The Villainesses in the Romance Fantasy Novel Became Obsessed with me

The reason I was thrown into prison under the charge of treason was simple.

‘How dare you try to escape with Nadia, whom I must personally mold?’

‘She was infuriated, so I am locked up in prison.’

Just because she was in a bad mood.

Medeus labelled me as a traitor and threw me into prison.

‘Medeus will probably release me soon since she still needs me, but…’

Being confined in a prison made me feel subtly awful.

If I had committed a proper crime, I would accept it and enter voluntarily.

But being thrown into prison just because she was in a bad mood…

I felt pretty mistreated.

“I want to dye my hair back to its original color and forget about this.”

But I had to endure.

I must be patient.

To kick Medeus out as soon as possible, I had to endure this time now.

“I hope nothing bad happens to Nadia. Like if she killed someone…”

Medeus would control herself, right?

I hope Nadia doesn’t explode.

Surely nothing bad will happen, right?

I’ll be leaving here soon anyway.

“…”

But contrary to my expectations, time in solitary confinement passed slowly.

Only worries and useless regrets came to mind without any reflection.

Meals didn’t come on time, and only water to quench my thirst was provided.

It truly was a long and tedious imprisonment.

***

“Please release Darmian.”

In the Baron’s study.

Medeus sat in the study chair while glaring at Nadia.

She sighed and spoke firmly, “It’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“Because we can’t put the head of family in prison. Wouldn’t rumors of your imprisonment affect your marriage prospect? In that case, your servants would need to be imprisoned instead.”

Medeus had now calmed down, and she remained composed.

However, unlike her, Nadia’s emotions were heightened.

“It’s an order from the Head of the Family. Please release Darmian.”

“Are you saying that despite seeing my son’s hand?”

In a panic, Nadia turned towards Murphy’s direction.

“P-Please… Spare me… I-I was wrong…!”

Murphy pleaded frantically with his trembling bandaged hands.

Nadia remained unmoved by his display.

“I fail to see the relevance. Please release Darmian. That’s all that matters to me.”

“… Are you suggesting that my son’s condition has nothing to do with the Madam?”

“Yes, I believe it’s self-inflicted. Murphy tried to attack my servant first.”

“Hah…”

Medeus was astonished and exhaled heavily.

‘A devilish bitch like her shouldn’t be alive. But due to rumors and the power of the family, I can’t easily dispose of her. I even considered arranging a marriage out of consideration… How dare she lay a hand on my son?’

Medeus scratched the desk with her nails, trying to suppress her anger.

“…I put him in there to reflect, as a substitute for you. If you turns out like this, I can’t help it either.”

“What do you mean you can’t help it, Aunt?”

“Call me Baron, not Aunt. I am not your aunt right now.”

Medeus made a disgusted expression as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.

It was difficult for her to control her emotions, unlike usual.

‘Why am I supposed to be the aunt of a bitch like you? You’re just trash who harmed my son. I’ve never considered you as family. Disgusting bitch.’

Yet, she was so easily manipulated if you emphasize the ‘family’ aspect.

Medeus thought wickedly and slammed the desk.

Bang-!!

“When you’re treated as the Head of the Family, things go well for you. The Madam’s punishment will be taken by the servant. To be honest, I want to make your hands like my son’s. Since I’m holding back, leave quickly.”

“But it’s not my fault, Murphy was the one who-”

“Do you not hear me saying leave?! Drag her out immediately-!!”

Clang-

The guards moved, brandishing their swords toward Nadia.

“Leave immediately!”

“This is a warning…! Leave when asked nicely!”

Their faces were filled with caution and fear.

Nadia commanded them in the lord’s name.

“Lower your swords.”

“No, we cannot!”

“Leave at once!”

Why do they listen to my aunt’s words but not mine?

Nadia felt something odd about that scene.

It was the sense of resentment and frustration she usually tried to ignore and suppress.

‘I am the lord of Verdium. Yet, why do the guards listen to my aunt’s words and aim their swords at me?’

Is a random Baron’s words more important than the head of the family?

Nadia knew her aunt handled practical matters.

But what does that have to do with the current situation?

‘Still… no, it can’t be… I should stop thinking about this…’

Nadia got lost in her thoughts but eventually decided to stop.

Because knowing the truth would only complicate things.

‘For me to become part of my aunt’s family, I must endure. Because she’s the only family I have left.’

Nadia knew.

That the people in the mansion all disliked her.

She knew it well from their looks and attitudes.

Yet, there was one reason she always endured.

“… I’ll return to my room now, Aunt.”

“Yes, stay in your room for a while to cool off. We’ll open the door for you. We won’t forget about this incident, but since you’re family, we’ll let it slide.”

“… Yes.”

Above all, it was because of the longing for family.

But…

‘… Still, I need Darmian by my side. He’s more precious to me than my aunt.’

That family bond was also nearing its end.

Isn’t it said that children’s thoughts change in the blink of an eye?

“As expected, Darmian is more precious to me. And…”

‘If Darmian becomes my family, that’s all I need.’

‘Then, I won’t need my aunt anymore.’

“There’s no reason to endure any longer.”

*Sigh*

The family picture displayed in Nadia’s painting room gradually disappeared from her hands.

***

How many days had passed?

About three days, maybe.

With no windows, I had no idea how much time had passed.

But one thing I knew for sure.

‘These bastards…’

I couldn’t even properly eat a meal a day.

Even though my stomach grumbled with hunger, they wouldn’t give me food.

They just brought a cup of water in a small dish when it was time.

Having been accustomed to feasting in my family, I couldn’t adapt to this hunger.

“Starving a growing child like this. These trash.”

But I could still endure for now.

But what was happening outside?

‘Is Nadia spending her time drawing? Or has she already killed everyone outside and is now in the basement? Or maybe she’s just sleeping?’

These thoughts were making it unbearable for me.

With no one to talk to, unnecessary worries and thoughts dominate my mind.

At times like this, I desperately reminded myself.

“No, not yet. It’s not the time. Everything should be going according to plan. There will be no need to kill Nadia. It has to be that way.”

To others, I might seem crazy, but it is the truth.

I was halfway losing my mind right now. I wish someone would just get me out of here.

“Oh, I’m really going to die…”

With a slump, I had no strength to stand and ended up lying on the floor. Even a mouse was lying next to me, like it hadn’t eaten anything.

‘Maybe it managed to escape and bring the keys back.’

Lost in such futile fantasies, suddenly…

*Squeak*

The door opened, and footsteps approached.

“Is it mealtime?”

Please, let it be mealtime.

This time, I hope they give me bread instead of water.

I peered through the bars to confirm who it was.

“Huh?”

The owner of those footsteps was none other than…

“Darmian.”

“M-Milady…?”

It was Nadia Verdium.

And our reunion spelt the worst possible outcome.

I froze in shock.

‘What on earth happened while I was gone…?’

I lowered my gaze and saw her hands through the bare. They were stained with blood.

Of course, there were no wounds on her hands.

It was not Nadia’s blood. It was someone else’s.

‘Surely what I saw in the novel couldn’t have happened, right…?’

Praying fervently that my expectations were wrong.

I cautiously asked Nadia, “M-Milady… Is the blood on that hand…”

“She was trying to stop me. For a moment.”

“A moment?”

“I took care of it.”

Took care of it.

At those words, my body momentarily froze.

Nadia couldn’t hold out her hand to me.

Nadia raised her hand to the iron bars with a frown.

“Why aren’t you holding my hand, Darmian?”

Clang—

As she entered the cell, Nadia bent the iron bars and tore them apart.

She touched my body to check my condition.

And finally, as she held my hand, she muttered softly, “It’s been a while since I held your hand.”

“… Yes, it has.”

“You haven’t eaten, Darmian.”

“… No.”

“They told me they feed you well.”

“… Seems like people outside lied.”

“That’s right, let’s go, Darmian. You need to eat.”

Nadia took my hand and led me out of the prison.

I was afraid of the situation outside, but I had no power to refuse and was dragged along.

Clang—

As the prison door opened and I stepped out, I saw two people on the ground, clutching each other’s bleeding hands.

They were all groaning in agony.

“Uh, uh… I-I’m sorry…”

“Ah, it hurts… Madam… please, spare us…”

Fortunately.

She didn’t kill them.

There was still hope that she wouldn’t become a notorious villain.

“Why did you lie about feeding him? I thought it was okay to spare their lives and the hands was enough price.”

Without saying a word, Nadia pointed her finger at the guards.

And then, that finger.

Lightly.

Moved downward.

Crunch—!!

At that moment, the torsos of the two guards were separated from their lower bodies.

Like ants crushed under a human hand, they lost their lives without even a dying breath.

The first condition to becoming a villainess.

Murder.

Nadia fulfilled that first condition.

And she did it perfectly, using the power of her family.

“Darmian.”

I answered, hiding my trembling voice.

“… Yes.”

Nadia’s emerald eyes stared at me.

They shimmered beautifully with an eerie charm.

And without a change in expression, she asked me.

“Do you happen to know where the basement is?”

I answered that question immediately.

It was a reflexive action.

“No.”

At present.

This was the best I could do.

Nadia had already crossed a path of no return.

“Well, that’s a shame. Let’s look for it together next time. Let’s go eat quickly, Darmian.”

“… I regret you killed someone, My Lady.”

“I know you dislike it. But it’s okay. You were able to come back to my side again. That’s enough for me.”

‘I have to overhaul the plan entirely.’

‘Even if it means killing her.’

‘I must do it.’