Why Did I Reincarnate as the Heroine When I Wanted to Be a Villainess?

Chapter 3: The Girl Who Accidentally Became a Legend Before Lunch

Seraphina Valois had decided something very important.

Today would be normal.

No threats.

No misunderstandings.

No accidental political crimes.

Just a peaceful academy day where she could quietly plan how to become a terrifying villainess in peace.

Unfortunately, the universe heard her and immediately laughed.

Because the moment she stepped into the academy courtyard, something was wrong.

Not obvious wrong.

Subtle wrong.

The kind of wrong that makes your instincts itch.

The air felt... watched.

Seraphina narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Kael." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"Mm?"

"Do you feel that?"

Kael didn’t even look up from the book he was holding.

"Yes."

"...That’s it? Just yes?"

"It’s been like that since yesterday."

Seraphina stopped walking.

"You’re telling me we are being watched and you didn’t think that was important information?"

Kael flipped a page.

"You were busy threatening a noble lineage. I didn’t want to interrupt."

"That was IMPORTANT CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT."

"Sure."

Seraphina exhaled sharply.

Something was definitely off.

But before she could investigate further—

A loud voice echoed across the courtyard.

"IT’S HER!"

Silence.

Every student turned.

A group of first-years stood near the academy gates, trembling slightly, pointing directly at Seraphina.

Whispers exploded instantly.

"That’s her..."

"The silver-eyed one..."

"She’s the one from yesterday..."

Seraphina slowly pointed to herself.

"...Me?"

One of the students nodded rapidly.

"You’re Lady Valois, right?! The one who stopped the nobles yesterday!"

Seraphina straightened immediately.

Finally.

Recognition.

Respect.

Proper villainess reputation development—

"Yes," she said coolly. "I handled it."

The students froze.

Then—

"PLEASE TEACH US HOW TO BE THAT COOL!!"

Silence.

Seraphina blinked.

"...What?"

"We saw everything! You didn’t even hesitate! You scared them with just words!"

"They were bullies," Seraphina said flatly.

"That’s amazing!"

"No, that’s basic morality."

"But you did it so elegantly!"

Seraphina felt something inside her soul crack again.

This world was actively refusing to understand her.

Kael leaned slightly toward her.

"You’ve become a role model."

"I threatened them."

"Yes."

"And they are admiring me."

"Yes."

Seraphina stared into the distance.

"...I hate this place."

Before she could continue her existential crisis—

A shadow appeared behind the crowd.

"Move."

The voice was calm.

Cold.

Authoritative.

The students immediately parted.

Evelyne Blanchett walked through.

Black hair flowing.

Perfect posture.

That villainess aura Seraphina had been chasing her entire reincarnated life.

Seraphina’s eyes immediately lit up.

Finally.

A normal person.

A rival.

A fellow darkness enthusiast.

Evelyne stopped in front of her.

Their eyes met.

The courtyard went completely silent again.

Evelyne spoke first.

"...You’re getting popular."

Seraphina nodded.

"Yes. It’s annoying."

"...Annoying?"

"I’m trying to be feared, not worshipped."

A pause.

Evelyne studied her for a moment.

Then—

"You’re doing it wrong."

Seraphina gasped.

Finally.

Finally someone who understood.

"Yes! Exactly! Tell me what I’m doing wrong."

Evelyne crossed her arms.

"You’re too... soft."

Seraphina froze.

"...Soft?"

"You hesitate before acting."

"I threatened three families yesterday."

"With economics."

"That still counts!"

Evelyne sighed lightly.

"It’s not enough."

For the first time, Evelyne’s expression shifted slightly.

Not arrogance.

Not cruelty.

Something sharper.

"I ruin people completely when necessary."

Seraphina stared at her.

"...Teach me."

Kael, behind them, quietly closed his book.

"...This is getting worse."

Evelyne ignored him completely.

"If you want to be feared, you need consequences, not performance."

Seraphina nodded slowly.

"Yes... consequences..."

Evelyne turned to leave.

But paused.

"...Also."

She glanced back.

"Stop smiling like that."

Seraphina blinked.

"My smile is part of my villainess aesthetic."

"It looks kind."

Seraphina froze.

"That is impossible."

Evelyne walked away.

Seraphina stood there.

Processing.

Kael patted her shoulder.

"She insulted your entire villain career in one sentence."

"I will improve."

"You shouldn’t be proud of that."

But Seraphina wasn’t listening anymore.

She was thinking.

Soft.

Kind.

Heroine-like.

Impossible.

She would fix this.

Today.

Right now.

—

By midday, Seraphina had a plan.

A simple one.

No smiling.

No hesitation.

No mercy.

Perfect villainess execution mode.

She walked into the academy hall again.

Students immediately straightened.

Good.

Fear response already improved.

She stopped near a group of nobles arguing.

Perfect target.

She stepped forward.

Cold voice.

"Noisy."

They turned.

Seraphina lifted her gaze.

"No one asked for your opinions."

Silence.

One noble swallowed.

"...Lady Valois?"

Seraphina continued.

"If you want to survive here, learn silence."

Perfect.

Clean.

Intimidating.

This was it.

Finally—

A student fainted.

Seraphina froze.

"...What?"

Another student whispered.

"She’s so cool..."

"I think I just felt my life flash before my eyes..."

Seraphina slowly turned her head.

Kael was watching from a distance.

Expression unreadable.

"...I didn’t smile," she muttered.

"Yes," Kael said.

"I was perfect."

"You were terrifying."

"Good."

"...That’s not the reaction they had."

Seraphina clenched her fist.

"This world is broken."

At that moment—

A servant from the royal academy approached quickly.

He bowed.

"Lady Valois."

Seraphina straightened instantly.

Finally.

A normal event.

"A message has arrived for you."

A letter.

Sealed.

Crimson wax.

No emblem she recognized.

Kael’s eyes sharpened instantly.

Seraphina took it slowly.

"...This is probably a love letter," she said confidently.

Kael paused.

"No."

"It is."

"It isn’t."

Seraphina opened it anyway.

Silence.

Her expression slowly changed.

"...Oh."

Kael stepped closer.

"What is it?"

Seraphina read it again.

Then slowly said:

"I am being requested."

"By who?"

She paused.

Then:

"A foreign kingdom."

Kael’s expression went still.

The courtyard noise faded slightly.

Seraphina continued reading.

"...It says I am being formally invited as a bride candidate."

Silence.

Kael blinked once.

"...What?"

Seraphina nodded.

"Yes."

"...You?"

"Yes."

"...As a bride?"

"Yes."

Kael stared at her for a long moment.

Then:

"...No."

Seraphina frowned.

"What do you mean no?"

"This is not happening."

"I didn’t agree to it."

"That’s irrelevant." freewebnovёl.ƈom

"That’s illegal."

"That’s negotiable."

Seraphina tilted her head.

"This might be my villainess arc."

Kael slowly closed his eyes.

"This is your survival arc."

From across the courtyard—

Someone was watching.

Not the students.

Not Evelyne.

Not the prince.

Something else.

Unseen.

Patient.

Waiting.

And for the first time...

Seraphina felt it too.

A pressure.

Like fate had just looked directly at her.

She lowered the letter slightly.

"...Kael."

"Yes?"

"I think my life just got worse."

Kael looked at the sealed wax again.

"...Yes."

A pause.

Then quietly:

"It did."

Far away, beyond the academy walls, a carriage bearing no flag began to move.

Toward them.