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 8.2

My mother loved flowers.

When I was a child, she often took me to the royal castle’s garden, teaching me the names and meanings of various flowers. I adored her, and it didn’t take long for me to share her love for them.

As a prince, my days were filled with endless studies, strict etiquette lessons, and relentless expectations. Everything was difficult, exhausting, and suffocating.

My father… never treated me as his son.

He spoke to me only when it concerned my education or duties. He never patted my head, never held my hand as we walked together.

That was why the time I spent with my mother—and the flower garden where we could simply be together—became my sanctuary. They were my entire world.

Then, when I turned eight, my mother fell ill.

No medicine could cure her. The doctors couldn’t determine the cause. Even when the royal family secretly sought the aid of the highest-ranking members of the Magic Association, no solution was found.

Watching her grow weaker each day was unbearable.

But what hurt the most was that, even as her body withered, she never voiced a single complaint. She endured everything without a word of pain.

Because of me.

Because I was weak.

She knew if she showed her suffering, I would break.

Realizing that, I resolved never to cry in front of her. I didn’t want to burden her with my grief.

Instead, I gathered flowers for her.

I studied harder, trained harder, and pushed myself to become the perfect prince—so she wouldn’t worry about me.

Every night, I prayed to the gods to save her.

And when I was alone, I allowed myself to weep.

But my prayers went unanswered.

Her condition worsened with each passing day.

By the time she could no longer stand without assistance, my father finally visited her while I was present.

For a fleeting moment, I thought—Perhaps he’s finally come to comfort her as a husband.

But instead, he uttered the cruelest words imaginable.

“Rumors are spreading among the citizens that the queen is ill. You must make a public appearance to dispel them.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

More than that—I couldn’t understand why my mother simply accepted his words and obeyed.

She didn’t hesitate.

Not even for a moment.

I sat beside her in the carriage as she waved to the citizens.

And I could do nothing but watch.

She was already so weak.

Forcing her to make these appearances wouldn’t help her recover—it would only make things worse.

And it did.

After she began attending public events, her health declined at an alarming rate.

I begged my father to stop.

I pleaded with him to care for her as a husband should—to let her rest.

But my father was always a king before he was a man.

“This, too, is a royal duty.”

“If the people see the queen grow weak, they will sense weakness in the kingdom. Even if the world appears peaceful on the surface, other nations are always searching for cracks in our foundation. A sick queen would cast doubt on our strength.”

“If the people suspect we are hiding something, they will question everything. Their trust in the monarchy is the kingdom’s stability. That is why this is necessary.”

His eyes were so cold.

They weren’t even eyes anymore—just hollow, black voids.

“My successor, you must stop thinking like a mere human. You are a prince. Learn to see the world as a ruler does. The kingdom and the royal family are one and the same.”

“But—”

“This conversation is over. Take the prince away.”

I couldn’t change his mind.

I couldn’t do anything.

And my mother only grew weaker.

Until, at last, she could no longer leave her bed.

I didn’t have any words of comfort left to offer her.

All I could do was hold her frail hand.

She smiled gently at me and whispered:

“My beloved Allen, one day, you will become a king in your own way.”

“Think of your people’s happiness, just as you think of me. If you do, you will be a true king.”

“I can’t do it alone,” I murmured.

“Then find someone to stand by your side.”

“A girl who smiles like a flower would suit you well.”

The court physicians told me she had mere days left.

I refused to accept it.

I cursed the gods as I cried alone in the palace chapel, raging at the heavens until my voice was hoarse.

By morning, my sorrow turned to resignation.

I needed to choose the perfect flowers to lay at my mother’s side when she passed.

That was the only thing I could do for her now.

But before I could make that decision—

Something unexpected happened.

Lilia Fortina, the girl no one believed could do it, successfully created an Elixir.

With a single dose, my mother’s incurable illness vanished as if it had never existed.

Slowly, she regained her strength.

Step by step, she recovered, until she was well enough to walk beside me once more.

No one in the kingdom would ever know the truth.

Officially, my mother had never been sick.

Because of that, neither Lilia nor the Fortina family received any recognition or reward.

But I knew the truth.

And I wanted to thank her.

At the next social gathering, I sought her out.

The moment I saw her, I was struck by an odd thought—

If the moonlight took on human form, it would look like this.

Her silver hair and crimson eyes were the same as her sister’s, yet…

Something about her was different.

Something about the way she carried herself.

Something deep within her gaze.

Yet despite finally seeing her in person, I never got the chance to speak to her.

The social setting, the importance of noble hierarchy, and my own status as a prince made it impossible.

Eight years passed.

Now, it was time for me to attend the Magic Academy.

Unlike the other noble children, Vein and I—both members of the royal family—had to undergo additional procedures before we could enroll. That was why our entrance was delayed by a month.

When I arrived at the academy at noon, the female students immediately began making a commotion.

I reassured them, then asked if any of them knew where Lilia was.

Someone mentioned they had seen her in the garden.

That was where I went.

As I stepped into the garden, I couldn’t help but let out a breath.

Bathed in the midday sun, the entire place shimmered with color.

Flowers of every shade bloomed in perfect harmony. Their petals swayed gently in the breeze, creating a scene so beautiful it seemed unreal.

Every leaf, every bloom had been carefully arranged—not just to display the flowers themselves, but to highlight the beauty of the garden as a whole.

For a moment, I wanted to forget my purpose.

I wanted to stop walking and admire this masterpiece in silence.

But I had another destination.

At the center of it all, a small tea party was taking place.

Lilia sat at a table with two others. A fourth person sat at a separate table, her plate piled high with an almost ridiculous amount of sweets.

But I ignored that.

I stepped forward and spoke.

“Excuse me, may I have a moment of your time?”

After exchanging greetings, I got straight to the point.

“I’ve just enrolled today and am unfamiliar with the academy’s layout. Rather than wandering alone, I’d like someone to give me a tour.”

I glanced at Lilia, expecting her to understand my intent.

Instead, she smoothly deflected.

“In that case, I believe Shiroe would be the most suitable guide.”

“Wha—!?”

Shiroe let out a startled noise, her eyes darting between us.

What…?

Why did she say that?

“The One I’d Like to Guide Me Is—”

“The flower garden here is managed by Shiroe.”

I couldn’t help but confirm with Shiroe.

“Is that true?”

“Yes… I take care of it all on my own…”

Shiroe answered hesitantly, and Lilia added an explanation to support her.

“She chose the flowers, planned their arrangement, and tends to them daily. The beauty of this garden is entirely thanks to Shiroe’s efforts.”

Managing such an extensive garden alone was truly impressive. I had just dismissed her as someone irrelevant to me, yet now she piqued my interest. There would be plenty of opportunities to thank Lilia later… for now, I decided to follow the flow of events.

“Hmm… Then, Shiroe, may I ask for your guidance?”

Shiroe gave a small nod.

“Lilia, I apologize for interrupting the tea party. I’ll make it up to you another time.”

“Don’t worry about it. Shiroe, don’t mind us—take your time together.”

“O-okay…”

Once we were alone, a slight tension settled in.

Shiroe, with her long black hair and bangs that almost concealed her eyes, carried a quiet yet elegant presence, wrapped in an air of solitude.

She seemed like someone who could speak at length about the beauty of flowers, and naturally, our conversation flowed in that direction.

“Maintaining this garden must be a lot of work, isn’t it?”

“Yes… but seeing the flowers thrive makes it all worthwhile.”

As we continued talking about flowers, a sense of familiarity grew between us.

“Lord Allen, you truly love flowers… and your mother, don’t you?”

“Ah… And you, Shiroe? Are flowers your greatest love?”

Shiroe paused, seemingly lost in thought before responding.

“I do love flowers, but my favorite thing… is something slightly different.”

“Slightly different?”

“Um… It’s probably faster if I show you.”

Shiroe led me to a more open area within the garden, where benches were placed.

Students were scattered about—some admiring the flowers alone, others seated on benches engaged in lively conversation.

“I… love this kind of sight the most.”

So, what she cherished most was seeing people enjoy the space she cultivated.

“Some of them aren’t even looking at the flowers, though.”

“They don’t have to. The students chatting over there could talk just as easily inside the school, yet they choose to come here. What I mean is… this place, surrounded by flowers, has become a space of comfort for them. Seeing people enjoying themselves or simply resting peacefully here… that warms my heart.”

Watching over the students, Shiroe smiled.

“If my flowers can bring happiness to someone, that in itself makes me happy. It’s like receiving a little share of their joy.”

Her expression, bathed in sunlight, was as radiant as the flowers she nurtured.

A surge of electricity ran through my body, from head to toe.

My very soul trembled, as though struck by fate itself.

Every fiber of my being told me—Shiroe was the one. If I let her go, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

“Shiroe.”

“Yes?”

Facing her directly, I made my declaration clear.

“Be my wife.”

“…Huh? W-what!?”

Her face flushed bright red as she stammered, her deep, dark eyes—like a starry night—flickering with uncertainty.

“I have fallen for you, Shiroe. You are the flower that captivates me. I want to support you, to ensure you always bloom beautifully. Stay by my side. No one else will do.”

“Are… are you serious?”

“Of course. I swear, more than anyone in this world, I will love you.”

“But… someone like me… could I really be your partner, Lord Allen?”

She averted her gaze slightly, the hint of self-doubt evident in her voice.

“You could. No—you are the only one for me. No matter what challenges lie ahead, I want to face them with you. If we’re together, I have no fear of the future.”

Hearing my conviction, her wavering gaze finally locked onto mine.

“…Yes. I want to be by your side too, Lord Allen. I will do my best to support you.”

A gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of flowers between us, as if the garden itself was blessing our union.

“Let’s grow these flowers together, Shiroe. Not just this garden—but my kingdom as well. Together, we’ll make them flourish.”

As I smiled at her, she returned it with a warm, radiant smile—one as delicate and beautiful as a blooming flower.

Our future would surely be as vibrant and full of life as the garden surrounding us.

May you find happiness…

And that, my friends, is what happens when you use the forbidden card [Shiroe Claudio].

Remember, always follow the limit regulations!