Reincarnated As Both The Villainess And Heroine...?

One Day

A/N: I live.

***

"Today's the day, ain't it?"

"Time sure flies when you're eating like a noble."

The three companions I had recently made mused, seemingly unbothered by the days that passed in a cell. I came back to visit them, after hearing from a little birdie that they were about to be released. It was the least I could do for someone who ended up in this mess while under my care. The Kingdom was too stuffy to be around while waiting for school to start, anyway.

"You sound like you're unwilling to leave," I tilted my head at the debt soldier.

"That's because I am. Who are you, really? Rin, they sure treated us unlike prisoners during our time here. Even after you left, they took rather good care of us."

"Well, the lady of this estate and I are classmates, I suppose?"

"Ah, you did mention you were studying in the Kingdom, didn't you?"

Our mundane conversation was shortly interrupted by the echo of footsteps down the prison hall. However, judging it based on its purposeful force, the owner of which likely intended for us to know she was arriving.

"The preparations for repatriation are complete. Are you all ready to return to your homeland?" Elizabeth's personal maid had arrived.

"I don't wanna," the debt soldier moaned lazily. "You're sending me back into a life of debt. I doubt they'll care to pay me for this job after they lost that terribly."

"...Due to recent circumstances, there are open positions among the servants of the household," Lily remarked simply.

"Oh?" the debt soldier perked her head up.

Lily unlocked the cell door slowly, "the Bathory Household grants its servants lodging and meals. Something as meaningless as a debt can be paid off should you wish to forgo portions of your pay every month."

"Deal! Sounds like the deal of a lifetime."

Lily scoffed, yet she maintained a gentle grin, which caused the old man to remark, "You're surprisingly nice, aren't you? At least, compared to on the battlefield."

"You pose no threat to my lady. Now that you are free from the status as prisoners, I have no reason to hold hostility or indifference any longer."

"That's really strange to hear a person like you say..." the professional soldier seemed tired.

"I am a commoner too, you know. It isn't as if I don't understand your struggles. If it benefits my lady, then there's no reason for me to bear meaningless ill will."

So there was a side like this to her, huh. I was so used to seeing her behaving like some sort of inhuman monster that I had almost forgotten that kind girl who raised Elizabeth me. Sometimes, I miss seeing her with that warm smile of hers. Instead of hearing the terrifying clanking of her chains, I would much rather listen to her soft lullabies.

"What will the rest of you do?"

"Home. I have a family waiting for me," the old man shrugged.

"Time to get a new job. While your offer is kind, but I don't know if I can stomach working with you lot," the professional soldier said. "Probably check out the other cities."

"Understandable," Lily did not object.

"And? Why are you here?" Lily could not ignore my presence any longer. "Didn't my lady let you go a long time ago?"

"Now, now. Don't be like that, she's been rather kind to us. Responsible, too. You don't get many commanders visiting their men while they're in jail," the old man laughed.