I, The Villainess, Will Seduce All The Heroines Instead
Chapter 90: The People Pleaser Meets The People Pleaser Hater

Chapter 90: The People Pleaser Meets The People Pleaser Hater

Verena had noticed it long before Evelyn ever said a word.

The stolen glances in class, the way Evelyn’s footsteps always seemed to match hers in the corridor, the way her expression shifted from shy awe to quiet resolve whenever Verena’s back was turned.

It was subtle at first. A flicker. A thought. A feeling that someone was always watching.

And it wasn’t just the System notifications or the mission logs, though those were becoming strangely efficient these days. No, it was something deeper. Personal. Like Evelyn was trying to carve a path not just toward growth, but toward her.

She didn’t say anything. Not right away.

Not when she caught Evelyn watching her from across the courtyard.

Not when she saw her silently take notes during lectures, eyes flickering up every time Verena raised her hand.

Not even when she saw her refuse help from a professor, her jaw clenched in determined silence.

She just watched.

And waited.

Until that one moment under the fading starlight of the observatory tower, when Evelyn finally said it:

"I want to be free from you."But it was also right.

Verena was no savior. She was a systems analyst in HR cosplay, a glorified mentor who crushed egos with paperwork and sarcasm. Evelyn didn’t need another person to protect her. She needed to prove to herself she could walk alone—even if she tripped, even if she bled.

So Verena let her go.

"Impress me."

The words were flippant. Casual. But her heart squeezed tighter than she expected as she walked away without looking back.

Evelyn hadn’t realized how quiet the academy halls were when you weren’t chasing after someone else’s shadow.

The freedom was weird. Weightless. Like she was floating. Or falling.

She found herself near the West Training Grounds, a part of the school she’d never really visited before. Mostly because it was off-limits to beginners. It wasn’t forbidden, per se—but more like strongly discouraged unless you wanted your spleen handed to you.

Naturally, she wandered in.

Which is when a practice spear nearly took her head off.

She ducked with a surprised yelp, falling backwards as the weapon whistled past and thudded against the stone wall behind her.

"Oh for—!" came a voice. "Watch where you’re walking, idiot!"

Standing in the ring, shirt damp with sweat and one hand on her hip, was Sera Anverre.

Fiery red hair tied up in a reckless tail. Combat boots. Muscle definition that screamed reckless brawler who hasn’t attended a real lecture in weeks.

The Leo heroine.

The brat.

The walking embodiment of aggression and adrenaline.

Evelyn blinked. "I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—"

Sera’s eyes narrowed. Her expression twisted as if something about Evelyn made her itch. Recognition sparked behind her eyes.

"You..." Sera muttered. "I know you. You’re that annoying girl from the House Assemblies. The one with the wobbly voice who always apologizes for breathing."

"I... I’ve gotten better about that," Evelyn muttered, rubbing her neck.

"Pfft. Doubt it."

"I have." She straightened a little. "I’m starting my own Novae Covenant."

"...Wait. You?"

Sera barked out a laugh, dropping her practice spear entirely. "Oh that’s rich. You? The girl who practically bows every time someone looks her way?"

"I’m not like that anymore."

Sera paced around her, inspecting her like a faulty training dummy. "So what? You grow a backbone for one day and suddenly think you can build a squad?"

Evelyn took a breath. "Yes."

Sera’s brow twitched. "Why?"

"Because I want to prove I can be something without someone holding my hand. And because someone I admire told me to impress her." She paused. "And maybe... because I want to stop being the version of me that people used to pity."

Sera stared at her for a long moment. Then scowled.

"Tch. People like you piss me off."

Evelyn blinked. "W-why?"

"You want everyone to like you. That’s your problem. You’re all smiles and soft words and maybe that works when you’re hiding behind someone stronger, but out here?" Sera gestured to the cracked training stones. "Out here, kindness gets you flattened. Affection makes you weak. And loyalty? That’s just a fancy word for dependency."

Evelyn’s voice was soft. "Maybe. But... isn’t that why people like us need friends? So we don’t turn into someone who’s always angry at the world?"

That struck a nerve.

Sera turned away sharply. "You really don’t know anything."

"Maybe not. But I’m learning. That’s why I came here." She tilted her head. "Why are you here, anyway?"

"None of your business."

"I think it is. If we’re both trying to get stronger."

Sera was silent for a long moment.

Then finally, she muttered, "...My old team kicked me out. Said I was too much."

Evelyn blinked. "That’s awful."

"Don’t pity me." Sera’s eyes flashed. "I’d rather eat dirt than join some dumb do-gooder squad with a girl who needs a system alert to know she’s being bullied."

"Good," Evelyn said, quietly. "Because I’m not inviting you."

"...Huh?"

"I’m just saying hi."

With that, Evelyn turned and walked away. No stuttering. No apologizing. No looking back.

Sera watched her go, arms crossed, her jaw set in irritation—or maybe, confusion.

"...Stupid girl."

And yet... she didn’t go back to training.

Not right away.

Sera stayed in the ring long after Evelyn left, fists clenched and eyes fixed on the spot where that soft-voiced idiot had stood.

Who did she think she was? Walking in here all awkward and then leaving like she had something to prove?

Sera didn’t do second glances. She didn’t care about wide eyes or tragic little monologues. She didn’t like people who flinched.

And yet...

Evelyn hadn’t flinched.

She’d stammered, sure, but she hadn’t backed down. Not even when Sera mocked her.

It was irritating.

It was confusing.

It was... interesting.

"Stupid girl," Sera muttered again, this time with less heat.

She picked up the spear, hurled it toward the far dummy—then missed completely. Off-center by inches. That hadn’t happened in weeks.

"Ugh. What the hell?"

Her rhythm was off. That was the problem. Not the girl. Not her words.

Definitely not the look in Evelyn’s eyes when she said she wasn’t inviting her.

As if she had a choice.

Sera kicked the dummy over in frustration.

And then, without really thinking, muttered under her breath—

"...She’s still not ready. Not yet."

Not realizing, perhaps, that she’d already started waiting for the next time they’d meet.

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