Penelope Eckhart

Series: Villains Are Destined to Die
(Korean title: 악역의 엔딩은 죽음뿐)

Basic Identity

• Full Name: Penelope Eckhart

• Korean Name (in original novel/manhwa setting): 페넬로페 에카르트

• Gender: Female

• Status: Adopted daughter of the Eckhart ducal family

Penelope Eckhart

Penelope Eckhart is the main protagonist of the Korean web novel and manhwa Villains Are Destined to Die, although inside the story’s game setting she is originally written as the “villainess.” She is the adopted daughter of the powerful Eckhart ducal family, a noble household with high status and influence in the empire. Before being possessed by the modern-day girl, Penelope was treated coldly and often harshly within her family, especially by her adoptive father and brothers.

In the original game storyline, Penelope exists in “Hard Mode,” meaning that every route leads to her death no matter what choices are made. The player character transmigrates into Penelope’s body and must survive by carefully increasing the affection levels of male leads, since low favorability can trigger deadly outcomes. Because of this system, Penelope constantly calculates her words and actions to avoid execution, assassination, poisoning, or other fatal endings.

Penelope has long, pale pink hair and striking blue eyes in the manhwa adaptation. Her appearance is described as beautiful and doll-like, which contrasts with the cruelty of her original reputation. She often maintains a composed, calm, and seemingly arrogant noble demeanor, but internally she is cautious, analytical, and emotionally guarded. Her personality develops over time from purely survival-focused and distrustful to more emotionally open, though she struggles deeply with trauma and abandonment issues.

She was adopted after the real Eckhart daughter disappeared. However, even after years in the family, she was never truly accepted as a replacement. Her adoptive father, Duke Eckhart, is stern and emotionally distant. Her two adoptive brothers—Derrick Eckhart and Reynold Eckhart—treat her with varying degrees of hostility and suspicion, especially in the early stages of the story. Much of Penelope’s suffering comes from the family’s belief that she is manipulative or attention-seeking.

Several male leads are central to her survival routes. These include Callisto Regulus, the unpredictable and violent crown prince; Eckles (also spelled Iklies), a slave knight she purchases; Vinter Verdandi, a mysterious magician; and her adoptive brothers, who are also potential routes in the game system. Each character has affection levels displayed through a visible interface that only Penelope can see. Increasing these levels carefully is essential because a wrong move can instantly lead to her death.

Callisto Regulus becomes one of the most important characters in her story. Initially hostile and dangerous, he grows increasingly intrigued by her boldness and refusal to flatter him. Their relationship evolves from mutual distrust to complicated romantic tension. Unlike the other routes, Callisto’s dynamic with Penelope is intense and unpredictable but also emotionally transformative.

Penelope’s relationship with Eckles is especially tragic. She initially treats him as a strategic investment to secure loyalty, buying him out of slavery and attempting to raise his affection level to ensure survival. However, this transactional foundation leads to emotional imbalance and obsession. Eckles becomes possessive and unstable, highlighting one of the darker consequences of treating relationships as game mechanics rather than genuine bonds.

Throughout the series, Penelope struggles with the fact that she is living inside a game world where her life depends o