Howdy, peeps, human and marshmallow alike. I’m back again with another post, this time to recommend another highly-liked-by-me webtoon, “The Villainess Lives Again.” It’s available on Tappytoon, with a subscription: https://www.tappytoon.com/en/comics/villainess-lives-again. The original novel was written by Mint, and the comic done by Peachberry.
So, this manga is not for those who want action-packed story, or comedy. It is a very serious story, and survivors of abuse may find it hard to read at some points. But for all that, it’s a story that is almost like watching a master-played chess game.
The story begins with the new Emperor Laurence sentencing his sister, Artezia, for the crime of poisoning his wife and son. He reveals, with witnesses, that she has been masterminding the downfall of the previous emperor and horrible events around the continent for years. So he orders for her tongue to be cut out and her arms and legs to be cut off, so she can no longer speak or write orders for people to suffer. This may seem like a drastic but fitting punishment to the reader, but it is quickly revealed that Artezia is innocent of the poisoning, and has only done these other horrible events in order to bring her brother to power as the Emperor.
The reader learns that she was raised to believe that she must do everything for her brother Laurence, in order to protect herself and her mother Millaira. Millaira was the previous emperor’s mistress, and Laurence was Artezia’s half-brother, born out of wedlock to the emperor and Millaira. Even though the son of the Emperor, Laurence was never in a position of authority, until Artezia was forced to put her prodigious intellect to mastermind schemes and manipulate people for years.
And when I say “prodigious intellect,” I mean it. Artezia is extremely smart and savvy to people’s reactions. Having grown up in a very abusive household (her mother is certifiably insane, I think, and the stereotypical idea of bipolar), Artezia knows how to stay low, flatter, and manipulate people in order to obtain her goals. I think she may be the smartest heroine I’ve seen so far in any manga/manhwa.
Where does the title “The Villainess Lives Again” come from? Artezia, having suffered the Emperor’s punishment and imprisonment, manages to cast a spell using ancient magic. Her intention is that a certain man (more on that in a few) will be returned to the past with his memories of the horrific future that Laurence has caused, so as to be able to change things. However, the spell goes wrong, and Artezia is sent back instead. Before the spell, the mutilated Artezia was begged by Grand Duke Cedric to help him overthrow Laurence, knowing that only more suffering would come. Artezia could do nothing other than cast the spell, willing to sacrifice her life, knowing that Cedric was a good man who had bowed to the villainess to beg for help. She vows to do whatever it takes in this new timeline to secure the throne for Cedric, and bring down the current Emperor and her family.
I know that this is a lot to take in. Sorry for that. But that will hopefully be a good intro for you, because this story is a LOT, but it is so GOOD. The author has done an excellent job of showing the audience how Artezia’s schemes are set up far in advance and how she uses her words to move people like chess pieces. There are also so many small details worked into the fabric of the story and art to show how she changes as a person through her interactions with Cedric and the people who become loyal to her. Artezia’s eating disorder is never directly addressed (at least as far I’ve read), but her lifetime of abuse is evident in her tendency to sacrifice her own well-being for what she considers important- she considers herself so insignificant that she’s willing to be beaten in order to provide a public excuse to part with her mother.
Another reason that Artezia wants to change the future is to save the life of Lisia. Lisia was a Saintess who helped the poor and ill in the previous timeline, and Artezia had forced her to marry Laurence to help him become Emperor. Laurence, being the piece of rotten trash that he is, had abused Lisia until she died. Artezia feels a great deal of guilt over this, compounded by the fact that Lisia had known about Artezia’s machinations, but had told Artezia on separate occasions that she didn’t blame Artezia. With so much guilt eating away at her, it’s understandable that Artezia would want to change the future.
I’ve probably given away spoilers that some people would have preferred to not get, but oh well. I hope this is a enough of a recommendation to encourage people to give this a go. It’s not for the easily-bored, or the faint of heart, but it is good.
Catch you on the flip side.
Random English Major Thoughts 