@Bennett27 I am glad I am not the only one who feels this way. I think I used the wrong words when I criticized the ratings and that took away from real and interesting things to talk about.
Generally speaking, I find that series with a lot of characters tend to sag because they have to put some time into those characters and that takes away from the main characters. WIth a few characters, you can focus on those characters and avoid slowing the pace down. They have side characters but they don't spend too much time on them.
Here are recommendations I have that is in the same genre like this (female main characters with romance elements set in Europeanish). All of them are on mangadex:
Is It Fortune or Is It Woe? - This is really good. There is a lot of small interactions that I find add up to a lot. The relationship between FL and ML is very wholesome and great.
The Lady and the Beast - MC is wildly OP but not shallow. She solves all of her problems but there is thought put into her background. The writing is good enough where she actually says smart things and feels like a real villainess. It's a reincarnation story but reincarnation actually plays a major role in the story as opposed to being forgotten in many series.
The Villainess Lives Twice - MC is weak but tactical. I think this probably the smartest MC in a villainess series I read. Sometimes the grand strategy is hard to follow but it's very fun to read.
I'm a Villainous Daughter, so I'm going to keep the Last Boss - pretty short but pretty fun. MC is entertaining and fun to read. Can't sag if there aren't that many chapters in the first place.
A Stepmother's Märchen - This is my favorite series. The premise is bizarre but the consequences is thoroughly thought-out and explored. Things that seem like plot holes is actually explored later on and that's just good writing. MC is kind and thoughtful. Not really a villainess series but it's a good read.