Reiko’s Manners – She’s Referred To As A Villainess, But Actually She’s Just Penniless

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I am Kujouin Reiko, a poor lady living without my parents. My Grandmother, who died 2 months ago was a self-indulgent Ojou-sama, who actually has no ability to look after herself. My Father left the infant me after having led the Kujouin family to ruin, and is still missing. It was my Grandmother’s maid, Fuki-san, who brought me up. Thanks to Fuki-san, I was able to acquire the ability to look after myself. Meanwhile, my Grandmother, whose pride was tall enough to tower over Mt. Everest, instilled in me disciplines that the daughter of the Kujouin family ought to have. She sat up a piano in our modest rented house and gave me strict guidance. She did the same for dance, manners, and language too. My Grandmother had been studying piano in Europe for a long time.

I decided to enroll in the high school of the prestigious Meisei Private Academy, which has a special scholarship system, but was tackled from behind on the day of the entrance ceremony, and was tackled by Sakurada Yuria, who called me, “Villainess young lady” apparently believes that this world is that of an Otome Game. She makes sure I stay away from her childhood friends (whom she called, ‘capture targets’), and makes great effort to stick the heroine, Yuuki Miu, and the capture target, Takanashi Ryou, together.

I don’t have the time to be bothered about that though, because of the state of poverty I am in. Meanwhile, it turns out that the house where our maid, Fuki-san, finds retirement is the house of the very same Takanashi Ryou, the capture target. Fuki-san was apparently the great-grandmother of Takanashi Ryou. He accuses me of pushing Fuki-san around but I just want to see her again. At such a time, I lose my home to a landslide. Do your best, dear Me! Don’t give up, dear Me!

Associated Names
One entry per line
Reiko's Style: Despite Being Mistaken for a Rich Villainess, She's Actually Just Penniless
丽子的教养被称为反派大小姐其实是个贫穷少女
麗子の風儀~悪役令嬢と呼ばれましたが、ただの貧乏娘です~
麗子的教養 被稱為反派大小姐其實是個貧窮少女
麗子的教養 雖然被說成了惡役千金 不過是個窮女孩而已
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Kenkyo, Kenjitsu o Motto ni Ikite Orimasu (6)
Omae Mitai na Hiroin ga Ite Tamaruka! (1)
I’m Spying on the Heroine in an Otome Game World (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Female mc third part
  2. Shouldn't I finish the other 100s?
  3. Dark haired FL, pt 2
  4. Misunderstandings/Self-Sacrificing MC
  5. Burnt out -_-

Latest Release

Date Group Release
03/27/23 Fans Translations c57
03/14/23 Fans Translations c56
03/06/23 Fans Translations c55
03/01/23 Fans Translations c54
02/20/23 Fans Translations c53
02/13/23 Fans Translations c52
02/05/23 Fans Translations c51
01/23/23 Fans Translations c50
01/16/23 Fans Translations c49
11/20/22 Fans Translations c48
11/16/22 Fans Translations c47
11/13/22 Fans Translations c46
11/09/22 Fans Translations c45
11/06/22 Fans Translations c44
11/02/22 Fans Translations c43
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13 Reviews sorted by


insanemaelstrom
New insanemaelstrom rated it
April 10, 2024
Status: c61
Avoid. The starting tone is quickly lost, the summary about the delusional girl is more akin to a small side story. The author loves going off track and the characters, especially the MC, quickly start feeling one dimensional. Besides absurd scenarios, the author just wants to add tragedy for the sake of it, none of the tragedy is well throughout. Feels akin to the author trying to throw a pity party for the MC, look how pitiful she is. Would've worked if the actions and thoughts of those causing all... more>> the tragedy wasn't s*upid to the point of ret*rdation. Can see why this was dropped by the translators <<less
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kawaii12345
kawaii12345 rated it
April 13, 2020
Status: c138
In many ways this one is an absolute five star story. However, there are some significant flaws that cost it that last star but it's certainly worth the read and definitely in the top 10% of what you see on Novell Updates.

The premise of the story is really great. What if the person that thinks they reincarnated into an otome game is just completely delusional and decides to start harassing not just a nice girl but someone who's life is a complete shambles as the villainess, The story really... more>> is at its best while it sticks to this theme, unfortunately it's a rather minor plot element.

Where the story shines is with the characters, who while neither realistic or particularly relatable are all rather fun. The main character is especially enjoyable, while she does have a few BAKA BAKA BAKA moments, she is mostly on point and believable. It's nice to see her growth over the course of the story.

Pacing and plot are both strong and weak points. While not nearly as bad as many Japanese web novels, this one does take a giant shot of doing nothing much from chapter 50 to 90 (you do have to read 70-75). It's not nearly as bad as the contrived cliffhangers you usually see. When the plot is moving it's moving very well.

The other problem is that about the time story wanders off it shifts from a tale of someone overcoming obstacles to a rather soap opera tone. Think of DALLAS the remake not the original. It's something that some will enjoy and others won't.

TL:DR give it a read. The MTLs are very readable so if you want you will have no trouble binging

P.S. There is a manga that can be read here

https://mangadex. Org/title/45491/reiko-s-style-despite-being-mistaken-for-a-rich-villainess-she-s-actually-just-penniless <<less
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Raneday
Raneday rated it
March 23, 2020
Status: c4
Well, it's quite a promising novel to read. Rather than the usual villainess troupe where the MC is reincarnated as the villainess, on this novel we are gonna read the real villainess pov while there's a reincarnated person who's saying that she's a villainess. But the funny thing is our supposed villainess is not a villainess at all but a penniless~
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fellowofhorses
fellowofhorses rated it
May 6, 2021
Status: c14
Good premise, but the prose is bad. Overly expositional in a work where worldbuilding isn't a selling point. We know what a library or a cheap hair saloon is we don't need a paragraph to describe it.

It's also repetitive, every chapter Reiko does something mundane, people simp her, she says it's no big deal, they say it is. This is standard in wish fulfilment novel but it gets boring fast.

The cast is fun, they are the rich boys' archetypes we know and like in Shoujo, nothing particularly outstanding except the... more>> female BFF. Reiko herself doesn't have much personality and is fairly reactive BUT this is well explained in the story. The antagonist doesn't do much really. The cast is not realist and I don't blame the antagonist for believing this is an Otome Game World.

Anyway, still gets one star because the translations are good and there's nothing offensive about it. Well, there's a good amount of classicism but it goes with the rich kids high school genre <<less
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Whimssica
Whimssica rated it
March 30, 2021
Status: c15
GEM!!! I found a GEM!! I actually found it last year (2020) (recommended along with Kenkyo Kenjitsu--Which was discontinued.. Just for the time being hopefully.. But it has been 3yrs or so, so who knows) but thought it was dropped or discontinued. Lo and behold, it GOT MORE TRANSLATIONS AND I FEEL LIKE WE WILL BE GETTING MORE CHAPTERS. HALLELUJAH🙏🙏🙏KAMPAI!!!🎉🎉🎉

------------------

This is pretty much like Kenkyo with a few different tweaks:

... more>> ~The 'reincarnator' might just be a denpa 🙄 who needs treatment

~The 'villainess' is a penniless noble with no self-awareness but definite savage high specs🔥🔥🔥

~The 'stalking horse' is the tsun-tsun villainess bestie who might turn this series in a yuri genre 😉 just kidding. Total bestie vibes

~The 'cool guy' is a total softie.. Only to his twin and Rei-chan of course 😘

So far, that's all the chara given focus. The others where still in passing still.

Thank you author and translators!! I freaking fell in love with Rei. Here's to hoping to more chapters 😍😍😍 <<less
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rcpsycho
rcpsycho rated it
July 15, 2021
Status: c6
It seemed like a novel with potential, but sadly the second translator tried to translate Japanese honorifics to awkward addresses like "Lord"/"Lady" and "Mr."/"Ms." among peers. I recognise that this respectful tone in Japanese is quite formal beyond what regular high school students would use, but it just doesn't feel realistic in any way when it's in English.

Now maybe some people have gone to actual high-end private schools and would correct me on this, but for me who isn't used to that even in any other media featuring Western society,... more>> this isn't readable.

One shouldn't base the rating or review on the translation, and so I am only mentioning this flawed translation because it is the only reason I am dropping this novel. Up to that point it had been quite entertaining. <<less
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Maxiarg
Maxiarg
February 21, 2022
Status: c28
Man what a novel. To start with it unashamedly shows how the upper class people just don't like the students that are "lowborn", the only reason she is so accepted by most people is because she oozes "I am from a noble family" vibe with every move she does. Being real from what they show if she didn't have her last name and the manners drilled into her bones by her grandmother then she would not have been well received by the rich kids and that's something they imply with... more>> a lot of the interactions. This leads to another thing, the world is not shown through pink tinted glasses and one big example of that is Fuki, she is clearly shown as she was with faults and strengths like a person, she had some outdated thinking, an unhealthy devotion for Reiko's grandmother but still she was not an outright terrible person.

Now it does have some "people just love her" feel but its not completely unreasonable, people there really care about lineage and she is seen almost as if she was royalty so there is a good will from that front and she just doesn't bother other people around her so the ones that don't like her are mostly the "lowborn" students because they are just jealous she has an unfair advantage even though they should be the same and well she does.

Now something that's kinda spoilers but not major, she is an amazing pianist, she has been taught by a prodigy, being one herself, since she was born and she practices for hours every day she can so its not unreasonable she has the skills she has and when she starts working as one it makes sense, I mean she is passionate about music and its shown when she starts to listen to more modern music and starting to want to lean more towards that. What's more if the author had made it a focus on her being a musician then it would have been great. Imagine you get pulled in because you think its another reincarnation villain story and then it hits you with a Whiplash (movie) wouldn't that be awesome? But I only read to the point its translated so I can't say a lot more about it just that to the point I have read its promising. <<less
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Lokilaki
Lokilaki rated it
October 30, 2021
Status: c28
Love Reiko-san!!! I was fangirling over manga and was pleasantly surprised to find novel♥️ That masterpiece for more mature mind although it's written for teens. Those who come to relax with girl with MC halo getting love and money on the left and on the right, it will be not your cup of tea. Although written lightly, it more on psychology side. I do not agree with such statements as Reiko being dense or without self awareness. Will person who never ever before was praised for her skills, understand value... more>> of such skills? She will only remember how painful bamboo ruler and how harsh are words. Will person who never ever before had familial and friendship affection, and question her own right to live, be ready right away for love? Naturally not. It slow journey for young girl to learn to appreciate herself, to love herself. There's would be true friendship. And only secondly there would be success and love. When she will be ready for them.

It was pity that novel translation was dropped on point where she met her biggest psychology shadow while she only started appreciate a little her skills and realised her love to piano, and than boom, we were left in the dark. Can only hope for some nice soul to recognise value of this story and pick it up.

Thank you translator-nim for picking up Reiko-chan's story!

I rarely enjoy Japanese novels and that one of them. Or more like for now it one of the best novel I read overall. <<less
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Raestloz
Raestloz rated it
July 10, 2022
Status: c28
Strong start but author lost direction

The core thing about otome game style story is the progression. Author tried to do some worldbuilding which is nice but after a couple chapters it stopped from being "someone who didn't know they're in an otome game" to "yet another slice of life". There are plenty of mundane descriptions such as what ingredients the heroine is using for her cooking, and what type of wood is used for a chair. At some point even the basic premise stopped mattering and it devolves into a... more>> generic shoujo harem slice of life

Ironically, despite having the premise of "I'm supposed to be the villainess but I'm just a nobody", the heroine evolves into the "heroine", complete with having an villainess who despises her for no reason and a lot of allies who do good things for her out of their kindness.

Also, the second translation is quite unnatural by attempting to translate various nobility suffixes to English. It's extremely difficult to read without subconsciously removing "Lord" and "Lady" because it comes off as ultra cringe <<less
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Hikami2005
Hikami2005 rated it
April 12, 2020
Status: c6
The MC sometimes forgets her surrounding and has her own little world. I enjoy her thoughts and her interactions with the other ojou-sama
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Omnihilite
Omnihilite rated it
January 8, 2024
Status: c57
Sasly the transation is a on and of but if you can arrange yoursel with it you get a really great story about a airheaded a bit out of touch protagonist trying to orient through her life by using common and not so common sense
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EW0601 rated it
December 26, 2023
Status: c43
My first time giving a review and I cannot change the rating, after pressing the wrong button/star, even before pressing the post button. Wow, this is bad.. NovelUpdates admin, please fix this.. It's so easy to press the wrong buttons when using a phone/tablet. I want to give 3 stars, not 4.

As for the story, I am giving up after reading about the landslide and private helicopter. The plot is going haywire, and the author seem to throw in random events/things that dont even fit.. Is there a hill behind... more>> the house? Otherwise how can a landslide even occur. And is it so easy to own and operate/park a helicopter in a small village. Really unbelievable!

The female MC is really spineless and has no pride/backbone, even after saying that she wants to stand on her feet and doesnt want people to pity her. Backing out of challenges by being nice to her opponents each time.. Is such a letdown. Saying she's poor so often is becoming grating and infuriating. Being a maiden to be rescued each time by different capture targets.. Is making this story predictable and boring. There is no excitement in the story, even if things are being slowly revealed.

Like other reviewers have said, it started strongly and then lost its plot after a while. The MC doesnt grow much in terms of character, and being nice/passive each time doesnt work.. In bringing realism and excitement to the story. <<less
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taerkitty
taerkitty rated it
June 12, 2023
Status: c57
This is a difficult story to review. It has many flaws, but the unflagging optimism that shines so brightly from the protagonist is compelling...

... and yet is potentially one of its worst faults. Until the very last few extant chapters, Reiko is mistreated but finds the grace in her heart to forgive the offender, is accused but creates some justification for the speaker to wrong her, is abused and still gives the abuser another chance, etc., etc., etc., world seemingly without end.

The first translator out-and-out says, "I'm noping out of... more>> this because she's so weak."

Other flaws are the bait-and-switch nature of the story relative to the title. Yes, she's viewed as a villainess. Yes, she's dead-ass broke. And yes, her manners do factor strongly into some plot turns.

However, the amount of text in the story about her directly dealing with being thought of as the villainess is disappointingly scant. While all the key relationships in the story are initiated by the antagonist accosting her almost at the very start of the story, we don't get much direct interaction between Reiko and Yuria.

In a way, that's a good thing. Yuria is just so broken, so off-putting, so chunni that she's best in small doses. Is that how she's supposed to be, or is that the fault of bad character development? Unknown, and unknowable. The fact remains, we get very little of the "accused to be the villainess."

As for penniless, it's indeed her financial situation, but it hardly affects her. Between her "the sun'll come out... tomorrow" optimism buffering her from self-pity, the stipend the school gives her, her two insanely-rich BFFs that she almost immediately meets, and said BFF's grandparents' whole generation who venerate Reiko's ancestors and will gladly throw money at her, her being penniless hardly matters.

The tone whiplashes the reader from school hijinks with otome-isekai deconstruction to shojuo lifestyles of the rich and famouse wish-fulfillment, over to seemingly unending soap-opera heaps of betrayals, lies, hidden agendas, and even tosses in a US Navy SEAL for a slight paramilitary vibe.

In spite of this, I still give it five stars because of Reiko's aforementioned optimism. Precisely because it's unrealistic makes it such an inspiration. So many of the comments are begging author-san (who wrapped up this tale in 2019 and is doubtful to even be aware of the translations) to ease up on the protagonist. She may be one-note, one-dimensional, but I found it compelling.

Until the mid-century chapters, at which point everything unfolds, unravels, and she realizes how much of her life was lie after lie after lie. At this point, I'm desperate to find out what's next, so I'm off to suffer the pains of MTLing the raws at ncode. syosetu. com/n9183fj/ <<less
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