A Commoner and the Ice Queen is a romantic tale as old as time, but I’m in Love with the Villainess adds an otome and yuri twist. While surrounded by potential partners, can Rae steal the tsundere Claire's heart?
I'm in Love With the Villainess carries on a growing tradition of female-led otome isekai anime, following on from quiet successes like My Next Life as a Villainess and I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss.
The series is adapted from the popular light novel series of the same name, initially published as a web novel on the notorious Shousetsuka ni Narou.
Note: This article contains major spoilers for I'm in Love with the Villainess, including information from the light novels.
Does Rae Love Claire?
While it can sometimes seem over the top, the feelings Rae has for Claire are 100% genuine; she is completely smitten.
If it's possible, you could say that Rae loves Claire too much. She will often go completely out of her way to make Claire happy, missing the classic tsundere hints that Claire actually just wants to spend time with her.
There are times when Rae isn't completely honest with her feelings, mainly connected to her worries about whether Claire would ever be attracted to another woman (Rae herself is comfortably out). However, these moments are quite rare.
How Does Claire Feel About Rae?
As you might expect, Claire is the character that goes through the biggest transformation in I’m in Love with the Villainess.
At the beginning, Claire is the classic tsundere; a noblewoman who looks down upon people like Rae. She is also in love with Thane Bauer, one of the game's love interests and second in line to the crown.
Her cold exterior is born from her noble upbringing, and when that is challenged – as the villainess in a game called Revolution, the world is designed for her to lose – she begins to open up to Rae, one of the only people to stay by her side.
Eventually, Claire begins to develop romantic feelings towards Rae. Although, ever the Ice Queen, the road to being honest about those feelings – particularly to another woman – is a long one.
Do Claire and Rae End Up Together?
The good news for all feel-good yuri anime fans is that Rae and Claire very much end up together. In fact, in the light novels, they end up getting married!
While Rae manages to stop the otome game's worst ending (in which Claire dies), she cannot stop the revolution which reduces Claire to becoming a commoner.
Being a commoner with the one you love isn't so bad, though! Claire and Rae end up both working as teachers and even adopt two daughters together, May and Aleah, forming a loving young family.
If you're looking for more sweetness, check out our favourite yuri anime with a happy ending, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest anime news!