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 4.2

A voice called out to me.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, my vision still hazy with lingering sleep.

Rubbing my eyes, I sat up, trying to shake off my drowsiness.

The gentle smile of the person who had woken me pulled me from the realm of dreams back into reality.

“Good morning, Liel.”

Sitting gracefully on the edge of my bed was an incredibly beautiful woman.

Her long silver hair shimmered under the morning sunlight, cascading like strands of light.

She looked stunning…

Still half-asleep, I struggled to process everything.

Right.

I met her.

We talked.

And… I saw her naked in the bath.

“G-good morning!”

Flustered, my greeting came out a little too enthusiastic.

As I moved, I felt the sensation of smooth fabric brushing against my skin. Glancing down, I realized I was dressed in a pale pink negligee—one that was dangerously revealing.

The material was sheer, barely concealing my chest, and even my underwear was visible through the delicate fabric.

“This outfit…?”

“You fainted in the bath, so I changed you and put you to bed. Are you feeling all right?”

“I-I’m fine! Sorry for causing you trouble.”

Now fully awake, I finally noticed something else—Lady Lilia was wearing the same negligee, though hers was a soft, elegant shade of blue.

The silky fabric clung to her body, subtly highlighting her curves as it shimmered in the morning light.

For a moment, I was utterly captivated.

She looked… alluring.

“It still feels like I’m dreaming…”

“You won’t wake up properly unless you get moving,” she said with a teasing smile, gently patting my head.

The warmth of her touch sent a comforting feeling through me.

This morning was already perfect—so much so that if the day ended right now, I would still be completely satisfied.

After breakfast with Lady Lilia and Urs, I slipped into my academy uniform.

Standing before a full-length mirror, I took a moment to admire my reflection.

The uniform, predominantly black, had a refined yet subtly elegant design.

The hairpin Lady Lilia had given me seemed to shine even brighter than it had the day before.

Seeing myself dressed like this, I couldn’t help but smile.

So… even I could look nice?

Feeling pleased, I turned my gaze toward Lady Lilia, who had also finished dressing.

The uniform suited her perfectly, accentuating her natural grace and beauty.

She carried herself with such effortless refinement that it seemed as though the uniform had been tailored just for her.

My eyes, however, unwillingly drifted downward.

The fabric hugged her figure closely, emphasizing the shape of her chest. Even through the uniform, the fullness was unmistakable.

I found myself staring.

…If I touched them right now…

I shook my head quickly, forcing those thoughts away.

No. Absolutely not.

With our preparations complete, we made our way to the auditorium for the entrance ceremony.

As I stood among the gathered students, an unsettling realization dawned on me.

I was the only commoner here.

Anxiousness crept in, but I kept my head high as the ceremony proceeded.

Once it concluded, we moved to our assigned classroom.

Thankfully, seating was unassigned, so I took the seat beside Lady Lilia, feeling a sense of relief.

The teacher instructed the students to introduce themselves.

As I listened, I quickly realized that these introductions weren’t just about names—they were performances meant to highlight their prestigious backgrounds.

“Our territory is known for its vineyards, producing grapes more beautiful than gemstones. The wine made from them has a smooth yet complex flavor and is recognized as a national specialty.”

Some spoke of their family’s famous products.

“One of the knights in our service won the royal capital’s martial arts tournament.”

Others boasted about renowned warriors in their household.

“My father is close friends with a high-ranking official in the Merchant’s Guild. He’s involved in major trade deals. If you ever need help making a large purchase, let me know!”

And some flaunted their powerful connections.

With every introduction, it became increasingly clear—I did not belong in their world.

The long-winded introductions dragged on until it was finally Lady Lilia’s turn.

She rose gracefully from her seat, effortlessly commanding attention.

I was excited to hear what kind of introduction she would give.

“Lilia Fortina.”

And then she sat down.

…That’s it!?

That was way too short!

While I internally panicked, the classroom erupted into hushed murmurs.

“She’s the one who made that legend a reality…”

“She invented nail art…”

“Her wealth is immeasurable…”

The overlapping whispers made it hard to catch everything, but one thing became clear—Lady Lilia was incredibly famous.

I had no idea…

And then, it was finally my turn.

I took a deep breath and stood, scanning the room.

I had spent my time waiting carefully planning what to say.

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

With a warm smile, I introduced myself before taking my seat.

Maybe, just maybe, like Lady Lilia, they would accept me.

Maybe I could make friends.

…But my hopes were shattered immediately.

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

“That uniform is wasted on a commoner.”

“No wonder the classroom stinks.”

“Filthy bloodline…”

The blatant hatred in those words sent a chill through me.

An overwhelming sense of discomfort settled over me as if I had been thrust into a hostile battlefield.

The stares and insults from my classmates cut through me like sharp blades, each one piercing my heart.

I refused to let their malice win. If I cried, I lost.

So, I bit my lip hard to hold back the tears, clenched my fists, and forced myself to endure.

Retaliating would only make things worse. The best thing I could do was keep my head down and wait for it to pass.

And then—

A slightly cool hand covered mine.

I looked up.

Crimson eyes, striking and beautiful, held my gaze.

Despite their sharpness, they lacked the hostility of those around us.

The warmth in her touch and the kindness in her eyes wrapped around me like a protective shield, easing the loneliness and anxiety gnawing at me.

“Lady Lilia…”

In that moment, all the cruel words and hostile gazes faded into the background.

Eventually, the introductions ended, and the class was dismissed.

I had been so focused on Lady Lilia that I hardly remembered anyone who spoke after me.

The moment we left our seats, a group of classmates surrounded Lady Lilia.

“You’re in the way.”

I was lightly shoved, causing me to stumble back, separating me from Lady Lilia.

Immediately, they bombarded her with conversation, their voices overlapping.

One word, in particular, caught my attention—”fiancé.”

I wanted to know more.

But in my current position, I couldn’t even get close.

I didn’t want to make things awkward for Lady Lilia by lingering, so I quietly left and returned to our room.

When Lady Lilia finally returned, I greeted her at the door.

She looked slightly drained, probably from having to deal with so many classmates at once.

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

“Thank you. Liel, you must have had a hard time as well, hearing those things.”

“I…”

As long as Lady Lilia was here, it didn’t matter what anyone said. No words could truly hurt me as long as I had her by my side.

But saying it aloud felt too heavy, as if it might burden her.

And yet, I didn’t want to lie to those piercing red eyes that seemed to see right through me.

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

It was a bold declaration, even to myself.

Lady Lilia smiled faintly.

“I feel the same way, Liel. I’m happy to have you with me.”

Her smile filled me with a deep sense of relief.

We sat together at the table, relaxing in each other’s company.

As the tension drained from my body, my mind drifted back to the word I had overheard earlier—”fiancé.”

Without thinking, I spoke up.

“Um, earlier in class, I heard something about a fiancé… Lady Lilia, do you have one?”

“No, I don’t. I’ve always been busy with my own pursuits, and I’ve turned down every proposal, whether from men or women. Right now, my priority is graduating from the academy, so I have no intention of getting engaged anytime soon.”

It wasn’t surprising. As a noble, it would have been natural for her to have a fiancé. And even if she did, a commoner like me would have no right to concern myself with it.

Still, her words reassured me… though they also sparked another question in my mind.

“Um… do noblewomen ever form relationships with other women?”

“It’s not uncommon. There are no strict rules against it, though since same-s3x couples can’t have children, it’s usually second-borns or younger siblings who enter such relationships. Because of that, as the second daughter of the Fortina family, I receive quite a few marriage proposals from women as well. Just so you know, I don’t have any particular preference when it comes to gender.”

“I see…”

So Lady Lilia didn’t mind whether her partner was a man or a woman.

That meant… even a woman could one day stand by her side.

A noblewoman, that is.

If—if I were born into nobility, then maybe I could—

No.

The very thought of it made my heart ache with the weight of reality.

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

I didn’t want her to meet that person while we were still at the academy together.

That selfish thought clawed at my heart, but I forced a smile to bury it deep inside.