Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

He couldn't forget her. The girl he was in a relationship with for months before they 'mutually' decided that Monica was not worthy to be with Luke. And they broke up.

That long black hair, that almond-shaped face...even though her eyes were now blue, she seemed the exact same as the day Luke last saw her.

However, the most important question was...how and why was she here?

Another reincarnation? Did she die that night with him? Or does she look the same?

Hundreds of questions which sounded almost identical, overcrowded his head as Austin stared at the girl with his eyes widened.

She smiled, before speaking, "I think you mistook me for someone else. Just like how I did." Her voice was...different from what he remembered, but that face...how can someone have such an identical face?

It took Austin a moment to collect himself before he asked, "Did you need something from me?" He looked down at her blazer and found she was from the Avalon Academy, which was situated in Hener.

The girl smilingly shook her head, "As I said, I thought you were someone else. And it seems you made the same mistake. By the way, who is this Monica? Your girlfriend?"

Austin narrowed his eyes as he shook his head, "No, a person with an annoying attitude and someone I want to forget about. Anyway, since I am not the one you are looking for, see you." He didn't want to talk to her for long...his heart rate was not in his control for obvious reasons.

The reasons were two. First was that he absolutely dreaded anyone reincarnating from Earth to this world—for hundreds of reasons. And second was, Austin's past feelings for her.

Although he has moved on, and now he has someone whom he loves more than anyone in the world, the deep wounds Monica inflicted on him still remain. And when he came across someone who looked just like her...it was natural for him to be reminded of that regrettable past.

Austin took a cup of fruit beer and gulped it down to cool his head—when suddenly, "Are you okay?"

Hearing the voice, it felt like half of his worries had already faded. And the rest of the worries were taken care of when Austin turned towards her and hugged his lover.

"Val..." Was he making her worried? Yes. However, he really wanted to hug her.

Valerie wordlessly embraced her lover. She didn't know what happened, but when she saw Austin walking away from the strange girl, he looked quite disturbed...as if he was suffering.

If she had known that in her absence someone could upset her Lord this much, she wouldn't have gone to help the President.

And now she was regretting it.

Once Austin calmed down, he separated from the girl, and with their hands connected, he said, "Sorry about that. That person reminded me of someone I'd rather not think about."

"Is it something that I don't know? Can you tell me?" She asked, her round big eyes looking at him with an upturned glance.

However, despite his promise to never lie to her, Austin couldn't bring himself to reveal the truth.

He...was scared. A past in which Austin was Luke. Although Austin and Luke were the same people since Austin just simply unlocked Luke's memories, telling it to Valerie would mean a completely different thing.

If she gets to know everything that changed Austin's attitude towards her and the fact that Austin isn't completely him...he doesn't have a good feeling about how she would react.

That's why, "....not something major. Just a childhood incident Anyway, where were you?"

It would have been a little nice if Valerie couldn't have noticed how he just skipped over a very important topic. However, she did.

But since he chose to hide it from her, she decided to not push him and wait for the time when he could disclose it to her.

With a soft smile extending her lips, she said, "Went to help the President. Her uniform was a little damaged."

Austin hummed as the conversation continued in the natural flow.

He was guilty, yes. But it would be better if Valerie never came to know about the person named Luke.

....

The students were mingling with others. It was a very good opportunity for nobles from different nations to form connections.

Some just took a corner and enjoyed the evening with a glass of beverage in their hand. While some were actively approaching strangers and exchanging greetings.

In one corner, there was a certain purple-haired male who stood at his place with his head slightly leaned down, and from afar, it could be regarded as if he was taking a nap while standing.

However, the person was good at hiding where his eyes were directed.

Whether she went, his eyes followed.

One of the Elites from the Avalon Academy, and someone who is using a fake identity to participate in the tournament.

Fake name: Esner. Real identity: the Prince of Hener, Parkinson.

He was finally here, after crossing a rocky path of getting admitted to the academy under a fake identity and making his appearance in the tournament.

There were many who raised their voice against his participation since Esner was new to the academy and surely would be hard to deal with during team matches.

However, since he had the support of the Nation's Supreme, Parkinson never felt threatened about his spot in the squad.

And finally, he was here...where he wanted to be.

His eyes finally found relief after they caught the sight of his favorite person.

It has been thirty-one days, eighteen hours since he last saw her.

It was a very depressing phase for him to be away from the only person whom he came to love so much.

The sole reason he still hasn't lost his cool and attacked Austin.

His Rhea.

"Dude, you need to wind down a little." Someone approached him from the left, and without looking, Esner could tell that it was the captain of the Elite team. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

"Quinton...I was in my relaxed zone...until you came to disturb me."

Hearing the words, the shaved-headed boy grinned, as he draped his hand over Esner's shoulder, making the other one annoyed, as he said, "You are checking out the girls, right? Well, can't be blamed. So many flowers...but unluckily, the top-tier ones already have owners. Just like that girl, over there."

He pointed at Valerie and Austin, who were chatting to each other without a care in the world. They really don't care about anyone else when they are with each other.

"Or...that one." He then pointed at Rhea who was accompanied by Rudolph. Although they weren't as cozy as the previous couple, whoever saw them could only tell that they were a nice couple.

Parkinson's eyes narrowed as he said, "Don't trust what your eyes tell you. Not everyone is focused on dating here."

"Heeh~don't tell me, you are jealous~Well, if you want you can try on Jasmine. She seemed to be interested in you."

When the Captain mentioned Jasmine...Parkinson's eyes also traveled to the raven-haired girl.

There was something that caught his attention this evening, and that was her conversation with Austin.

He looked quite restless after exchanging a few words with her. What could she possibly say?

And considering Valerie's nature, if she didn't go to confront the girl, then possibly the matter wasn't that big or...Austin hid it from her?

'Interesting...I guess I should talk to Jasmine a little more...'

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Here comes the antagonist.

I want to give a spoiler about whether Austin would reveal his past to Valerie or not? Yes...and no..well, you will know. See ya~~~