The Villainesses in the Romance Fantasy Novel Became Obsessed with me

A menacing atmosphere drew the other students.

Watching others fight is always entertaining. Just witnessing it releases dopamine in the brain.

However, unlike the average student, I couldn’t enjoy the spectacle.

When Nadia said ‘I’ll kill you,’ she meant it.

“If you don’t take it back, I’ll kill you and Damian. Take it back immediately.”

The warning from the pledge echoed in my heart.

With a fierce expression, Nadua directed her killing intent towards Bluebell and me.

‘Why me…?’

I wondered, but upon reflection, Nadia’s logic was simple. She intended to prevent a future where I might live happily with another woman upon her death due to the pledge.

‘If she can’t have me, she’ll destroy me… Is that what she’s thinking?’

Nadia had a strong sense of possession. I understood her actions intellectually even if I couldn’t comprehend them emotionally.

I whispered into Bluebell’s ear, “Don’t provoke her, Bluebell.”

“… I just protected you, and now you’re taking her side? Do you want to die with me? That might be better, right?”

“No. It’s just that she might do something to me like last time. And there’s nothing to gain from fighting her.”

“There is. If I win the fight, she won’t approach you anymore.”

Bluebell thought Nadia would back down with her tail between her legs. But I could guarantee it.

“She definitely won’t. She’ll challenge again.”

Until the end.

Nadia was the type who had to get what she wanted. If someone had what she wanted, she’d take it. If she couldn’t take it, she’d destroy it.

That was her personality as depicted in the original story.

And from what I’d seen.

“Let’s just end it here. I’m fine, and there are people watching.”

“… I hate acknowledging that woman. Let’s just die. Come on, let’s die together.”

“I’m not acknowledging her. It’s because of the rumors. You know about them, don’t you?”

“That makes sense. Fine, I’ll listen to you this time. Besides, I’m not some sideshow for those bastards. It’s annoying.”

Bluebell noticed the growing crowd around us. She didn’t want to be the center of attention.

Maybe because we were whispering to each other, Nadia spoke in a chilling tone.

“… What are you two doing in front of me? You dare ignore me?”

Under the sharp killing intent, the pain in my heart intensified. I calmly tried to reason with Nadia.

“There’s no need for us to fight. Bluebell thought you were attacking me like last time and got defensive. It’s a misunderstanding, so how about we stop here?”

“… Misunderstanding. You mean when I tried to check the mark last time?”

Despite her dislike for Nadia, Bluebell sighed and nodded because of the crowd.

“Fine. I misunderstood, thinking you’d go crazy like last time. It still annoys me that you confuse Damian with someone else, but let’s end it here today.”

Unlike Nadia, Bluebell cared about the public’s perception. Having attended many social events, she knew the power of rumors and hated being the subject of them.

However, Nadia shook her head.

“No.”

“What? Are you crazy—”

“Take back what you said about my drawing being bad. Then, we’ll end it here today. But I won’t forgive you next time.”

She seemed serious. Bluebell was astonished by Nadia’s confidence and laughed.

“Hah. You’re completely insane, huh? I should’ve known from the way you keep mistaking Damian for someone else. Damian, why are you even involved with this nutcase?”

Good question.

I got involved on purpose, but I didn’t expect her to cling so tightly.

Still.

Perhaps because she cared about others’ opinions, Bluebell responded in a lighter tone.

“I’ll take it back. Happy now? Is it over? We’re leaving then.”

“Not yet.”

“Annoying. What do you want me to do about it!”

“Say exactly what you’re taking back.”

“I take back what I said about you being a terrible artist! Is that good enough!?”

Bluebell shouted in frustration. Satisfied with her answer, Nadia coolly turned around.

“Fine. But I won’t let it go next time. I’m backing off because of Damian this time.”

First-time offenders get a pass. Or something like that. Having heard Bluebell’s response, Nadia left the scene, indicating no further conversation was necessary.

‘She’s backing off more easily than I expected. What’s her plan?’

Her clean exit made the gathered students lose interest and disperse.

Bluebell chuckled bitterly.

“Hah, what a crazy woman. Does she think being a duchess makes her all that? She’s not even prettier than me, and she’s throwing a fit…”

“Bluebell, watch your language.”

“She makes me talk like this! Why are you scolding me instead of her?”

I couldn’t give her a flick on the forehead like I would back at the mansion.

‘We’ll talk when we’re alone.’

For now, though, I had to express my gratitude.

“… Thank you Bluebell. For helping me.”

Hearing my words of gratitude, Bluebell widened her eyes in surprise and then she smiled.

“Of course you should thank me. And think about how you’re going to apologize to me. By the way, if you were supposed to be my teacher, do better next time. Don’t let a woman like that push you around. It’s embarrassing and frustrating for me, your student.”

“… I understand.”

“Let’s go to class. The next one is our major subject.”

“Yeah.”

Bluebell was surprisingly reliable. She managed to achieve a decent outcome against Nadia, who had strong abilities. If she saw someone getting beaten once, she wouldn’t act like that.

‘Not knowing fear is actually helpful here.’

Somehow, watching Bluebell reminded me of a honey badger.

Fearless and aggressive. And they attacked regardless of the opponent’s size.

“Who gave you permission to mess with Damian when you’re not even better than me?”

“…”

A possessive and obsessive honey badger. Bluebell.

As we walked down the corridor, she asked, “There’s a welcome party for new students after class today. Are you going?”

“I have to.”

“Hmph, suit yourself. You only have me as a friend anyway.”

“I have friends.”

“Who?”

“Yuri.”

Bluebell frowned at my answer.

“Drop dead.”

***

Day 1 at the academy.

I successfully finished my classes. Fortunately, nothing life-threatening happened.

“Should I consider this bad or good?”

Even with some minor incidents, no one died, so I guess I should be content with that.

Contemplating this, I wrote in Korean on a large piece of paper attached to the wall.

“Day 1. Except for Nadia enrolling in the academy, the overall plot from the original story is intact. However, the danger remains the same.”

Nadia’s chances of rebelling had decreased since she didn’t get into the art department.

However, her potential to cause trouble remained high due to her personality, which made her capable of killing people easily.

“I still don’t know what she’s thinking, and it’s strange how quietly she backed off today.”

I circled Nadia’s name on the paper.

“Highest risk. Proceed with caution.”

As for Bluebell and Yuri…

“Bluebell needs a personality overhaul. Yuri still needs to be observed.”

As I listened to Yuri after all classes today, she said the classes weren’t bad, and no incidents occurred.

In the original story that I remembered…

‘She kept challenging the Crown Prince to prove she wasn’t a failure.’

She constantly challenged the strongest Crown Prince whenever she had the chance.

However, unable to defeat him even once, she returned to the north for the holidays, hammered by a sense of defeat.

Eventually, Yuri dropped out of the academy, rolled around in the north, and ended up annihilating her own family.

“There’s a high chance things will follow the original story… Distrust in the world and obsession with me are growing. I need to keep an eye on her.”

As for Charlotte…

“I need to make sure she focuses on me instead of the Crown Prince. Our first meeting wasn’t bad. To strengthen our relationship, I might need to touch on her split personality.”

Lastly, the heroine and the Crown Prince…

“It’s best to just let them be in a relationship. The heroine has a strong hold on the Crown Prince’s leash.”

Avoid causing unnecessary trouble.

If I made a mistake, I could lose my head.

The Crown Prince didn’t tolerate anything.

Thud!

I threw the pen onto the desk.

With my thoughts about today’s academy experience sorted, there was somewhere I needed to go now.

I took a black formal suit for the event from the wardrobe and checked myself in the mirror.

“Not bad.”

The suit fit well, and I looked decent.

With the Sinclair Family’s white hair and distinctive blue eyes, I considered myself on the handsome side.

Apart from the lifeless eyes and lack of vitality in my expression.

“… Tsk. Let’s get to the party.”

Charlotte.

I needed to meet the spy from the neighboring country. I headed to the venue where the entrance ceremony party was being held.

“…”

A persistent gaze followed me from behind.

This gaze had been on me ever since I left the dormitory.

***

The banquet hall was extravagant.

Servants carrying rare foods, young ladies in splendid dresses, and a grand hall large enough to accommodate everyone gathered to welcome the new students.

As expected of the Fritz Imperial Academy, which attracted top talents. The scale was impressive.

‘Yuri said she didn’t want to come but decided to because I was here… Bluebell is wearing her signature blue dress, chatting away with the ladies…’

I saw her turning her head eagerly during conversations, looking to see if I was there.

To avoid being seen, I carefully blended into the crowd and moved towards my target. It would be dangerous if they noticed me talking to someone.

‘Charlotte.’

As I suspected, she wasn’t hiding somewhere. She would be in a place with many people, easily visible and engaging in conversations.

To scout for the Empire’s talents.

I looked up and spotted her.

‘Found her.’

As expected, Charlotte was in a prominent place, scouting from a vantage point.

She was arrogantly looking down at us from the second-floor balcony.

With her black-haired bodyguard by her side, she was scanning for talents and met my eyes.

She smiled enticingly and gestured for me to come over.

“Come here. Let’s talk.”

Even though the Crown Prince was also at this party, Charlotte sought me out first.

Step one: pass as a talent.

“Good.”

A calculating look hidden behind an intriguing gaze. She wore a daringly revealing dress which contrasted with her red lips perfectly.

‘I’ll pretend to fall for it.’

I headed straight toward Charlotte’s bait.