The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Troublesome Villainess - Chapter 2

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Male Lead Has Gone Mad Over the Villainous Woman 002
“After joining the Expedition, do your utmost not to tarnish the name of House Ardena.”
Even so, the Duke of House Ardena continued to air only his own grievances.
There was not the faintest hint of concern for his daughter. He spoke with the same detached efficiency one might use to dispatch any other task, and his eyes held not a shred of affection.
Is he really my father?
“I can’t wield a sword.”
I protested quietly.
I could have rattled off a hundred reasons why I shouldn’t join the Expedition.
And I didn’t want to die.
I had no desire to set out with the Expedition only to return as a cold corpse.
“I’ll only be a burden to the others. If that happens, I’ll shamefully tarnish the name of House Ardena.”
“That is not your concern to bear. I shall manage the consequences. You need only do as I command. Whether you prove a burden or tarnish House Ardena’s name — these things I decide, not you.”
The ultimate patriarch.
He saw his children as nothing more than his possessions.
Wait — Rosana. I always thought you were simply a troublemaking villain character, but that wasn’t it at all, was it……?
Of course.
Villains don’t simply arise from nowhere.
After all, most of those problem children on TV shows had issues rooted in their parents, didn’t they?
With a father like this, it was clear how Rosana had become who she was.
Since he meant to cast me aside anyway, further resistance was pointless.
“Do as you’re told. If you defy me again, I won’t be so lenient. This time won’t end with a few days locked in the attic.”
The Duke’s voice dropped low.
Every noble house had to send exactly one person to join the Expedition.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the Imperial Court was watching closely to see which houses participated.
Any house that abstained would surely face serious consequences.
But wait — he actually locked his own daughter in the attic?
Rosana’s memories surfaced suddenly in my mind.
‘Those possessed by evil spirits like you must be confined and starved until they regain their senses. Lock Rosana in the attic and not a drop of water shall she have.’
‘Rosana, what carelessness is this? You spilled soup on Her Imperial Majesty’s hem? Do you have any sense at all? The horses in the stable have more wit than you! If trembling hands are the problem, there is a cure for that! Let Rosana spend a week in the stable!’
‘Utterly useless.’
The Duke’s vitriolic abuse came flooding back, accompanied by violence.
I even remembered weeping myself to sleep in the stable.
His own daughter, truly……?
Whatever I said or did, it would end up going the Duke’s way regardless.
I ground my teeth together.
“Yes, Father.”
“……You’re not thinking of running away again, are you? If you were born into House Ardena, then uphold our honor and keep your word, Rosana.”
“No, I won’t run.”
Running would only mean being caught and dragged back.
Did I know the geography of this world? Did I have money? Did I have allies? I knew nothing of the roads, had nothing in my pockets, had no one to turn to. What could I possibly do?
Whatever I attempted would be striking a rock with an egg. Better to stay quiet, hold my breath, and wait for my chance.
There was no reason to cause trouble and get myself locked away.
Somewhere in this wretched place, there had to be a way out.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, Father. Since it is a duty to represent House Ardena as you say, I shall regard it as an honor.”
“What’s gotten into you, speaking sense for once. Good, you’ve thought it through well.”
My mouth offered obedience while my mind churned with other thoughts.
This world was doomed.
Monsters had overrun the settlements, and countless people were dying.
When the armies first faced these creatures, they proved helpless. Against beings possessed of bodies far superior to those of humans, mankind was reduced to a candle guttering in the wind.
But then, individuals with extraordinary abilities began to appear.
One of them was the Male Lead. And with him at the helm, the Expedition was formed.
The story went that when the Male Lead and the Female Lead succeeded in subjugating the monsters and returned, peace would be restored to the world.
I remembered it clearly — I’d fallen asleep reading this novel yesterday.
The crucial detail was the phrase: “The Female Lead and Male Lead succeed, and peace returns.”
Right then. This world would return to normal regardless.
So I had to prepare for that future.
I had to avoid death flags carefully, survive, and come back — back to the Capital.
But not to return to House Ardena. I would gain my independence.
By my own strength!
I’ll become someone wonderful who won’t be pushed around by Ardena ever again.
That’s when it happened.
“Still, to be safe, I’ll keep her confined. As long as she behaves obediently, I’ll make sure she’s well-fed.”
No one dared contradict the Duke of House Ardena.
So my transmigration begins with imprisonment.
Is he really my biological father?
What kind of nonsense is this?
* * *
I looked around the room.
Though they called it an attic, at least they’d furnished it properly—presumably because their own daughter was locked inside.
There was a bed, a window, and—let’s see—even a wardrobe? Empty, mind you.
The bed was reasonably soft, comfortable enough to sleep on. And the bathroom seemed well-maintained.
This is manageable.
Before the transmigration—that’s what I call my past life now.
Before I died, I was Korea’s first female UDT combat operator. Only those who know understand how extraordinary that was.
I’d endured far more extreme conditions than this—training that pushed the limits of human capability without proper food or rest.
“This is nothing.”
I’d enlisted to escape the loan sharks chasing me down over my father’s debts.
I thought surely they wouldn’t follow me into the military, and if I was going to run anyway, the sea seemed like the best option.
And I figured I might as well become strong enough to break a few kneecaps while I was at it.
What started as joining the elite Marines ended with me taking the harder path.
Natural physical talent, relentless effort, and an undeniable gift—
someone saw that rare combination in me and made their move.
That’s how I became the first female combat operator in history.
Compared to what I’ve endured, these conditions are nothing.
And a ruined world, you say?
Maybe this is God’s second chance for me.
“The Male Lead and Female Lead can save the world.”
I just need to watch the show and enjoy the benefits.
The real problem is this body.
I squeezed the soft, flabby flesh between my fingers.
As I suspected—not a trace of muscle. The bone structure itself isn’t bad though.
I tried some light stretching. The family’s knight lineage seemed to have given this body decent natural potential.
To waste such a foundation on this pathetic state—
all because of people wearing the mask of family.
‘I want to learn the sword too, Father.’
‘You really are—hopeless just like your mother, Rosana. Your path is already decided! Listen well, behave yourself, marry a suitable man from a good house as I choose, and bring honor to the family. Stop wasting time on useless pursuits and do as you’re told.’
Every word was burned into memory.
The exact moment Rosana had been cast out by her family and twisted into resentment.
How she’d become that useless, sharp-tongued liability of a character.
She’d had so much she wanted to do, so much she could do, but it was all shut down.
Rebel, and she’d be locked away under the guise of ‘moral correction.’ Starved of proper nutrition, her body had wasted away.
Tsk. And here I thought I’d never meet another father like mine.
He was exactly like mine right before I died.
Is this what they call parallel theory? How do I keep meeting the same person?
The man who’d gambled away everything still believed daughters didn’t need education.
Time to think productively. I’m not going to die the same way, am I?
Whether I like it or not, I’ll be dragged into the Expedition. To survive there, I’ll need—
“At minimum, I need to be good at running.”
I examined my leg muscles carefully.
Hopeless. Completely hopeless.
I looked around the room again.
To make this useless body functional, I’d need serious high-intensity training.
Even so, the attic was surprisingly spacious.
This should be enough to work out in.
Bodyweight training is fantastic for building stamina.
And if I cut up those curtains properly—
I could use them like towels for resistance training.
My father told me when the Expedition was leaving.
One month from now, he said.
There, within that place, he will surely accomplish something.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————