You felt nauseated, eyes blurred with exhaustion as you watched everything go in blur.

Magician arrived to clean the bloody mess their Emperor left behind in fit of rage.

Once done, they took Diana's body with them and quickly left.

You almost protested but you had to remind yourself Claude loved Diana. A lot.

So you choice to trust in Claude's love for her that he would give Diana a proper burial. Ignoring the twist in your guts.

Shortly after the whole terrifying fiasco, Lily and other maids arrived. They were understandably worried, scared and horrified, hearing the recent ruthless massacre done by their Emperor.

"Goodness! You're injuried!"

You were taken aback when Lily fussed over you with tears in her eyes. You didn't expect Lily to get worked up over you some much as she continued to chew you out while eyeing the sharp gashes down your whole body.

Even Ces and Hannah expressed their concern with big comical teary eyes.

Their concern honestly overwhelmed you as they fretted over you while you tried to assure them that you were fine.

But their worry also warmed your heart. You couldn't help the relieved laugh spilling from your worn body. Nobody would really fault you if you decided to do a little celebrate dance.

Afterall you survived the worst and came out unscathed-- well not unscathed given the sharp slashes all over your body but with your limbs intact. That was more than convenient.

Lily blinked at you, bewildered. Why were you laughing after seeing such horrific thing?

Of course they wouldn't understand how much this little survival means to you.

Lily shook her head, her main concern was the gashes all over your body. Lily ordered you to rest while taking Athy in her arms.

"They're just scratches. I'm fine!"

Lily sighed when you tried to wave away her concern but she didn't back down, firmly repeating her orders.

When you sighed in defeat with a exhausted smile, she finally gazed at the infant nestled in her arms, peacefully sleeping away. Instantly she was wonder struck and awed. A tender filled smile blossomed on her lips as she gazed at the beautiful infant.

Even Ces and Hannah took a instant liking to her.

As you watched them cooing at the baby, you knew you did the right choice in not teleporting away right after holding Athy.

Lily and others took care of Diana. They were excited for the baby as much you were. You couldn't just trample over their wishes and walk away without that weighting down your mind.

Yep. They look whipped. You thought, grinning. Athy, you already have them wrapped around you tiny Pinky.

You let out a deep sigh of relief when Ether healed you with his magic while glaring at you. You smiled at him, petting his soft fur to pacify him though that only earned a deep agitated growl from him.

"Oh, goodness look at those beautiful eyes!"

You eyes shot up, hearing Lily's voice. Hastily you leaned over and looked down at Athanasia, ignoring Lily's concerned protest.

Athy finally opened her eyes how can you miss such moment?

The baby infant blinked her eyes open slowly, her dazzling unique royal eyes becoming visible.

You whistled, deeply impressed. Man, wish I had such cool eyes!

A smile tugged at your lips, exhaustion forgotten momentarily. "You're adorably beautiful, Athanasia. My cute little Goddaughter!"

You cooed at her. But then something unexpected happened.

Her jewelled blue eyes blinked rapidly. Her lips parted and gaped in utter bafflement while her eyes widened to the point of almost bulging out of sockets.

Much to your confusion, Athy paled and paralyzed as if she seen a alien moon walking infront of her.

Huh?

You blinked, tilting your head. She stared wide eyes at you before looking around, dumbfounded. Flexing her tiny fists, she looked at it blankly before she let out a deafening screech.

Everyone flinched, jumping a bit.

"W-whoa! What's the matter?!"

Athy cried even harder, flexing her tiny fists and flailing it around. Absolute horror and shock laced in her cries.

Is she crying because of me? My face can't be that bad, right? Right....?

...No, maybe it's the smell of blood.

You were stupified by her reaction. Your brain running a miles to figure out the problem.

"Maybe she's hungry?" Lily asked hesitatedly as you rocked the crying baby.

"Really?" You asked, humming to Athy as she continued to wail harder.

You scanned her body for injuries you might have missed but nothing was out of normal. She was healthy and totally fine.

You frowned, not understanding the reason behind her cries that persisted louder.

"Give Princess Athanasia to me, I'll get her milk. You need rest. Look at you! You can't even stand properly. Please, go rest."

"But--"

"Please, (Y/n). I'm sure the little one is only hungry. And you need rest."

You reluctantly handed her Athy while being ushered out by Ces and Hannah.

It was true. You were exhausted beyond words. Even though Ether had completely healed you, the scar left on your mind still stung every step you took.

You showered and changed clothes, leaving the blood stained ones. Your body uncoiled from tension and loosened up completely. Long showers always worked wonders more any magic could.

You were informed by Ces that Athy had stopped crying after Lily warmed up some milk for her. Guess, Lily was spot on.

Your plan to leave was delayed when you fell sick. The psychological shock of witnessing genocide too much for your mind to handle.

Nightmares plunged your subconscious. Repeating the massacre over and over again. It tooks weeks to fight off them and get back in your feet.

One comical thing you noticed during your recovery was Athy's expression. Her vivid expressive faces always astonished you.

Are babies supposed to be this expressive?

Like right now. You were giving her bath in a tiny tub while she's pouting with cheeks reddened deeply. Like she was embrassed.

You snorted in disbelief and you swore she glared at you. But when you blinked she was back to her pouting self. It made you wondered if you made it all in your mind.

And another thing you noticed was...

"Rub gently or you might scarp off her skin."

Lily was there to help you in bathing the infant while giving instruction.

You gasped horrified. "W-what?!"

"Please be more delicate with her. Any sharp movements might ending up hurting her."

You paled, "R-Right..."

You gave up bathing Athy, letting Lily handle her carefully with her seemingly skilled hands.

You wrapped towel around Athy once she finished her bath. And unsurprisingly Lily interjected once again.

"Please hold her properly or you might break her neck. She's still too delicate."

"O-okay!" You trembled with strained, twitching smile. "I think it's better if you handle her!"

Lily shook her head once again commenting, "Don't put the towel over her face or she might suffocate."

.... And the observation was you completely, utterly, horribly sucked at taking care of babies.

You were completely clueless at taking care of the smallest needs of Athy. While Lily was natural at this, you were disastrous. Even if you tried your best you still needed guidance. But Lily was altogether different and opposite story. She took care of Lily like a expert babysitter while you watched her in jealousy wishing you had the natural streak of being a mother.

Bathing wasn't the only instance where you had to be corrected while handling Athy.

Never in your whole three lives were you trained for the difficulty task of raising a baby.

You wanted to flip tables and punch whoever said raising baby was easy and parenting was cup of tea.

I-I underestimated raising a baby?!

Thus the plan to kidnap athy was postponed. There was gigantic hole in your plan. You had no freaking idea in how to raise a child, let alone a days old baby. What if you messed up?

Seeing the natural way maternal came to Lily you decided to stick around and learn. Though chances of that happening was slim seeing your embrassing slip ups.

You just had to wait until Athy gets to an age where you could be apt at taking care of her and then leave the Imperial grounds.

The unexpected change of plan made you anxious.

"And if God decided it was great timing to torment me, along with the great unluck of mine I'd get snitched out and executed by that asshat psycho in flat two seconds..."

You paused, shuddering, "....Please don't tell me I just jinxed myself."

"Uwa.."

You looked at the curb to see Athy giving you the look. The look that suggested you were batshit crazy.

Anyone would come to that conclusion and be creeped out if one saw you banging your head against the wall while muttering out gibberish things.

"Athy! Your Godmother is sad. Give me a hug!"

"Uwaa!" Athy blanched, turning into white sheet.

Before she could make a escape into her blankets, you picked her up, spining her around before rubbing your cheeks against her soft, chubby ones. Squealing at how soft her cheeks were.

Athy whined and protested with red face, going limp as you attacked her face with soft kisses.

"Whatever happens, happens. The absolute one thing I know, I'd never let anything hurt you, my sweet Goddaughter!"

Since Athy was suppose to meet Claude at the age of nine, you had time. You just had to prevent Athy from garnering Claude's attention until you leave undetected.

Your fingers were crossed as you hoped for the best.

****

Athanasia jolted and dropped the rattle she was holding.

Why did she think about it again?! The stupidly cheesy novel!

She huffed and shook her head rapidly. Get out! Shoo! Shoo!

She flipped in her stomach and questioned how did her life came to this.

She had read about reincarnation in books only. Never in her whole miserable life she thought she would get to experience that.

She still couldn't believe she's been reincarnated. Toss from her world to another.

Athanasia kicked her feet in frustration and threw a tantrum.

It's okay if she got reincarnated. Her life back then was shitty anyway but why was it as a outcast Princess?! The princess everyone hates?!

It's not fair!

Athanasia clearly remembered taking sleeping pills before she was reborn here. May she overdosed or something. But still a outcast Princess?!

God must really hate her!

If being born as a outcast princess wasn't enough, she's been getting this recurring reminder of the novel she read. The

The worst novel she had misfortune to read.

Of course she wouldn't have brought that novel of her own violation. She wasn't going to waste her money.

No, she only read it because a customer left it behind in the cafe she was working.

Athanasia frowned, sucking her tiny thumb as she tried to recall the lady's face. She was sure the customer was lady with very creepy smile and eyes. Muttering to herself about fate and past something.

Honestly she was so creeped out she wanted to quit the job right there but alas she didn't have the luxury of that.

"Oh, such bother. How clumsy! She's keep dropping it." The maid put aside her sewing and muttered in annoyance. Before she picked up the rattle and gave it to her.

"Stop being a nuisance and play quietly with your toy, miss!"

Athanasia fumbled, throwing away the rattle with a loud protest. So cold! Be a little nicer, lady. I'm just a baby!

And do you really think a rattle would be entraining for me? I don't want it! No, no no!

The maid persisted but Athanasia was stubborn too. She kept dropping the rattle and protesting.

Bad maid! I don't want you. Call me Lily or (Y/n)!

Athanasia only liked two person among all of the maids. One was sweet Lily and other was childish (Y/n).

Athanasia was always coddled by them, loved by them. They never snapped at her like the other maids.

It's been only weeks but she knew who were on her side. Absolutely loyal to her. One was her caretaker and other was her Godmother

While Lily was the idealistic mother with her loving and strict demeanor that Athanasia dreamt of having, you were the polar opposite.

If she could, she would dub you as the modern time cool mom who pulls pranks on others just for kick and giggles and participate in their children's mischief antics.

To put it simply, you were that kind of mom who eat pizza on weekend with their children while watching anime.

Not that she would know since she was a orphan. But she reached that conclusion, according so many kdramas she watched in her leisure time.

While you were indeed clumsy in taking care of her, you made it up with your aggressive affection and protectiveness.

It's always embrassed her just how much affectionate you were towards her. Even more than Lily. She couldn't handle it most of the time so she preferred Lily who was much subtle about her affection but she always wound up going back to you because you keep pouting and giving her puppy eyes. And it was hard to resist! Those puppy eyes of yours were no joke!

If you had been here, you would have put this bad maid in her place. Athanasia was sure of that.

Athanasia would be lying if she didn't enjoy the prank you pulled on the maids. Especially the kitchen ghost one. Only to see the maids trembling in their shoes.

Athanasia pouted as the maid again reprimanded her and stood up to go back to her sewing.

But as the maid stood, she tripped over her legs and faceplanted with a pained squeak.

"Geez, so clumsy. You keep falling. Tsk, tsk."

Athanasia turned to the voice and there she saw you walking with a triumphant grin. Eyes twinkling with mischief.

Athanasia knew what you were up to. It's always been like this. Whenever someone tried to shame her, you would instead make laughing stock of them.

Athanasia lips curled up into big toothless smile as she pumped her fist to encourage.

Yes, show this bad maid how the be nice to babies!

The maid stood up again only to faceplant herself on the floor as you snapped your fingers with a sly smile.

You snorted, before picking Athanasia up and putting her in the curb.

Athanasia sweat-dropped, feeling tiny, tiniest bit bad for the maid. Stop bullying the poor maid so much.

You took a seat beside her, and leaned back crossing your legs as you smirked at the shaking maid. "I wonder what the Emperor would think. Treating his only previous daughter as burden."

Athanasia made a sound as the scene unfolded infront of her. You were at it again. Scaring the not so poor maids with your bullying.

Athanasia eyed the twitching of your hands as you brought up the Emperor. Your smile slightly getting strained.

Everyone feared the emperor who happens to be her father and trash of the year. Because, duh he left her only child in the palace where he went cuckoo and massacred everyone.

Athanasia absolutely didn't want to do anything with her psycho father, if she could help it.

Even though you scared them with the name of the psycho Emperor, she could see you were terrified of him too.

Because as soon as you finish mentioning him, you quickly go back ranting something incoherent like right now. 'Please don't be summoned, this is not a call for you. Just be kind and stay where you are!'

It was hilarious.

However, you put aside your own fear and played smart, using his name to keep the maids in line.

Athanasia didn't know whether to be impressed or be scared of you. But since you were doing all this sort of for her, she could rest assured she wouldn't be a target for your bullying.

The maid paled and she hastily got in her knees, "I'm so sorry milady! I didn't meant to offend you."

You scoffed, looking down at her with devious smirk. "Treating your only princess this way. That's a big unforgivable offence. I wonder what punishment should be served to you? I think the one to decide should be the Emperor, don't you?"

"Please mi'lady--"

You cut her off with a smirk that screamed nothing but trouble and mischief.

"Kneel." She looked up, tears in her eyes. "Bow down, forehead on the ground. And in the sincerest voice, I want you to apologise to your only princess, Athanasia de Alger Obelia."

Athanasia shivered, getting flashback of the novel. What did you say her name was again?

It's coincidence. Yeah, coincidence. Hahaha... Then why was chills going do her spine.

Athanasia shook her tiny head and focused on present. Watching the maid comply to your order. Bowing down until her forehead was touching the ground. "Please, your highness forgive me for my atrocities!"

"Not good enough." You nonchalantly stated, watching her trembling figure with a gleeful smile.

"I'm apologise, your highness. Please pardon me. Forgive me! It won't happen again!"

Athanasia sweat-dropped. Oh My God! My Goddaughter can be so spiteful some times, it's scary!

"Hmm?" You tilted your head before swiveling towards Athanasia who watched all this with dumbfounded expression. "Whatcha you think? Should I let her off?"

Athanasia almost deadpanned.

Instead she just smiled clueless like she couldn't understand what you were saying and gurgled cutely.

Let's not get bad side of this scary woman!

"Alright, you heard your highness. But do this again and no forgiveness will be granted next time."

The maid scurried away with pale frightened face.

"Well, that was fun. They are so freaking terrified of Claude. Not that I can't understand why " You snickered before muttering. "Man, this maids are sure persistent. Am I being too soft?"

Athanasia almost wanted to contradict your ideas. She had seen maids faint because of your way of fun and pranks. There was no way you were been soft.

She only brought her fists up and patted your cheeks, giggling cutely.

Yep! I don't ever want to make enemy of this lady.

You picked up the rattle and spun it around, asking Athanasia, "Are you bored with it?"

Athanasia nodded, slapping her hands. That's right! Take that boring thing and throw it in the trash. It's not entertaining at all!

Suddenly you pulled out Ether from nowhere and plopped him infront of her.

"Play with him then!"

Athanasia blinked at the white cat whose beautiful heterochromic eyes gazed at her lazily, flicking it's fluffy tail in the air. Where didi you-- You know what nevermind. I don't want to question it. The cat is always with you anyways.

Aw, so cute! Athanasia grabbed the cat and coddled it, making pleased gurgles. She was sucker for cute animals. Ether didn't protest, only made grumpy face and let Athanasia play with her whiskers and tails.

You snorted, looking rather pleased with Ether suffering.

Day quickly passed and night arrived. Blanketing it with night sky and stars.

Athanasia blinked, eyes blurry. Awaken suddenly in the middle of night for some reason she didn't know.

She felt heaviness in the atmosphere as if it was been disrupted by external force.