The Villainous Noblewoman Is About to Be Forced into Love, Isn’t This Wrong?

Liana’s words sparked a wave of murmurs among the gathered nobles. However, the reaction wasn’t as dramatic as one might expect—after all, nothing Liana did was particularly surprising anymore.

"...?"

As Liana finished speaking, she lifted her gaze—only to lock eyes with Loraville, who was staring at her from across the hall.

Crap! Why was she still here? Wasn’t she supposed to have been taken away already?

This was bad. Maybe, just maybe, she could have explained things away before—but now? It was already too late.

A flicker of disgust crossed Kalen’s eyes.

She dared to reject him? Publicly?

If not for her noble background and passable beauty, he wouldn’t have even considered this engagement. A woman who couldn’t use magic was nothing more than a waste of space.

Magic was the symbol of nobility. Few commoners possessed it, so aristocrats always sought magical partners to ensure their bloodline remained powerful.

But Kalen wouldn’t let his true feelings show—not in front of the daughter of Duke Venus.

"Is that so?" Kalen slipped the ring back into his pocket. "Well, everyone has their preferences, after all."

"Please, enjoy the banquet, Sir Kalen. I’ll be retiring to my chambers for the night," Liana said, gripping the hem of her dress and offering a slight curtsy before turning to leave.

She knew full well that rejecting Kalen like this would have consequences. Countess Ruth would never let this slide. She had spent too much time choosing a suitable fiancé for Liana, and she wouldn’t allow Kalen to slip away so easily.

And Kalen? With his personality, he would undoubtedly seek revenge.

Even though her noble status shielded her to some extent, openly opposing them now would only bring unnecessary trouble. If she wasn’t careful, they would make her life miserable at every turn.

Until her parents returned, she needed to maintain her role as a villainess.

For now.

Meanwhile.

Loraville followed the maid out of the banquet hall, walking through the dimly lit corridors with growing unease.

She had never been comfortable in these noble gatherings. And after hearing Liana’s earlier words, her anxiety only deepened.

What was going to happen to her now?

They finally arrived at a lavishly decorated room.

"As a mere commoner, you should consider it an honor that Lady Liana has taken an interest in you," the maid sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Now, go in and wash yourself properly. I’ll have someone bring you fresh clothes. And don’t touch anything in the bathroom, let alone try to steal. The things in this room are worth more than your entire existence."

"If it weren’t for you wasting my time, I might’ve caught the attention of that noble young master instead," the maid muttered bitterly, looking at Loraville as if she were garbage.

Even though she was only a servant, being a noble’s maid placed her far above a mere commoner.

"...Yes, I understand," Loraville murmured, lowering her head.

The maid scoffed and left, eager to return to the banquet. A good opportunity could turn her from a mere maid into something far greater.

Now alone, Loraville took a shaky breath and looked around.

One room in this mansion was bigger than her entire home.

She wandered toward the storage area, where a full-length mirror stood.

Her long, light-blue hair clung to her skin, damp from the spilled wine. The pristine white dress she had borrowed was now stained red.

This was the first time she had ever worn something so luxurious. Even though it wasn’t hers, the thought of it being ruined made her heart ache.

"Why is this happening to me...?"

Her hands trembled as she traced the fabric of her dress.

Liana’s name was known even in the countryside. She had always heard about her.

And judging by Liana’s actions tonight, there was no way that wine spill had been an accident.

On top of that... she had overheard those words.

What kind of torment awaited her now?

Should she try to escape?

Loraville glanced at the window, but quickly dismissed the thought.

There were guards outside. Even if she managed to run, someone like Liana could track her down with ease. And if she did escape... her family would suffer the consequences.

No, running wasn’t an option.

For now, she had no choice but to wait and see what would happen.

With a deep breath, she slipped off her shoes and reached for the hem of her soaked dress. Slowly, she peeled off the now-ruined stockings from her thighs.

After a quick bath, she returned to the storage area, only to find—

The "clothes" that had been brought for her... were barely enough to cover anything.

There was no way she could wear something this humiliating.

Frustrated, she turned back to pick up her original dress—only to discover that it had been torn to shreds.

She bit her lip, her body trembling.

What was she supposed to do now?

Time passed.

Back in her own chambers, Liana sat at her vanity, staring at her reflection.

The only redeeming quality about being a villainess, she mused, was this beautiful face.

She took a moment to review the timeline.

The novel’s main story wouldn’t begin for another two years.

As for what happened during these two years? The original novel had skimmed over it entirely.

All she knew was that Loraville had grown to despise her.

But before she could get her revenge... Liana had already died.

Liana glanced around the room. Loraville was nowhere to be seen.

Did she escape?

No, unlikely. She should understand the power gap between them. She should also know what would happen if she tried to run.

"Loraville," Liana called softly.

A faint voice answered from the bathroom.

"L-Lady Liana..."

Liana narrowed her eyes. "What’s the matter? Do I need to come in and get you myself?"

"N-no... Lady Liana..." Loraville’s voice trembled with fear.

Liana sighed and pushed the bathroom door open.

"And what, exactly, is the problem?"

There, standing with nothing but a bath towel wrapped around her, was Loraville.

"You have an exhibitionist streak?" Liana quipped dryly.

Loraville shook her head frantically. "N-no, I..."@@novelbin@@

Liana’s gaze flicked to the wooden frame where the clothes had been placed.

One set was little more than a few scraps of fabric. The other had been completely destroyed.

"...I’m sorry, Lady Liana," Loraville whispered, her head hanging low. "I... I just can’t wear that..."

Her body trembled, fear evident in every movement. There were faint tear marks on her cheeks—she must have been crying earlier.

Liana remained expressionless, but internally, she sighed.

No matter what kind of assassin Loraville would become in the future, right now, she was just a frightened 14-year-old girl.

Given the situation, her reaction was entirely reasonable.

"Come out."

Loraville hesitated but obeyed, following Liana back into the bedroom.

Liana settled onto her soft mattress, crossing one leg over the other as she watched Loraville.

"Take it off."