Liria had the potential to be either a great asset or an enormous hindrance.

"You tread a dangerous line, Seraphis," the Dark Sovereign said to the vision. "You see her strength, but you don't understand it. Not yet."

The scene shifted again, revealing the shadowy council chamber where the taupe's report had been read aloud. The archive's discovery had been a significant breakthrough. The seal that bound the Dark Sovereign had weakened over the centuries, but not enough.

Not yet.

The air around the Dark Sovereign began to vibrate as tendrils of dark energy coiled from her form. The Rift itself seemed alive, whispering to her, feeding her glimpses of potential futures.

One vision showed Liria standing before her, clad in black flames, her mismatched eyes burning with raw power. In this vision, Liria stood tall, unyielding, her allegiance uncertain. Would she fight beside her mother or against her?

The Dark Sovereign's expression tightened. "It will not come to that," she hissed. "I will not give her a choice."

Another vision emerged, darker and bloodier. Liria lay crumpled on the ground, surrounded by the bodies of her so-called protectors. Her fire had dimmed, snuffed out before it could reach its full potential.

The Dark Sovereign flinched. "No," she growled, banishing the vision with a sharp gesture. "That is not her fate. She is stronger than that."

The Rift murmured again, this time showing glimpses of her followers' work poisoned whispers in the ears of servants, hidden alliances forged in the shadows, and the careful unraveling of the queens' network of trust.

Her agents worked tirelessly, but the Dark Sovereign knew that the final act would require her own hand. She leaned back on her throne, her mind spinning with plans and contingencies.

"Liria," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with power. "Soon, you will stand where you belong by my side. And when that day comes, this world will tremble."