I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead-Chapter 7: Desire Is Not Love, Love Isn’t Just Desire

Back when she read this scene in the novel, she had giggled like a fool, all kyaa kyaa, oh my god, the tension!

But watching it unfold in real life...

This was straight-up sexual harassment.

However, this was also a crucial moment in the story.

It was their first steamy scene, the start of Evelyn's internal struggle.

On the outside, she acted like she didn't want it, but secretly, she was eating it up.

A consensual non-consent.

It played out like this: Raphael, all smooth and confident, approached Evelyn, but she felt too insecure, too undeserving of his attention. He, meanwhile, was in deep trouble for the whole engagement-announcement-gone-wrong debacle.

He was declaring his undying devotion, his obsession, the earth-shattering intensity of his love.

"You're my world, Evelyn! My everything! My reason for breathing!"

But Evelyn was too insecure to believe any of it and... Raphael didn't handle her low self-esteem so well.

So, naturally, instead of communicating like a normal human being, he did what any deranged male lead in a problematic romance novel would do—

He pounced on her and bit her on the neck, leaving a trail of love bites to prove his desire.

On paper, it was sexy.

In real life?

What the fuck?

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[WARNING! Love Target at Risk.]

[Evelyn Ashbourne is currently experiencing an Affection Event with Raphael Albrecht. As your registered Love Target, she cannot be stolen away. Immediate intervention is required.]

[Debuffs Applied: Ick Factor - The scene you once swooned over now makes your skin crawl. Mental resistance to forced romance tropes increased by 30%.]

[Action Required: Interrupt the scene before it's too late.]

[Time: 1 Minute]

"For once, a debuff that actually makes sense..."

She strode forward, the sharp click of her heels slicing through the silence. If love was real, then it should be shown properly, not through force, not through obsession, and certainly not through cornering someone like a predator.

"Sir Raphael," she called, her voice smooth yet laced with unmistakable authority. "I thought you knew better."

Before he could react, she took Evelyn's wrist and pulled her away effortlessly. The girl nearly stumbled, but Verena's grip was firm, her other hand instinctively moving to support her back. A gentle, stabilizing touch, unlike a certain someone.

"V-Verena?!" Raphael's voice cracked, his frown deepening. "How dare you! Our engagement is over—you can't just—"

"Oh, please," she scoffed, cutting him off. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm not here because of you."

Afterwards, she wrapped her arms around Evelyn, pulling her into a soft embrace, letting the girl's head rest against her shoulder. A sharp contrast to the rough, possessive touch she had just been subjected to.

"That is not how you prove love, Sir Raphael," she continued, her tone cooling into something sharper. "If you cannot respect her space now, what makes you think you'll respect her in marriage? She is not something to be tamed or claimed. She is a person. A human being."

The grand duke flinched. His jaw tightened, and for a second, guilt flashed in his eyes.

Verena, however, wasn't done. She lowered her gaze to Evelyn, her voice softening, not with pity, but with understanding.

"And you, my dear," she murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind Evelyn's ear, "you are not loved simply because you are desired. Attention is not affection, and submission is not devotion. Do not mistake being wanted for being cherished."

Verena had learned this the hard way.

Romance novels made love seem simple. But reality was a cold splash of water. Desire wasn't love, and love wasn't just desire. Maybe the problem wasn't her. Maybe it was the books.

She let go of Evelyn, only to be met with a sight that nearly made her snort.

"D-Did I do something wrong?..."

"N-No..." Evelyn sniffled, hurriedly wiping her tears. "I-I'm good..."

[System Notification: Affection Update!]

[Target: Evelyn Ashbourne]

[+10 Affection Points Earned!]

[Debuffs have been removed!]

[SYSTEM NOTICE: The mission was successful!]

[You have made her question her life]

[Affection Points: 7]

"I-I'm sorry, you're right..." he admitted, which was wildly uncharacteristic of him. "I will reflect on myself..."

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to her."

"Ah, right..." He turned to Evelyn, visibly struggling. "I am sorry, my love... I will try my best... to..." He hesitated, as if the words physically pained him. "To properly do things." Then, he left.

This wasn't the Verena he knew. She was brash, loud, intrusive, and thoroughly incompetent. Now, she was composed, sharp, and, worst of all, capable.

He took a look from behind before walking away.

It was quite suspicious.

After everything that had happened, they all returned to the atrium.

***

The entrance exam was about to begin, and Verena still couldn't believe she was actually wrecking the plot.

The more she strayed from the script, the more unrecognizable everything became, not just to others, but to herself too.

"God..." she sighed, exhausted.

The heavy cloak draped over her shoulders felt suffocating, and as she glanced around, she realized something else, she was towering over nearly every girl here.

Right, Verena was tall.

At 5'11, she was practically a walking landmark. Whereas in her previous life, she was just 5'2.

"Now, what was supposed to happen again—"

Before she could jog her questionable memory, a commotion erupted.

The grand atrium doors opened, and a procession of guards stormed in, surrounding someone of importance.

"Oh my, it's her!"

The crowd instantly bowed. Well, almost everyone. Verena, still grappling with a foggy recollection, remained standing, looking utterly lost.

The guards stepped aside, revealing a lone figure.

A woman, matching Verena in height, with piercing red eyes and hazel hair coiled into a braid. On top was a crown.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

She was breathtaking. Regal. The kind of person whose presence commanded attention with a mere glance.

Their eyes met, and Verena flinched.

"Ah—"

How could she possibly have forgotten?

"All hail Lady Anastasia Velmont!" the guards announced before marching out, leaving the atrium in a stunned silence.

Anastasia Velmont.

Daughter of the most powerful duke. Fiancée to the crown prince.

A Capricorn Conduitor.

A brilliant and terrifying force of nature, revered across the continent.

And, most importantly, Verena's absolute favorite heroine in the entire series.

"M-My—" Verena slapped a hand over her mouth, her voice trembling as she fought back an overwhelming urge to fangirl over her idol.

OMG.