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 16.2

One day during lunch, the three of us were enjoying our usual meal in the courtyard when an unexpected visitor appeared before us.

It was His Highness, Third Prince Tarmine.

Unlike His Highness, First Prince Allen, or His Highness, Second Prince Vayne, whom I had only learned about later from Lady Lilia, Tarmine did not attend the academy. Instead of a school uniform, he wore regal attire that exuded an intimidating presence befitting royalty.

His aquamarine eyes and hair, combined with his wavy, seaweed-like locks, gave him an eerie appearance.

At first, I assumed he had come to see Lady Lilia, but to my surprise, he requested to speak with me alone.

I couldn’t exactly refuse a prince’s request, so I followed him to a more secluded area before our conversation began.

“What is your request, Your Highness?”

“Oh, it’s nothing too complicated.”

His aquamarine eyes were dull, unfocused, as if gazing into a distant void.

Something about him put me on edge.

So, I steeled myself.

“I want you to marry me.”

What?!

Had I misheard him?

No—his tone was too casual, as if he were discussing trivial gossip, but his words were far from trivial.

“U-Um… Did I mishear you? You just said you wanted me to be your wife?”

“That’s right. And I’m not joking—this is a serious marriage proposal.”

I stared at him, waiting for the punchline.

Instead, he sighed and waved his hand dismissively.

“Ah, no, no—I should clarify.

I don’t want you as a wife in the traditional sense. I have no intention of having children with you.

What I need is your power.

Your light-attribute magic, to be exact.”

My magic?

Why?

Why was he—someone I had never interacted with before—suddenly asking for my light magic?

“I understand that you seek my magic. However, I fail to see why that necessitates marriage.”

“There are… certain reasons I can’t explain, but your assistance would require us to be legally wed. This isn’t a romantic proposal—it’s a transaction.”

“I… still don’t understand.”

A marriage of convenience?

For my magic?

I instinctively considered escaping from the conversation.

But before I could, his next words shook me to my core.

“You’re in love with Lilia, aren’t you?”

“—Wha…?!”

Shock flooded through me.

I almost blurted out a denial, but the words caught in my throat.

Instead, I stiffened.

That was enough for him.

Tarmine smirked.

“Many students here are willing to trade information in exchange for favors from royalty. Some of them have a keen eye for romance, you see.”

He shrugged, as if discussing mere gossip.

But my entire body felt exposed.

“If you accept my marriage proposal, you will gain status as a royal consort.

That means money, power… and, most importantly, the opportunity to remain in Lilia’s life after graduation.

Right now, you’re just a commoner. Once you leave this academy, you’ll be nothing more than a past acquaintance to her. But as my wife, you could still have a place in her world.

You could even help her when she’s in trouble.

Tell me—how does that sound?”

I swallowed hard.

“To help… Lady Lilia?”

I wasn’t stupid.

I knew this was manipulation.

But…

Wasn’t he right?

“As I said before, I have no intention of touching you. No wedding, no intimacy, not even a kiss. Your body will remain untainted, if that’s your concern. However, you will have to leave the academy and live in my estate as my wife.”

“Leave the academy?!”

My voice rose in protest.

I couldn’t do that.

I couldn’t leave Lady Lilia.

Our two and a half years left together—our life here—how could I just throw that away?

“Just think about it,” he continued smoothly.

“You have two choices.

You can remain a mere commoner and enjoy your remaining time with Lilia before fading from her life forever.

Or, you can accept my marriage proposal and secure a permanent place in her world.”

“I’ll give you two weeks to decide.”

With that, he pulled something from his pocket—a deep aquamarine-colored letter.

“This is a magic parchment.

Write your name on it, and a carriage will be sent to retrieve you from the academy’s back entrance.

Once you’re in my estate, I will handle the necessary procedures for your withdrawal from the academy.”

Tarmine held the letter out to me.

I hesitated.

But in the end, I reached out and took it.

And in that moment—

Something touched the back of my hand.

A strange, cold sensation—like metal against my skin.

Suddenly, my vision twisted.

The world warped unnaturally—

For a second, everything was wrong—

Then, just as quickly, it snapped back into place.

“What…?”

I blinked, my mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

Tarmine’s expression didn’t change.

“Something wrong?”

“I… I thought I saw…”

No.

Whatever that was… it was gone now.

Was it just my imagination?

“Anyway,” he said, brushing off my confusion, “I’ll take my leave now. I look forward to your answer.”

And with that, he turned and walked away.

I just stood there.

I glanced down at the letter in my hand.

It represented a crossroads.

A life-changing decision.

I wasn’t ready to choose.

I tucked the letter into my pocket and, still lost in thought, returned to Lady Lilia.

“It’s over?”

“Yes…”

“I won’t pry into what he wanted. Since he asked to speak with you alone, I’ll respect that.”

Her understanding was a relief.

Even if she had asked… I couldn’t have told her.

After all, how could I admit that I was being forced to choose—

Between staying by her side for a little longer…

Or remaining in her world forever?

“Um… I know this is sudden, but… what do you think will happen to us after we leave the academy?”

“Our worlds are different. We won’t see each other again.”

“…I see.”

The answer was exactly what I had expected.

And yet, hearing it aloud—

It hurt.

It felt suffocating.

I reached into my pocket, fingertips grazing the letter’s smooth surface.

I still didn’t know what to do.