Reborn As A Maid

Way far away from Seraiya, the evening wind blew along a desolate road.

The sky above was purple, the color of a bruised grape, with copper-colored clouds that looked like wounds. In the distance, somewhere in the desolation, a lone bird cried.

A lone woman walked there.

Her black coat flapped behind her in gusts of wind while her silver hair shimmered in the rays of the sun like the moonlight. Each movement she made was careful and measured—she knew how to walk silently and unnoticed.

Rudy Kiss.

The Phantom Thief.

She was walking for many days already.

Her boots were covered in dirt from a lot of roads. She almost ran out of supplies two days ago. Rudy hadn’t had dinner for the whole day—the only thing she ate yesterday was a small portion of dried meat and tough bread. She hadn’t slept well either.

She had nowhere to go.

Or at least, that was what she convinced herself.

She just wanted to get away from Seraiya.

Away from the tournament with its noisy crowd and clashing swords.

Away from that feeling that followed her like a shadow—a déjà vu she started to feel since she saw the arena for the first time.

Away from her memories which she couldn’t explain.

Suddenly—

Rudy stopped.

She touched her head.

"Ah..."

An explosion happened in her head.

That wasn’t a usual pain from a cut or a scratch. That was something more powerful—it was like roots tore out of the soil, like a door opened after many hundreds of years.

She almost fell.

"What...?"

She took a step backwards and grabbed a nearby tree. It was rough beneath her hands—like a connection to the reality while her mind flew into the past.

Her breathing was labored.

Something happened in her mind.

Not a memory.

Something deeper.

Something that had been sleeping.

Something that had been waiting for the right moment.

And then—

A boy appeared before her in her imagination.

A young boy with golden, mischievous eyes and a wooden sword in his hand, held with the ease of someone who has been practicing the swordplay all his life. He was smiling brightly, like the whole room brightened up from that smile.

"Again."

The boy raised his wooden sword.

A little girl stood in front of him.

She held her own wooden sword with both hands. Her silver hair was tied into a messy ponytail and her cheeks were glowing with exertion. She couldn’t be more than six.

"I don’t want to!"

The boy laughed. The sound was warm and good like the laughter of an older brother who had an infinite patience for his little sister’s complaints.

"If you want to become stronger, you need to train."

"I hate training!"

"You said that yesterday."

"And I’ll say it tomorrow!"

The little girl struck with her sword.

The boy effortlessly blocked her attack. Their wooden blades hit each other with a pleasant noise that echoed in her mind.

She puffed out her cheeks. "You’re cheating!"

He laughed again. "You are just weak."

"I’ll beat you one day!"

"I’ll be waiting."

Rudy’s eyes widened.

"Who..."

Another memory arose from the depths of her subconsciousness like a bubble bursting through the calm waters.

The same children, but sitting under a huge tree. Its branches were stretched to protect them from the rain while dappled sunlight painted golden images on the grass. The girl was sitting close to the boy, leaning on his shoulder, relaxed in his protection.

"Leo."

The boy looked at her. His golden eyes, so kind and warm, glowed with nothing but love.

"Hm?"

"Do you think we will always stay together?"

He smiled. "Of course."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

The memories accelerated. They flooded Rudy’s mind uncontrollably now.

Training in the courtyard during the dawn hours, their wooden swords clapping in rhythm.

Laughing together, stealing food from each other’s plates.

Fighting about nonsense—who is stronger, faster and better swordsman.

Running through the palace gardens, their light steps making the grass crumble under them.

The boy protecting his little sister from everything—from monsters under the bed, from cruel tutors and the heavy load of responsibilities.

The girl trying to catch up with him and become strong enough to stand alongside him.

But then the memories became darker.

The sky burned red.

Demons’ armies covered the horizon like a plague of locusts—so many, so endless and so consuming everything in their way.

Screams filled the battlefield. Human screams and demonic roars. Sounds of fading hopes.

Swords clashed. Magic exploded. Blood soaked the ground.

Great Demon War.

The boy was no longer a child.

He stood atop a mountain of the broken weapons—swords, spears, shields of a thousand warriors lying there. Blood was covering his armor. His golden eyes, so warm once, now glowed with the cold fire of someone who had lost everything and didn’t want to lose anything anymore.

Excalibur.

The famous sword.

The sword of the Sword King.

Leonis.

Rudy stopped breathing.

"No..."

Another memory.

A quiet room.

The walls were stone, decorated with tapestries showing scenes from the days of ancient heroes. Candles were burning on every surface, making their dancing shadows mournful.

Leonis was lying in a bed.

So many wounds were covering his body—cuts, gashes, burns telling the story of the battle that should kill him a hundred times already. His breathing was faint, each breath taking away more than giving.

The girl was sitting near him.

Now she was grown-up—a young woman, a threshold of adulthood, but in that moment, with tears falling from her face, she seemed like the little girl who hated training.

She was crying.

"Leo..."

Leonis opened his eyes slowly. His golden irises, once sparkling brightly like embers, seemed dull and dimming.

"Lisa."

Rudy’s eyes widened.

Lisa...

This girl seized his hand. Her fingers trembled in desperate attempt to keep him alive just by their contact.

"Don’t leave me."

Leonis smiled softly. Even dying he couldn’t help smiling. This smile showed how much he loved his sister.

"I’m sorry."

"No."

"Lisa..."

"No!"

Her fingers squeezed his hand even harder. Tears ran down her face and wetted Leonis’ skin.

"You promised."

Leonis’ eyes softened. "I know."

His breath weakened and each exhalation was more and more distant, as if waves were withdrawing forever.

"Live."

Her tears began flowing freely. Her voice cracked under impact of grief.

"Leo..."

This was the last smile of Leonis KingHeart—the smile of brother, protector, hero.

"Find your happiness."

His eyes closed and the silence came.

Rudy dropped down to her knees.

The road was cold under her; the dust pressed to her skin through her clothes. She wasn’t paying attention. Her face was wet with tears, she was crying and wailing. This grief was consuming her...

Her hand covered her mouth.

"Leo..."

The name escaped her lips without any effort. Not Rudy. Not Phantom Thief. Not forgotten identity...

Leo...

Her brother...

Her beloved brother...

The person she loved more than anybody in the world...

The person she watched die...

The person she couldn’t save...

All of a sudden—

The wind stopped blowing.

Trees stood motionless and even their leaves stopped rustling in the evening breeze. Even clouds seemed frozen.

The world itself held its breath...

Rudy looked up...

The golden light came from the sky.

It was not cruel or sharp but gentle and soft—it reminded her of light of the sunrise after long night, of light of hope after despair. It enveloped the world and bathed everything in warmth, but Rudy felt no fear...

The woman appeared within this glow.

Her golden hair fell like streamers on her back. Her eyes seemed to carry the sadness of ages—they had seen the rise and collapse of civilizations, birth and death of millions, they carried eternity itself... Divinity of this woman made whole world to look insignificant.

Rudy stared at her.

"Who are you?"

The woman looked at her kindly. This look wasn’t cold or distant as one would expect from the goddess. This was motherly, caring look as if she was watching over Rudy for a very long time.

"My name is Miasa."

Rudy’s eyes widened. Something deep inside of her reacted to this name.

"The Goddess of Creation..."

Miasa nodded. This nod was graceful, out-of-world—it seemed to ripple through the world itself.

Rudy attempted to stand. Her legs were unsteady, they still felt the weakness because of the flood of memories, but she forced herself to stand up. She wouldn’t bow to anyone—not even to a goddess.

"Why are you here?"

Miasa looked at her for a couple of seconds. Her eyes seemed to penetrate Rudy, looking inside her soul... They saw the little girl who loved her brother. They saw the Phantom Thief who fled from her memories. They saw the woman who just began to realize her true self...

Then she spoke.

"Because you finally remembered."

Rudy’s heart trembled under impact of this word. It sounded like a physical blow, it was echoed through her chest with terrible weight.

"Remembered what?"

Miasa moved closer. Her bare feet made no noise on the road, left no marks in the dust. She was here and yet not here—she was present but existed on another level of reality.

Your name.

Rudy froze.

Miasa smiled sadly. This smile contained centuries of grief, millennia of watching her children suffering and dying and rising again.

"You are not Rudy Kiss."

The world became silent. Even the distant bird stopped singing. Even the wind held its breath.

"You are Lisa KingHeart."

Rudy’s eyes widened. This name was hitting her like lightning—it was bright, blinding and impossible to ignore. It was sounding loudly in her heart, awakening something that slept for thousand years.

"Lisa..."

This name echoed in her heart.

All of a sudden, everything was connected.

Memories she thought to be dreams, natural skills, the strange feeling of familiarity when she watched the tournament and fought the girl named Raven.

It all made sense now.

Brother. Sword. Palace. War.

Deathbed.

"Leo..."

Miasa nodded. Her expression was kind and compassionate—as if a mother was watching her daughter and saw the moment when she understood painful truth.

"Leonis KingHeart was your older brother."

Rudy kept crying. Her tears fell in silver lines along her cheeks and scattered the golden light of Miasa like diamonds.

"I..."

She looked at her hands. These hands that stole so many treasures. These hands that unlocked so many locks, picked so many purses and danced at the edge of danger. These hands that once held the wooden sword while she trained beside her brother...

These hands that held his while he was dying.

How could I forget him?

Miasa’s expression turned sad. There was centuries of grief in her ancient eyes and Rudy couldn’t comprehend it.

"Because reincarnation doesn’t always keep memories."

Rudy clenched her fists. Grief in her heart became something different—hottest, angriest...

"Then why now?"

Miasa answered this question not immediately.

Instead, she looked at the distant horizon. Beyond mountains. Beyond the forest. Beyond the kingdoms.

Towards Seraiya.

Then she asked quietly, "Why are you leaving now?"

Rudy turned to the same direction. She somehow relaxed and the angry look left her features, turning into something sad.

"I want him to find peace."

Miasa watched her. Goddess’s look was questioning, but she didn’t say anything.

Rudy dried her tears. It was an innocent gesture of a little girl who had been crying because of a hurt knee or running to her older brother looking for comfort.

"Leo fought enough."

Her voice was trembling slightly. The words came from deep inside her heart, from that place where memories of first life stayed.

"He fought demons."

"He fought monsters."

"He fought for the humanity."

"He died for this world."

She stood up slowly. Now her legs were steadier and her resolve grew as if she were forged from steel.

"Now that he’s finally alive again..."

A soft smile appeared on her lips. It was a sad smile of a woman who lost everything and regained it, but at the same time feared losing it again.

"...I don’t want him to fight anymore."

Goddess’s look became even sadder. Miasa’s face changed slightly and showed something that lay under her serene face... something that seemed to be like a guilt.

Rudy looked at Seraiya. It was just a tiny dot on the horizon, but she could hear its call.

"I want him to find a peaceful life."

These words sounded in the air between them, filled with hopes, love and prayers.

Miasa was silent.

Then she smiled. It was a beautiful smile that was warm and maternal, but at the same time, it had some other meaning.

"Then go."

Rudy nodded.

She put her cloak on. Black fabric settled on her shoulders like protection, like armor, like a promise.

Her eyes weren’t those of Phantom Thief anymore – the clever criminal who moved through the shadows and stole what others treasured.

They were the eyes of Lisa KingHeart.

Of a young sister who found her long-lost brother.

She took a step toward Seraiya.

Then another step.

"Wait for me, Leo."

Rudy smiled through her tears. It was a bright, warm and loving smile.

"I’ll come find you."

She disappeared along the road. Her figure shrank and shrank, swallowed by evening gloom, becoming just a memory.

Miasa was left alone under the darkening sky.

Gold light surrounding her started fading, dimming like a dying candle. Warmth that had been accompanying her divine presence receded, leaving place for coolness of the evening air.

Her smile gradually faded too.

She looked at the faraway kingdom. At Seraiya. At the child she blessed and cursed.

One tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.

It was falling very slowly, shining with last rays of the sunset and disappearing in the darkness below.

She whispered:

"How much sacrifice..."

Her voice was trembling. It was the voice of the goddess, shaking from emotions that mustn’t have affected her in any way.

"...must I make..."

Another tear rolled down. It drew a silver line down her divine cheeks – the sign of grief that wasn’t going to be erased by any prayer.

Miasa closed her eyes.

"...to kill my son?"

Wind came back.

It swept along the empty road, carrying away the echo of her words. Trees started moving again, their leaves whispering in the evening wind. Clouds started their slow movement over the darkening sky.

Divine presence of Miasa vanished.

The road was silent again.

In faraway Seraiya...

Jennie suddenly felt an odd pain in her heart.

She stopped.

Her hand reached for her heart, through the fabric of the new maid’s uniform, still feeling unfamiliar and hard – and she felt the quick heartbeat.

Excalibur, hidden in her pocket, was trembling faintly too. That legendary sword, silent all during the ceremony, was now humming with energy – as if recognizing the touch of its rightful master.

Jennie frowned.

"Why..."

She looked at the distant horizon. The sun was setting, coloring the sky in orange and purple. Beyond those mountains, beyond forests and rivers and roads, somebody was thinking about her right now.

Somebody was coming.

"...do I feel like somebody is calling me?"

She didn’t know it yet.

But somebody from her first life was coming back.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!