Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

Liria blinked. "Wait… one experience?" she thought, her inner voice thick with confusion. She\'d received more than that from dispatching the smallest forest creatures. Even the least menacing rabbit had given her a minimum of ten. She glanced down at Rikan, her disbelief quickly morphing into amused incredulity.

"[Use Observation, please,]" she thought, a smirk curling at her lips.

[Target: Rikan Blackthorn

Level: -2

Health: 10/10

Strength: 0

Agility: 0

Endurance: 0

Magic: 0]

Liria had to suppress a laugh. She stared at Rikan as he scrambled to his feet, looking somewhere between outraged and humiliated. She didn\'t need the System to tell her how pathetically weak he was; that status page was proof enough.

"You cheated!" he accused, his face twisted with indignation. "No way a human could win like that without using dirty tricks!"

"Of course. Cheating," she replied dryly, unable to resist the sarcasm edging into her tone. "A reasonable assumption."

He shot her a final look of disdain and stalked off, muttering to himself, convinced that her victory was somehow underhanded. Liria just shook her head, amused. He clearly had a fragile ego to match his fragile stats.

[An impressive new friend you\'ve made,] the System chuckled.

"Friend? I\'d rather befriend a brick wall," she thought with an internal sigh.

"That looked exhilarating," Daena\'s voice interrupted. She had been watching from the sidelines, her eyes glinting with amusement as she walked over to Liria. "Congratulations, seems you\'ve made a new friend, dear."

Liria couldn\'t even muster a reply to that. She just raised her eyebrows, giving Daena a look that spoke volumes. Daena chuckled, clearly entertained, and motioned for her to follow.

"Come on. After a duel like that, you\'ve surely earned breakfast."

Liria gladly followed Daena to the royal dining hall, and upon entering, she found Enara and her parents already seated, all dressed in morning finery. Enara\'s eyes narrowed as Liria approached. She gave her a smirk that hinted at trouble.

"Good morning, \'bodyguard,\'" Enara drawled, rolling her eyes as Liria took a seat. "Sleep well? I imagine it must be hard with so much dirt on your boots from that morning \'duel.\' I\'m surprised you\'re not limping."

Liria gave her a tight smile, resisting the urge to comment. She glanced at Daena, who looked far too entertained by Enara\'s jabs. Breakfast passed with Enara trying to poke fun at every minor thing she could observe about Liria, from her posture to the way she poured her tea. Liria was barely listening, her mind drifting as Enara droned on.

[If she worked half as hard at being a princess as she does at mocking you, she\'d be unstoppable,] the System remarked dryly.

"Don\'t tempt me to respond," Liria thought back, half-amused.

Just when she thought she could at least finish breakfast in peace, the double doors of the hall swung open dramatically, and Milara entered, looking resplendent in her usual luxurious attire. She was flanked by her parents, who were no less impressive. Her father was a towering demon with sleek black hair and striking red eyes, his clothing impeccably tailored and adorned with glistening silver cuffs. Her mother, just as striking, wore flowing red silks, her dark purple hair swept back elegantly, with sharp, assessing eyes that flicked to Liria almost immediately.

"Good morning, everyone," Milara greeted, her eyes locking onto Liria with an expression that could only be described as pure adoration.

Milara\'s mother stepped forward, her gaze shifting between Liria and Milara, her mouth curving into a smile. "I understand that you\'ve… captured my daughter\'s interest," she said, her voice smooth and almost musical.

Liria could feel the other royals\' eyes turning toward her. She smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond to this undercurrent of formal intensity.

Milara\'s father cleared his throat, a hand resting on his daughter\'s shoulder. "We were informed that you have shared a moment of deep significance with Milara."

Liria glanced at Milara, bewildered. She had no idea what they were talking about.

Milara\'s eyes sparkled with excitement, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Liria gave me my first kiss," she announced, her voice filled with glee.

Liria\'s eyes widened. The cheek! That barely counts as a kiss, she thought, struggling to keep her face composed.

"Therefore," Milara\'s father continued, a smile breaking through his serious expression, "we can only assume that marriage arrangements are in order."

Liria stared, caught between horror and the overwhelming urge to laugh. Marriage? Over a cheek kiss? She glanced around, noting how everyone else seemed to be holding their breath, as if awaiting her response with scandalized interest.Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

Milara, on the other hand, looked radiant, clasping her hands together with a dreamy sigh as though already hearing wedding bells. "Oh, Liria," she whispered. "I just knew you\'d accept."

Liria cleared her throat, resisting the urge to correct her. "Milara, I think there\'s a bit of a misunderstanding. Where I come from, a kiss on the cheek is...well, just a friendly gesture. It doesn\'t mean we\'re engaged."

Milara\'s parents exchanged a look, one that suggested they were absolutely not buying it. "Ah, but intentions speak volumes, don\'t they?" Milara\'s mother intoned, raising an eyebrow.

[This is certainly an unexpected turn in your social life,] the System chimed in, amused. [Seems you\'ve already gained the attention of nobility!]

Not helping, System, Liria thought back, trying her hardest not to break into nervous laughter.

"Your protests are endearing, but unnecessary, Liria," Milara\'s father insisted, sounding deeply pleased. "We are thrilled to welcome you into the family."

Enara, clearly entertained, leaned back in her seat, smirking. "Oh, this is priceless," she murmured under her breath. "The \'great\' bodyguard, ensnared by Milara."

Liria shot her a glare, which only made Enara\'s smirk widen. Daena, however, was grinning in full, clearly delighted at Liria\'s predicament.

Desperate, Liria turned to Daena, hoping for some form of help, but Daena just shrugged, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Seems you have quite the following, granddaughter."

Liria groaned internally, realizing she\'d find no ally here. "Look, Milara, I think we may be rushing things just a tad. Maybe we could…slow down and get to know each other better first?"

Milara gasped, clutching her chest as though Liria had just declared a vow of eternal love. "Of course! How considerate of you, my love. I, too, believe in savoring our precious moments together." She nodded solemnly. "A slow, beautiful courtship it is!"

[Seems like you\'ve won yourself a devoted admirer,] the System teased, [and perhaps a permanent spot in family reunions.]

Liria sighed, half-amused, half-trapped. Of all the problems a transmigrated cannon fodder could face, she thought, how did mine turn into being engaged to a demon noble after a cheek kiss?