Flag-Breaking Villainess: The Story of How Breaking the Romance Flags of the Otome Game's Protagonist Ended Up Creating New Flags Between the Reincarnated Villainess and the Heroine - Chapter 12.1

On a night when the rain hammered against the window, I sat reading in my room. Outside, a storm raged, with occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the darkness, followed by thunder that shook the entire room.

My heart raced, and the book in my hands trembled slightly. I tried to remain calm, reminding myself that thunder was harmless when I was inside. But my thoughts were quickly consumed by fear.

The warmth in my body seemed to vanish from deep within me. It wasn’t because of the thin, light blue nightgown I wore, but rather a coldness that spread through my mind and soul.

The sharp crack of thunder brought back a memory.

It was the memory of my final moments in my past life.

I had been a university student, attending an art school, standing on a mountain path, painting on a canvas. It was a quiet, scenic spot, a little off the usual hiking trail, a place few people visited. I had brought the canvas from the car, setting it up to capture the view.

Alone with the landscape, I began to paint, letting the brush glide across the canvas. I painted the sky with a diluted blue, outlined the fluffy white clouds with soft strokes, and mixed paints to give the distant mountains a sense of weight and strength.

Just as the painting was nearing completion, the weather changed. A sudden downpour began, as mountain weather often does, quickly turning into a torrential rainstorm. I didn’t have a raincoat to protect myself, but I did have a waterproof sheet. I covered the canvas with it and hurriedly ran to protect it. As I rushed through the storm, my foot slipped in the muddy earth.

The moment I fell, the canvas slipped from my hands and was thrown forward. I heard it hit the ground with a sickening thud, the sheet flying off and exposing the canvas. I tried to get up quickly, but the pain from the fall was too much, and I couldn’t gather enough strength to rise. Crawling on the ground, I reached for the canvas, but it was just out of reach.

The heavy rain mercilessly pelted the canvas, and I watched helplessly as the colors I had carefully applied began to wash away, blending into a muddy mess. My chest tightened as I saw the hours of work dissolve before my eyes.

The sight of the paint being washed away seemed to reject my creation. No, it felt as though it was rejecting me.

I lowered my outstretched hand.

It was cold. The rain sapped the warmth from my body. The raindrops that touched my face felt like ice, and my hands, now cold and covered in mud and rainwater, lost all sensation.

The thunder was deafening. With each crack, the light blinded me, and my body shook as though the thunder was coming for me.

The sound of the crash and the blinding light.

Everything faded. I was lost.

In my past life, whether it was a direct strike or simply being near the impact, I couldn’t say for sure. But I knew one thing for certain: I died from the lightning.

The reason that thunder terrified me so much was because of that final memory. Even though I tried to calm myself by thinking rationally, each thunderclap made my body tremble, and my heart was overwhelmed by fear.

Unable to fight the fear any longer, I stumbled toward Liel, who was studying in the room, calling her name.

“L-Liel…”

“Lady Lilia, what’s wrong?”

Liel’s gentle voice provided a bit of reassurance, but as the next thunderclap echoed, my brief sense of comfort was instantly shattered.

“I’m scared of the thunder… Please, stay with me…”

My voice trembled, and tears welled in my eyes. Upon hearing my plea, Liel immediately stopped her studies and gently took my hand in hers, leading me toward the bed.

“Lady Lilia, it’s alright. I’m here.”

Her words were a source of comfort, easing my troubled mind.

The warmth of Liel’s hand helped calm my racing heart. She guided me to the bed, and then, ever so gently, she embraced me. Her nightgown, a pink version of mine, was thin, and I could feel her body warmth through it. I wrapped my arms around her, seeking solace, and slowly felt my trembling body begin to calm.

Another thunderclap rang out. My body stiffened in fear, but being in Liel’s warm embrace, I could feel the fear and the coldness melting away from deep within me. Liel’s hand gently stroked my hair, and with it came a sense of calm that spread throughout me.

“Liel… thank you…”

I buried my face in her chest, whispering my thanks. I couldn’t hold back the tears, but they were not the same tears of fear I had been about to shed earlier.

Liel said nothing, simply holding me tightly, her warmth and kindness gradually pushing the fear of the thunder further away.

I could hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. Its comforting beat softened the jagged edges of my fear, and the soothing sound of life helped heal my troubled heart. Slowly, I was freed from the grip of terror, and my heart regained its peace.

The thunder no longer reached my ears.