Free Web NovelChapter 1: I Reincarnated as the Heroine Instead of the Villainess?!
The first thing Seraphina Valois did after remembering her past life...
...was scream into her pillow.
"This is a scam."
Her maids outside the room gasped.
"Lady Seraphina?! Are you alright?!"
"No," she answered honestly, sitting upright with dead eyes. "I have been betrayed by destiny itself."
The maids sounded even more alarmed after that.
Seraphina ignored them.
No.
No no no no no.
This was NOT how this was supposed to go.
Ever since her previous life, she had loved villainesses.
Not the weak fake ones who cried after slapping a maid once.
No.
She loved REAL villainesses.
Elegant women in black silk dresses.
Women who smiled while destroying corrupt nobles.
Women with dramatic fans, dangerous secrets, poisonous words, and ten-step revenge plans.
While other girls dreamed about becoming heroines surrounded by princes...
Seraphina had practiced villainess laughs in her bathroom mirror.
Unfortunately, fate was cruel.
Because she had reincarnated into the world of her favorite romance fantasy game...
As the heroine.
The heroine.
The pure-hearted saintess loved by everyone.
The walking symbol of sunlight and forgiveness.
Seraphina slowly turned toward the giant mirror in her room.
Silver-blonde hair.
Soft golden eyes.
A face so innocent it looked illegal.
"...Disgusting."
This body couldn’t even glare properly.
According to the game’s story, Seraphina Valois was supposed to attend the Royal Academy, accidentally charm every important man alive, stop a political conspiracy, save the empire, and marry one of the capture targets.
Meanwhile the villainess—Lady Evelyne Blanchett—would eventually be ruined.
Seraphina had spent three entire years preparing herself mentally to become Evelyne.
She had plans.
She had speeches ready.
She had practiced elegant wine throwing.
And now?
She was trapped as the heroine.
"This world has terrible taste."
A knock came from the door.
"Young miss," a calm male voice said. "Your carriage for the academy is ready."
Seraphina froze.
That voice.
She immediately stood and opened the door.
A young man with black hair stood outside calmly holding gloves in one hand. His silver eyes lifted toward her without surprise.
Kael Arden.
Her childhood best friend.
Also the only reason she hadn’t completely lost her mind after recovering her memories.
In the original game, Kael barely mattered.
He was just the heroine’s intelligent commoner friend who appeared occasionally.
A side character.
Forgettable.
But apparently this world disagreed because he had somehow become involved in every single part of her life.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Kael asked.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes dramatically.
"Kael."
"Yes?"
"I have decided something important."
"You say that every morning."
"I will become the greatest villainess this empire has ever seen."
Silence.
Then Kael sighed.
"Again?"
Again?!
"Again?!" Seraphina repeated in outrage. "You say that as if this is unreasonable!"
"You threatened the gardener yesterday because the roses weren’t dramatic enough."
"They lacked despair."
"The roses were yellow."
"Exactly."
Kael looked tired already.
Good.
A proper villainess should mentally exhaust people.
Seraphina crossed her arms and walked past him grandly.
"Come. My descent into evil begins at the academy."
"You’re fifteen minutes late already."
"Villainesses arrive fashionably late."
"You tripped over the carpet last time."
"That was strategic."
Kael stared at her.
"...Right."
Perfect.
This was the dynamic she wanted.
A terrifying villainess and her loyal assistant.
Life was finally becoming bearable again.
—
The Royal Academy of Astoria was exactly as Seraphina remembered from the game.
Massive white buildings.
Elegant gardens.
Rich nobles everywhere.
Disgustingly heroic atmosphere.
Students turned to stare as she stepped out of the carriage.
Whispers immediately spread.
"That’s Seraphina Valois..."
"She’s prettier than the rumors..."
"She looks so gentle..."
Gentle?!
Seraphina almost tripped from offense.
No.
No no.
This image needed immediate correction.
She slowly lifted her chin.
Then she gave the coldest, most villainous smile she could manage.
Several students gasped.
Finally.
Fear.
Respect.
Darkness.
A girl nearby suddenly clutched her chest.
"She smiled at me..."
"She’s so beautiful..."
Seraphina’s expression cracked.
Why were they reacting like that?!
Kael stepped beside her casually.
"You look constipated."
"I was trying to radiate evil intent."
"You radiated friendliness."
Seraphina looked personally attacked.
This world’s standards were broken.
Absolutely broken.
Then—
A familiar voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Well, well. Looks like the academy’s saintess has arrived."
The crowd immediately parted.
A girl with long black hair walked forward elegantly surrounded by noble followers.
Lady Evelyne Blanchett.
The original villainess herself.
Seraphina stopped breathing.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Perfect posture.
Black lace gloves.
Cold crimson eyes.
Oh, Seraphina was going to cry.
THIS was a villainess.
Evelyne’s sharp gaze landed on her.
In the original game, this was supposed to be the beginning of their rivalry.
The heroine would be intimidated.
The villainess would mock her.
Tension would begin.
Seraphina, unfortunately, got distracted admiring Evelyne’s aesthetic.
The black parasol.
The heels.
The judgmental expression.
Amazing.
Evelyne frowned slightly.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
Seraphina grabbed her hands dramatically.
"I just want you to know that I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs."
The courtyard fell silent.
Kael covered his face.
Evelyne blinked slowly.
"...What?"
"You’re incredible," Seraphina whispered emotionally. "Please continue ruining lives."
Several nobles looked horrified.
Evelyne herself seemed genuinely confused for the first time in her life.
Good.
Confusion was a powerful villainess weapon.
Seraphina released her hands and stepped back elegantly.
Then she lowered her voice.
"If you ever need help destroying society, contact me."
Kael immediately grabbed her shoulder.
"We’re leaving."
"But—"
"Now."
He dragged her away while the entire courtyard stared.
Seraphina looked back dramatically at Evelyne.
Their eyes met briefly.
Evelyne still looked stunned.
Excellent.
A successful first impression.
—
By lunch, rumors had already spread across the academy.
Unfortunately...
They were completely wrong.
"She defended Lady Blanchett from gossip..."
"How noble..."
"They say she admires strong women..."
"Lady Seraphina is so kind..."
Seraphina slammed her forehead against the cafeteria table.
"I hate this place."
Kael calmly drank tea beside her.
"You told the villainess you supported her crimes."
"And somehow that made me sound nicer!"
"That’s because you looked sincere."
"I WAS sincere!"
"That’s the problem."
Seraphina groaned loudly.
No matter what she did, people kept misunderstanding her.
Last week she tried threatening a corrupt merchant.
Now the city called her "the silver saint."
She had attempted blackmail.
BLACKMAIL.
The chair across from them suddenly moved.
Seraphina looked up.
A tall boy with dark blue hair sat across from her lazily.
Crown Prince Cassian Astor.
One of the main capture targets.
Annoying.
Dangerously handsome.
Too observant.
In the game, he became interested in the heroine because she was "different."
Seraphina planned to fix that immediately.
Cassian studied her carefully.
"So you’re Seraphina Valois."
She smiled sweetly.
"No."
Silence.
Kael coughed into his tea.
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"...No?"
"I’m actually a terrifying manipulator pretending to be harmless."
"Mm."
"You should fear me."
"Should I?"
"Yes."
Cassian leaned forward slightly.
Then, to Seraphina’s horror...
...he smiled.
Not mocking.
Interested.
"I think," he said softly, "you’re the first honest person I’ve met here."
Seraphina froze.
Excuse me?
HONEST?!
That wasn’t seductive villainess dialogue!
That was socially concerning behavior!
Kael suddenly placed a dessert plate in front of her.
"Eat."
"I’m in psychological distress."
"You skipped breakfast."
Cassian’s eyes flickered briefly toward Kael.
Then back to her.
"You two seem close."
"We’ve known each other forever," Seraphina answered carelessly while attacking the cake.
Kael silently pushed her tea closer before she could ask.
Cassian watched the movement quietly.
Something unreadable crossed his face for just a second.
But Seraphina missed it completely because she had suddenly noticed someone nearby bullying a servant girl.
Her eyes narrowed.
Three noble girls had cornered a trembling maid near the cafeteria entrance.
One grabbed the maid’s wrist harshly.
"You spilled tea on my dress, idiot."
The maid looked terrified.
Around them, students pretended not to notice.
Seraphina slowly stood.
Kael glanced at her once.
Then sighed softly like a man accepting fate.
"Don’t kill anyone."
"No promises."
She walked toward the group calmly.
The noble girls immediately straightened.
"Lady Seraphina—"
"Leave," she interrupted coldly.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The girls laughed nervously.
"This servant ruined—"
"I said leave."
For the first time that day...
Seraphina genuinely sounded dangerous.
Cold.
Sharp.
Cruel.
The air itself felt heavier.
The maid stared at her with wide eyes.
One noble girl frowned.
"And if we don’t?"
Seraphina smiled slowly.
Beautifully.
Terrifyingly.
"Then I’ll make sure your family spends the next ten years wondering why every business deal mysteriously fails."
Silence.
Even Kael looked mildly impressed.
The girls went pale.
Because unlike her dramatic nonsense earlier...
THIS sounded believable.
One girl stammered, "Y-You can’t possibly—"
"Try me."
They fled immediately.
The cafeteria erupted into whispers.
Seraphina looked down at the shaking maid.
"...You should stop trembling. I’m not helping you because I’m kind."
The maid looked ready to cry.
"T-Thank you, my lady—"
"I simply dislike incompetence."
Then Seraphina turned dramatically and walked away with perfect villainess elegance.
YES.
THAT was the energy she wanted.
Cold.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
Finally.
Finally she had done something properly evil-looking.
As she returned to the table, she noticed the entire cafeteria staring.
Good.
Fear her.
Cassian suddenly laughed quietly.
"...Interesting."
Seraphina sat proudly.
Kael handed her another dessert.
"You enjoyed that too much."
"She looked at me with terror in her eyes."
"You threatened economic warfare."
"As a villainess should." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Kael’s lips twitched slightly.
And for a brief second...
His gaze softened in a way Seraphina didn’t notice at all.
But someone else did.
Across the cafeteria, Crown Prince Cassian watched the two of them silently.
Then his eyes lowered toward the way Kael automatically adjusted Seraphina’s crooked sleeve without thinking.
The prince’s smile faded slightly.
"...How annoying," he murmured.
And neither of them heard him.
