Highlights
- Rae and Claire take on their first task as members of the Knights, tracking down a mysterious figure on the haunted campus.
- Claire's tragic past is revealed, shedding light on her behavior and her transformation into a villainess.
- Secrets and mysteries abound in the series, including Rae's secret recipe selling and the possibility of an incestuous relationship between Lene and her brother Lambert.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for I’m in Love With the Villainess, Episode 6, "The Secret Reason Must Not Be Told to Anyone," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
With I’m in Love With the Villainess’ entire main cast joining the academy’s Knights, Rae and Claire have taken up their responsibilities as members of this revered student body. To their dismay, however, this honorable position is accompanied by many not-so-honorable responsibilities, such as chores around the academy and breaking up altercations between commoners.
For Rae, these chores are an excuse for her to spend more time with Claire Francois, the current villainess of the Otome game. Despite their first duty being a ghost-hunting gig, Rae makes the most of it by spending an entire night with Claire in the academy. This has given way to a new level of intimacy between the two characters as viewers get to witness Claire’s vulnerable side.
The Haunted Campus
Due to reports of a silhouette being sighted around the campus at night, Rae and Claire were entrusted with the responsibility of tracking down the mysterious figure and putting an end to the rumors. As their first task within the Knights, the two took on the job valiantly, despite Claire’s hesitance with paranormal activity. With a nighttime stakeout planned, the two camped in the kitchen, the site where most of the sightings took place.
After the two split up, Claire was surprised by her hand coming in contact with a gooey substance, another clue that was found in the sightings. However, Rae calmed down her startled partner and led her down to an already prepared dessert table. Finally, Claire was able to connect the dots and realize that it was actually Rae in the hallways and kitchen at night, trying to perfect her dessert dishes.
It is then revealed that Rae had planned this night all along, posing as a mysterious figure to have Claire sent in to investigate. The plan was a success as Rae was able to convince Claire to stay the night with her and try out her immaculate desserts. With the two sharing a bed together, it’s safe to say that Rae and Claire’s relationship has come a long way, turning the villainess into a somewhat close friend.
Claire's Tragic Past
I’m in Love With the Villainess has finally delved into Claire’s past, revealing the hardships she faced while growing up as a noble. Her troubled childhood sheds light on her current behavior and how she turned into a villainess for the Otome game. Due to her family belonging to nobility, Claire’s mother would never be around, even missing her birthdays. She was essentially raised by the maids and servants that served the Francois family.
On one of her birthdays, Claire’s mother, Melia Francois, had to depart to take care of her noble duties, causing Claire to act up and state her dislike for her mother. However, Claire was unaware that this would be the last time she would speak to her mother as Melia lost her life to a carriage accident. Claire would cry for days on end, regretting her last words to her mother.
The revelation of Claire’s past explains several intricacies of her character. Her initial lack of empathy and villainess-like attitude clearly stems from her anger and frustration of losing her mother at such a young age. Moreover, her respect for Lene is also tied to this incident as she was the only one by Claire’s side during this time. Due to Rae’s knowledge of the game, it’s likely she was already aware of Claire’s past, which explains her reasoning for believing that Claire isn’t a villainess.
Secrets and Mysteries
I’m in Love With the Villainess currently has many unexplained aspects and loose ends, though it’s likely these will slowly be explained over the course of the series. However, fans have been acquainted with a few of these secrets being kept by some characters. Firstly, Rae had been secretly selling her previous world’s recipes to an expensive restaurant in exchange for a hefty amount. The series is yet to reveal why she needs the money, though it’s likely tied to some element of helping Claire out.
Another aspect that had remained a mystery till this point was Claire’s childhood, and its revelation has offered a new perspective to viewers. Since Rae was already aware of her past, it makes sense for her to go out of the way to cater to Claire’s mischief. This further indicates that Rae is aware of a possible event that would negatively affect Claire, evident from her constant emphasis to never giving up.
Lastly, the series has hinted towards a jarring possibility of Lene being attracted to her brother Lambert. I’m in Love With the Villainess has always been rather daring with its Yuri themes and subtexts, yet an incest-positive approach might be pushing that narrative. It’s still too soon to determine how the series will tackle this issue, though it has been made apparent through subtle hints that such a bold subtext is indeed embedded in the premise.