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 7.2

For the first time since enrolling in the academy, I was spending a peaceful weekend afternoon in the courtyard, enjoying a tea party with Lady Lilia and Urs.

Everything felt calm and pleasant—a rare moment where I could fully relax without the pressures of classes or responsibilities.

Lady Lilia and I sat together at one table, while Urs occupied another table nearby.

Not because she was a maid—no, Urs simply preferred having an entire table to herself just so she could pile it high with sweets.

Meanwhile, our table was neatly arranged with a reasonable selection of desserts, all handmade by Urs.

Her cooking skills were exceptional, and my excitement grew at the thought of tasting her creations.

The fruit-filled cake Urs had prepared looked absolutely stunning.

Glistening yellow pineapples and vibrant green kiwi slices were carefully arranged, making the cake look like a work of art.

Just looking at it made my mouth water.

I carefully picked up a fork, slicing off a small piece.

The moment it touched my tongue—

A burst of sweet and tangy fruitiness spread across my taste buds.

The fluffy sponge cake melted effortlessly, blending with the smooth cream.

The pineapple’s refreshing taste added a bright accent.

The kiwi’s texture paired wonderfully with the rich cream, softening its sharpness.

Each bite was a perfect harmony of flavors.

It was pure bliss—a moment of happiness wrapped in every mouthful.

As I savored the cake, Lady Lilia spoke.

“Liel, what do you plan to do after graduation?”

I set down my fork, answering thoughtfully.

“I’ll be working at the Royal Mage Institute in the capital. I’ll be involved in magic stone production and assisting with research. That’s actually why the Magic Association arranged for me to attend the academy in the first place.”

Even as I spoke, I felt a mixture of excitement and uncertainty about my future.

“I see. With your light attribute, you’ll be highly valued there.”

Magic stones were essential for operating magical tools.

And among them, light-attribute magic stones were the rarest and most valuable.

Knowing that my abilities could contribute to society made me feel proud—but at the same time, the pressure of being so rare weighed on my mind.

I turned the question back to Lady Lilia.

“What about you, Lady Lilia? Will you return to your territory to govern?”

She gave a small shake of her head.

“No. My older sister, who is married, will be the next ruler. She already has a child, so there’s no longer any need for a spare like me to return.”

“A… spare?”

Lady Lilia spoke calmly, recounting how she had never truly been seen as a member of her family.

She had existed only as a backup—someone trained to take over in case something happened to her sister.

But now that her sister’s child had been born, her presence in the household was no longer necessary.

Her expression was composed, but I could see a hint of loneliness beneath it.

My chest tightened at the thought.

“That sounds… really sad.”

As a commoner, I had always assumed nobles were fortunate.

But now, I realized—

It wasn’t wealth or status that determined a person’s happiness.

It was family.

And just like how some nobles had privileged and loving homes, others had cold, distant ones.

It was the same for commoners.

I had been naïve to assume otherwise.

I thought about how some townspeople viewed orphans like me—labeling us as pitiful, unclean, and unwanted.

And yet—I had done the same to nobles, assuming they all lived perfect lives.

I felt ashamed of my own ignorance.

Lady Lilia gave a small, wry smile.

“Perhaps it is sad. But because of that, I was able to live freely and do what I wanted. In the end, I think it worked out for the best. As for what I’ll do after graduation… I’m still figuring that out.”

If I were in Lady Lilia’s position, would I have been able to remain as strong as she is?

Would I have been able to offer kind words to someone like me?

No—there’s no way.

Lady Lilia is special—someone truly extraordinary.

Her very existence is precious to me.

“I hope you find what you’re looking for soon. If there’s anything I can do, I’d love to help.”

“Fufu, thank you.”

With my heart still warm from Lady Lilia’s gentle smile, I took another bite of cake.

The visual beauty and the exquisite flavor combined, sending waves of sweetness through my entire body.

“Lady Lilia, Urs’s cakes are truly incredible. I feel like I could eat them forever!”

“Urs’s skills always amaze me. No matter how tired I am, her cooking always lifts my spirits.”

Hearing Lady Lilia’s words, Urs grinned proudly, though her slight blush suggested she was a little embarrassed.

She quickly shoved another bite of cake into her mouth, as if to distract herself.

“Liel, what’s your favorite dessert?”

I froze for a moment.

Having grown up in an orphanage, I never really had many chances to eat sweets.

The only dessert I could recall was the cookies the headmistress used to bake for everyone.

When I got older, I took over baking, but all I ever made were those same cookies.

I had no real experience with different kinds of sweets, so I couldn’t say which ones I liked or disliked.

I never thought of my life at the orphanage as unfortunate—in fact, I was grateful for the happy memories I had there.

But at the same time, I didn’t want Lady Lilia to pity me.

Still, I chose to be honest.

“I never really had many opportunities to eat sweets, so… I don’t actually know what I like or dislike.”

“Then let’s find out together.”

“Huh?”

“We’ll try all sorts of desserts until we discover your favorite. What do you think?”

Lady Lilia’s gentle smile didn’t hold a trace of pity—only warmth and kindness.

She took something that could have been seen as a weakness and turned it into a promise for a brighter future.

Her words filled my heart with warmth, making me realize once again just how much happiness being by her side brought me.

“That sounds like fun! I’d love to try different desserts with you, Lady Lilia.”

As we continued our conversation, my heart swelled with a different thought—one I couldn’t say out loud.

Sweets aside, my absolute favorite thing is you, Lady Lilia…

I knew I couldn’t confess those feelings, but I treasured every moment spent by her side.

With each tea party, I would discover new favorites, not just in desserts but in the joy of being with her.

And knowing that such a future awaited me, I savored every second of this tea party, letting happiness blossom within me.