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 18.2

Three days had passed since Prince Tarmine’s marriage proposal—a transaction disguised as an engagement offer.

Yet, even now, my thoughts remained clouded.

The cruel words from my fellow students clung to my heart like barbed thorns, weighing me down.

Little by little, something inside me was changing.

Even in this state, I was practicing for the upcoming ball under Lady Lilia’s guidance.

We had begun with the basics of footwork, and now, we were dancing together, hand in hand.

But—

I kept catching glimpses of her chest moving with each step.

I was distracted, my gaze unconsciously drawn toward her ample curves, bouncing gracefully in time with our movements.

The urge to give in and bury myself against her like before was overwhelming.

I wanted to be wrapped in her embrace again, held captive in her warmth.

“Don’t look at your feet. It will ruin your posture.”

Her gentle reprimand snapped me back to reality.

I quickly averted my gaze, feeling my cheeks heat up.

No—I needed to focus.

If I stumbled or misstepped, I’d only embarrass Lady Lilia.

This dance wasn’t just a lesson—

It was a promise.

I wanted to dance with her at the ball.

Somehow, between battling my wandering thoughts and maintaining my composure, I managed to master the basic steps.

Lady Lilia nodded approvingly.

“You’re improving quickly. At the ball, let’s show everyone how well you’ve learned.”

It could have been a simple compliment, but those words made my heart flutter.

Her casual encouragement, her kind gaze—

Every small gesture tangled my emotions further.

Back in our room, Ursus helped me into my dress.

It was a flowing gown of bright blue with delicate frilled sleeves.

It was perfect—a dress I would have loved on my own, but knowing Lady Lilia had chosen it for me made it even more special.

Just looking at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t stop smiling.

“I never imagined I’d wear such a beautiful dress,” I murmured in awe.

Lady Lilia, already dressed, turned to me with a soft smile.

“You look adorable, like a true princess.”

Hearing that only made my heart race faster.

And yet—

When I looked at her, dressed in her elegant violet lace gown, I couldn’t help but feel small in comparison.

She was poised, graceful, breathtaking—

An existence so radiant, it was as if the entire world existed solely to frame her beauty.

“And you, Lady Lilia, are breathtaking. You are the very image of perfection—art in its purest form.”

Her violet eyes twinkled with amusement, and we shared a quiet laugh.

Soon, it was time to head to the ballroom.

But just as we stepped out, Lady Lilia looped her arm around mine and said:

“We’re partners, aren’t we?”

A simple statement—

Yet, my entire body tensed at how intimate it felt.

Arm in arm, we walked through the academy halls.

My heart wouldn’t stop pounding, my face threatened to betray my emotions.

I barely managed to suppress a giddy grin—though I may have let it slip once or twice along the way.

The ballroom was dazzling, filled with nobles in extravagant gowns and suits.

Music filled the air, and couples swayed to its rhythm.

Then—

Lady Lilia released my arm and turned to me, extending her hand gracefully.

“Liel, shall we dance?”

My heart skipped a beat.

“Yes!”

I placed my hand in hers, carefully—as if handling something precious.

Her skin was cool, yet her touch was warm.

I never wanted to let go.

But then, I felt it—

The countless eyes of the noble guests watching us.

And their gazes weren’t kind.

Their silent judgment pressed against me, as if reminding me of where I didn’t belong.

My hands trembled.

My body stiffened.

Just as I began to freeze up, Lady Lilia pulled me closer.

The distance between us disappeared, and suddenly—

The only thing I could see was her.

Her deep red eyes held me captive.

And before I even registered what was happening,

We were dancing.

She led me effortlessly, her movements poised and confident.

And I—

I could only stare at her in awe.

Even with her usual grace, tonight, she looked even more radiant than ever.

Her cheeks held a faint blush, her lips curved into a soft smile—

I was utterly entranced.

Before I knew it, the ballroom disappeared.

The whispers, the judgmental gazes, the noble crowd—

None of it mattered anymore.

There was only Lady Lilia.

And the way her hand fit so perfectly in mine.

The dance ended.

My chest felt tight, my body felt light, and my thoughts were a mess.

I needed a moment to breathe—

“I’ll go get us something to drink!”

Before Lady Lilia could respond, I quickly slipped away toward the refreshment table.

I hadn’t even taken a glass when—

A firm hand grabbed my shoulder.

“Where do you think you’re going, commoner?”

I turned—

And stiffened.

Two noble girls stood before me.

One of them—the same girl who had approached Lady Lilia before.

The other—the one who had shoved me against the wall days ago.

Their eyes burned with disdain.

“Still clinging to Lady Lilia?” one sneered.

“Pathetic. A lowly commoner like you should know your place.”

The words hit like a slap.

I opened my mouth to retort, but—

My voice wouldn’t come out.

“No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be one of us.”

“You’ll only ever be a burden to Lady Lilia.”

Their cold stares made my body shrink away.

I wanted to run, to vanish—

But my feet refused to move.

Then, a final blow—

“That dress is hideous.”

“Blue? For a girl? How unfitting.”

I froze.

They weren’t just mocking me—

They were mocking the dress Lady Lilia had chosen for me.

Something inside me cracked.

I didn’t argue.

I didn’t fight.

I turned away and fled.

I returned—empty-handed, my heart heavy.

Lady Lilia noticed immediately.

Yet, she didn’t scold me or question me.

Instead—

She simply took my hand.

And just like that—

I knew I wasn’t alone.

“Come with me.”

Lady Lilia took my hand and led me out onto a quiet balcony.

The lively chatter from the ballroom faded into the background, replaced by the crisp night air brushing against my skin.

“This is much better than that gaudy cage inside.”

Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, the strands swaying gently in the night breeze like a falling star.

I couldn’t look away.

Lady Lilia released my hand and turned to face me.

Her crimson eyes held a quiet kindness, tinged with concern, yet she said nothing.

She was simply waiting for me—allowing me the space to speak.

The unspoken patience in her gaze gave me the courage to voice the question that had been circling in my mind.

“Why… did you choose a blue dress for me?”

Compared to the vibrant gowns worn by the other girls, mine felt modest.

I hadn’t questioned it before, but now, after everything… I couldn’t understand.

“Because it matches your eyes.”

The unexpected answer took my breath away.

“Your eyes are as clear as the open sky—so beautiful that I could look at them forever.
To me, it is the purest, most exquisite color in the world. That’s why I chose this dress.”

Something inside me shattered at those words.

I had been so blind.

Lady Lilia had always seen me.

Not as just another student, not as just a commoner—but as Liel.

She had always looked at me and me alone.

Her smile had always been for me.

“Lady Lilia, I…”

“Yes?”

“I…!”

I wanted to tell her.

I wanted to say it.

But—I couldn’t.

She was kind.

Too kind.

She would never reject me outright—but that would make it even worse.

My love wasn’t something she should be burdened with.

Someone like me, someone so insignificant, had no right to confess.

It would only be selfish.

A desperate, one-sided yearning that had no place in her world.

I knew that.

I understood that.

Yet—

My emotions wouldn’t obey.

The feelings I had locked away spilled over, uncontained—

They became tears, streaming down my face before I could stop them.

And then—

Warmth.

A soft embrace.

Lady Lilia pulled me close, holding me gently, her arms a haven of safety.

I couldn’t speak my love aloud—but in my heart, I screamed it over and over again.

I love you, Lady Lilia.
I want you by my side.

I love you, Lady Lilia.
I want to stay by your side.

I love you, Lady Lilia.
I want you to look at me.

I love you, Lady Lilia.
I want to look at you.

I love you, Lady Lilia.
I want to be loved by you.

I love you, Lady Lilia.
I love you.

I love you so much.

By the time my tears finally ceased, my chest ached with the weight of everything left unsaid.

“Do you want to tell me why you’re crying?”

Her voice was gentle, careful—like she already knew I couldn’t answer.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to shake my head.

“…I can’t.”

“I see.”

The silence stretched between us.

I felt like I was drowning in the depth of her gaze, like she could see right through me.

“I’m sorry… I need to go back to my room. I just… need to be alone for a bit.”

“That’s fine,” she said simply, not pressing further.

“I’ll stay out here for a while longer and enjoy the night air.”

Her acceptance hurt more than anything.

I turned away quickly and fled.

Back in my room, I rushed to my desk and pulled out the magic parchment.

I had promised myself I wouldn’t hesitate.

And yet—

As I stared at it, a voice echoed inside my mind.

“This is the right choice.”

A sharp throb in my skull.

“There is no other way.”

My stomach churned.

“This is what you must do.”

A wave of dizziness washed over me.

I wanted a reason to stay close to Lady Lilia.

Even if we couldn’t be together romantically, I wanted a place in her life.

So—

I took the pen.

And I wrote my name.

The moment the ink dried, the parchment folded itself into a bird and flew out the window.

Soon, a carriage would arrive at the academy gates to take me away.

I had no time to hesitate.

I quickly scribbled a final entry in my diary, grabbed only what I could carry, and left the room without looking back.

The moment I climbed into the waiting carriage, a chill crept into my bones.

Through the window, I watched the academy shrink into the distance—

And with every passing second, my chest grew tighter.

By the time we reached Prince Tarmine’s estate, the unease gnawing at my gut had turned into a roaring dread.

I was escorted to a luxurious guest room on the third floor.

They told me to wait.

I sat on the velvet couch, hands clenched tightly in my lap.

Something wasn’t right.

I could feel it.

Then, the doors swung open.

Prince Tarmine entered—but he wasn’t alone.

Several servants followed behind him.

His usual lazy smirk twisted into something cruel.

And then, in a voice dripping with amusement—

“Welcome to my estate. I appreciate your cooperation.”

He paused.

And then—he laughed.

“You really are naive, aren’t you?”

My bl00d ran cold.

“Wh-what…?”

His expression darkened into pure contempt.

“You actually believed I just wanted your help?”

He pulled a metallic bracelet from his pocket and held it up.

“This artifact—the Cursed Relic—requires a powerful light attribute wielder to activate. That’s where you come in.”

I staggered back, my stomach twisting into knots.

What was he saying?

“Of course, you’re not leaving anytime soon,” he continued, smirking.

“We’ll handle the academy. No one will come looking for you.”

No.

No, no, no.

I had to get out.

But—

The doors were blocked.

And the windows?

Three floors up.

No escape.

A servant grabbed my wrist, their grip like iron shackles.

Panic seized my throat.

“Stop! Let go of me!”

I struggled.

But then—

A sharp impact struck the back of my head.

My vision blurred.

The room tilted.

And then—

Everything went dark.