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 2.2

The journey to the academy was a completely new experience for me.

Unfamiliar streets, dazzling buildings, bustling crowds—everything felt like a dream compared to my quiet hometown.

But what captivated my gaze the most was the figure walking beside me—Lady Lilia.

With her back straight and a dignified stride, she moved through the city with effortless grace. Her crimson eyes remained fixed ahead, and each time the wind caught her silver hair, it shimmered brilliantly in the light. Her profile was as flawless as a sculpture, exuding a mysterious allure.

I can’t believe someone this beautiful is walking right next to me…

I whispered this thought in my heart, carefully matching my steps to hers.

From the top of her head to the tips of her fingers, everything about her was elegant. Wait—her hands?

Where’s her luggage?

“Lady Lilia, aren’t you carrying any bags?”

If she had forgotten them at the square because of my interruption, I’d sprint back to get them immediately.

“My maid, Urs, is carrying them,” she replied calmly.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

Of course. Nobles have maids to take care of such things.

I glanced around, wondering if I should introduce myself, but I couldn’t spot anyone who looked like a maid. Maybe she was walking right behind us? I turned slightly to check.

No one.

“What the hell are you looking at?”

“Ah—!”

I nearly jumped. A woman in a maid’s uniform had appeared beside me before I even noticed. So, this is Urs.

Her golden eyes were sharp, almost wolf-like.

Her fiery red hair, as long as Lady Lilia’s, cascaded down her back. Though similar in length, its texture was different—coarse and wild, like a wolf’s fur.

Her figure was… Well, her chest was slightly bigger than mine. In other words, average.

Something about her presence radiated intensity.

Rather than a maid, she seemed more like a warrior. Well, considering a maid’s duties include protecting their master, maybe that wasn’t entirely wrong.

Urs gave me a quick glance before speaking bluntly.

“I’m Urs. If you want to remember it, do it on your own.”

Judging by her reaction, she didn’t seem particularly interested in me.

With that, the three of us resumed our walk and soon arrived at the academy.

After presenting our admission permits to the gatekeeper, we were allowed inside, where two guides approached us.

“Students and servants must be separated,” they informed us, meaning it was time to part ways with Urs.

First, they guided us to Lady Lilia’s room.

“This is Lady Lilia’s room.”

Even at a glance, the sheer size and luxurious decor were overwhelming.

“Now, let’s move on to your assigned quarters,” the guide said.

I hoped my room would be near Lady Lilia’s. That way, visiting each other would be convenient—whether I went to her room or she came to mine. She probably wouldn’t mind… I think.

With a small sense of anticipation, I followed the guide. But strangely, we ended up outside.

“Um, we’re outside the dormitory…?”

“Yes, this way,” they replied.

A growing sense of unease filled me as I followed them. Eventually, they stopped in front of an old shack.

“This will be your room,” they announced.

“…What?”

Stunned, I examined the structure more closely.

It was a small wooden building with visible cracks and moss creeping up the walls—clearly abandoned for a long time.

I pushed open the door and peeked inside.

The wind howled through a broken window, making the tattered curtains flutter.

The walls were covered in peeling gray wallpaper.

The wooden bed was simple but noticeably lopsided.

The storage cabinet had missing panels, rendering it useless.

And for some reason, the desk had black scorch marks on it.

To put it bluntly, the place was practically a ruin. There was no way I could live here comfortably.

“Don’t I have a dorm room?” I asked hesitantly.

“No, you don’t. Your admission was unplanned, and there are no available rooms,” the guide responded matter-of-factly.

My enrollment had only been confirmed a few months ago, so… I had no argument.

“That being said, you are permitted to renovate this space. If you go to the main building’s reception, you can request renovations anytime.”

“Then I can improve it?”

I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe things could work out.

“However, you will need to cover the costs yourself.”

…Never mind.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. I have other duties to attend to,” the guide said before quickly leaving.

I turned back to the shack.

“…The orphanage was much nicer than this.”

Despite the town’s perception, our orphanage received proper funding from the territory and was actually well-maintained.

“For now, I should clean up.”

If I unpacked my belongings in this dusty mess, my pristine academy uniform would be ruined before I even wore it.

Just as I braced myself for the task ahead, a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.

“You must be joking. This is your room?”

I turned to see Lady Lilia standing there, disbelief clear on her face.

“Ah… Yes, well… It is.”

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me as I realized I had just shown my filthy living quarters to the elegant Lady Lilia.

However, she spoke words I never could have expected.

“I’ve decided. There’s no way I can allow you to stay in a place like this. Come to my room. We’ll live together.”

For a moment, my mind went completely blank.

Live with Lady Lilia? Me? In her room?

“Are you saying… we’ll be sharing the same room?”

“Of course. What other meaning could there be?”

It was like being lifted from hell and placed in heaven.

But I couldn’t understand why she would go so far to help me. I was just a commoner with no money. The only possible reason I could think of was my light attribute magic—the very reason I had been admitted to the academy. If Lady Lilia wanted something from me, I wanted to be sure I could meet her expectations.

So I asked, “Why are you being so kind to me?”

Lady Lilia smiled warmly.

“Because I want to be friends with you. You’re my first and most precious companion here. Or… do you dislike the idea of staying with me, Liel?”

Her words filled my chest with happiness, and my eyes burned with emotion.

“Not at all! I… I’d love to become closer to you, Lady Lilia!”

“I’m glad. As roommates, let’s take care of each other from now on.”

She extended her hand, and I wrapped mine around it, feeling the cool touch of her skin. My heart fluttered.

“It’s a pleasure to be your roommate,” I said sincerely.

After escorting me to her room, Lady Lilia went to get permission from the dorm manager.

A little while later, she returned, and the two of us sat at the table to talk.

“May I ask how you ended up here and where you lived before?”

“Of course!”

I told her about how I had healed an injured child with my light magic, which led to my acceptance into the academy, and about my life in the orphanage.

Back in my hometown, some people looked down on the orphanage and its residents, speaking ill of us without hesitation. But Lady Lilia was different.

“You grew up surrounded by wonderful people,” she said kindly.

Hearing those words warmed my heart. It made me happy to share those memories with someone who saw them in such a positive light.

After chatting for a while, Urs arrived with dinner.

Despite her rough demeanor, the meal she prepared was surprisingly well-seasoned and carefully cooked.

We enjoyed our meal at a leisurely pace, savoring the warmth of both the food and our conversation.

Just as I was basking in the pleasant afterglow of a satisfying dinner, Lady Lilia turned to me.

“It’s getting late. Let’s go take a bath together.”

“Yes, that sounds… wait… A BATH?!”

“You must be sweaty from the long journey, right?”

“Y-Yes!”

My voice cracked.

A bath meant taking off our clothes. Which meant I would inevitably see Lady Lilia’s bare skin—the very skin I had already admired countless times beneath her elegant attire.

No, no, no! It’s not like I want to see her naked!

…That’s a lie. I’m curious.

With my thoughts in complete disarray, I followed her to the bathhouse.

As soon as we stepped into the spacious changing area, Lady Lilia began undressing beside me.

Even though I tried to avert my gaze, the soft rustling of fabric being removed filled my ears, and my heart pounded uncontrollably.

I had never seen someone my age naked before.

At the orphanage, I had bathed with younger children and the older female caretaker, but never with someone my own age.

Lady Lilia was the first person I had ever walked with, dined with… and now, the first I would bathe with.

I told myself that this nervousness was simply due to the unfamiliarity of the situation, but the tension only grew stronger.

My body felt stiff with anxiety, but somehow, I managed to undress and wrap a towel around myself. Without looking in her direction, I followed her into the grand bath.

The sheer opulence of the place was overwhelming.

Luxurious decorations, gleaming marble floors, and a faint aroma of essential oils filled the air, making the bathhouse feel more like a palace than a place for washing.

As I removed my towel and sank into the warm water, the soothing heat melted away my tension.

“This is amazing… I’ve never bathed in a place like this before.”

As I let myself relax, my eyes instinctively wandered.

Lady Lilia gracefully removed her towel, revealing her bare skin.

Her silver hair clung to her shoulders, and her flawless, fair complexion glowed in the soft mist.

I found myself mesmerized.

A pure admiration for her beauty filled my heart… but I also became painfully aware of another feeling stirring within me.

My gaze lingered on her figure, tracing the elegant curves of her body.

Her chest… was impossible to ignore.

I couldn’t stop staring at the way her soft skin glistened with moisture, the gentle swell of her breasts, the perfect shape of her waist…

My heartbeat quickened, my face burning hot.

I knew I shouldn’t be thinking these things, but… Lady Lilia’s body was simply too stunning.

“Lady Lilia… you’re truly beautiful…”

Even as I spoke, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

Her radiant form ignited emotions I couldn’t quite understand, overwhelming me with an inexplicable longing.

My gaze drifted, tracing the delicate slope of her collarbone, the curve of her waist, lower and lower…

Her skin looked so soft…

What would it feel like to touch her?

What if I buried my face in her chest?

A sudden jolt of realization struck me, shocking me back to my senses.

What am I thinking?!

This is bad. Very bad.

The grandeur of the bathhouse faded into irrelevance. All that mattered was the sight before me—Lady Lilia’s body, every line and contour stirring something deep within me.

“Thank you,” she said with a gentle smile. “But you’re quite charming yourself.”

My breath caught.

I had never been particularly self-conscious about my appearance, but standing beside Lady Lilia, I couldn’t help but compare myself to her.

“That’s not true… I still have a long way to go.”

I returned her smile, but my heart was in turmoil.

No matter how hard I tried to look away, my gaze kept returning to her flawless skin and elegant curves.

The way her chest moved with the water’s gentle sway only heightened my already conflicted emotions.

…And then, it happened.

I overheated.

Everything went black.