Villainesses Have More Fun

Chapter 3

* * *

As soon as I got home, I collapsed on the couch. I had pretended to be confident, strong, and on top of the world, but it was just a facade. If Kim Saerom’s ulterior motive was to ruin my day, she’d succeeded.

Was I surprised? I always acted tough, but on the inside, I was a complete coward. I stared blankly at the ceiling. I couldn’t move. I could feel myself spiraling, consumed by a torrent of thoughts. Taking out my phone, I opened my favorite web novel site. I wanted to lose myself in an empowering story to help clear my head. I scrolled through, carefully reading every summary and comment. Then one of the titles caught my eye: “Please Make Me Rich.”

It was about a penniless viscount’s daughter who went back in time to make the most of her life. As the heroine, she was pursued by several male leads. Among the tags were “absolutely satisfying” and “a breath of fresh air.” One reader wrote, “The villainess is a total bully.”

Perfect. I’ll read this one and let my frustrations out. I clicked on the first chapter and began to binge-read.

* * *

“What the hell is the villainess doing?!”

I clenched my phone, completely enraged. I was at a loss for words. I felt as if someone had reached into my mouth and tied my tongue in knots.

As the author promised, the story was a breath of fresh air, but only for the unrealistic female lead. The fault lay in the villainess, Reilynn, who was the precious only child of one of two dukedoms. Her father, the duke, ran the continent’s main trading company and had amassed a huge portion of the empire’s wealth.

She had the looks, the brains, and the body. Yet despite having everything a person could want, she was far from refreshing, as the author had promised. She was a total loser, hopelessly in love with the handsome and capable crown prince. She was constantly getting into mischief just because she was irked by the female lead’s insincere kindness. The other male leads walked all over her and she even squandered her father’s wealth just to knock the female lead down a peg.

I realize I’m getting worked up over a web novel. But, in this case, is there really a distinction between fiction and reality? What in this world can’t be solved by money and power?! Was grabbing some hair, ruining a dress, making a couple of threats, and commissioning the assassin guild all Reilynn was capable of? Hang on, is being evil the only way to torture the female lead?

Oh, Reilynn, why were you so focused on some guy when you come from a wealthy family? Why didn’t you focus on yourself? Take a look at me. I don’t have what you have, but I’m still trying to make the most of my life. Why didn’t you wield that silver spoon you were born with?

I kept reading, hoping that the villainess would show how strong she was, but she never did.

“Stop falling for the female lead’s tricks. Remember, you have money. You have power!” I exclaimed. I began to care more about the vexing villainess than anyone else. “Why are you crying over that man?!”

I threw my hands up in the air. The male lead had taken the female lead’s side while tormenting the villainess, his own fiancée.

“All this is new to me. I’m so naive. Thank you for helping me,” the female lead had said as she held the crown prince’s hand.

I clenched my jaw. The scene reminded me of my humiliating experience at the cafe. The female lead reminded me of Kim Saerom, who, at thirty, pretended to be innocent as she handed me her wedding invitation. The unfaithful crown prince reminded me of Han Beomjun, who cheated on me with the bride-to-be. And the villainess, Reilynn, reminded me of myself.

Is that why I care so much about her? I couldn’t bear to finish reading the web novel. I predicted that Reilynn would never make use of the figurative arsenal at her fingertips and would keep losing to the female lead.

I’m sure she’ll be executed in the end, just like every other villainess. Ugh, what did I just read? That wasn’t satisfying at all. I got up from the couch, undressed, and went to the bathroom. What would I have done if I were the villainess? Before anything else, I would have dumped the crown prince.

How could he look down on Reilynn? Even the emperor treads carefully around her family. If the person you like walks all over you, they’re not worthy of you. I would’ve abandoned the two leads and lived happily ever after, rolling around in a bed of money every night. I’d like to try that one day. To never have to worry about credit limits, to walk into a store and demand, “Give me one of everything.”

Only then would I have made time for a man—someone who listened to me, showed me affection, and was gentle and kind. Someone who would never betray me.

Couldn’t I have found a modest, handsome gentleman to grow old with, given my wealth and power? I scoffed to myself. “If only such a man actually existed.”

I washed up and slouched down into the couch. I’d lost all motivation to do anything. Then everything around me began to fade and my vision went black. I slept so soundly that my body felt heavy as if I would never wake up again.

* * *

My blankets were soft and my mattress was neither too firm nor too squashy. I don’t want to get out of bed. I expected to be sore from sleeping on the couch, but I had actually gotten a good night’s sleep. I was wide awake by this point, but I didn’t want to leave the comfort of my bed. Suddenly, something seemed off.

Why am I under a blanket? I could have sworn I passed out on the couch. I live alone, so unless my parents came back to life, no one could have carried me to bed. I’m scared to check. What’s going on here? I opened my eyes slowly and looked around. “Where am I?” I whispered.

Did someone kidnap me while I was sleeping? What’s with the opulent interior? Is this a hotel? Why is the bed ginormous? When I quickly sat up, my hair fell into my lap. I always wore my dark brown hair short because I was too lazy to style it, but the hair I was holding was long and black. It was as dark as ebony.

This isn’t my hair. It looks as if it hasn’t been cut in years. I got out of bed without breathing, afraid to make even that slight sound. No one else was in the room. I had no idea what bastard had brought me to this high-end hotel, but I knew he was a pervert. He’d dressed me in fluffy pajamas fit for a princess and a sleek black wig. Definitely a pervert. I looked around for an exit or the means to call for help, but all I could see was the room’s Rococo-style decor. I continued searching until I came across a large, full-length mirror.

Did that pervert do something strange? I scanned the room again to make sure I hadn’t missed anything and then approached the mirror. That’s when I saw her.

A stunning, ebony-haired woman was staring out at me from the mirror. Her hair reached her waist, and her eyes were a mysterious purple. She was beautiful. Her eyes were big, but not overbearing, and sharp, much like a cat’s. It was charming.

All of her features were well-defined. Her eyes, nose, and lips were exactly my ideal. She had the face I’d always desired to have for myself. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She looked like the protagonist of a video game, with a face and figure that were too perfect to exist in real life.

But why is this goddess reflected in the mirror? Is she trapped in there? I peered behind the mirror, but all I saw was an empty wall. I looked at her once more. Her hands were raised above her eyes, and she was staring intently.

Wait, that’s exactly what I’m doing.