The Villainesses in the Romance Fantasy Novel Became Obsessed with me

After Nadia had caught onto my not-quite-weakness, I became her servant in the studio, helping with her creative activities by her side.

“Damian. White paint.”

“Okay.”

Squeeze!

I squeezed paint onto Nadia’s palette.

She glanced at the amount and then nodded her head at me with a command.

“Sit on the sofa and wait.”

“Okay.”

It felt like I was being treated like a dog.

Still, I was relieved that Nadia wasn’t hitting me.

Given that Charlotte had left her scent in the studio, I had even considered the worst-case scenario of being immortalized.

‘Still, it’s fortunate she let me off this lightly… I should be grateful, right?’

Perhaps because my standards were aligned with the Nadia from the novel, I felt grateful just to be alive.

I was thankful that my arm was still attached.

“Damian.”

“Yes. What?”

Nadia turned and gestured at me.

“I’m stuck. You’ve sat on the sofa long enough. Come sit in front of me.”

“Alright. Fine. No problem.”

Was she planning to paint with me in front of her?

Without hesitation, I sat on the wooden chair positioned in front of the canvas.

Nadia focused on my face for a moment before starting to dab paint onto the canvas again.

A look of dissatisfaction appeared on her face.

“This isn’t right. A bit more. To be recognized for my painting skills, it has to be perfect.”

“What part is bothering you?”

“All of it. I’m not satisfied.”

Nadia reached out towards the canvas.

Crunch-!

Right before my eyes, the canvas crumpled like a soda can.

‘My face…’

The portrait of me on the canvas was crushed in an instant.

I was speechless at the sight.

“…”

“What I want to paint… has to be better than this. But I’m not satisfied, Damian.”

“Huh. Yeah?”

“Isn’t there a good way?”

Hmm.

In the original story, Nadia never won any painting contests because of Aunt Medeus’s interference.

But now, wouldn’t she sweep all the awards in the painting contests?

‘As long as she doesn’t paint my portrait.’

Even if she did, she’d still win awards.

I tried to speak as objectively as possible about the situation.

“How about not painting me anymore? Even for the entrance exam, you painted a landscape with my portrait included. I think that lowers the artistic value.”

Maybe that was too harsh.

Nadia’s pride seemed to be hurt as she frowned.

“You’ve got guts, Damian. You’re my servant now, yet you dare criticize my painting?”

“… Even a servant has eyes. I think it’s better if you stop painting my face. It lowers the artistic value.”

Not to mention the bad rumors.

Constantly painting my portrait could bring harm to our family.

Especially considering the Verdium Family’s already unfavorable reputation with the Emperor’s faction.

The Verdium Family had never had a good relationship with the Royal Family.

I expressed my opinion strongly to Nadia.

“In that sense, I think my painting might actually be harmful to you.”

“… There was no need to consider your opinion, Damian.”

But still.

“Even if it’s nonsense, it’s your opinion. My precious Damian’s opinion. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Nadia said this with a slight smile.

“Maybe not next time, but for this competition, your portrait is absolutely necessary.”

“… Why’s my portrait absolutely necessary?”

A feeling of unease.

I asked to relieve that unease.

It seemed my premonition was correct.

“I plan to immortalize you in this competition. Even if it’s not your living form, I’ll immortalize you through a painting.”

‘To show that this man is mine.’

‘That I’ve claimed him.’

“I’m going to properly immortalize you through this competition. To show you’re mine.”

“…”

“I have no intention of stopping, so don’t even think about persuading me. It’s a waste of time. As you know, I don’t stop. Right?”

“… Yeah.”

‘I see.’

‘You plan to immortalize me as your lover.’

‘In front of many people, using the competition as a stage.’

If I had the strength to stop it, I would.

Nadia was almost a calamity in human form.

‘Ugh…’

My head hurt.

The actions I could take were limited.

Therefore, I needed to make the best possible decision.

‘What I can do now… is use this competition to bring Nadia a bit closer to normalcy.’

I need to change her wrong mindset about ownership.

After the competition, I need to lead people’s reactions to ‘firmly imprint in her mind that her thoughts are wrong.’

That thought dominated my entire mind.

I firmly believed it was the only way for me and my family to survive.

***

I sat on the grass in the academy park, taking a rest.

My head was a mess from the recent string of events.

In the academy park.

I looked at the lake to organize my thoughts.

‘Things are going according to plan… But I’m a bit worried…’

Is the plan really the right answer?

A hint of doubt grew in my mind.

The long-prepared plan was brutally falling apart due to the changing psychology of the villainesses.

The original story was strangely distorted, making the future unpredictable.

“If only I knew the future… If they were going to make me possess someone, they should’ve given me such an OP ability…”

Knowing the original story in advance helped me make a fortune for my family.

But my ability to heal the villainesses was pathetically insufficient.

Seeing the lake glittering in the sunlight made me sigh.

“… Still, thinking positively is the only answer.”

“Uh, uh-huh… I think so too…!”

“What? What the?”

I was startled by a voice from behind and quickly turned around.

Yuri was crouching, nodding at my words.

“I, I also think it’s better to think positively…!”

“Yuri. When did you get here?”

Did she hear what I said?

How much did she hear?

It didn’t seem like it since Yuri answered with an innocent smile.

“I just got here…! I was looking for you… I mean, I was walking around the park… And found you… hehe…”

“… I see. Sit next to me. It’s been a while since we met so let’s talk.”

“Okay…! Alright…!”

Yuri quickly sat down next to me.

Since our departments and schedules were different, we rarely met.

It felt strange to be alone together after such a long time.

Before coming to the academy, we were always together at the mansion.

I looked at Yuri and casually asked.

“How’s the academy? Are you adjusting well? Made any friends?”

“Yeah, I’ve adjusted well…! I don’t have any friends except you yet, Damian… But that doesn’t mean I don’t like it…! I’m fine with just you as my friend…! The academy is fun…!”

Yuri smiled positively.

It seemed like she wanted to share everything that had happened in her classes with me. She started unraveling a bunch of stories she had saved up.

“You know, Damian… I’m second in the Swordsmanship Department…? The professor said I have talent…! Since it wasn’t you who said it, I’m not sure how reliable it is… but I was happy to be praised!”

“That’s great! You must feel good? You do have a lot of talent, Yuri.”

Good.

The ability to love oneself.

An environment conducive to building self-esteem.

I patted Yuri’s head to praise her.

“You’re doing great. Keep it up. Yuri, you’ll become an even more amazing person even without me.”

“Even without you…? I don’t think so…”

Yuri firmly said while looking me in the eyes.

She seemed completely sincere.

“I’m someone who can’t do without you, Damian… I’m like a leaf that’s fallen to the ground… When winter comes, I’ll wither away…”

She slumped her shoulders, lacking confidence.

‘I thought she’d be fine by now. Guess not.’

Yuri still had low self-esteem.

Though one positive note was that she chose to compare herself to a leaf rather than dust.

She picked a relatively substantial object for her metaphor.

‘If it’s like this, mindless praise might be better.’

I patted Yuri’s head once more.

“Then, conversely. If I’m by your side, does that mean you’re an amazing person?”

“N-not that much…”

“You’re amazing, Yuri! I’m proud of you, Yuri!”

“St-stop… Don’t tease me, Damian…”

It worked.

When praised, she shut her mouth in embarrassment and lowered her head.

Still, among the villainesses, Yuri seemed to be in the best condition.

Perhaps it was because she had spent the most time with me and had gone through hardships together.

It was only natural that she was in the best condition.

“Yuri.”

“Y-yes…?”

“I got a letter saying my sibling will be born soon. Would you like to go back to my family with me then?”

“Would it be okay for someone like me to go…?”

“Why not? Mother already thinks of you as family.”

“You think of me as family too…? Hehe…”

Yuri seemed genuinely delighted. She revealed a broad smile at the mention of family.

“Alright…! Let’s go together…! I’m Damian’s family…!”

“But don’t introduce yourself as family in front of others.”

“Why…?”

“It might cause misunderstandings. We’re just friends.”

“That’s true… But still…!”

Yuri shouted, hiding her expression behind her long hair.

“Wouldn’t it be okay if people misunderstood…? Or maybe not…?”

“…”

“Alright… I’ll introduce myself as your close friend…”

Under my stern gaze, Yuri quickly corrected herself.

If she kept pushing her point, I might have reconsidered thinking of her as the most normal among the villainesses.

Still…

‘It’s comforting to rest together after a long time.’

Yuri became relatively normal when there were no other girls around.

Thus, Yuri and I took a break in the park, escaping the hardships for a while.

I felt like I could finally breathe freely from the pressure of the villainesses.

“Maybe… It would be nice to stay with Damian forever…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing. Hehe…”

… Is it?

I felt a bit puzzled.

***

The time I spent serving Nadia passed helplessly.

She was more focused on her creative activities than I had thought, and we didn’t talk much.

Even so.

“There’s nothing left to do. Can I leave now?”

“No. Stay put. Don’t leave.”

“… Alright.”

She ordered me to stay in the studio no matter what.

I had promised to serve her for the month-long competition period, so I had no choice but to sit on the sofa and study.

Nadia immersed herself in her painting, and I studied to maintain my reputation as a genius.

In silence, we each did our work in the same place.

‘… It’s a relief that it ended just as Bluebell’s suspicions were deepening.’

It was something from the past.

Bluebell had tried to make plans with me to hang out after the academy.

“Hey. Let’s hang out, Damian. Are you free today?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I’m busy.”

“You annoying bastard! You’re going to die old just studying every day!”

Every time I refused, my shin would take a hit.

Like a Muay Thai fighter conditioning his shins.

Bluebell’s kicks gradually made my shins forget the pain.

It’s no wonder humans are called adaptive creatures.

‘Yuri’s need for attention lessened after I occasionally soothed her on weekends. Now I’ll have more time to care for both of them.’

Through such processes, I managed to survive the month unscathed.

Nadia completed her artwork without ever showing me the finished product.

She told me to come see the results on the day of the competition.

She did, however, show me a satisfied smile, calling it a masterpiece.

‘Nadia’s masterpieces can be a bit scary…’

And so, the day of the art competition arrived.

Students who wanted to see the exhibition gathered at the art department building.

At first, I planned to attend alone to view Nadia’s work.

But then…

“Da-Damian… Where’re you going today…?”

“Hey Damian. Where are you going? If you say you have plans again, you’re dead!”

Today of all days.

The villainsess were particularly clingy.

Had they accumulated a lot over the past month?

They wouldn’t let go of my arms.

“Let’s hang out… Best friends always meet up and hang out… We haven’t spent enough time together lately…”

“Why do you keep avoiding me? Do you have another girl? Is that why you’re ditching me with all these plans, you bastard…? You want me to die alone in my room, don’t you…? Live with that regret for the rest of your life…!!”

“…”

Wherever I went.

Their obsessive gaze followed me.

Seeing their earnest expressions.

“… Alright, let’s go together.”

“To where?”

“To the art department building.”

I had no choice but to take them to the competition venue.

To the place where Nadia’s masterpiece would be unveiled.

‘It feels like taking my current girlfriend to my ex’s wedding…’

Somehow, it felt strange.

Translator’s announcement:

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