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 4.1

I let Urs into the room, waking Liel so we could have breakfast together.

After finishing our meal, we changed into our black-accented academy uniforms and made our way to the auditorium where the entrance ceremony would take place.

The ceremony itself was uneventful, and soon after, we moved to our classroom. Since there were no assigned seats, Liel and I chose to sit next to each other.

The teacher instructed everyone to introduce themselves.

As expected, the introductions from our aristocratic classmates blurred the line between self-introductions and boastful monologues. When my turn arrived, I stood up slowly.

“Lilia Fortina.”

I stated my name plainly before sitting back down. There was no need for unnecessary words.

The classroom buzzed with whispers, but I couldn’t care less.

Next, it was Liel’s turn. Though a little nervous, she stood up, her golden hair swaying as her blue eyes swept across the room.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Liel. I look forward to studying with you all.”

She smiled shyly before taking her seat.

Ordinarily, her warm and polite introduction should have left a good impression—especially compared to my curt one. But in a class dominated by nobles, a commoner’s presence was anything but ordinary.

The aristocratic students didn’t bother to hide their disdain. Instead, they made snide remarks loud enough for Liel to hear.

“Why is someone without a family name sitting among us?”

“That uniform is wasted on a commoner.”

“No wonder this classroom reeks.”

“Filthy bloodline…”

Liel sat silently, shrinking into herself. This was exactly how it had been in the original story.

But unlike in the game, she wasn’t alone this time. I was here.

Still, even if I spoke up, it wouldn’t change anything. The divide between nobility and commoners was too deeply ingrained.

Liel’s hands clenched tightly around her skirt, her knuckles turning white as she held back her emotions.

Under the desk, where no one else could see, I placed my hand over hers.

“Lady Lilia…”

Her teary blue eyes locked onto mine.

I wasn’t foolish enough to think I could change how nobles viewed commoners. That wasn’t my goal.

I just wanted her to know she wasn’t alone.

I had played through the original story—I knew how much it had hurt her to endure this kind of treatment without a single ally by her side.

After the introductions concluded, the teacher announced that classes would begin tomorrow and dismissed us.

Just as I was about to take Liel on a tour of the academy to gather information, several classmates rushed over to me.

For a moment, I wondered if something had happened, but it quickly became clear—they were all here to curry favor with me.

Their smiles were pleasant, but beneath them, I could see the glint of self-interest.

“Look, Lady Lilia! I had my nails done at your main salon yesterday!”

One of the noble girls extended her hand, showing off nails adorned with sparkling butterfly designs.

I recognized the work immediately.

After I had created the elixir and secured my family’s financial standing, I had still found myself with more money than I could possibly spend. It was then that I decided to start a business using my knowledge from my previous life.

Of course, the elixir provided me with passive income, but relying solely on one source of wealth was a risk.

Even though my personal memories were fragmented, my knowledge from my past life remained intact.

At first, I struggled to come up with a unique business idea.

The problem was that this world’s standard of living was already incredibly high.

While magic was primarily used by nobles, magic stones were widely available to commoners. Devices powered by these stones—essentially this world’s equivalent of refrigerators, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners—were commonplace.

Despite the fantasy-like setting, the presence of such conveniences was undeniable.

That being said, certain modern technologies like televisions, telephones, automobiles, and firearms did not exist, likely because they would visually clash with the world’s aesthetic.

Board games such as Reversi and playing cards were widely played, and despite the Western-style culture, games like Go, Shogi, and Mahjong also existed.

To make things even more absurd, the universal language of this world was Japanese.

Students learned kanji in school, and English was considered an ancient language.

The cuisine was just as bizarre—Western, Japanese, and Chinese dishes were all common.

There was absolutely no room for me to introduce new recipes or claim credit as the “inventor of mayonnaise” or anything of the sort.

It was all incredibly unnatural, but given that this world originated from a Japanese-made game, I had no choice but to accept it.

In the end, I turned to the beauty industry and introduced the concept of nail salons.

Targeting aristocratic women who enjoyed dressing up, I launched my business. It turned out to be a massive success.

Starting with the royal capital’s main salon, I expanded to multiple cities, establishing a brand that was now firmly rooted in high society.

Over the years, nail art had become widely accepted, to the point where my direct involvement was no longer necessary. The salon was managed by trained professionals, and as the company’s owner, I could sit back and enjoy the profits.

Of course, I had no personal interest in nail art. I found it annoying and impractical, so I never bothered with it myself.

I glanced at the noble girl’s outstretched hand and gave a polite response.

“Ah, a new design. It suits you well.”

Since she was still a guest, I offered her a polite compliment. However, for my one word of acknowledgment, I received ten more in return—not just from her, but from the others surrounding me as well.

As expected, their conversations revolved around self-serving interests—offering themselves as potential marriage candidates, requesting elixirs for free, and seeking my influence for their gain. It wasn’t me they were interested in, but the power and wealth I held.

I had no patience for these conversations.

I wondered how Liel was doing.

Looking past the crowd of sycophants, I spotted her quietly slipping out of the classroom, casting a glance in my direction before leaving.

Without changing my expression, I continued handling my classmates with the same cold, detached demeanor, making it clear that I had no intention of entertaining their advances.

Eventually, they realized their efforts were futile and withdrew.

I disliked noisy crowds. For today, I decided to spend my time in my room.

Upon returning, I opened the door to find Liel greeting me with a warm smile. The sight of her instantly eased the tension that had built up throughout the day.

“Welcome back, Lady Lilia. You must be tired.”

After dealing with those insufferable nobles, her gentle words filled me with relief.

“Thank you. You must have had a hard time as well, hearing them speak that way.”

“I…”

She fidgeted with her fingers, looking slightly embarrassed. Her blue eyes met mine, and I waited patiently for her to speak.

After taking a deep breath, she finally found her words.

“As long as you’re here, Lady Lilia, nothing else matters. Just having you by my side gives me the strength to endure anything.”

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

Realizing just how much she trusted me, a warmth blossomed in my chest, and a small smile found its way to my lips.

“I’m glad to have you with me as well, Liel.”

We sat down together at the table, settling into a more relaxed atmosphere.

After a moment of hesitation, Liel spoke.

“Um, earlier in class, I overheard some conversations about engagements… Does Lady Lilia have a fiancé?”

“No, I don’t. I’ve always been busy with various pursuits, and I’ve turned down all offers, whether they came from men or women. Right now, my priority is graduating from the academy, so I have no plans to accept an engagement.”

Everything I said was true, but there was another reason as well—one I chose not to mention.

As long as my potential downfall remained a real possibility, forming an engagement or marriage would only put my partner at risk. If something happened to me, I would only cause them pain and trouble.

…Not that I had ever met someone I wanted to share my life with in the first place.

“Um… do noblewomen also enter relationships with other women?”

“It’s not uncommon. There are no strict rules against it, though since same-s3x couples cannot have children, such relationships are usually more common among second-born daughters and sons rather than heirs. Because of that, as the second daughter of the Fortina family, I receive my fair share of marriage proposals from women as well. Just so you know, I have no particular preference when it comes to gender.”

“I see…”

Liel’s expression became slightly conflicted.

Considering she was the protagonist of an otome game where heterosexual romance was the default, I supposed this concept might be difficult for her to accept.

After a brief pause, she smiled, though her expression didn’t seem entirely natural.

“I hope Lady Lilia meets someone wonderful one day.”

Despite her words, there was a stiffness in her posture—a tension that revealed itself in the slight strain of her smile.

Even so, I chose to accept her kindness without mentioning it.

“Thank you.”

If I were to one day choose a partner to spend my life with… it would be someone as kind and good-hearted as Liel.