RECS PLEASE!

I love Kill the Villainess, it's one of my absolute favourites. In general I feel like it's hard to find a story that is so similar to this one (follows so many otome isekai tropes), while being as good.
I know you would like ending up with no love interest, but through my search and years of reading manwhas I never experienced a story like that, sadly. I feel like it's a characteristic of the genre, that is almost mandatory.
But here are a couple that I love:


- The Broken Ring : This Marriage Will Fail Anyway (ongoing)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/the_broken_ring_this_marriage_will_fail_anyway/

This one is competing with Kill the Villainess for the first place in my heart. The MC is perfectly written Imo and the story is so complex and addictive.
If you want a little bit of existential approach to regression, similarly as Kill the Villainess had to reincarnation (kind of), then this story is great.

!Warning! This on has some SMUT, but not a crazy amount. Even though you said you don't want it, the fan in me tells me to recommend it anyway.


- Concubine Walkthrough (completed)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/concubine_walkthrough/

Absolutely gorgeous art and fascinating story. It takes you for a journey.
It has great story turns and twists.


- Your Eternal Lies (completed)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/your_eternal_lies/

This one, even though it's not exactly otome isekai (it doesn't deal with regression nor reincarnation) is often mentioned amongst them and I think it's cuz it has similar vibes sometimes.
This one is really good, but it's one that you cannot read any spoilers about, cuz it's kinda a investigation story, where as a reader you also take part in it. It's definitely a journey. I wish I could read it for the first time again.


- Death Is The Only Ending For The Villainess (ongoing)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/death_is_the_only_ending_for_the_villainess/

An otome isekai classic I would say. Even though it's relatively new. It's a lot of people first manwha of this kind and how they feel in love with this genre. I honestly don't remember how good it is, cuz I haven't read it in a while, so I don't want to lie. But I know I enjoyed it a lot.


Special mentions (stories, that I think are really good, but I don't think they quite fit the criteria):

- The Way to Protect the Female Lead's Older Brother (unfinished and unsure if it's ever going to be finished)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/the_way_to_protect_the_female_lead_s_older_brother/
Really addictive.

- Failed To Abandon The Villain (finished)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/failed_to_abandon_the_villain/
Very passionate, the plot outside of the romance is good.

- My In-laws are Obsessed With Me (ongoing)
https://www.mangago.zone/read-manga/my_in_laws_are_obsessed_with_me/
The greatest example of a well made slow burn.

oh my, thanks so much for these recommendations and providing your reviews on them! i do agree it's a bit difficult to find something like "kill the villainess" but i figured i'd shoot my shot and try to ask anyway. but i'm currently reading "death is the only ending for the villainess" and i absolutely love it; i'll be sure to check out your recommendations (i'll check out "the broken ring" even if it has smut, i may grow to like it)!!