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

“That may be true—he’s not quite on the level of Duke Venus,” Nail said with a seemingly considerate smile, “but I believe Kalen has a lot of potential. Besides, he doesn’t seem to dislike you.”
She sounded as if she was kindly trying to match Liana with Kalen.
But Liana knew better. There was no way Nail had good intentions. After all, what kind of person could possibly be friends with “Liana”? Certainly not someone decent.
“He doesn’t dislike me? You’re giving him too much credit. I look down on him. Why would I agree to a marriage with him? What benefit does it bring me? I’m the eldest daughter of the Venus family. What could I possibly want that I can’t take for myself?”
“Well, that’s true. The eldest daughter of the Venus family.”
Nail’s lips curled ever so slightly in a barely suppressed smirk.
She still thought of herself as the Venus family’s eldest daughter? How ridiculous. In two years, at her coming-of-age ceremony, Liana would be tossed out like a stray dog.
No magic. An insufferable personality. The Venus family’s trust completely lost. No parents to shield her. Once she reached adulthood, Nail couldn’t see any reason why Liana would be allowed to stay. The greater the family, the crueler and more brutal the competition.
“Oh, right. Liana, let me introduce you to my new maid.” Nail clapped her hands.
A familiar figure appeared before Liana—Sharido.
That was fast. Already discarded?
But this wasn’t something Liana needed to concern herself with. Sharido wasn’t even relevant to the main plot, so whatever happened to her didn’t matter.
“I don’t recall you having a taste for picking up other people’s trash.”
“How could you say something so cruel? Sharido was your maid once, wasn’t she?” Nail asked.
“And that’s exactly why she’s my former maid, isn’t it?”
Liana picked up a glass from the table and poured its contents straight onto Sharido.
Orange juice dripped from her hair, running down her face and soaking into her dress. Sharido bit her lip, not daring to make a sound.
“You like messing with my toys?” Liana’s voice was calm, almost amused. “Then be prepared to suffer the same in return. Loraviel is mine. Only I get to torment her. Touch her, and you’re provoking me. Understand?”
Liana wasn’t just speaking to Sharido—this was a warning to everyone.
People looked down on Liana, but no one was foolish enough to openly provoke her.
“My mood’s ruined. How dull.”
She carelessly tossed the glass aside and walked away without looking back.
“She doesn’t seem particularly different,” a voice murmured. “Countess Ruth, perhaps you were overthinking things?”
“...Is that so?”
Two hours had passed since Liana left. Loraviel was probably already asleep by now.
Liana opened the door. The dim light from the hallway faintly illuminated the room, allowing her to make out the general shapes inside.
Loraviel was deep in sleep.
Liana slipped her fingers into the back of her shoes and pulled them off with a slight motion. The soles of her feet, wrapped in black stockings, pressed soundlessly against the floor as she approached Loraviel’s bedside.
Even in her sleep, Loraviel’s brows were furrowed, her face tense with unease. It looked like she was having a nightmare.
So even when I’m not next to her, she still feels afraid.
Liana reached out and lightly poked Loraviel’s cheek.
Soft.
“Mm…”
Loraviel stirred slightly.
Liana thought she might have woken her up, but she only turned over in her sleep.
Liana straightened up. I’ll let her rest.
She climbed into bed from the other side.
The mattress was soft. The velvet blanket draped over her, warm and comfortable.
There were less than two years left before the protagonist made their grand entrance…
Liana had begun piecing together the truth about magic.
But as for how Loraviel would become an assassin—she still had no clue.
Right now, Loraviel’s innocent appearance made it impossible to connect her to the slightly deranged assassin she would become in the future.
Even though she was learning some basic magic under Nabet, it still wasn’t enough.
What a hassle…
Since things had come this far, sleep came first.
Perhaps Liana herself hadn’t noticed it, but she had a habit—
When she slept, she liked to hold onto something.
And so, in her sleep, she unknowingly reached out and wrapped her arms around Loraviel.
For once, Loraviel felt like she had gotten a proper night’s rest.
When she opened her eyes, it was already 7:30. Fortunately, she hadn’t overslept.
But then she noticed something—
She was being held by someone.
A wave of terror surged through her. Had Liana let some strange person into the room while she slept?
But when she saw that the one holding her was Liana—
…Well, the fear didn’t exactly lessen much.
In Loraviel’s eyes, Liana and those strange people weren’t all that different.
However, as she calmed down and recalled Liana’s words from the night before…
She had deliberately told her she was going out alone and wouldn’t be back all night. She had left her alone in the room, as if wanting her to get a proper rest.
At that moment, Liana’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Loraviel’s slightly panicked gaze.
“What? Surprised to wake up and find someone holding you?”
“This is Your Highness’s room. You’re free to return whenever you please,” Loraviel replied, keeping her tone neutral.
“Relax. I wouldn’t do anything that boring. I could force you, but I’ve gotten tired of that. It’s too dull. I prefer it when you’re a little more… willing.”
A veiled reassurance—Liana was hinting that she wouldn’t force herself on Loraviel.
“How did you sleep last night?” Liana asked.
“…Well. Very well. Thank you, Your Highness,” Loraviel answered cautiously.
“Of course. Other rooms might have extra keys floating around, but my room? No one else has a key to this one.”
Another hint. If Loraviel wanted to truly sleep peacefully, Liana’s room was the safest place for her.
Loraviel’s expression wavered slightly.
Was this really just so I could get a good night’s rest?
Could Liana be not as terrible as they said?
A week had passed, yet Liana hadn’t done anything too excessive to her. She had simply kept her here, preventing her from attending the magic academy and making her serve as her maid.
But if all she had to do was be a maid for two years…
Considering the conditions Liana had provided, it was actually more than acceptable—
No, it was exceptionally generous.
Not only could she save up a large sum of money to send home, but she wouldn’t have to worry about future expenses at the academy either.