Smugly Superior

Maribelle is the daughter of the Duke of Themis and the embodiment of upper-class femininity. As a member of an affluent family, Maribelle was raised with an appreciation of fine arts and was encouraged to stay abreast of noble pursuits. She never developed any real social skills, however, so she is generally disliked by both her well-to-do peers and those of the lower social classes. Maribelle is known for her sharp tongue and makes no effort to hide her prejudice when dealing with her lower class allies. She’ll often refer to commoners as troglodytes, plebeians, lowborns, and unwashed masses without even realizing that how insulting she’s being. Maribelle is cold to strangers and carries herself with an air of superiority, but she’s loyal to her friends and eventually becomes more sensitive to the emotions of others.

Bianca De Sainte-Coquille grew up in an extremely wealthy family with no siblings or close friends. She’s selfish and spoiled, and her indifference to her surroundings makes it difficult to woo her. Bianca lives in the largest house in town and is in a position where she gets anything she wants. It’s all but impossible to impress her with gifts, and she is altogether bored with almost anything you bring her. Bianca can be rude and insensitive at times, but she’s not nearly as stuck up as she seems. She’s unfazed by diamonds and sapphires, but you can win her heart simply by talking to her every day. All she asks for is friendship and conversation. She’s still pretty needy, however, and threatens to move if you don’t entertain her. Bianca is a kind girl once she warms up to you, but it’s a lot easier just to romance her maid instead.

Ai Ebihara is a materialistic girl and a stereotypical primadonna who looks down on her admirers and belittles anyone who doesn’t live up to her standards. She’s superficial, selfish, and starved for attention, and she breaks out in histrionics when things don’t go her way. Although Ai is quick to insult others, she has a deep-seated fear of rejection herself and would sooner jump off a roof than deal with unrequited love. Ai has a flare for the dramatic, but her self-absorbed behavior is really just an elaborate defense mechanism. Before her father made it big in real estate, Ai was mocked for being poor and overweight. Taking advantage of her family’s newfound wealth, she made a concerted effort to change her image so that she wouldn’t be mocked anymore. She doesn’t always act like it, but Ai is actually a sweet girl deep down.

Jessica Albert was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, so she has an exaggerated sense of entitlement and will generally act like a bitch when things don’t go her way. Although she was raised by her mother to be prim and proper in public, Jessica has no time for social niceties. She’s the type of girl that wants to be in control at all times, and she’s a textbook example of a “fiery redhead” in many respects. Jessica is a powerful sorceress who has mastered a variety of magic spells, but her affinity for whip-based attacks helps punctuate her domineering personality. Some people might be turned off by her short temper, but her appearance makes up for any perceived character flaws as far as I’m concerned. As long as she keeps wearing tight dresses, bikinis, and skimpy dancing outfits, Jessica can be as sassy as she wants to be.

In the original version of Dragon Quest V, the hero was wrapped up in a love triangle involving a cute tomboy named Bianca and a demure heiress named Nera. The Nintendo DS remake complicated things further with the introduction of Nera’s older sister, Debora. Debora is much more materialistic than her sister and has a penchant for makeup and expensive clothing. She was given everything she wanted as a child, and built a reputation for being bossy and impatient. Debora thinks the world should revolve around her, so she interjects herself whenever her father brings suitors for Nera. When Debora learns that the hero is contemplating a future with her sister, she develops a sudden interest in him and insists that he marry her instead. Debora treats the hero like a common servant, but she’s arrogant enough to think she’s entitled to his hand in marriage.

As the daughter of a wealthy oil magnate, Emilie “Lili” De Rochefort enjoys a life of luxury. She resides in a suburban mansion with her own personal butler, and she has no qualms in talking down to others. Lili tries to carry herself with elegance, but she fell in love with fighting when she was forced to fend off kidnappers. The fact that her father is a pacifist doesn’t stop her from using his private jet to participate in street fighting tournaments around the world. Lili is confident in her abilities and uses a self-taught style that draws from her background in gymnastics and ballet. It’s kind of absurd to see her dancing around her opponents, but Lili strives for grace and poise with every movement. Although she often places herself in dangerous situations, Lili seldom sees the risks because she views others as toys to play with.

Rozalin is the daughter of the Overlord Zenon – who is apparently the most powerful demon in the world. She spent most of her life sequestered in a mansion surrounded by servants, and she was basically given everything she asked for. The Disgaea series is not short on arrogant characters, but none are more detached from society than Rozalin. Her sheltered upbringing left her woefully unprepared to enter the outside world. She never learned to fight, she thinks everyone she meets is her slave, and she doesn’t even know where her mansion is located. Although Rozalin is quick to invoke her father’s name, she has no idea where Overlord Zenon is and doesn’t even know what he looks like! After she gains more experience in the real world, Rozalin stops treating everyone like a servant and comes to respect her allies.

As an heiress to the Kanzaki family fortune and a performer with the Imperial Acting Troupe, Sumire Kanzaki is conceited enough to describe herself as the “top lady of Japanese high society.” She obviously has an inflated ego, and she expects others to cater to her every whim. In one instance, she demands that someone picks up a utensil that she dropped because she feels that such a task is beneath her. Her arrogant attitude is largely the result of her spoiled upbringing – which is a common theme on this list. Sumire was lonely as a child since her father and grandfather were always too busy working. This environment left Sumire with emotional scars and her social skills are not as developed as they could be. It’s hard to look past her selfish facade, but Sumire is affectionate, insightful, and passionate about life.

To suggest that Karin Kanzuki comes from money is an understatement. Her family’s private estate is larger than some countries, and Karin is an heiress to one of the world’s largest business empires. She typically refers to other people as “commoners,” and her conversations are rife with classist undertones. Her arrogant laughter and haughty mannerisms further reflect the disdain she has for middle-class ideals. Karin’s elitist attitudes are obviously informed by her upbringing. Her father was a strict man who always wanted a son, so extra pressure was placed on Karin to become a better heir. To her credit, Karin has an incredible work ethic and even developed her own style of martial arts in order to compete with the best fighters in the world. Although she was born into wealth, she understands the value of hard work.

As the head of an ancient vampire clan, Rachel Alucard wields tremendous power and looks down on anyone she thinks is beneath her. She tries to paint herself as a dignified aristocrat, but she speaks in a condescending tone and is anything but graceful. Although she has high standards for anyone who wishes to converse with her, Rachel usually reciprocates with arrogance, apathy, or sarcasm. Despite her elegant appearance, Rachel is one of the most powerful individuals in BlazBlue and is generally unmoved by her opponents attacks. Her overwhelming power only ads to her boredom, however, so she usually holds back in battle or simply lets her familiars do the fighting for her. Despite her tendency to abuse her friends, Rachel is legitimately trying to improve the world and urges others to do so as well.