By Kobako Takara and Jun Natsuba. Released in Japan as “Heroine ni Konyakusha wo Torareru Mitai node, Akuyaki Reisoku (Yandere Character) wo Neraimasu” by B’s-Log Bunko. Released in North America by Cross Infinite World. Translated by Emma Schumacker.
I admit I did briefly roll my eyes at the ineptness of the antagonists at the start of this book. The titular fiance is a drip of a man who our main character immediately falls out of love with after she gains her memories from Japan. The heroine is one of those who doesn’t actually care about walking up to the crown prince of their nation and saying “wow, great CG art!”. The “yandere villain” is being abused by his family, whose father is actually decently evil but whose brothers are so dumb they can’t even pretend that our main character is anything but a convenient woman to stay home while they play around. It then occurred to me that despite all this, both main characters have to struggle to get what they want, and still barely do. It’s almost like evil does not have to be competent or smart to succeed. Some lessons to learn there for all of us.
Cynthia Rhuddlan is a viscount’s daughter, and engaged to the son of an earl. Sadly, the son of the earl is pretty pathetic, but she still tries to work on their engagement with him. Then she remembers this is a game, and she’s one of the villainesses. And that Elly, the new girl who’s been muscling in on her fiance, is the “heroine”. Since her fiance suddenly no longer appeals, she tries to find another love interest who’s not already engaged, and comes up with Siraiya, the third son of a duke. He has a tragic abusive backstory, and if the heroine helps him he gets very attached to her… which can lead to a murder-suicide if done poorly! Can she try to win over this man, help him overcome his family, and get a happy ending?
Cynthia is very likeable, and is in the “highly competent” variety of heroines, so it’s nice to see she’s not immediately exiled or arrested, and she even breaks up with her fiance herself. A lot of this book requires negotiating the noble title arena, as well as who one can and cannot make a pass at. The game, tellingly, completely ignores all this, because only light novels are interested in delving into class warfare like that. Sireiya, meanwhile, is the sort of boyfriend who, once you give him a nice haircut, teach him things, and treat him like an actual human being rather than a tool, turns out to be nigh-on perfect. Her parents are understanding and supportive, and basically adopt her new fiance. The crown prince even helps after Cynthia accidentally solves his own tragic romantic subplot by virtue of her game knowledge. The outcome is not in doubt… even with rather pathetic villains.
This wraps up nicely, but there is apparently a Vol. 2, which surprises me. For genre fans.