Kill the Villainess [Novel] - Chapter 1

Whether we desire it or not, everyone is born into this world. I was no exception—though I didn’t live solely doing what I pleased, my life had been ordinary and content in its own way.

Yet life often takes unpredictable turns, some so absurd they could be radio contest anecdotes or internet memes.

And so, I found myself in another world.

A world where crown princes still existed, where heroes strutted through the streets, where divine power and magic were real. To be precise, the world of that cliché romance novel I’d read at a friend’s house just the other day.

I awoke as Eris Miserian—the story’s sole villainess, the marquis’s only daughter, the crown prince’s fiancée, and the childhood friend who envied the heroine.

Some women might have dreamed of such a world. Others might have resolved to live earnestly here since there was no other choice.

But I—I couldn’t bring myself to love this world. So I made up my mind: I would die as soon as possible and return to my own world.

* * *

“My lady, are you awake?”

Perhaps it was because I, an atheist, had sought God.

Though I’d fervently prayed to be sent back by now, I once again opened my eyes inside this novel.

Instead of my mother’s voice, the head maid’s roused me. Her perpetually stubborn lips curved gently for me, but I felt nothing. The part-time jobs I’d taken just to get by turned out unexpectedly useful here.

“Yes. We’re entering the Imperial Palace today, correct?”

A polite smile settled naturally on my lips.

Since the novel’s protagonist and narrator was Helena, I knew nothing of Eris’s personality or surroundings. But judging by how no one found me odd, I must have been mimicking noble etiquette well enough.

Dressing usually took two hours, but today we started an hour earlier since we were heading to the palace. Probably to look beautiful for my fiancé, the crown prince.

All futile. The crown prince loved Helena—the heroine—from the moment they met until the very end. His unwavering devotion persisted until the book’s conclusion, where he finally made her his empress. Meanwhile, Eris, who loved (or rather, envied) Helena, only grew more deranged because of it.

Honestly, it wasn’t my taste. Fine for passing time, but the generic plot and characters dragged it down. No twists, no memorable storytelling—just endless cycles of sweet flutters with three handsome male leads and Eris’s villainous interference.

Despite being the heroine’s rival, Eris had no narrative of her own. Just a jealous wretch who hated kind-hearted Helena until the end, never repenting. Less a person than a plot device for the heroine’s trials.

Eris succeeded in poisoning Helena, but one male lead—the High Priest—miraculously saved her. Good triumphed; Eris died; Helena lived happily ever after. A satisfying ending for her fans.

“My lady, what are you thinking?”

A maid fixing my hair asked. Jet-black locks, snow-white skin, lips like blood—was this how Snow White looked? The mirror reflected a beautiful stranger. It terrified me.

“Just that time moves so slowly.”

“My lady! Are you that eager for the engagement?”

“Perhaps.”

My death felt agonizingly distant.

“A radiant afternoon, Lady Miserian. His Highness awaits you.”

“…How kind of His Highness to wait for me. Truly a radiant afternoon.”

After paying respects to the emperor, the crown prince’s chamberlain and knight greeted me. If he despised Eris so much, he could have skipped tea—but he kept his promise. Not to me or the emperor, but to someone else.

“Eris! No—Lady Miserian! You’re here!”

A bright voice and sweet smile welcomed me. Silver hair gleaming like spun sugar fluttered as the crown prince laughingly smoothed it for her. They were the perfect pair for the imperial greeting—”radiant afternoon.” The golden-haired prince watched Helena tie her hair with tender eyes before turning a frosty gaze on me.

“…You’re later than usual.”

“…My apologies. A radiant afternoon to you, Your Highness—and to Helena.”

“The tea hasn’t gone cold yet. Please sit.”

“Drop the formalities, Helena. We’re friends… Right?”

Helena’s hopeful gaze and the prince’s glare—daring me to disagree—pinned me down. Amusing.

A disgraced countess taken in as the prince’s wet nurse by her friend, the empress… That was Helena’s backstory. Noble blood or not, she was now a commoner who’d never dream of sharing tea with royalty—yet here she was, addressing nobles casually under the prince’s favor. The palace etiquette tutor would weep.

In the novel’s original plot, Eris would seize this chance to provoke the prince’s wrath and get expelled. But stirring trouble felt exhausting now. Whether I scolded Helena or not, the prince would hate Eris regardless—no need to waste energy. So I softened my gaze toward Helena instead.

“Cold tea turns bitter. May I pour you another cup?”

“Ah—yes.”

“…Did your ladyship never learn to pour tea at home? Or are your hands unwell?”

Honestly. The prince glared daggers at me for making his woman work—but those with no attachment to life fear nothing. And though the marquis wasn’t my real father, his snide remark about household education grated on me.

“As Your Highness said—we’re friends… Is it so improper to ask a friend for tea?”

“…You.”

Etiquette-wise, the prince was at a disadvantage. He tensed to snap at me but froze when Helena cut in.

“She’s right, Alec! Friends help each other out. Keep grumbling and I won’t pour yours!”

Her playful scolding made the prince pout petulantly—prompting Helena to tap his lips with two fingers: their make-up signal. Shamelessly endearing, like a painting come to life—no wonder everyone adored her.

According to the book, Helena’s guileless sincerity shielded her from hatred no matter what she did. Even former foes fell for her and betrayed Eris in remorse by the end—less charm than outright magic at that point.

“Am I interrupting something?”

“Iason! You’re back already?”

“Yep! Staying in the capital awhile now.” His boisterous voice preceded him as he embraced both prince and Helena at once. “Radiant afternoon, Your Highness!”

The ducal heir—better known as “Hero” Iason—was their childhood friend and another of Helena’s doomed admirers. Originally, Eris should’ve been kicked out by now after acting foolish here while these three reunited sweetly… But since both male leads already hated me anyway, I might as well push further before leaving.

“My apologies for intruding! Lady Miserian—you’re as stunning as ever.” Finally noticing me after laughing heartily, Iason winked (fitting for the empire’s most notorious playboy). Handsome but insufferable.

“A radiant afternoon to you too, Lord Cazar.”

“Spare me that title—I’ve done nothing to earn House Cazar’s name! Just ‘Iason’ is fine.” He sighed theatrically before grinning again at my prim tone: “So formal!”

“As His Highness’s fiancée… how could I dare otherwise?” Stressing “fiancée,” I watched Iason’s brows rise while the prince scowled harder—prompting Iason to glance between us nervously. The prince truly couldn’t hide his feelings—at least not around Eris and Helena alike… Cold toward most yet openly doting on Helena while visibly despising Eris—no wonder readers loved him for it (or so my friend claimed).

“You have an audience watching you today… Your Highness.”

“I need not mind others’ opinions.” Frankly? I didn’t want to engage either—they were just kids barely older than Eris herself Throwing tantrums over childish antics would only drain me… But seeing that smug smirk on his face made patience impossible So with deliberate calmness:

“There is only one person under heaven who may truly act without care… And even He watches over His subjects’ welfare.”

“Eris!” Helena gasped while the prince clenched his fists white-knuckled; even Iason stepped closer warily ready intervene if needed Granted mocking him for presuming imperial privilege (without being emperor himself) warranted anger…

Yet instead satisfaction all tasted bitter instead Strange Weren’t they all childhood friends? Yet here Eris was treated like an intruder—no worse than some foreign contaminant Had real Eris been here she might’ve been hurt

After lingering gaze rose slowly from seat Adding faint smile wide-eyed Helena:

“The tea was lovely Lady Anteblum But please refrain from casual speech before others Status and appearances matter after all”

“…Yes”