The Villainess Should NOT Outshine the Main Protagonist!

Chapter 1: The Symbol and the Shift

Lunchtime again. I sighed, the familiar weight of loneliness pressing down on my shoulders as I entered the least popular restroom in school. The one by the science labs was always a bit colder and quieter. Perfect for someone like me, who'd rather spend her break hiding from social interactions.

I settled into my usual stall, the farthest from the door, and unzipped my lunch bag. Today's bento was special, a tribute to the season finale of my current favorite isekai anime. Each rice ball was a painstaking work of art, shaped like the faces of the main characters. It was silly, but these little things brought me joy.

As I bit into a rice ball, my gaze wandered to the door of the stall. That's when I noticed it—a symbol, glowing faintly in the dim light. It wasn't graffiti; it looked ancient, otherworldly. I knew every inch of this stall, my unintentional sanctuary, and this symbol was definitely new.

A feeling of curiosity and apprehension stirred within me. Reaching out, my fingertips brushed against the symbol. It was warm, pulsing with a strange energy. The world seemed to hold its breath. And then, in a burst of light so bright I had to close my eyes, everything changed.

When I opened them again, the restroom stall was gone. Instead, I found myself in a room that seemed lifted from one of my beloved stories. It was opulent, adorned with tapestries and gold, filled with the scent of exotic flowers and something else—magic.

I stood up, my movements echoing strangely in the spacious room. A glance down at myself revealed clothes that were far from my usual school uniform: a dress, intricate and elegant, fit for nobility. Confusion and awe tangled within me. This had to be a dream, right? A very vivid, elaborate dream.

But as I moved towards the grand mirror that dominated one wall, the reality of my situation sank in. The reflection that greeted me wasn't my own. Instead, I saw a young Lady Evelyn Vancourt, the villainess of "Love at Mystic Academy," my favorite isekai series. Her features were mine now, or rather, I was wearing hers—sharp, beautiful, and cold.

Panic fluttered in my chest. Evelyn's story was one of intrigue, betrayal, and ultimately, tragedy. She was the character everyone loved to hate, destined to fall from grace. I knew her story by heart, having followed her journey through every twist and turn. But why was I here, in her body? Was I supposed to live out her tale? The thought was terrifying.

Yet, as the initial shock wore off, a spark of something else flickered within me. Excitement? Perhaps. After all, I wasn't Evelyn. I was Elise, a girl who knew how this story ended. A girl with the power to change it.

Determination settled over me like a cloak. If I was stuck in this story, I wouldn't follow the script. I would rewrite it. I would use my knowledge of the plot, the characters, and the world to carve a new path. One where Lady Evelyn Vancourt—no, where I—could live a peaceful existence.

Yet, as I considered the world I'd left behind, I realized I felt no pang of sorrow or regret at its loss.

Back there, loneliness had been my constant companion, my interactions superficial, limited to the necessary exchanges in class or the brief, mumbled apologies after bumping into someone in the hallway. I had been invisible, a shadow moving silently through crowded corridors. My true connections were with characters from another world—lines of dialogue and arcs in stories where I felt seen and understood. Now, ironically, I was thrust into a world not unlike those I had escaped to in my imagination.

But don't get me wrong, I still planned to be a loner in this world, not that I could change my old ways. But at least I could strive to be a cool loner. I'm talking about the kind who wields magic with a deft hand and commands respect—not from a throne, but from the shadows. One who navigates the complexities of court life with the same ease as slipping through the hallways back home, unnoticed but undeniably present and potent.

Determined to understand the extent of my transformation and the world I now inhabit, I embarked on a journey of learning. Each day, under the guise of a curious child, I explored the nooks and crannies of the Vancourt estate and, when able, the wider world. The more I learned, the more I realized the depth and complexity of this world—elements I overlooked when playing the game.

The first thing I had to look into was the symbol that had brought me here. My initial journeys into the sprawling library of the Vancourt estate yielded no clues about its origins or purpose. It seemed no book or scroll contained its likeness or hinted at its power, which left me more isolated in my quest for answers but strangely more determined. Perhaps my Isekai was one of a kind—I hope.

As I grappled with the mystery of the symbol, my curiosity about my new world grew. So I decided to unleash a barrage of questions upon the maid. She seemed surprised that I, a small child, was asking such complex questions. Nonetheless, she made sure to take time to answer all of my questions though. From that, I found out that I was in the kingdom of Florabelle, where I was the sole heiress to the Vancourt lineage.

The maid's answers unfolded an unsettling revelation. My parents, notable figures within the kingdom of Florabelle, were deeply enmeshed in its politics and power struggles. Their near-constant absence from the estate—and, by extension, my life—suddenly had a darker undertone.

My discovery that my dark hair and the innate affinity for dark magic stirring within me were the root causes added layers of complexity to their absence. These traits, reviled and feared by the country's populace, painted me as an outcast from my very birth.

This realization struck a chord of fear in me; not only did I have to navigate the treacherous waters of altering my predestined path, but I also had to do so while bearing traits that marked me as an outcast from the start.

In a world that feared and misunderstood the very essence of my being, I knew that mere diplomacy and intelligence would not suffice to secure a peaceful life. Thus, I made a decision that would shape my childhood in ways I had never anticipated—I would level grind, mastering my dark magic and any other skills I could acquire to ensure my survival.

Day after day, I ventured out from the safety of the Vancourt estate into the embrace of the surrounding woods. True to the expectations for a future villainess, my magical prowess was unsurpassed by any child my age, perhaps even by adults. My dark magic served me well against the shadow-dwelling monsters, each victory yielding soul gems, the crystallized essence of my vanquished foes.

The sale of these soul gems enabled me to acquire an amulet of experience. Infused with powerful enchantments, this amulet was crafted to enhance the wearer's learning from each encounter, effectively doubling the experience from every battle. With this powerful tool, my ability to harness and refine my dark magic accelerated at an unprecedented pace.

I even bought a monster caller... masochist much? probably, but I reasoned it was the most efficient way to summon and confront the strongest creatures in the vicinity. This device, a small, intricately carved horn, allowed me to lure out beasts from their lairs, presenting me with opportunities to face adversaries that would otherwise remain hidden in the depths of the forest or dungeons.

It didn't take long for me to become bored of the monsters within the immediate vicinity of the Vancourt estate, their predictability, and the ease with which I dispatched them offering little in the way of challenge or excitement. Seeking greater challenges and more valuable soul gems, I started grinding out dungeons.

Over the years, each day's rigorous training and countless encounters gradually honed my skills. By the time I reached my fifteenth birthday, I had finally received a letter from my absent parents, inviting me to join the Mystic Academy. Despite their supposed heartfelt words, the underlying request was clear: make friends with as many high-profile students as possible to secure our family's position.

No wonder Evelyn Vancourt became a villainess, this environment practically engineers it...

As my thoughts on the absurdity of my situation lingered, a soft knock at the door pulled me back to reality. My personal servant, a kind-hearted woman who had been more of a maternal figure than a servant since my reincarnation, stood at the threshold with a gentle smile.

"Miss Evelyn," she began, her voice laced with both excitement and sorrow, "your carriage to the Mystic Academy awaits, as requested by your parents."

Acknowledging her with a nod, I felt no surge of emotion at leaving the Vancourt estate behind. My focus was clear: to attend Mystic Academy not as its destined villainess, but as Evelyn Vancourt, a figure of my own making, surely not to outshine the main protagonist.