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

Sorry for getting off-schedule with this but hey, running multiple Quests is earning me that Questionable Life Choices tag IRL


You decide to stand your ground. You're the protagonist, for cripes sake, you can't just run from a slime. Yeah, the slime is actually a bunch of slimes, is the size of a small mecha, and has been making mincemeat out of your merry crew, but that just means it'll be that much cooler when you beat it.

<Sensible> Shit, we're getting stubborn. Sporty, abort, abort!

<Sporty> Why?

<Sensible> This thing's way beyond us, and competition's your jurisdiction. You've gotta throw in the towel.

<Sporty> Nah, we'll win.

You grit your teeth and hold your sword in front of you. "Bridge, Lily, Autumn; we hit this thing with everything we've got. Full force, full throttle."

"Shit yeah!" Bridgette says, smashing her gauntlets together. "That's what I wanna hear, Big Sis!"

Lily sucks on her teeth, clearly worried. "Forgive me for doubting a noble, but I don't think we can take that thing."

Bridgette scowls. "You doubt the mettle of the Alteisen line, Darkling? Of the Claudius?"

Lily shrinks into her shadow. "O-Of course not...I just, look, this is my first playdate and you guys are my first friends and I don't want to have something bad happen!"

"Nothing. Bad. Will happen," Bridgette says, cold and curt. She glares Lily into submission, looking all the world like Lord Alteisen at the banquet.

Lily meeps and dives completely into her shadow. You see it writhe and fold, Lily must be pulling it over her like a security blanket.

Chiaki whispers to you. "Are you sure about this, Aachan?"

You nod and grunt.

Chiaki gives you a concerned look, before putting on the porcelain mask of service. Her glasses glint in the light, hiding her eyes. "As you wish, Young Mistress."

You dig your feet into the ruined path, underbrush crackles underfoot. You empty your mind of fear, of doubt, of uncertainty. The blade in your hands, while not the wood or bamboo you're used to, feels just as much a part of you.

"Hey jiggly!" You yell a challenge to the Slimeotron. "Come get some."

The Slimeotron flexes acceptance to your challenge, then lumbers towards you with boneless grace.

You kiai high and loud, a monkey scream from a monkey girl. Bridgette moves on your impulse, the power of blood sisterhood makes your hearts beat in sync. Chiaki is half a step behind, loosing an endless seeming barrage of silver knives. The shadows behind you lurch forward as a wave of utter darkness, Lily's half-frightened, half- determined scream echoes from the depths.

You ride the wave, sword held high for a killing blow, before leaping off and slicing at the Slimeotron's neck


<Emo> We're going to be defeated by a slime, fufufu... How embarrassing...


You wake up in the hospital ward of the Claudius estate, with the dour face of Tanya Schwartzwald looking down upon you.

"Ah, you're awake," she says, her copper curls catching the candle light. "And I was hoping I'd get to remove your brain for study."

<Brainy> "The girl will find naught of interest."

<Sensible> "Just because we did a dumb thing doesn't mean we're brainless, Brainy. It just means Sporty's gonna have to share the Shame Corner with Emo while she thinks about what she's done."

Outside of your other yous talking, it feels like everything else is fuzzy. You stir stiffly in your hospital bed, realize your right arm and left leg are in a sling.

"Wha happen?"

"You got thrashed by some new species of slime colony," she says. "They had to send for men from Lady Claudius' Legio XIII to vanquish it, with Lady Claudius as the vanguard."

You remember enough side material from Our Bloody Valentine to know Legio XIII are Justine's best of the best; men and women trained to the absolute peak of martial ability.

Knowing how big a deal they are, and how badly you're hurt despite them, fills you with animal panic. "Chi-My maid, how is she? How's Bridgette and Lily?"

"The Darkling girl, your maid, and that muscle-brained Alteisen took their lumps, and are currently convalescing." Tanya sees the sadness distort your face and sighs. "You're perverse enough for this to make you feel better, so I can tell you they escaped with minor harm. You took the worst of it by far."

It does not, in fact, make you feel better.

You start to cry, hot and bitter. Not just for failing, not just for dashed pride, but because you got the people you care about hurt. You should've listened to Chiaki, you should've run, you should've assessed the situation better, you-

Tanya squeezes your undamaged hand. "Oi. I know that dark expression. That's the face of someone ruminating on their failures." She smiles gently, unused to the gesture. "It doesn't suit you, Young Lady Claudius."

"But I screwed up," you say, sniffling. "I screwed up big."

"As do we all," Tanya says. "Given your noble blood, or your freakish, Sophia-given physical talents, you may have forgotten your mortality. Mortals err as they doth strive, but it's that errant path which leads to truth."

<Artsy> "She didn't seem the poetic type, no?"

<Brainy> "The girl is the only one among our entourage with some sense, a few pretty words wouldn't be beyond her."

You blink away tears, talking and crying has sapped a lot of your energy. "I don' get it."

Tanya chuckles. "If you never screw up, you never learn your limits. Screw-ups are a learning experience." She sits beside your bed and starts setting up a small chemistry set, with powders and brightly colored vials.

"Whatcha doin'?"

Tanya inspects a vial of bubbling green liquid, no longer looking at you. "As part of my training as House Physicker, and as part of your punishment for letting things get out of hand, I get to test my new medications on you."

A wicked grin blooms on Tanya's face and you start thinking of Bad Ends.


You are Bedridden! (And not from Tanya's shady new drugs!) Stress +5.

You cannot undertake Weekly or Weekend Activities while Bedridden.

[It is week two in the seventh month of Anno Sophia 92. You are thirteen years old.]

[Who comes to visit you in the hospital first?]
[ ] Prince Alteisen, with a bouquet
[ ] Lucciano Morningstar, with a painting
[ ] Camille Asuka, with some sweets
[ ] Lady Claudius, with words

Omake:

A Fashion Revolution(ary)

'Grace Claudius is such an idiot,' Tanya opined to herself as she stirred the cauldron, preparing the next round of medications for the duchess' heir. She wore a heavy, well-worn apron over herself to keep any spills off her gold and black gown.

The more she stirred, the more she stewed on her patron's stupidity. Grace was reckless, impetuous, and far too ready to throw herself into danger! Dummy, Idiot, 'Baka'. The last, a term Tanya had heard her maid address Grace with when correcting her on something.

"Can't you make these taste any better?" Grace blanched as she almost gagged on the foul tasting concoction the revolutionary had previously prepared.

"Good medicine is bitter," the coppery blonde addressed Grace without turning around.

It was true she could have made them taste better, but she didn't feel like encouraging the aristocrat right then. Grace deserved it for making her worry so much!

"What were you even thinking of charging a monster like that?" She groused.

"I thought a head shot would do massive damage-" Grace groaned, defending herself.

Tanya sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. It figured that the first time this commoner began to have hope for the future, an inkling of optimism, she got a reminder why exactly Grace might be willing to upset social convention in favor of the masses. She was too much of an idiot to pay attention to logic in any other case!

"It's not worth it if you get hurt!" Was Tanya's riposte.

And wasn't that a surprise, Tanya worrying about a noble when not long before she'd been plotting the execution en masse of the social class.

"I-I'm sorry I worried you," she heard Grace mumble, like a child fussed at by her mother.

Infuriated, Tanya turned around to glare at her benefactor, hands balled into fists at her sides. "Don't say you're sorry, say you won't do something like that again. If you weren't for your battle gown's enchantments you could have…you would have…" She trailed off, unable to voice her fears aloud.

Grace twiddled her fingers a bit sheepishly. "I'll try not to be so reckless again."

"You'd better." Was Tanya's brisk reply before she turned back to managing the cauldron.

"T-Tsundere? Was that tsundere?" Tanya heard her mistress repeating to herself, another of those nonsense terms she'd like to use. She had no idea what it meant but she felt like she should be insulted.

An unpleasant smile came to her lips as she added a drop of a forest green tincture to the mixture. It would increase the effects a bit, but she had a more pertinent reason for its inclusion.

Using a ladle, she poured some of the slightly glowing mixture into a mug and brought it over to Grace, who stared at it dubiously.

"Drink it," Tanya demanded, pressing it into her hands.

Grace looked up at Tanya with pleading eyes, sighed and took a sip. She immediately made a face. "Bitter!"

Tanya's secret ingredient was Sauerwort extract: a pain reliever, fever reducer, and the bitterest tincture in her kit.

If Grace would do something so stupid, worry Tanya so much, the little revolutionary would subtly make her displeasure known by any means necessary.


After finishing Grace's morning potion regiment, which the headstrong noble dramatically described as tortuous, Tanya returned to her workshop. She was eager to put the finishing touches on her latest series of projects.

First she turned to the guns she had set up. The breakthrough there was less in the guns being deadlier, but instead the inventor trying to find a way to cut down on their weight without compromising their function. While it'd make it easier for the average farmhand or worker to carry, really she wanted those of less imposing stature to be able to bear their weight as well. The downtrodden deserved a levelling tool; one that cared not if you were strong or weak, young or old, man or woman. One that cried thunder for all who'd suffered injustices and would rightly flock to the cause of justice and liberation if given the means.

That it would let her personally wield her own weapons was a nice touch too.

Hefting it, she went through the firing sequence, using dud ammunition rather than live rounds. Examining the gun barrel, it hadn't cracked like the earlier prototypes, but she thought she could still shave a few grams off around the gun mount. Something to note for later.

Setting the gun down, she moved to her other projects. This one less martial and more economic. Looking at the light blue vials, she carefully added rose oil to it. Rather than adding anything magical to the concoction, she was hoping it might add a nice smell to it. Normally, such ornamentation was beyond her, but there was a method to her madness. Such an addition would let her divest nobles of even more filthy lucre with her product!

Tanya carefully marked the doctored vials and made a mental note to distribute them to the Grace posers later. They were vapid noblewomen whose thoughtless treatment of the servants at her school hadn't escaped her notice. They'd view the early access to it as a plus, a sign of 'favored' treatment from the Claudius when really they would be test subjects should there be "unfortunate" interactions.

Tanya ran a tentative finger through a lush, curled pigtail. It felt like angel down, and reflected light like quicksilver, but reacted like regular hair.

'Good,' Tanya nodded. She was determined to avoid her hair gaining sentience like Grace. With her luck, it'd inadvertently squeeze the life out of some irritating nobles and undo her schemes.

Satisfied, she moved to a mannequin where her last, but by no means least project waited. She changed out of her shapeless work jumper, and slipped into the gown that seemingly beckoned her to wear it. It was in its final stages and she was just about ready to debut it.

The gown had come out wonderfully, with appealing bows and floral flowers, and a wide flaring skirt to match the poofiest of Grace's. It had a few comfort utilities worked in to make it easier to move in, necessarily with the many petticoats required to fluff it out.

Tanya took a few steps, noting with pride that it didn't encumber her mobility like she was worried it might. Stepping in front of a mirror, she did a little twirl and felt a surge of girlish delight. The scowl she'd been wearing all day vanished into a smile. All those vapid nobles couldn't hold a candle to her marriage of form and function!

The embittered teenager felt her stress melt away as she struck some poses, fantasizing about wearing the outfit to a gala. After some deep pondering some time before, when she realized how Grace had won her allegiance, Tanya had also admitted to herself then how much she enjoyed the poofy gowns the Claudius scion preferred. It reminded her of simpler times, when she'd been a carefree child and fantasized about being princesses with her sister. So she designed the kind of gown she always dreamed about wearing, drawing heavily on Grace's own style.

Both for the practical reasons of alluding to her allegiance, like her use of black and gold colors and echoing the preferred silhouette of both Ladies Claudius, but also as a reference. Fashion designer she was not, but she could draw on an existing design easily enough. No substantial combat enhancements, though as it was still a prototype that was expected. House Claudius might have endless money, but that didn't mean she did, even with them sponsoring her. Even if their doors (and coffers) were open to her, Tanya was nervous what Grace's mother might find if she turned a closer lens to her and discovered her prior revolutionary rhetoric.

But most of all she felt so elegant and feminine in it, so unlike her usual scrawny self. Wearing it she felt, if only slightly, more cheerful and upbeat. Less put upon by the world, certainly. She could almost dare to consider herself beautiful.

Tanya ran her hands down the gown, letting out a blissful sigh from the fabric's silken decadence. She had hoped to surprise Grace on her return with it, but the big dum dum had to go and get herself hurt, ruining the moment for her.

She paused, considering said dum dum. Grace had promised to be more careful, the best she was likely to get from her. Getting the girl to listen to reason was worth a reward, she supposed. With a light, airy chuckle, Tanya decided she'd deign to wear her new gown when she delivered the noblewoman's evening potions. While a part of her protested, more softly than usual, she could admit to herself she was looking forward to Grace's reaction. Glancing out a window at how late in the evening it was, she realized she was almost due to give her next dose anyways.

((()))

"Tannnya I'm feeling fine, really I can go without my potions." Grace whined as Tanya entered. As always, the little noble tried to wheedle her out of Tanya's next treatment.

"Perish the thought, Young Lady Claudius, I'll not fail in carrying out my duty." The blonde revolutionary answered, ignoring her patron's pleas for mercy as she rolled in her cauldron and supplies on a cart.

"Your duty in messing with me? I saw that little smile on your face "

"If I'm smiling, it's only from joy in service to such a noble fool," Tanya replied back, her smile more impish than wicked.

"I just wished you'd listen to me more…" Grace pouted.

As Tanya began to turn a fire under the cauldron to begin boiling the water, she heard a gasp from behind her followed by a high pitched cheer.

"Tanya, you changed your gown."

"I hope it meets with your approval."

"Do I ever- You look gorgeous in it!" Grace gushed. Tanya was pleased she was facing away from her benefactor, as it let her conceal the dimple-cheeked smile on her face.

"My, what part of it do you like," Tanya asked coyly.

"Everything! The lace, the full skirts, it practically makes you look like a princess."

Hearing those words filled her with elation, especially to come from a noblewoman as highly placed as Grace. Tanya feeling her mood lift with the realization of a childhood fantasy…And despite her best efforts she giggled in delight.

"Woh." It was her mistress's awed exhalation that brought her back down to earth, and had Tanya turn around and face her patient.

"I merely emulated your style Grace, so it'd be more like saying you're a princess. Fitting since you'll be the next queen." Tanya did her best to answer matter of factly, but couldn't quite keep the saccharine grin off her face.

"Holy Gap Moe." The Claudius heir whispered aloud to herself.

"What was that?" Tanya pressed upon yet another one of Grace's Gracisms.

"I, uh, didn't expect to see you wearing it. You really do look pretty in it."

Before she realized it, before the dour, rational side of her that was not at all filled with gooey girlish pride from the prettiest girl she knew's praise could stop her, Tanya gave her benefactor a bright, beaming smile.

"Okay, we definitely need to get you more outfits like these. Do you just have the one?" Grace decided, smiling back. Knowing how she'd dragooned her maid into outfits, Tanya knew there was no resisting it and so just nodded and smiled, letting her rationality drown in the warm bliss of fashionable satisfaction.

"Then I'll get you enough to fill out your wardrobe-" Grace declared.

Tanya Schwartzwald had won the war over herself. She loved poofy, floofy, pretty dresses.

But she had yet more battles to fight in her war against nobility and stupidity.

"Now just lie back down and I'll get you your potions-"

"We're still doing that…" Grace complained, suddenly crestfallen.

Which only had Tanya shaking her head in amusement. "Of course, you fool. My heart is not so easily swayed."

Author's Note

Was inspired by the Tanya making medicine for Grace, so thought I'd do a followup to my last omake for her. Tanya POV is fun.

An older Omake I forgot to post from before the recent adventure

Princess Bridgette Altesian handled the letter from Grace Claduius with care and attention. As a missive from her, her Blood Sister via vow, she would be remiss not to treat it with the highest respect.

The royal knew that she was a bit of a spontaneous girl, quick to act on instinct rather than thinking things through. That was Elder Brother's way. It might cause her some troubles, but life tended to work out in her experience. After all, while it might have led her to exchanging blows with one of the most important people in her life, if she hadn't she wouldn't likely have grown so close to her.

Reverently Bridgette sat down at a table, slipping on a pair of silk gloves and taking out a letter opening knife instead of tearing open the letter as she might once have. After reading she'd add the letter to her small collection of exchanges from Grace, and it wouldn't do to have it damaged!

Taking the letter out of the envelope, she held it in her hands for a moment, anticipating it. "I wonder what Sister Grace wants of me?" She wonders aloud. Her cheeks blushed a bit, remembering the rumors spreading around after Grace had been seen seeking her out after her dance with Byrn. That Grace's style and temperament better suited her instead.

Bridgette smoothed out her lime green gown, quite different from the gray and rust colored dresses she wore before. The green color served to form a backdrop for the red roses worked into the collar and sleeves. Like flowers emerging from a rose bush. The gossip only got worse after her change in clothing, with many murmuring how Grace had charmed her. For ever since her vow with Grace she'd taken her cues from her, favoring the floral theme the Claudius heiress used in her outfits, eschewing the open front metallic cage gowns she used before and instead fluffed them out in like her Beloved Sister's style with petticoats with just a bit of stiffening.

A-and anyways she wasn't at all besotted with Grace, it was only natural to admire all of her many wonderful traits.

But while others might just see smooth silk and frills Bridgette knew better. Sister Grace was not only beautiful but elegant and graceful! Her clothes serving to conceal the strength in her limbs. Hence the rose she worked into her outfits. For while the flower was both beautiful, it also had thorns for unwary foes looking to pluck it.

And even if she was fond of Grace, wasn't it natural for sisters to love one another! J-just not romantically. Her cheeks flushed, she could hold out no longer and read through the letter.

"To my Dearest Bridgette-

"Kyaa!" She let out a cheer at the words of fondness expressed there. She took a breath trying to calm down, she hadn't even gotten through the introductions.

Reading through it her Blood Sister informed her of how her Mother wished for her to adventure, and tested her mettle removing monsters from the land as she did when she came of age.

"And I wish for you as my companion to watch my side," she read aloud. Bridgette swooned, Grace wanted her there? O-of course she'd go!

She felt her confidence perk a bit from having Grace willing to rely on her…as opposed to her brother. Bridgette knew she wasn't as observant as her brother, more prone to solving her problems with her fists then with subterfuge. So to know Big Sis trusted her with guarding her back really pumped her up.

Her heart sped up a bit and she felt a little lightheaded. Smacking her cheeks the princess stood up, there were so many preparations to make!

Bridgette made a checklist: "I have to make sure my armor is ready! And of course pack a few dresses, and maybe bake some cookies if there's time…"

She'd commissioned for her old armor to have the crimson rose to be added as she had her other outfits. She placed a commission for a magical artisan to make an enchanted gown like Grace wore, but it was far from ready. Bridgette hadn't yet seen the finished work so she had to make sure the engraving wouldn't embarrass her in front of her sister.

A few outfits for a change of clothes was just a given. Plus she wanted to show off to Grace her change in style. And as for sweets…

She heard her beloved blonde had something of a sweet tooth. Her efforts so far were, alas, mediocre at best. But Princess Bridgette was intent on mastering it. She hoped Grace liked her cookies…

Plans made, the royal scion carefully placed the letter back into an envelope setting it off the side before standing up and made to head for the armory. Her walk there was a little distracting, Bridgette not yet used to how her gown swayed a bit from its much fuller skirt. She'd fluffed out her dresses to the poofy dimensions Grace favored, enjoying feeling a connection with her Blood Sister but it took some getting used to.

Soon enough she reached the armory. The soldiers let her pass but annoyingly insisted on escorting her to where her armor was hanging. As if she might hurt herself on the spears and swords mounted on the walls.

As she reached it, the princess let out a pleased gasp as she hurried to it. The crimson roses were gorgeous, a vivid red and almost seeming alive. She ran her hand over the filigree. She'd need to reward the artisan for his quick, but impressive work.

Bridgette puffed out her chest, daydreaming about Grace's reaction when she saw her in it. She couldn't wait for their expedition together. Trials and Tribulations, Love and Camaraderie. Who knew how their relationship would evolve with that experience together! The soldiers politely didn't comment about her flushed cheeks when she left.

Since they were going out into battle, she decided to reach the monster compendium. Even if she might not be as adept at navigating social matters as her brother, Bridgette couldn't let a monster get the better of her!