Reincarnated as the Villainess's Unlucky Bodyguard-Chapter 181: Hesitation is a weakness

Liria strode through the obsidian halls of the Abyssal Keep, her footsteps silent despite the weight of her power. The very walls seemed to pulse with energy, whispering her name as if the abyss itself recognized her as its heir.

It had been days since her fight with Enara, Daena, and Ananara. Days since she had let them live.

She should have killed them.

She knew she should have.

And yet, something in her had hesitated, a flicker of something foreign and unwanted. The memory of Enara’s voice furious, desperate lingered like an echo in the back of her mind.

"Liria, you don’t have to do this!"

Liria scoffed, shaking off the memory as she approached the throne room.

Of course she had to do this.

There was no other path.

The Dark Sovereign was already waiting, lounging on the throne as though she had been expecting her. Her golden eyes gleamed with amusement, her dark lips curling into a knowing smirk.

"Ah, my little storm," the Dark Sovereign purred. "You seem troubled."

Liria stopped before the throne, crossing her arms. "I’m not."

Her mother tilted her head, a strand of fire-like hair slipping over one shoulder. "Lying to yourself is a tedious habit. Why waste your energy?"

Liria clenched her jaw. "I hesitated, that’s all."

The Dark Sovereign’s smirk widened. "You think hesitation is weakness?"

"Isn’t it?" Liria countered.

Her mother laughed, the sound smooth and cutting like a blade drawn from its sheath. "Oh, my dear child. Hesitation is simply another word for consideration." She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Tell me, what is it you considered?"

Liria’s fingers curled into fists. "Nothing that matters."

The Dark Sovereign studied her for a moment before sighing, tapping a clawed finger against the throne’s armrest. "Very well. If you insist on pretending this little dilemma is beneath you, I won’t press."

Liria shifted, her unease growing. It was always unsettling when the Dark Sovereign let things go.

She never let things go.

"Your power is growing rapidly," her mother continued, her voice silk and steel. "The abyss bends to you. The flames you wield are no longer merely an imitation of mine; they are something more."

Liria knew that.

She felt it.

Her strength had surpassed anything she could have imagined three years ago. The abyss did not resist her; it welcomed her. She no longer burned with a mortal’s fire, nor did she wield mere magic.

She was becoming.

And yet…

"Something is missing," she admitted, voice quiet.

The Dark Sovereign’s smirk returned. "Now we’re getting somewhere."

Liria exhaled sharply. "I want more. But I don’t know what it is."

Her mother leaned back, expression turning contemplative. "It is completion you seek, my child. You stand on the edge of true power, but you have yet to take the final step."

Liria frowned. "And what step is that?"

The Dark Sovereign’s golden eyes burned brighter. "Acceptance."

Liria stilled.

"Of what?"

"Of what you are," the Dark Sovereign said simply. "You still view yourself as something caught between worlds—part human, part demon, part abyss. You think these aspects define you, when in truth, they do not matter."

Liria’s pulse quickened.

Her mother’s voice was like a melody wrapping around her thoughts, weaving into the cracks she tried to ignore.

"You were never meant to belong to any of them," the Dark Sovereign murmured. "Not to humanity. Not to demons. Not even to the abyss itself."

Liria’s breath hitched.

Her mother’s gaze sharpened. "You belong only to yourself."

Silence stretched between them.

The abyss stirred, as if in agreement.

Liria swallowed hard, the weight of those words settling deep into her bones.

Was it true?

Was that what she had been missing all this time?

Her life had always been dictated by something. The rules of the academy. The expectations placed upon her. The system’s ever-present voice. Even here, in the abyss, she had chosen to follow her mother’s lead.

But what if she didn’t need to?

What if she was something entirely different?

Something new?

A slow, almost dangerous smile curled across her lips.

The Dark Sovereign chuckled. "Ah, there it is. The realization."

Liria exhaled, tilting her head. "If I belong only to myself, then I don’t have to follow your rules, either."

The Dark Sovereign’s laughter was rich with amusement. "Oh, you are delightful, my dear. And absolutely correct."

Liria turned on her heel, walking away from the throne.

She needed time. Needed to think.

Not about Enara.

Not about Daena.

Not about the past.

But about what came next.

Hours later, Liria stood at the edge of the abyss, staring into the endless void. The shadows curled around her ankles, humming like a living thing.

The system, silent for most of the day, finally spoke.

[That was… something.]

Liria smirked. "Jealous?"

[A little. I should be the one guiding your existential crises, not your mother.]

Liria chuckled, running a hand through her midnight-black hair. "She had a point."

[Oh?]

"I’ve spent all this time thinking about where I belong."

[And?]

"And I was asking the wrong question."

The system hummed. [What’s the right one, then?]

Liria’s golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.

"Where do I want to be?"

The abyss whispered around her, waiting.

For the first time in years, she allowed herself to listen.

Not to the Dark Sovereign’s voice. Not to the expectations of others. Not to the weight of what she had become.

Only to herself.

And what did she hear?

A pulse.

Not of the abyss, not of the world she had abandoned, but of something deeper. A hunger that went beyond power, beyond dominance.

It wasn’t about choosing who she belonged to. It was about who she wanted to be.

Her fingers curled at her sides, flames of black and violet flickering at her fingertips. She had spent so long chasing strength, carving herself into a weapon, that she had never stopped to ask if that was all she wanted.

The Dark Sovereign had given her a purpose.

But was it truly hers?

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The system, as always, was watching.

[You’re thinking too much again.]

Liria smirked. "Wouldn’t want that, would we?"

[Definitely not. Every time you start questioning things, chaos follows.]

"Chaos is fun."

[That’s what worries me.]

Liria let the conversation settle as she turned away from the endless void.

The throne room loomed ahead, dark and eternal. The Dark Sovereign was still there, no doubt watching, waiting. Expecting her to come back and accept her place.

Liria narrowed her eyes.

She thinks she’s already won.

The thought burned at her pride.

And maybe that was the problem.

She had let herself become predictable.

Liria hated being predictable.

A slow, dangerous grin spread across her lips.

"Fine," she murmured to herself. "Let’s see how much fun I can have with this."

When she entered the throne room again, the Dark Sovereign lifted her head, golden eyes gleaming. "That was fast."

Liria strode forward, movements smooth, confident. Controlled. "I don’t waste time."

"Mm. Good." The Dark Sovereign watched her carefully. "Have you found your answer?"

Liria tilted her head. "Not quite."

Her mother raised an elegant brow. "Oh?"

"I’m still thinking."

The Dark Sovereign chuckled. "Thinking is dangerous."

Liria smirked. "You’d know."

The golden eyes sharpened slightly, but the smile remained. "And what, exactly, are you thinking about?"

Liria stepped closer, circling the throne like a predator. "You told me I don’t belong to anyone."

"Yes."

"You told me I should claim what’s mine."

"Indeed."

Liria’s smirk widened. "So I’ve decided I want everything."

The Dark Sovereign laughed, rich and pleased. "Now that is the daughter I raised."

Liria stopped at the base of the throne, staring up at the being who had shaped her, twisted her into what she had become. "But if I take everything, that includes you."

For a moment, the Dark Sovereign was silent.

Then, she smiled.

A slow, knowing smile.

"Interesting."

Liria let her flames flicker to life, shadows twisting around her as the abyss pulsed in time with her heartbeat. "If I’m going to be Sovereign, I won’t be anyone’s puppet."

Her mother chuckled. "Oh, I never intended to make you a puppet, my dear."

Liria’s eyes narrowed. "No?"

"Of course not." The Dark Sovereign leaned forward, resting her chin on one hand. "I intended to make you a Queen."

The words sent a strange shiver through Liria’s spine.

Her mother’s voice was silk and steel, her presence overwhelming. It had always been that way.

But for the first time, Liria didn’t feel like she was standing in her shadow.

She felt like she was standing beside her.

And that…

That was dangerous.

Because if she wasn’t careful, she might start to believe her.

The Dark Sovereign watched her, unreadable. "You’re still holding back," she said. "I can see it."

Liria exhaled slowly, flames dimming. "Maybe."

Her mother smirked. "Do you fear what you might become?"

Liria didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she turned, walking away once more.

The Dark Sovereign let her go, but her voice followed.

"You’ll have to choose eventually, Liria."

Liria paused at the doorway.

She didn’t turn back.

"I already did."

And then, she stepped into the abyss once more.

The system broke the silence first.

[That was bold.]

Liria smirked. "You liked it."

[I’m still deciding.]

She laughed, stretching her arms above her head as she made her way through the keep. "Tell me, system. Do you think I’m making a mistake?"

[I think you’ve already made mistakes.]

"Wow. Thanks for the support."

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[You’re welcome.]

She rolled her eyes. "You didn’t answer my question."

The system hesitated.

Then:

[I think you’re still Liria.]

The words made her pause.

Her smirk softened just slightly. "Good."

Because as long as she was still herself…

Everything else could burn.