So You've Become a Villainess: an (Otome) Isekai Raising Project

A villainess is always courting death, so why not become a xianxia protagonist?


Your weekend starts off like your week has, sneaking out of your bedroom for a run. This time, you're doing something a bit more college-appropriate. A secret rendezvous with a cute boy.

You're not going to do anything untoward, just get some training in with Camille before your scheduled fencing lessons. Justine scheduled an orthodox sword and board fighter, a severe man with a severe mustache.

Sword and board is cool and all, but you just have to learn Camille's style. Not only does it help Chiaki know what to look out for if worst comes to worst, it also looks way cooler.

The way Chiaki works through the mechanics of his style from your loose interpretation makes you even more interested. It uses momentum and speed to create extra force, with quick movements to take advantage of the unwieldy nature of battle dresses. The aerial attacks aim for the face, shoulders, arms, and neck: places where the outfit's enchantments are weak or nonexistent.

You can't contain your excitement, you jog a little faster than usual. You find Camille waiting for you under the big tree with two wooden swords.

He tosses you one. "You've earned this."

You snatch it out of the air. It's lighter than your expected, the wood grip on it has a pleasant grain. It feels like athletic tape.

"Thank you, shishou," you say, bowing. You take a few practice swings, the blade wobbles a little. "Is it supposed to do that?"

"Yeah," Camille says. "Our tailor-blades have a little bit of wobble to them. Helps us slip through gaps in battle dresses and throw off an opponent's spacing."

You wiggle the wooden sword with two hand and watch it go.

"Focus," Camille says sharply. "Didn't you wanna learn with your body?"

<Sensible> "But we're too young for that!"

<Emo> "What happened to you being the sensible one?"

<Sporty> "We gotta learn stuff by doing. That's learning with your body, isn't it?"

<Sensible> "Erm, well...yes. Our lack of sleep is getting to me..."

You stop wriggling the sword and rest it on your shoulder. "Oh. Kay!"

"Normally I'd start with calisthenics and jumping exercises, but you're basically a monkey-girl already so we can skip that."

You're hanging off a branch one-handed. "Hey! I'm a monkey lady!"

Camille snickers. "Alright monkey lady, we'll start with basic sword handling once your arms get tired."

You let go and land softly in a crouch. "I literally can't get tired."

Camille gives you a wolfish grin. "Let's put that to the test, monkey lady."

He starts you off with basic sword handling and stances, until you boop him with your sword. That sets him off and he starts playfully sparring with you.

By "playful sparring," you mean he hands you your ass. Over and over, in ways that would be borderline bullying if it weren't so fun. After a point, it turns more into a wrestling competition, as your martial arts skills and youthful exuberance turn things into a scrap. Eventually, the two of you collapse onto the grass dirty, sweaty, and happy.


Camille gives you a warm look. "I didn't know you were this boyish, monkey-girl."

You laugh. "I get that a lot. You're still the coolest guy I've met, though."

He blushes and pouts. "S'not fair hearing that from a cutesy, frilly princess..."

"What, I thought I was a monkey?"

"Well you are!" He blurts. "You're also a noblewoman, and they're all frilly and boring and mean."


[What do you say to Camille?]
[ ] Awww, that sucks. If any noble girls give you trouble, we can beat 'em up together.
[ ] Don't worry about it. Your newest student is a Claudius and nobody messes with us.
[ ] Trust me, I'm nothing like those girls. You ever wanna vent about 'em, I'll totally listen.


Camille blushes harder and yells. "S'blood, stop being so cool! Girls are supposed to be icky and not cool!" He mumbles. "It's making my stomach feel all weird."

You hear a little jingle in your head.


<Flashy> "There we go, dahling! One adorable little boy wrapped around our finger already."

<Emo> "Word choice..."

Woah, you weren't even in capture mode. You kinda already forgot you were in an otome game where all roads led to doom. Kinda stupid of you in retrospect, but nobody ever said you were smart.

The thought of your impending doom reminds you of a much closer death flag: you have to go to Justine's scheduled fencing lessons!

You roll over and hug Camille. "Sorry, gotta go. Mom's gonna kill me if I miss this lesson."

Camille is dumbstruck by your feminine affection. "Uh...bye."

You kip-up to your feet and run back to the mansion. Chiaki meets you halfway home, cutting through your running path with a carriage.

"Oh. Young Mistress," she says with mock surprise. "Fancy meeting you here."

She extends a hand. You grab it and hoist yourself up.

Chiaki hugs you close with one arm. "You are to meet Ser Vandergraff at the training grounds at the top of the hour. Your training dress is in back of the carriage, as is a fairy bell. Ring the bell and the fairies will clean you off. I'll have a full bubble bath prepared for you when you're done with your scheduled fencing practice."

You look up at her, slightly ashamed. "You knew?"

She nods and squeezes you closer. "Scrying pool. Didn't want to lose you again." She smiles to you. "Proud of you, though. Camille's cute when he's not trying to kill me, and I'm glad you've made another friend."

You whisper to Chiaki. "I think I made him a capture target on accident..."

Chiaki blinks. "Oh."


[Weekly Activity: What do you plan to do this week?]
[ ] Study (Brainy++, Sporty-)
[ ] Paint (Artsy++, Sensible-)
[ ] Exercise (Sporty++, Flashy-)
[ ] Play Dress-up (Flashy++, Brainy-)
[ ] Socialize (Sensible++, Artsy-)