I sank into the tub with a hiss as the hot water soaked deep into the cuts on my arm. The water was steaming, and the scent of lavender and rose filled my nose.

The bathroom itself, with its white marbles and gold trimmings, looked like it was worth a small country. A massive mirror took up one wall that was already steaming over. Bottles of all shapes and sizes, filled with different creams and oils, lined up in neat rows, like soldiers being sent to war. Basins of gold sparkled beneath the soft candlelight.

At the centre of the room was a bathtub that looked like a mini swimming pool. It was sunken into the floor and made from slippery ceramic, which kept trying to pull me under.

Thick, syrupy liquid drizzled on my head, making me sit straight and slosh the water over the end. I turned my attention to the maid who stood beside me. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and her green eyes held a distinctive look of disdain as she leaned closer and started scrubbing my hair. Her fingers dug into my skull harder than they should have.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I shouted, trying not to flinch from my hair being pulled and my skull being scratched and poked. 

"I am just washing your hair, my Lady," the servant bowed her head, but she didn't remove her hands from my head.

"Leave me," I said. "I don't require any assistance."

"But, my Lady," the servant said, and even without seeing her face, I could hear the smugness in her voice. "This is my job. You wouldn't want me to get punished, would you?" Her fingers started digging in harder.

​I took a breath out of my nose, feeling my skin heat up, and not from the hot water I was in. I sat straighter in the tub before gazing at the woman.

The woman let go of my head as she froze up and staggered a few steps away. 

"Get out," I said in a low and hopefully threatening tone. "Or I'll I'll drown you."

+5 V.P.

The woman stared at me, wide-eyed and trembling, before giving me a quick bow and fleeing from the room.

I turned my attention to the other servants, who looked like they were trying to merge with the walls. "Do I need to repeat myself?"

+2 V.P.

Without a word, the other servants turned and ran out the door. The door clicked shut, cutting off the last echo of footsteps.

If this were how Liliane's life was written, it was no wonder she became a villain. Who the hell could put up with this abuse every day without wanting to rip someone to bits? 

I exhaled, slow and heavy, steam curling past my lips like a surrender I didn't want to admit. The tub's porcelain pressed against my spine, slick and too smooth, as I let my body slide lower and lower and lower until the water closed over my face.

Hot water swallowed me whole, filling my mouth and nose with the heavy taste of minerals and lavender. And there, beneath it all, with the world muffled and the weight pressing against my lungs, I opened my mouth and screamed.

I forced my trembling arms to move, pushing against the heavy drag of the water until my head broke the surface. The cold air slapped my face, sharp enough to sting, and I sucked in a breath that seared down into my aching lungs.

Water streamed down my cheeks and clung to my lashes, but I just ignored it. I shoved the hair from my eyes, set my jaw, and turned my focus to something that actually mattered. Enough wallowing. If I didn't figure out how this cursed system worked—and fast—someone was going to finish the job before I had a chance to even take a step.

"Status."

The air in front of me rippled for a second before words formed, revealing my stats screen.

[VILLAIN REHABILITATION INTERFACE v3.91]​

NAME: Liliane Viermont

TITLE: +

VILLAIN POINTS: 65

DISPOSITION: 25% Redemption / 75% Irredeemable

KARMA: Neutral

REPUTATION: Hated / Feared

STATS

HP: 85/ 120

MP: 25 / 25

STR: 6

DEF: 9

DEX: 9

AGI: 12

INT: 14

CHA: 3

MAG: 15

SKILLS: + None

STATUS EFFECTS:  Mild blood loss

My gaze landed on Title. There was now a + beside it. Okay, how did I check this now? 

"Title," I said, but nothing changed. "Check... reveal... fucking show me..."

No matter what I said, the screen didn't change. How the hell was I supposed to operate this fucking screen? My fingers gripped the edge of the basin until my knuckles were as white as my hair. I just want to punch you.​

Well, why didn't I do just that? I took my fist and slammed it into the screen. I expected my hand to soar straight through it, but my fist made contact with something, and the screen blinked once before it faded and in its place was a new screen:

[TITLE]

[Cruel Noble]

You are feared. And in fear, there is power.

Passive bonus: +1 CHA

Passive skill: Intimidation (Only works on humans who are weaker than you).

"Cute," I muttered. "So, what do I do with this?"

If touching the screen pulled up the titles, touching again would activate one. I lifted a finger, hesitant for half a breath, then tapped the words Cruel Noble.

The screen blinked out before I could even register the motion, snapping back to the stat page with one small, sharp change. Beside Title, the words Cruel Noble now burned clear and bright. I frowned, testing by touching the titles again, seeing the titles screen, and then swiping the screen away, which returned to the stat screen. A holo-screen interface. Simple. Manageable. Something I could actually control.

I flicked my attention to the other glowing + on the menu—Skills—and felt my heart kick like a loaded spring. Sixty-five Villainy Points to spend. The rush was embarrassingly real, my inner gamer practically salivating over the possibilities. Magic. Real magic. I tried to smother the flicker of hope clawing up my chest, but honestly? Who wouldn't get a little greedy at the thought?

[AVAILABLE SKILLS – TIER I]

Current V.P.: 65

I swiped at the + sign, and the skill menu shimmered into existence, splitting into six columns that listed different types of skills. I flicked through the six menus, each showing different skills and smiled.

Alright, this seems straightforward. Now it's time to spend.​

I flicked to the first menu. But then my stomach sank. Most of the skills were locked behind restrictions. 

[COMBAT SKILLS]

• Combat Reflexes (15 V.P.) — Sharpen your reaction time to dodge, parry, and counter more instinctively.
• Quick-Step (20 V.P.) — Instantly reposition with a swift burst of movement, perfect for dodging attacks.
• Evasion I (20 V.P.) — Increase your agility and make enemy strikes miss more often.
• Deflect I (30 V.P.) — Use minimal movements to redirect incoming physical attacks without absorbing the full force.
• Weapon Mastery I – Unarmed (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Combat Reflexes) — Train your body itself as a weapon for devastating strikes and grapples.
• Weapon Mastery I – Daggers (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Combat Reflexes) — Improve your speed, precision, and lethality with small blades.
• Weapon Mastery I – Swords (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Combat Reflexes) — Increase your skill with one-handed or two-handed swords for balanced offence and defence.
• Weapon Mastery I – Axes (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Combat Reflexes) — Master brutal axe strikes that hit harder and cleave through armour.
• Weapon Mastery I – Archery (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Combat Reflexes) — Sharpen your aim and draw speed to rain arrows with deadly precision.
• Weapon Mastery I – Spears (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Combat Reflexes) — Enhance your reach, thrust speed, and ability to counter enemies at mid-range.

I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to swear out loud. Of course, I needed skills to survive, but no—first, I had to fork over points for the bloody prerequisites before I could even touch anything useful. Air hissed through my nose as I forced a breath in, steadying the spike of frustration clawing up my ribs. Fine. Maybe the next menu would be better. I flicked my fingers sharply, dragging the screen sideways until the Magical Skills menu snapped into view.

My stomach twisted as I stared at the menu screen, the words blurring for a second before snapping into brutal clarity—another damn mess of locked skills, each one barricaded behind some skill so useless it may as well have been a practical joke.

[MAGICAL SKILLS]

• Magic Affinity I (20 V.P.) — Unlocks the basic ability to sense and manipulate magical forces.
• Fire Affinity (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Magical Affinity I) — Grants control over flames, from sparks to infernos.
• Water Affinity (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Magical Affinity I) — Manipulate water currents, pressure, and ice formations.
• Wind Affinity (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Magical Affinity I) — Command gusts, slicing winds, and aerial currents.
• Earth Affinity (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Magical Affinity I) — Shape stone, soil, and minerals to your will.
• Darkness Affinity (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Magical Affinity I) — Wields shadows and illusions to blind or suffocate enemies.
• Blood Arts Affinity (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Magical Affinity I) — Manipulate your own blood—or your enemy's—as a weapon.
• Healing Affinity (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Magical Affinity I) — Accelerate physical recovery, seal wounds, and cleanse poisons.

I groaned as I flicked through to the next menu. Please, give me something useful.​

[SOCIAL MANIPULATION] 

• Deception I (15 V.P.) — Allows you to lie convincingly, twist truths, and spin believable alibis.
• Sharp Tongue (10 V.P.) — Weaponise insults and wit to provoke, disarm, or humiliate.
• Intimidation I (20 V.P.) — Radiate menace and pressure to control a conversation—or a room.
• Silver Tongue (20 V.P.) (Locked – requires Sharp Tongue) — Charm, persuade, and manipulate with disarming eloquence.
• Political Sabotage (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Deception I and Sharp Tongue) — Undermine reputations, stir scandals, and collapse alliances from the inside.
• Public Executioner (100 V.P.) (Locked – requires Silver Tongue and Political Sabotage) — Turn trials into theatre, crushing your enemies with legal brutality and crowd approval.

Seriously, what the hell was I meant to do with this set—lie better, insult people harder, smile while they lit the pyre? These weren't survival tools but a recipe for becoming the monster they'd cheer for as I burned. I exhaled through my nose, jaw tight, and flicked left without another word.

[BASIC UTILITY]

• Pain Resistance I (15 V.P.) — Blunts the sensation of pain, letting you fight or flee without hesitation.
• Analysis I (20 V.P.) — Reveals hidden details about objects, enemies, and environments with a glance.
• Balance I (20 V.P.) — Improves coordination and footing, reducing the chance of slipping or being knocked down.
• Fast Learner (25 V.P.) — Speeds up skill mastery and adaptation when facing new techniques or challenges.
• Enhanced Sight I (30 V.P.) — Sharpens vision to spot traps, movement, and fine details others would miss.
• Enhanced Hearing I (30 V.P.) — Heightens hearing to catch distant sounds, whispers, and hidden threats.
• Heightened Awareness I (50 V.P.) (Locked – requires Enhanced Sight I and Enhanced Hearing I) — Increases total environmental perception, making ambushes and surprises harder to pull off.
• Danger Sense (75 V.P.) (Locked – requires Heightened Awareness I) — Instinctively alerts you seconds before threats strike, even without conscious thought.

Alright, these were better. Not flashy fireballs or god-tier magic like I'd hoped for, but at least they'd make me harder to kill—and right now, that counted for more than looking cool.

I swiped left to the next menu—only to choke on the breath I sucked in too fast. What the actual fuck were these?

[MISCELLANEOUS / ABSURDITIES]

• Deadpan Delivery (5 V.P.) — Speak the most outrageous lines without flinching, increasing your chances of stunning enemies with sheer disbelief.
• Villainous Hair Flip (10 V.P.) — Perfect the ancient art of dismissively flipping your hair, gaining +2% Charisma and +5% to infuriate shallow enemies.
• Petty Slap I (10 V.P.) — Unleash a theatrical slap that deals minimal damage but humiliates the target enough to lower their next attack accuracy.
• Lucky Bastard (20 V.P.) — Your survival rate in stupid situations increases slightly (+5% chance of random miracles during critical failures).
• Dramatic Entrance (20 V.P.) — Automatically create an awe-inspiring, over-the-top entrance that boosts Intimidation and Charm for one scene.
• Plot Armour Mastery (35 V.P.) (Locked – Requires Lucky Bastard) — Grants a minor passive chance to miraculously survive fatal blows, justified with increasingly ludicrous narrative reasons.
• Professional Bitch (50 V.P.) (Locked – Requires Deadpan Delivery and Villainous Hair Flip) — Master the art of verbal cruelty; successful social attacks (insults, put-downs, blackmail) hit twice as hard.

Laughter ripped out of me before I could stop it—half a bark, half a wheeze. Deadpan Delivery? Dramatic Entrance? Plot Armour Mastery? It sounded like the system had stopped pretending to be serious. Skills? They were barely even jokes. No wonder they dumped them in the absurdities pile—the name fit too damn well.

I dragged in a slow breath, forcing my twitching fingers to steady. Focus. No time to get stuck laughing like an idiot. I flicked the screen left and instantly regretted it—the new menu practically screamed choose anything here, and you'll end up dead faster than you can say oops.

[DARK CONTRACTS]

• Minor Demon Familiar (100 V.P.) (Locked – requires Darkness Affinity and Title First blood) — Form a weak pact with an imp or minor demon to serve as a scout, spy, or saboteur.
• Blood Puppet (100 V.P.) (Locked – requires Blood Arts Affinity and Pain Resistance II) — Take control of a defeated enemy's body for a short time by weaving their blood with dark threads.
• Forbidden Pact (100 V.P.) (Locked – requires Darkness Affinity and title Oathbreaker) — Forge a high-risk, high-reward contract with an unstable entity; disobedience results in mutual annihilation.
• Summon Bloodhound Wraith (100 V.P.) (Locked – requires Heightened Awareness I and title Bloody Hands) — Summon a predatory spirit that hunts the scent of spilled blood across vast distances; difficult to control once unleashed.
• Mark of Servitude (150 V.P.) (Locked – requires Minor Demon Familiar and title Terror Weaver) — Brand a summoned creature or unwilling soul with a binding sigil that erodes their will over time.

A cold weight settled in my gut as I stared at the screen. I didn't know how to earn half the titles needed to unlock those skills—and honestly? I didn't want to. Every instinct I had screamed that even brushing against those contracts would be asking for a noose to be fitted around my neck a hell of a lot sooner.

I exhaled, sharp and focused. Sixty-five Villain Points sat waiting, and I needed to use them. Enough stalling. Time to get down to business.

I gritted my teeth and made the practical choices—Analysis I, Pain Resistance I, and Combat Reflexes. Nothing that would make me a badass yet, just the boring essentials. By the time the V.P. counter flickered down to fifteen, I forced myself to back off. Better to save the scraps for an actual attack skill later than blow it on some half-baked upgrade I'd regret.

With a flick of my fingers, the menu shimmered out of sight. It was tempting to use Analysis, but I wasn't stupid. Testing a brand-new skill while naked in a tub didn't exactly scream survival strategy.

For now, there was nothing else to do. I let myself sink lower into the bath, the water curling around my skin like a second, hotter body. No weapons. No spells. Just heat, stillness, and the faint thud of my heart in my ears—reminding me I was still alive. For now.