elegantlyrottengirl

Read this and I agree with most of it but personally I had a completely different take on the Villainess.

First, it's mentioned like 2 or 3 times that she had some sort of relationship with the previous crown prince BEFORE Raymond. It's usually not framed as positive but I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers tropes, so I'm 50/50 on how it was actually portrayed. Personally, I love a villainess that commits to the role and she COMMITTED.

My personal take is she couldn't STAND the previous crown prince. He was a known womanizer and was known for harassing women. They had a couple of run ins (as stated in the story) and their relationship was bad enough that her brother was literally chased from the capital for confronting the previous crown prince (mentioned punching, although I'm unclear who punched who). From there, their relationship only got more toxic, because he chased away her beloved brother and her only defender. But her father, being an opportunistic freak, likely would have pushed for them to be together.

I don't think she fully loved Raymond at first. I think she enjoyed the attention he gave her and the reprieve he represented. He was freedom; freedom from a man who only wanted her for one thing, freedom from high society standards/expectations, freedom from her power hungry father. Maybe that eventually grew into love but not an actual, healthy love. Hers was a love that only knew how to take, just like Raymond did in the beginning. She was fully aware of Elijah. She was fully aware that she was stepping on someone else's feelings; she just didn't care. And more power to her! Like I said, I like a villainess who commits.

I do think that the previous crown prince did something to her. Was it consensual? Who knows. However, I believe she was FULLY AWARE and KNEW she was pregnant (or at least highly suspected) when she came to Raymond in tears. She's frantic. She doesn't want to go to the West, especially not when she might be pregnant. She plies him with drinks and tries something but I don't think it works, not because of love but because Raymond had one too many. Now she's stuck and what can she do?

It's stated that she basically abandoned and neglected Edmund when they were in the West. Don't remember what chapter but I remember that because that was the first time I lost all sympathy for her. Because, she's not supposed to be a redeemable character in the story. BUT I WILL DO IT ANYWAY.

She didn't love her own child and she couldn't stand that about herself. It was like seeing a broken reflection of her father. So, she rejected her child and did whatever she could to survive over there. It didn't matter anymore. This was her life. But the longer that went on, the more things twisted in her mind. With Raymond, she had been able to try to break the chains of her family. She hadn't sought out power so relentlessly, like her father. But here, she's seeing first hand what a lack of power actually means; a lack of a way to protect yourself. So, the cycle continues. She can't break the chains and she in return becomes power obsessed.

Grabbing her first chance back, she does her best on the long trip to butter up her son. And her child, attention starved and desperately wanting his mother's approval because he's still very young, clings to her in turn. But, seeing people have basically forgotten her presence, her existence, is slowly driving her mad. So, she decides to stomp all over the royal family and make it so no one will ever forget her ever again. She'll have power, fame, and be remembered for sure.

Except, nothing goes to plan. Elijah steps back. The divorce is clearly felt by Raymond. Raymond doesn't cling to her. Elijah leaves. And Raymond never turns back to her, even after YEARS. And to top it all off, her power hungry father keeps making more and more demands of her, which just forces her to see more and more that she's becoming a distorted version of him. Which would drive her more and more mad. And at the end of it all, what awaited was only infamy and death, with her only realizing at the very end that she was wrong. She may not have loved her son as she wanted to but he loved her. And she wasn't able to break the chains but her son would live and he likely would. And instead of just regret, there would be so much frustration as well. Why why why why W H Y????

Why would HER SON be denied so much power and yet it would likely also be HER SON who would finally be free at the end? How frustrating to know that for a generational curse to end, it has to end with you and your death. That thought gives me more sympathy to her than anything shown or told in the story. She likely spent all her life trying to fight for the freedom of that need for power, only to die in the exact same way her father had, never knowing freedom or peace.

But I do agree, too much tell, too much show, not enough Edmund time. And way, way too much political stuff in my angsty romance. And I would also not survive is I was isekai'd, but also mainly because 1, I suck at politics and 2, this was mundane enough that I would forget the major plot points. Also, not enough was told about what happened in the in between time. Six years? Seven? Tell me the winning lotto numbers at least, so I can make it big lol

Really didn’t expect anyone to reply, but this was an awesome surprise! Also I love your take: villains who commit. Legit reminds me of ‘The One Within The Villainess’ and that was a refreshing read. This kinda reminds me of why isekais where you go into a story/game/media you participated in is fun because you actually get to explore the characters beyond what the story has to offer. Great empathy exercise.

But anyways. You make me wanna fantasize about Lizena’s relationship with the crown prince now. Unfortunately, I don’t have much data on the crown prince but if we were to go into the enemies to lovers route (but not actually lovers? just read) ooohhh how angsty would it be if he really really did love her? Like, Elijah’s pining love, but greedier, more envious. Cuz I can imagine it was more a passing thing at first, something more of a side fling for him, unimportant. Just another game of ‘wooing the ladies’. Courtship.

Only, Lizena wasn’t an innocent maiden. She was strong willed and confident. She picked fights with him and won. Maybe she sets him straight. Maybe she was his equal.

From courtship to friendship, then perhaps more? True love and happy ever after?

Maybe she would be his Elijah, someone who would stick by him despite all his ugliness. Someone who would stand by him even if he wasn’t crown prince.

But unlike Raymond who did eventually love Elijah, Lizena the villainess never did want Aster the crown prince.

Why why why? Why is she in a relationship with Raymond?

And when he asked her to leave Raymond and be with him officially, reputation be damned, she refuses. Lovers? We were never lovers. I would never love you.

Cue violent Edmund making.

Of course, the angst would wholly depend on how sympathetic you could make the crown prince. I really dunno how to go about making an abuser seem puppy pitiful, thus the cliche backstory. (A bit of a tangent, but I think — because we’re here trying to spin gold out of a cliche story— that being cliche doesn’t make it inherently bad. Careless execution does. This is where I think editors and beta readers contribute the most.)

In conclusion, I think discussions like these are really fruitful, if not for better stories, then for my entertainment. Thanks for engaging.

PS: The six year timeskip was a freaking cap out. It was a good chance to show us the MC’s strength through her struggles after leaving a loveless relationship while caring for the fruit of said relationship. She was also doing all this while in a different country mannnnnn. Instead we get flashback that only says: main characters gets everything easily because they’re main characters. An empty message.

I love "The One Within the Villainess", it's such a good take. And yes, the time skip was such a disappointment. I would have accepted her not even struggling. I would have happily accepted her thriving and being a boss babe if it actually gave a good cliche as to why. This is how she met various montage of people who helped her accomplish xyz goals. These goals lead to successful shop, fitting into new country, building guild, etc.a

And if you want a quick, fun enemies to lovers take on the crown prince and the Villainess, I am INVESTED. Because listen, I'm pretty sure it was a wrong translation but there's a line that basically says that Aster punched her brother and I was like "wut" and immediately locked in on "why"???

So here's my messed up headcanon on those two. Like I said, I don't think it was a positive relationship in the beginning. However, I don't want to portray it as all negative, either.

Personally, I love to think that Lizena hated him at first. She hated everything he represented. She hated the negative side of freedom he represented, the freedom of men in this world to do whatever they wanted without consequences. The way this society pushes all the consequences of his actions onto the women around him. It was hate and envy at the same time, which built up to a hated attraction. She heard rumors of him before she ever met him. And she met him at her debutante, finding him unimpressive. This was the womanizer of rumors? Hmph. She'd seen better, more handsome men.

They didn't speak at first, until he took an interest in her. And then the barbs and underhanded remarks started, from both sides. She didn't win every argument but enough to keep him interested and invested. And he wasn't interested in just her body anymore, although that was still the main draw. The first time wasn't consensual. He used every underhanded method to drag her to bed, coercion and manipulation and blackmail. But it worked. And then she wounded his pride because she said she didn't enjoy it. Because until now, he'd mainly been with experienced women, even if they weren't all willing. He didn't know how to treat an inexperienced partner or ease a first time.

Now he's determined to get her to enjoy her time with him and she determined to never do that again. It becomes a different battle of wills, one she wins time and again. And with her constantly winning, he finds himself darkly intrigued with her mind. However, the longer this acquaintance goes on, the more suspicious others become. And with her brother becoming suspicious and calling him out on his actions, he momentarily loses him cool. How dare he imply that he treated her as a one night stand! So, he punched him and banishes him from the capital. Except, isn't that what she's supposed to be? A momentary fling?

He's unraveling and now she's chasing his brother. That bastard who can so effortlessly get what he can never have. He's nothing more than the son of some lowly woman but his mother actually loves and cares for him. Aster might be his parents favorite but theirs was not a marriage of love. Both have affairs, some secretly, some open. And both give him everything he could ever want but it's hollow affection, without real care or love behind it. And Raymond, he has so much affection and love around him. He even has Elijah, with her giving him the easy affection of a friend who never leaves his side. Now, he's taking the only thing, the only PERSON, he's ever really wanted? How dare he, HOW DARE HE???

Let that dark obsession fester and grow, with him chasing after Lizena, only to be rebuffed. And on their final night together, as he whispers dark nothings about taking her as a concubine instead of a queen or empress, she gives him a fierce rejection. But this he can't stand. Fine then. If he can't have her, he'd rather ruin her. He'll be DAMNED if he let's that bastard have her, let's them be happy together. So he makes sure she gets sent to the West kingdom and he rubs it in Raymond's face.

It takes months for him to regret it. At first, he's too wrapped up in his anger, his fury over her rejection and pursuit with his brother. And then he busy tormenting Raymond, for how dare he try to be happy with his beloved-- And then it his him like a crash one day but that only drives him more insane. He, with his own hands, drove the only woman he loved away. Did his best to forever ruin her and her happiness. All while Lizena curses him in another country, denying him any right to be happy, and he never will be, never again. Not truly. But he refuses to let himself be shaken. He cannot ever afford to regret his actions. Not until that fateful day when he threatens Elijah and Raymond loses it.

As he's being sliced apart, between the pain and the fading vision, he swears he can hear her cursing his name. He swears he can hear Lizena yelling he'll never be happy. And what a sweet sound that is to die to. And, weeks or months later, when she gets the news of his death, Lizena curses him again. She says good riddens and that he died too easily. And she wraps herself in her anger, even though her heart feels like trembling and she feels numb inside because she refuses to give name to any other emotions she might have felt for him. She refuses to give name to the hope that died with him that someone, eventually, might come for her, even if she refused to think of who. And she vows that since neither of them could be happy, she'll make damn sure that Raymond can't be happy, either.

I love me a good angsty, enemies to lovers to enemies again. And those sweet sweet moments of softness or regret make it that much sweeter.

Your experience shows XD I can’t think of anything better than what you shared here. I support this headcanon and freaking wish I could read something like this, any suggestions would be awesome!

Off the top of my head ‘I tamed my ex-husband’s mad dog’ kinda did a dark obsessive romance like this. Lots of yearning. The MC was smarter recognizing how toxic it was. I also liked that the ML was actually cold hearted and actually did do abhorrent things, within good reason, but still abhorrent. Not really enemies to lovers, but I still think it was a good read. The ML obsessively pining for the MC one was well done ╮(￣▽￣)╭.

As for suggestions, I can think of three off the top of my head that do angst well.

My Beloved Oppressor - be warned, hella angsty. However, I do love the nuance of how it was portrayed. It takes time but it goes into why he tormented her and his regrets. It's really heavy though so do not recommend trying to binge it unless you'll be able to have like 3 days off to recover.

There Were Times When I Wished You Were Dead - also good, I enjoyed the angst. At times it could be repetitive but I still think it was decently done. Also I'm a sucker for a ML who genuinely regrets tormenting the FL but it's too late to undo the damage. This one does that well.

Your Majesty, Please Don't Kill Me Again - highly recommend this one. It has traveling back in time, just to be warned, in case that's not your thing. But the FL is doing her best to avoid her death at the hands of the ML. However, he isn't really pardoned for his torment of her in this life and his killing her before. Even by chapter 80, she can't bring herself to fully forgive him, despite recognizing that he's a different person than before. I haven't finished this one and thanks for the reminder to go finish it, lol.

I can probably suggest more later. Thanks for a fun back and forth!

https://drive.google.com/file/u/0/d/1Bd_1lvDvTVKWl6Fk7ZJYhHWfigtjkfEs/view?pli=1

Chapter 150 and onwards <3

THANK YOU!!