Reincarnated As Both The Villainess And Heroine...?

A Certain Maid's Melancholy

My name is Lily. Lily...what was my last name again? I don't remember. Well, not like it's important. It shall be whatever my mistress decides, I so swore in my heart. I, after all, was merely something that was picked up from the roadsides.

My benefactor was a cold woman, to state things simply. She treated things with indifference, laughed at jokes with polite etiquette, and had absolutely no expressions of emotion.

Even so, at times I could see the loneliness reflected in her eyes. She, the duchess, was a person that accepted duty over individuality. A person that gave up her own emotions for the sake of her own noble house.

I knew that she was actually a very kind person. Why? She saved me, of course. I don't really remember since it was when I was quite small, but I remember crawling through the muddy forest, expecting to die to a wolf.

As I reached my final breaths, I was met by a woman standing by the roadside. While silently gazing at my broken figure, she offered me a hand...Such was the story of how I began to serve the Bathory Duchess.

It was about half a decade after that, when my mistress gave birth to a baby. How wonderfully beautiful she was. She resembled much like her mother, but bore characteristics that made even my mistress to break out in a loving smile.

Ah...what an adorable face. What a cute pair of eyes. What a strangely intelligent atmosphere to her. There was no two way about it, I was smitten. I found the greatest satisfaction in serving my mistress, and now...I found my greatest joy.

She would often stare into the air blankly, losing concentration for brief moments. While sometimes, she would display a surprisingly smart mind, grasping the concept of certain things far quicker than normal babies.

Elizabeth was odd, but adorably so. She had an air of mysteriousness, but it was oddly mature. Chillingly so, even. Whatever the case may be, I cherished her. For the woman who saved my life, dedicating my entire being to raising this wonderful child was the least I could do.

However. It was...yes, it was on that day.

"Lily, do you think I'm a good mother?" a question posed by my benefactor.

Upon seeing the despair leaking out from her eyes, I couldn't bear to exchange gazes with her. All I could do was to simply rock the sleeping Elizabeth gently.

"I..."

"I'm a bad mother, aren't I?" she smiled bitterly.

I bit my lip down hard. How was I supposed to respond to her? I knew very well what her true nature was. There was absolutely no way I could deny her the right to feel love for her own daughter, even without considering I was merely a servant.

"She will definitely be caught up in politics," with a weak smile, the duchess continued. "That husband of mine...he's too scheming for his own good. That is why, Elizabeth will definitely lose the right to happiness. For those who walk down the path of politics...you know this, don't you, Lily? They will be denied happiness."

That's when I understood it. That very moment as the duchess lamented, I saw Elizabeth's eyes within the duchess'. I, much to my despair, realized it all. For this infant that I was carrying in my arms, I could see it. Her fate, that is.

The world was going to spite her. The world was going to deny her every right to live a proper life. For the duchess who walked down such a lonely road, her daughter was sure to follow the same fate.

Was I overthinking things? Oh, definitely not. Why? For my worst fears were proven as another half a decade passed.

The world spat in her face as she reached her hands out. At the age of five, Elizabeth already met her first curse. As I had suspected, the world never planned on letting Elizabeth live her childhood.

Right in front of her very eyes, Elizabeth's mother was murdered. My mistress was murdered. By a person with no name, a citizen of the Sakura Empire. Elizabeth's rightful noble treasure stolen, her mother dead, and her name stained forever.

A piece of news that could only make one laugh bitterly upon first hearing it.

On the day of my mistress' funeral, Elizabeth could only watch on in silence, most likely still taking in the absurdity of the world's cruelty. There were no tears, no reaction, and no emotion. Indifferent, just like her mother. It was almost as if...she accepted it all already. She agreed to the world's mockery.

However, what I saw beneath those eyes was a certain sadness. One that was hidden behind a facade, just like her mother. It was...terrifying. I didn't want it to happen. I was so, so, so, afraid.

Was she about to share the same miserable fate of her mother? Was she going to turn back at the end of her road, and see nothing but that of wilted forms of once beautiful roses that were promised to her? Upon realizing such a harrowing idea, I could not bear it any longer.

I took her in my arms, sobbing silently, as she could only stare into the sky with a dazed expression. Why...how...this...

This world was wrong. How could it...? It was almost as if this entire world was designed to make her the villain. The sacrifice. That her existence was merely a tragic tale of madness and despair. It was as if...it was as if...

It was as if the world pinned all the evils on her. Denying her right to joy. Denying her right to a proper life. Denying her right to grow up like any other child. The world robbed her of everything. Her mother. Her claim to nobility. Her reputation. Her very life.

Why...! This world that was seemingly made to hate Elizabeth, why!? What fun was there in ruining the life of a child like her!? What joy was there in playing this series of cruel jokes on her!? What has this angel of a child done to earn this hatred!?

Don't make me laugh. I refuse to accept this. I will not grit my teeth and simply accept this. If the world went against Elizabeth, then so be it! I shall go against the world as well!

If it's revenge Elizabeth seeks, I shall gladly hunt down that accursed murderer that stole Elizabeth's noble treasure. If it's an even deeper form vengeance, then I will follow even to the depths of the abyss. Even if it means burning this entire world to the ground, I will definitely...! I will definitely offer even a small piece of happiness up to her!

All that I want was to just...have her smile. To have her say from the bottom of her heart, that she genuinely enjoyed living. For the sake of Elizabeth, I will bring her that conclusion, no matter what! If it's for her, I will commit the most heinous of crimes just to spite the world back. If it's for her...

I will even become a demon.