"Sir, the young lady has arrived," the maid announced that Melissa, the Villainess, his daughter, had arrived in the dining room.
"You are late, Melissa," her father greeted her coldly, without deigning to look up.
"I am always late, Your Grace," I replied as I sat on the dining chair. Silence rushed over the dining table—an atmosphere rare among normal father-daughter relationships.
Though it's not so unfathomable considering who is the "owner" of this lady's body. So let's back it up a bit—here's what you need to know off the bat.
"All the Men That Loved Her"—a novel with an obvious storyline. The 'Her' being Yuri, our heroine, who began life as a commoner. The baron later recognizes Yuri's power and adopts her.
There are not one, but four male protagonists who fall madly in love with her: The Crown Prince, the Sniper, the Werewolf, and the Millionaire Merchant. Like any good character in a story, each has a distinct personality and profession, and Yuri holds their fate in her hand.
How's that even possible? Could be because Yuri is so angelic and lovely? You shall find out... later.
More importantly, what work of fiction would be complete without a villain? This story's villain—or rather, villainess—is the Crown Prince's fiancée, the Sniper's older sister, the Werewolf's nemesis, and a troublemaker with a uniquely hostile relationship with the Millionaire Merchant. She is the 'power owner' of this body—the lady, Melissa Foddebrat.
Now let's return to the first scene. Given how she grew up and the person she became... even her father didn't look upon her kindly, so the atmosphere was understandable.
"You're spilling everywhere," Melissa's maid nagged her for spilling her soup.
"What would you do without me, my lady?" the maid continued.
"I'd be happy," I bickered.
"At any rate, Your Grace! Where is the white-furred mongrel with whom I share genetic material?" I demanded.
"I have not seen him as of late. Perhaps he has gifted us with his passing," I muttered.
Her father sipped his tea as he remarked, "He left, to protect someone."
I made an annoyed face as I retorted, "I don't think that hyperactive child knows where he lives. Order him to remove Foddebrat from his name."
"Jake is the sole heir to the estate. You ask for the impossible," her father countered.
I angrily stood up from the chair and snapped, "That sole heir isn't even devoted to his family. He just bums around. I don't know why you care so much about him."
"Oh right. He's the sole male heir. In that case, the female will be heading out now! I came to give you company but I guess that was a waste of time," I mocked sweetly as I left the dining hall.
As you can see, it is maddening to live in this body and suffer the consequences of Melissa's personality and circumstances. At least, that's what I thought at first, but after thinking it over, I decided it wasn't completely intolerable—compared to my life.
I was worn out and frazzled by life as a college student... I would have collapsed from stress and high blood pressure... if it weren't for the car accident! When I woke up after the car accident, I escaped my hellish reality as a college student—by somehow becoming a character in this fictional story!!! I became Melissa!
She has a wide forehead, a potential sign of intelligence and wisdom, and piercing almond-shaped golden yellow eyes... which remind me of Goldie, the dog next door~
What I mean is... all things considered, I can put up with all this! I can be Melissa!
It's not like Melissa loses her life in this story... and she doesn't have a perilous storyline either. She's the Duke's daughter, living a life of luxury, after all!
Now I won't be her as the storybook's absolutely wicked villainess or turn into a reformed saint. And I certainly won't try to seduce these idiotic male characters and lure them into a harem for her.
It may seem hard at first, but if you can endure the glimpses into Melissa's male violence, you'll be able to witness my fabulous fantasy life as her unfold!
(I promise there's more to this life than the rage and yelling~)
I am writing a letter to the Crown Prince:
"My ever-affectionate Royal Highness, I address this letter to you with great care. Crown Prince, Ian Basillios. How have you been, Your Royal Highness? Even as summer comes to its inevitable end, the birds sing brightly and the flowers are majestically in full bloom. Filled with the joy of this lovely day, I write you, with utmost sincerity, to kindly request that we cancel our engagement."
Hmm, I like that. That bit of formality is just right, heh. I need to dump Melissa's aristocratic love interest like he's a rusted, beat-up car. I continued writing:
"Since this is so important, I will rephrase for maximum comprehension. Please call off our engagement. The flowers you sent were addressed to another woman and frankly, I care not to know the other woman with whom you spend your nights of passion. You honestly must hate me, right?" I screeched through the paper as my maid (Yona Whitefall) watched me from a distance.
'Okay, she's officially gone nuts,' Yona thought.
"Just be cool and call off the engagement. This is my 49th letter. Please do not make me waste any more paper on this. If my family title is so important to you, you should just marry Jake (Melissa's brother)," the letter was finally completed.
I don't know who possessed me to write all these words... Oh yeah~ I really am the best~ The Crown Prince's fiancée is truly a master calligrapher.
"Yona, if you're not busy, go deliver this letter. Let the royal palace know it's from the Crown Prince's fiancée," I instructed.
"What if you just show up unannounced and call off the engagement in person? You know, like you did last time," Yona remarked.
Hmph. "If he doesn't respond again, I'm going to make a bigger mess than last time. Today will just be the letter," I declared.
"Yes, my lady," Yona replied.
"And don't get sidetracked," I warned as Yona slammed the door in my face.
Where does she get off with her attitude? Does she even think of me as her lady? She doesn't even talk like a proper maid. Whatever—for now... which dress should I wear when I finally meet Yuri?