The Villainesses in the Romance Fantasy Novel Became Obsessed with me

Bluebell liked the flower garden.

She used to say that it made her feel good and helped her clear her mind.

I squatted in the garden and spoke to Bluebell as she admired the flowers.

“It’s contradictory that you cherish flowers while tormenting people. You’re quite the paradox, my lady.”

“Hmph, of course. Flowers are much prettier than people. If you treat them well, they grow beautifully. But people betray you even if you treat them well. That’s why I prefer flowers.”

It was a somewhat valid point.

Bluebell spoke like an animal lover tired of life.

“Flowers don’t abandon me. Unless I abandon them.”

Bluebell said this and quietly watched the flowers.

I watched her and thought about what she had said.

‘She came to my room that night and saw I wasn’t there…’

Bluebell had enough reason to suspect me.

In her situation, I would have suspected the absent person too.

However, Bluebell stopped suspecting me and changed her story.

‘Why? If she had pushed further, I might have confessed the truth.’

Why?

Naturally, I didn’t know the reason.

I could make psychological judgments based on Bluebell’s actions, but I wasn’t someone who could read minds.

I didn’t know why she stopped doubting me.

Still…

‘It’s a relief to have passed this crisis.’

I didn’t know when she might turn her suspicion into certainty and pressure me.

But for now, I was relieved to have gotten through the situation.

“Damian.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Look at me!”

While I was lost in thought, Bluebell’s voice made me turn my attention to her.

She had placed a red flower from the garden in her hair.

She looked quite fitting for a villainess.

“Don’t I look pretty?”

“Yes. It suits you well.”

Not satisfied with my answer, Bluebell puffed up her cheeks and shouted.

“Answer my question! Don’t I look pretty?”

“Well, it’s not bad.”

“Do you mean good or bad? You’re annoying…!”

Maybe because she didn’t get the answer she wanted.

Bluebell turned away from me in frustration.

‘Since she’s been studying hard lately, maybe it’s time for some praise instead of reprimand?’

I hadn’t had to flick her forehead as much recently.

Today might be a good day to give some compliments.

Children who grow up without praise tend to go astray easily.

I placed my hand on Bluebell’s head as she sulked.

To give her a compliment.

“Honestly, putting a flower in your hair doesn’t make you look any prettier.”

“W-what? Are you picking a fight—”

“Listen until the end. You’re already pretty.”

“Ahem. Really!?”

Bluebell quickly turned back and smiled brightly.

I gently patted her head.

“You’re always quite good-looking.”

“T-that’s true! I’ve always been pretty! It’s only natural to think that!”

“Though your heart isn’t as pretty as your face.”

“… Are you insulting me or complimenting me? Choose one.”

Maybe my compliments were too inconsistent.

I decided to get to the main point before Bluebell got angry.

“Still, recently, your heart is starting to look pretty too. Maybe because I value character over appearance. My lady, you are improving little by little. That’s something worth a lot of praise.”

“Hmph. Am I really that good? Well, it’s only natural…”

Bluebell seemed genuinely happy.

She appeared to enjoy the proper praise even more.

I continued to compliment her.

“Yes, as you gain knowledge, your heart also becomes more beautiful. You’ll be very popular when you enter the academy. Men prefer women who have both beauty and knowledge over those who are just pretty.”

“Really? If I study, will men like me?”

“Most men do like smart women. And if they have a good personality, it’s even better.”

“Th-then! Damian! Damian, what kind of woman do you like!?”

What kind of woman do I like?

That was a bit of a difficult question for me.

If I had to explain it to Bluebell…

“I like women with long hair. About 30 centimeters long. It would be nice if she’s pretty, cares about her family, can have comfortable conversations with me, laughs at anything, and if possible, someone who’s comfortable to be with and not awkward—”

“… Wait a minute!”

Whoa.

Bluebell suddenly shouted, interrupting me.

Why ask if you’re going to stop me?

Before I could ask why, Bluebell spoke first.

“… Isn’t that asking for too much? Your standards are way too high! I still have short hair!”

“What does that matter? Besides, I was just describing my ideal type as you asked. Naturally, ideals are high.”

“Even so, it’s too high! Lower them a bit! You greedy person!”

Is that so?

I wasn’t aware.

I learned today that my standards were considered high.

That said, I didn’t intend to change my ideal type.

Hearing about someone else’s ideal type was a fresh experience.

I shifted the conversation, finding it awkward to respond.

“Well then, let’s head back. It’s time to study, my lady.”

“Aww, I don’t feel like studying today…”

Had her motivation already faded?

Hearing Bluebell’s dejected words, I leaned in and whispered in her ear to reignite her enthusiasm.

“You need to get into the academy, don’t you?”

“We can bribe our way in. Then there’s no need to study.”

“I despise people who get in through bribery. So, you must enter through legitimate means. Otherwise, you won’t see me at the same school.”

“R-really? Do you hate bribes? Then… Not because of you, but I’ll go study.”

Bluebell said this and then ran towards the classroom on her own.

Just like a child.

Feeling the cool breeze, I followed Bluebell to the classroom.

‘Now, the days I have left to teach her…’

Were few.

With the review focused on the concepts I’d taught, Bluebell could easily pass the academy entrance exam.

So, what I needed to do was.

To give my best as a teacher until I leave so that my absence won’t be felt.

‘But. With Bellua gone… she seems to be in good condition?’

Bluebell didn’t seem affected at all by Bellua’s disappearance.

Probably because she knew Bellua was found alive and had left for her hometown.

‘Somehow, I feel like I’ve missed something. I had the same feeling with Nadia…’

A sense of unease which was hard to describe in words began to take birth in my heart.

It was a sticky feeling that was hard to shake off, too persistent to dismiss as just a fluke.

***

I spent a long time at the Pieridot mansion.

Despite many significant events in between.

The thing I feared most—Bluebell becoming a villainess—did not happen.

As a result, the vacancies in the mansion were gradually being filled again.

Rumors spread that Bluebell, the mansion’s owner, no longer harassed the servants.

I remember the rumor went something like, ‘Marquis Irten is dead, and his troublemaking daughter has come to her senses!’

“Not bad.”

Really.

I might even say it was a good outcome.

Maybe because I experienced failure with Nadia.

The villainess transformation plan could be considered quite successful.

“I’m here, Damian.”

Except for Bluebell visiting my bedroom at night.

Maybe because the contract period was nearing its end.

Bluebell, who had shown dependence on me, began to cling to me more tightly.

“I did well studying today, didn’t I? My concentration was good too.”

“Yes, you’re doing well. Except for visiting my bedroom every night.”

“Hmph, that’s not my fault. It’s the world’s fault for making me bored.”

She blamed others and even the world.

With thoughts like that, no wonder she started wrecking the world when she became a villainess.

I talked with Bluebell who showed up unexpectedly in the evening,

I started to understand the human Bluebell instead of villainess..

Although, such extreme behavior born from stubbornness was something I couldn’t prevent.

“I’m bored. Entertain me. Let’s talk, Damian.”

Bluebell plopped down on my bed and said.

And, as usual, we had some idle chatter.

“Let’s change this bed. I want a bigger and softer one.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“Why? Are you planning to leave? You said you wouldn’t leave if I studied hard.”

Bluebell spoke in a cold tone.

She was extremely wary of me leaving.

Even so, I had a compelling reason to leave this place.

So, I planned to leave in a reasonable manner.

“Lady Bluebell.”

“What. Why? Are you saying you’re leaving? Even after I worked so hard, you’re still leaving? Do you want to see me die? Do you really want me to die?”

“That’s not for me to decide.”

“Then who decides? It’s not the butler, is it? Who the hell decides—”

“You decide, my lady. Through an exam.”

I took the paper at the bottom of the stack I had organized on the desk.

It was the graduation exam I had personally prepared for Bluebell.

Bluebell frowned and asked.

“What’s that paper? A new contract?”

“It’s not a contract; it’s an exam. A more difficult one than usual. If you pass this exam…”

I will extend my contract as your teacher by one year.

A great condition.

Bluebell’s eyes widened at my condition.

She smiled brightly and confidently declared,

“Really? If I pass the test, you’ll stay! If you leave, I’ll die! Understand!?”

“Yes, do as you wish.”

I plan to leave this place regardless of the test result anyway.

Unaware of my true intentions, Bluebell shouted that she would definitely pass and was fired up about the exam.

“I’ll review since the exam is tomorrow! So be prepared!”

Bang!

She didn’t have to close the door so hard.

Bluebell left my bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Finally, I could sleep alone in my bed after a long time.

However, before lying down, I sat at my desk and began writing a letter.

‘Lady Bluebell, the enjoyable summer has passed, and autumn is ending. I don’t know if my teaching was satisfactory, but I am glad to have been of help …Therefore, I will leave the mansion for these reasons. I hope you continue self-directed learning and that we meet at the academy. Next time, not as teacher and student, but as friends.’

Yours sincerely, Damian Sinclair.

After finishing the letter, I started preparing to leave.

If winter arrived, it would be difficult to travel north.

It was best to leave the mansion as soon as possible.

‘Butler Rave wasn’t pleased with Bluebell’s dependency on me… He agreed to help… I can follow my original plan to reach the north.’

However.

Bluebell would not accept it.

‘Will she resent me for leaving just this letter behind?’

As a human, I had grown attached to Bluebell while teaching her.

However, I had to rehabilitate the villainess in the north.

Even if I had to break my promise to Bluebell, I had to leave the Pieridot mansion and head north.

I didn’t expect her to understand.

“Someone has to do it…”

Muttering words stemming from my sense of duty, I closed my eyes and fell asleep alone in bed.

And the next day.

I left the Pieridot mansion as planned.

I didn’t bother saying goodbye to Bluebell.

We would meet again at the academy in a year anyway.

‘The novel starts there.’

I thought it would be enough to meet her as a friend at the academy.

And.

That was an incredibly arrogant thought.

At that time, I had no idea how deep Bluebell’s emotional abyss was.

***

A sunny morning.

Maybe because she studied hard yesterday,

Bluebell woke up with tired eyes.

She didn’t sleep in her bed due to intense reviewing.

“Yawn, I’m so sleepy…”

Stretching and getting up from her chair, Bluebell changed her clothes.

She dressed less flamboyantly and more comfortably than usual.

Removing all distractions, she left her room.

“If I pass the test today… Damian said he’d stay at the mansion…”

She couldn’t afford to fail.

She would definitely pass the test.

Muttering to herself, Bluebell had breakfast and headed to the classroom for the exam.

There, instead of Damian, she found Butler Rave waiting.

Bluebell frowned and asked.

“Where’s Damian?”

“He had some business in the city. He instructed you to start the test. He’ll be back soon.”

“… Alright.”

Hoo—

With a tense expression, Bluebell took the paper and began answering the questions.

However, while she was fully focused on the exam, Damian had already left the estate.

“The answer to this question is… Number 3!”

The autumn sunlight peeked in, marking the end of summer. It shone on Bluebell.

She had no idea that her season had already passed.