Lenna's eyes snapped open.

Something had shattered. The soft, dyed wool carpet lay in disarray.

Habitually, she pushed herself up with her left hand. A strange tingling spread from her lower abdomen as she moved. Her head felt foggy, yet her vision was unnaturally sharp.

Her right hand was intact. Her right eye still worked.

What was happening?

"Am I..."

Reincarnated again?!

She lifted the thin blanket with delicate fingers, startled by the sight before her.

A Fox Maiden around twelve or thirteen wore a comically small maid uniform. Her appearance was far too youthful.

Her tender body curled slightly. Small hands clutched the blanket tightly, as if terrified. Her eyes stayed shut.

She had long, golden hair like sunlit wheat. Slender feet peeked from plain white lace socks. Most striking were her fluffy fox ears—so soft they begged to be touched.

Her large golden tail cushioned her beneath, clearly used as a pillow for hours in Lenna's bed.

"You..."

Time had blurred the name. It always happened this way.

When an old friend unseen for a decade stood before you, a thousand words meant less than a warm embrace.

But Lenna remembered that small figure who once blocked danger for her—timid yet fearless unto death.

Now reincarnated, everything reset to zero. Which meant...

"Young Miss, Lingling didn't mean to! Truly!" Lingling's ears drooped like an animal shielding its weak spot. She whispered weakly, "I saw you uncovered while sleeping. Worried you'd catch cold, I climbed in to tuck you. Then... the bed was so soft, I accidentally fell asleep..."

The Fox Maiden hugged her fluffy tail, making tiny whimpering sounds.

"Come here, Lingling." Lenna's voice was soft. "To me..."

Lingling's face paled instantly. After hesitation, she crawled toward Lenna, resigned.

As she moved, she began slipping off her maid uniform.

"Please be gentle, Young Miss. Lingling fears pain..."

Lenna froze.

She'd almost forgotten.

Before turning dark, she'd been a notorious villainess who bullied servants for fun. No wonder Lingling feared her—anyone would dread a cruel master.

Lingling's smooth back bore shocking red whip marks. Her thin shoulders trembled. She curled inside her dandelion-fluffy tail, hiding from Lenna's burning gaze.

Lenna stared intently, as if confirming something.

Lingling shrank back, dodging her eyes. "Young Miss, may we start the 'reward' now?"

Using "reward" instead of punishment came from the original owner's sick humor. It made Lenna nauseous.

"Hmm... come here first." Lenna patted the blanket beside her.

Lingling's ear tips twitched. "Thank you for the reward, Young Miss."

Familiar lines. That timid voice etched in memory.

Two lifetimes of memories flooded Lenna's mind...

...

From a corporate slave reincarnating here, to a pampered villainess.

She'd tried using her second chance to fix her reputation.

Flattering the Hero while matchmaking his love life, they built deep trust.

She believed siding with the Hero was right.

Too naive. She thought pleasing him and being indispensable would keep her safe.

But her family's rapid rise threatened the First Empire of Almeria. The Falmore Family, already a thorn in their side, faced extermination after failed talks. Exiled for treason, the Hero joined the Empire. The battle was one-sided. She became a discarded pawn.

The noble heiress was trampled into destitution.

Homeless, stripped of status, the fall drove her mad.

Drug-dependent, she wandered streets in rags—no trace of elegance left.

Through despair, Lingling stayed. Her tiny maid took odd jobs, bought her drugs, and coaxed her to hope each night. Unwaveringly loyal.

Lenna's true awakening came when imperial soldiers found them.

Watching Lingling shield her powerless self with borrowed power—only to be pierced through the chest by the Hero's sword.

Lenna finally woke.

But her last companion was gone.

Exiled to the distant Bis Wasteland at the cost of one hand and one eye, she made a devil's bargain on death's brink. Sold her soul. Replaced her blood with Spectral Power.

Lenna vanished. Only the Necromancer in Gray Robes remained.

...

Back to now.

Wasn't this the scene where Lingling broke a vase with her tail while cleaning, then fell asleep in Lenna's bed?

Much earlier than her first reincarnation.

She remembered.

Next came the original owner's cruel punishment. The little fox would flee in pain, be dragged back, tortured again—leading to that first rebirth...

Staring at the young golden Fox Maiden, Lenna cursed herself a bastard.

Not her doing, yet she couldn't fathom the original's cruelty.

Beautiful girls deserved protection—especially a cute Foxfolk like this.

But it was okay. Lingling lived. She could fix things.

Last life, her conscience urged goodness. Every step cautious.

Result? Death. Dragging loved ones down.

This life, no more weakness.

If fate refused change, if all called her a villain—she'd play the part.

Before the Hero grew strong, she'd make him feel losing someone precious.

Steal the woman meant for him, right before his eyes. Even with death inevitable, it'd be a grand satisfaction.

It'd be fun.

"No rush." Lenna stroked Lingling's fox ear, pity in her eyes. "Do these wounds hurt?"

"No pain! None at all! Lingling did this. It's Young Miss's reward!"

A caring question met with unnaturally loud denial.

Lenna's heart clenched. "This won't happen again. I swear—I'll never bully you..."

She lifted the Fox Maiden, gently rubbing her chin on the girl's head.

"Young Miss?"

The warmth on her back felt comforting.

Lingling froze for seconds, then shoved her away. "Lingling... Lingling will clean the floor! I'll pick every shard by hand—please no more 'rewards,' wah..."

Her body shook like a leaf, mistaking kindness for sarcasm.

Per the plot, she should trip next...

"Ah!"

"Careful." Lenna caught her swiftly. She knew this clumsy maid well—nervous mistakes, stammering answers, darting eyes. Adorably normal. Tripping over feet happened.

"Second-to-last compartment in the left drawer. Bring what's inside."

"Mm-hmm." The Fox Maiden stumbled back, holding the item carefully.

A medicine bottle.

Specifically, a whip-wound recovery potion by the Empire's gold-medal alchemist. Instant relief on contact.

"Lift your bottom. Clamp your tail between your legs."

Lenna commanded again. Only this way would the Fox Maiden obey.

Their bond couldn't rush. Commands would slowly teach her trust—showing real change, gentle persuasion.

"Endure it. Cry out if it hurts. It's fine."

"Wah... Lingling's enduring well. Young Miss can relax..."

Lingling bit her tail tip hard, fur nearly torn out, silent through the pain.

Helpless, Lenna applied the potion faster. She patted Lingling's bottom, signaling her to rise.

They walked out, one after the other.

Lenna: "What's today's date?"

Lingling: "The sixteenth."

"Oh—"

Lenna paused thoughtfully. The Fox Maiden, eyes on her toes, bumped into Lenna's chest with a soft thud. Her nose reddened.

"An important guest visits today, right?"

Lenna's hand rested gently on Lingling's head, her tone warm and elegant.