Chapter 18: I want to hear your music

Why Viviana is a Bad Character in Princess Raising Simulator

Author: ᄋᄋ (351.441)

Warning: Long post.

I’ve played the ending of the Princess Raising Simulator 50 times.

I consider myself somewhat of a veteran.

I split my playthroughs between Viviana and Lilian.

From my perspective, Lilian is a hundred times better than Viviana.

I’ll explain why.

Most of Viviana’s endings are bad. She turns evil if she kills too many enemies in war, if more than three of her comrades die, or even if she finds peace in the empire but feels emptiness.

She corrupts as easily as a sunfish dies, making her character frustrating.

Initially, I was drawn to her seemingly overpowered stats, but I ended up collecting a series of bad endings.

Viviana has a hidden corruption gauge in the game. The company officially revealed this, though it’s not displayed. If you focus only on upgrading her skills or making money without knowing this, the gauge rises, leading to bad endings.

For those who have carefully examined the game’s settings, there’s one thing Viviana enjoys despite her generally indifferent attitude towards everything.

She likes playing the piano.

I first realized she could smile while playing the piano.

Since she’s a character who hates wasting time, I didn’t expect her to have a hobby. This is mentioned in a hidden event in the mansion’s library.

Consistently playing the piano can lower her corruption gauge.

So, is there no problem then?

Of course, there is.

From a veteran’s perspective, there’s a specific route for optimal character growth, but because of this corruption gauge, you can’t efficiently develop her character. You have to make her play the piano every morning, afternoon, and evening.

Also, because of her closed-off personality, there’s no option to play the piano with others around. She can only play alone.

You can skip a day of piano playing, but if you let your guard down even a little, it’s straight to a bad ending.

It’s not like she has a life-threatening disease that requires her to play the piano to survive. For veterans, it’s frustrating.

It’s funny that a sociopathic character like Viviana gains healing from such an activity.

The game company claims there’s another way to lower the corruption gauge daily without resorting to this, but in my 50 playthroughs, I haven’t found it. It might be bluffing.

Anyway, unless you’ve gone through dozens of endings like I have, I recommend starting with the main character, Lilian.

If you pick Lilian and endure the early game, she awakens as a saint, and the game becomes much more healing afterward. Don’t get lured in by Viviana’s impressive stats and end up with eight consecutive bad endings like I did. Just go with Lilian.

But Viviana is more to my taste, so I’m going back to play as her.

Upvotes (15) Downvotes (1)

Comments [15]

-Honestly, if you’re more drawn to Viviana, upvote.

-ᄋᄌ, Are you abandoning the cool beauty older sister?

-Lilian is too naive, so it’s boring.

-I liked the corruption route, especially the thrill of killing Lilian with my own hands. Get out.

-Is that hidden route really there?

-Will someone figure it out?

-You?

***

I originally hadn’t intended to become close with Viviana. If she ever started down a path of ruin, her closest associates would be the ones most at risk, so there was no particular reason to get close to her.

But now, I wondered if that even mattered. Most importantly, Viviana was the sole heir of one of the only four duchies in the empire. Gaining her favor would surely bring immense benefits and rewards.

“What should I do?”

Should I try to seduce her?

As the saying goes, ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will be invincible in a hundred battles.’

Among the people I know best in this world, Viviana is one of them. If I managed to seduce the villainess Mardian with just one piece of information, what could I not achieve with Viviana?

Yes.

Good.

Let’s make Viviana my ally.

I felt I needed her help.

Mardian’s behavior was becoming increasingly outrageous. Like others, I had thought she would simply view me as a cute pet, but the fact that she even tried to kiss me showed just how distorted her inclinations were.

To think there was a homosexual character in this fantasy novel setting—it was beyond shocking and completely unexpected. The saying ‘All villainesses are crazy’ seemed to be true.

If Mardian did something like that again, I wouldn’t have any way to stop her. Right now, I needed someone who could control her. And fortunately, that person was right in front of me.

“Is it not possible, Lady Viviana? I want to get closer to you.”

“Lady Blanc, I believe I’ve asked you not to pretend.”

Perhaps because she knew my false nature, the leisurely smile on Viviana’s face didn’t easily disappear.

What would I have done if we had been childhood friends?

I would have certainly tried to establish a rapport.

Then that’s what I should do too.

“I hope you won’t lie in front of me. Despite how I look, I can be quite scary when I’m angry.”

Viviana placed her hand on my cheek with a cold smile. Her palm was colder than I expected, causing my body to tremble involuntarily.

I gently placed my hand over hers on my cheek. Despite the calluses, Viviana’s hand was endlessly soft. As I continued to play with her hand, intertwining my fingers with hers and holding them tightly, Viviana raised one eyebrow.

“Lady, what are you doing now…?”

“Your fingers are so thin and long. You must be really good at playing the piano!”

“…What?”

I didn’t miss the slight tremor in Viviana’s eyes. My words seemed to have deeply affected her. I looked straight into her violet eyes, without wavering.

“Young Lady, do I look like someone who has time to play the piano?”

“…..”

“Aren’t you? I thought you’d look very graceful playing the piano. I think you’d be incredibly beautiful with music playing.”

“…”

“Do you really not play? I love the piano…”

With an unwavering, intense gaze, I looked up at Viviana. Under my stare, Viviana seemed slightly uncomfortable and turned her eyes away, mumbling softly.

“…A little, when I have time.”

“Really? I’d love to hear it! I really love the sound of the piano, but there hasn’t been anyone around to play, so I haven’t heard it in a while.”

“….”

“Would that be okay?”

I looked up at Viviana with slightly drooping eyes. In her deep, unmoving purple eyes, various emotions seemed to be stirring.

“I see. So, this is how you deceive others.”

Viviana stepped back with a distorted smile on her lips. As expected of the protagonist, she didn’t easily open her heart like others.

“I’m not deceiving anyone.”

As she retreated, I stepped closer to her. While she paused for a moment at my continuous approach, I grabbed one of her hands and pulled her toward me.

Looking up at Viviana with a false truth in my eyes, I spoke to her in a steady voice.

“I want to hear your music, Viviana.”

It wasn’t a lie. I truly wanted to hear her music to get closer to her. Perhaps she felt my sincerity, as she avoided my gaze again and murmured softly.

“…I don’t play often, so I’m not that good. I don’t want you to be disappointed-“

“No!”

Why couldn’t the person known as the god of war make eye contact? I persistently followed Viviana’s gaze until I finally met her eyes.

“Even if you just tap the keys, you’ll shine, Viviana. I can guarantee it.”

“What do you know?”

“Well, you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. You might even steal my heart just by sitting at the piano.”

With a look of disbelief, Viviana hesitated for a long time before turning away with an irritated expression.

“It’s getting late. Let’s continue this conversation another time.”

“Oh… okay, I understand.”

“…Sigh.”

At the sound of my slightly subdued voice, Viviana threw her head back and spoke briefly.

“I’ll play for you, so don’t be disappointed.”

With those words, Viviana left.

Left alone in the garden suddenly, I watched as Viviana disappeared from sight, covering my twitching lips with my hand.

Hehe-