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

As soon as Liana stepped into the ballroom, a servant quickly approached her.

"Liana-sama, allow me to escort you to your designated seat."

"Hm?" Liana raised an eyebrow. "Why? I can’t sit wherever I want?"

The servant bowed slightly. "Apologies, Liana-sama, but tonight’s ball has many esteemed guests. If the seating is not arranged in advance, it may cause unnecessary trouble."

Liana scoffed. "Since when did I need permission to sit in my own house?"

A few nearby nobles turned their heads at her words, their whispers barely concealed.

The servant’s expression stiffened. This wasn’t just a minor inconvenience—it was a delicate matter.

Tonight’s guests weren’t just from the Venus territory. Some nobles from neighboring regions had also arrived. And most importantly, Princess Mepeilu would be attending.

They couldn’t let Liana disrupt the event.

"The seating arrangements were personally made by Countess Ruth," the servant added carefully. "If you are dissatisfied, I can arrange for you to speak with her."

"Never mind, then."

Liana put on an exaggerated expression of reluctant compliance before wordlessly moving to her assigned seat—right in the corner of the ballroom.

But in truth, this was exactly where she had wanted to sit.

It was a quiet spot, far from the center of attention, and people would instinctively avoid approaching once they saw her there.

Of course, there would still be some who came to bother her.

Or rather—they weren’t here to bother her, but to keep an eye on her.

"Liana."

Nael appeared beside her, taking her usual place as her ‘watchdog.’ Her task tonight was simple: keep Liana in check and ensure she didn’t wander freely.

Even though Mepeilu was the true guest of honor, it was clear this ball wasn’t for her.

Liana wasn’t concerned. After all, her real goal tonight had nothing to do with the ball itself—she was here to get what she needed from Mepeilu.

"You really have a terrible sense of humor," Liana muttered, casting an idle glance at Sharido, who was standing behind Nael.

It had been a month, yet she was still keeping that woman around.

"Oh my, how could you say that about my adorable little maid?" Nael chuckled, her gaze flickering toward Sharido with amusement.

Bringing her here wasn’t without purpose.

Sharido may have left on her own, but she certainly didn’t see it that way.

She didn’t think of herself as someone who had failed—she believed she had been humiliated.

That Liana had shamed her. That Loraviel had stolen her place.@@novelbin@@

And Nael wanted her to watch.

To remember.

To fuel the resentment inside her until she was willing to work herself to the bone for revenge.

"Whatever you say," Liana sighed, twirling her empty wine glass between her fingers. "It’s not like she’s anything important."

Loraviel, who had been silently standing behind her, stepped forward with a pitcher of juice. She poured a small amount into Liana’s glass before wordlessly taking it, tilting it to her lips, and swallowing a sip.

Only then did she refill a fresh glass and hand it to Liana.

"Oh my, what do we have here?" Nael’s eyes gleamed with amusement.

"You really are fond of this new maid, aren’t you? A noblewoman, letting her maid taste her drink first?"

Liana simply looked at her as if she were an idiot.

"Sharido was always an incompetent maid. This is basic protocol—you should really pay more attention."

"Hm?" Nael frowned slightly, failing to catch her meaning.

Loraviel answered for her.

"The second rule of the Maid’s Handbook states that before the master consumes anything, the maid must first ensure its safety."

Nael blinked, then smirked.

"Oh? You think someone would try to poison you?"

She leaned against the table, feigning disinterest. "All the food here was already tested before being served. Or are you suggesting there’s a traitor inside the Venus estate?"

Liana shook her head.

This was so obvious. Nael was trying to bait her into making an accusation.

But Liana had no intention of stepping into such a childish trap.

"I never said that." She took a sip of juice. "Don’t twist my words."

She tilted her head slightly, her voice casual yet firm.

"Not all poisons can be detected by magic. And really, isn’t it much faster to have someone test it directly rather than rely on spells?"

Nael let out a slow, amused chuckle.

Coming from someone who couldn’t use magic, that statement sounded almost bitter—as if she was just trying to undermine the superiority of those who could.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

"Well," Nael mused, glancing at Sharido. "It seems your maid training really was terrible. You can’t even follow basic protocol. I suppose I’ll have to give you a small punishment."

Then, as if remembering something, she turned back to Liana with a sly smile.

"But wait—Liana, didn’t you say before that no one was allowed to harm your toys?"

She tilted her head mockingly.

"Sharido may not be your maid anymore, but she was once yours. If I punished her now, wouldn’t that displease you?"

Ah.

So that’s what this was about.

She wanted Sharido to blame Liana for whatever happened next.

A dull, predictable attempt at manipulation.

Liana smirked.

"Once mine?" She scoffed. "You’re giving her too much credit. She never even qualified as a proper toy."

Her voice was sharp, cutting.

"If not for Countess Ruth, I would have thrown her out long ago."

She leaned back lazily, swirling the remaining juice in her glass.

"But I will give her credit for one thing—she at least knew she was a burden. She left on her own. And that’s something I can respect."

Her words were ruthless.

And she meant them.

Liana never had any interest in Sharido, nor did she ever plan to be merciful toward her.

As far as she was concerned—

The woman was trash.

A person like that deserved whatever punishment she received.

"Oh?" Nael’s grin widened. "So what you’re saying is—I’m free to do whatever I want with her?"

Liana tilted her head slightly.

"I never said that."

Her tone remained indifferent.

"I said she’s yours now. Whatever you do with her is none of my concern."

She wasn’t about to waste her time worrying over Nael’s amusements.

She didn’t care what Sharido thought of her.

She didn’t care what Nael did to her.

Right now, there was only one thing that mattered.

She would sit quietly—drink her juice—watch the ball unfold—

And wait for the true guest of honor to arrive.

Her childhood friend.

The Grand Princess of Lisat.

Mepeilu Lisat.