The Villainess Appears! (2)
In a romance fantasy, there's the heroine and her love interests. But there's one thing you absolutely can't leave out. The villainess.
The other woman who stands in opposition to the heroine. Maybe they've always had bad blood. Or perhaps she twisted along the way. Or the guy she's been pining for falls for the heroine. Or she thinks the heroine stole all the praise that should have been hers—whatever the reason, the villainess always clashes with the heroine.
Some repent and mend their ways, but most live out their days as villains and meet miserable ends. Retribution for evil deeds. After all that frustration, you need catharsis. That's the payoff for any villainess.
"I'm sorry, Lord Evan of Valencia Border County. Will you forgive me?"
"Ahem."
"If there's something wrong with your clothes, our ducal house will cover the full compensation."
"It's fine, Lady Kiara. More importantly, I heard you nearly fell."
The black-haired villainess covered her mouth with a laugh. It was seductive, yet somehow malicious. The epitome of a classic romance fantasy villainess.
"Thanks to your concern, Lord Border Count."
"Good to hear."
The whispers around them grew louder. Evan's face flushed deeper in tandem. He'd just taken a wine shower in front of all these eyes. His clothes were soaked through to the skin. The mighty Border Count of the Efer Empire, looking utterly ridiculous. He wanted to snap, but his opponent made that impossible.
Kiara Marcelo. The daughter of the Marcelo Ducal House. Commonly called a lady. For one of her station, she was unusually scarce in high society. But Evan knew better. He had his sources.
'A woman to be wary of.'
She had a twisted personality that drew blood at the slightest collision. Rumor had it she'd driven over ten maids to quit. Each one begging for their life, unable to endure. And she wasn't just any noble lady—she was a duke's daughter. The Marcelo Ducal House was distantly related to the imperial family by blood. He might be a Border Count, but even a rising star like him felt the pressure. Best to back off now.
"I'll take my leave then. Enjoy the party, Lady Kiara."
"You too, Lord Border Count. Looked like you were having fun already."
She glanced at Estelle Lunarian. The look of someone spotting an amusing new toy. Evan's guard shot up. Nothing good could come from that lady taking an interest. He quickly stepped in to block her line of sight with his body.
"She's a foreign noble."
"We're all in the Continent Alliance, aren't we?"
"Still—"
"We can at least exchange greetings later."
It's my business, so butt out. He couldn't block a lady's social activities. They weren't even engaged. Strangers, through and through. Evan had no grounds to stop her. In the end, he retreated without even salvaging his dignity, roughly grabbing a jacket from his hurried attendant. Worried Estelle might see, he vanished from the party hall.
"They say he's capable, but he's just a plain idiot."
Kiara giggled at Evan's retreating back. Then she turned to Cain, who stood blankly beside her.
"You."
Me? Cain poked his own chest lightly.
"Yeah, you. Who else is there?"
The villainess. A villainess through and through. Black hair. Red eyes. A smile laced with an eerie aura that put everyone on edge. Her very expression screamed disdain for others. The polar opposite of the Estelle he'd seen moments ago. The perfect foil to the heroine.
'Sis. Forget everything else—the character design is spot-on.'
Anyone could see she was the textbook villainess. Throw in an "ah hahaha!" and it'd be perfection.
"You were gonna kill him just now, right?"
What the hell is this villainess saying?
"That idiot who just left. You were gonna kill him."
"No, ma'am."
Half-killing didn't count as full-on murder. Brainwashing wouldn't kill him, so it wasn't killing. Totally fine to deny it.
"Heh. Lying to a lady's face?"
"Never spoken a falsehood."
"Come on. I know everything."
The villainess leaned in close, staring Cain down. Crimson eyes. An inhuman vibe. Enough to make you believe she really did know everything.
'...A demon?'
Cain's hand twitched into a fist, rising instinctively. A demon in human guise? Plausible. But villainesses weren't supposed to be demons. They had to be human for the heroine to shine in comparison. It was a rule. Demons were demons. Villainesses were villainesses.
"How were you gonna do it? Right in front of that girl?"
"You're taking this too far."
A warning to cut the crap. The mad dog was revving up. He knew who he could toy with and who he couldn't. That's why he was still alive despite his infamous title.
But push too hard, and he'd flip—turn the place upside down. His head was tilting now, the prelude.
Kiara backed off like it was nothing.
"Never mind then."
Villainess and lady through and through—masterful handling. As she retreated, Cain reined in his madness. No point unleashing it anywhere, anyhow. It was for demons and their lackeys only.
"That punch you threw earlier? Nice."
"Contractor, so yeah."
"Beating a noble as a commoner. Not scared?"
"Missing the demon right in front of me is scarier."
"Whoa, you're fun."
She sidled up again, whispering. Good job. I love that kind of brutality. Did you see that idiot lady? So frustrating, nearly drove me mad. The continent's a mess because of those bastards. Kill the demon collaborators first, ask questions later. Swing by our ducal house sometime. I'll brew you tea myself. If tea's not enough, I can offer something else. Sweeter and hotter than any tea.
'Real villainesses are something else.'
He'd heard demons' temptations ad nauseam in battle. All of them repulsive, vomit-inducing. Others crumbled, grinning like fools. Cain's response? Fuck off.
Kiara's whisper was far more dangerous. Sticky. Brazen. Searing. It stoked a fire in the listener.
"You coming?"
"Anytime a demon shows up at the ducal house."
"Boring. Can't even pretend?"
"Too many demons yapping that crap."
Kiara circled Cain slowly. Then she rose on tiptoe, chin brushing just below his jaw. Her scent was dizzyingly thick, feminine. His hackles rose. Survival instincts screamed. Danger. This woman is lethal to men.
"Gotta go. Enjoy the party, Cain."
She melted into the crowd like she'd never been there. A hazy nightmare fading.
Staring at the void she'd left, Cain asked Yuris Colhen beside him.
"What the hell was that?"
"Beats me."
If heroine Estelle was the bright sun and warm light, villainess Kiara was the dreamy moon and clinging shadow. She knew her allure. Could enchant anyone.
The original story was fuzzy now, but she'd surely hounded Estelle with those weapons.
'But a villainess is a villainess. Doomed to defeat.'
Recall: Kiara became irredeemable after clashing hard with Estelle. The male leads and others sided with Estelle. Everything bent her way. Villainess couldn't win. Resistance was futile. This world served the heroine only.
Yet the villainess thrashed to the end. Fell harder. Got buried.
Her final jealousy summoned the Seven Deadly Sins Demons.
'I planned to kill her on sight.'
Simple reason. The villainess was the flare for the Seven Deadly Sins Demons. Eliminate her, problem solved.
'Ended up being a dumb idea, but.'
Before possession, he'd been a web novel PD. He had instincts. Possession stories twisted if you fought the flow. What must happen, happened. Especially if it drove the main plot.
The villainess was the signal flare for the Seven Deadly Sins Demons. To Cain, a glaring beacon. He could ambush from her side. First strike wins—an ancient tradition.
Let someone else trigger them? Who knew how it'd spiral. Better stick to the confirmed route. All possessed protags obsessed over rails for a reason. Stability over risky adventures.
And Cain had one more reason.
"Yuris."
"Yes, Captain Cain."
"Seven Deadly Sins Demons. Remember them?"
"The names demons yammer when it's their end."
Screech! Kill us and the Seven Deadly Sins Demons will rage! Spare us! We'll talk it over back home!
Cain always laughed and slew them. Please, go fetch the Seven Deadly Sins Demons. Getting bored. Tired of trash mobs. Gimme stronger! Tougher! Bring 'em!
Beating the Seven Deadly Sins Demons was the ticket home, right? Let's throw down. Wonder who dies. Do you scream too? Beg for mercy? We'll meet someday, Seven Deadly Sins Demons!
"Captain."
A squad member approached Yuris, waiting. Meant for her ears only, probably. But she scowled fiercely.
"Spit it out. In front of Captain Cain."
"Sorry, security reasons."
The special forces member steadied himself and reported.
"Demons appeared near the border a few days ago. Remnants, but enough to breach defenses. They've torched villages and slaughtered people."
"And?"
"Border guards clashed but were outnumbered. Nearby knight orders deployed, but they're barely holding the line. Requesting more reinforcements."
Yuris glanced at Cain. He shook his head knowingly. Knight orders out, and they can't mop up remnants?
Demons were strong, but mana-awakened humans weren't pushovers. Knights were superhumans, beyond human limits. A full knight order, and this?
"Half-assed it."
"Or slacking."
Send rookies to observe. Or send elites but keep 'em out of the fray. Remnant cleanup wasn't glory material. No merit. Conserve strength.
Fighting world-devouring foes, yet honor and power games came first. Romance fantasy, alright.
"Perfect."
"Captain? You don't mean—"
"I'm going."
Border meant magic circle teleport. Not for just anyone, but Cain wasn't anyone. Swing his sword in front of the bureaucrats, done.
"But no need for you to—"
"Demons showed up."
No yielding demon-slaying. Ever.
"Plus, got another errand on the way."
That villainess had sparked a brilliant idea.
Whoosh! Cain spun and bolted for the exit.
—Thwack! Smacking Evan's back en route was bonus. Still useful, so no paralysis.
"Gah?!"
"Oh, sorry. Tripped on your dress there."
"D-Dress?!"
Never mind.