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

At that moment, Liana walked in just in time to hear their conversation.
Princess Mepeilu has business with me?
In the original storyline, this was supposed to be the last time Liana ever sought out Mepeilu. Could it be related to this?
But honestly, it didn’t matter much to Liana now.
“Lady Liana,” the purple-eyed knight turned to her, her melodious voice carrying a hint of dissatisfaction. “This time, what exactly is the reason you called for Princess Mepeilu?”
Over the years, Olivia had come to see Liana more times than she could count—at least ten. At this point, they were practically old acquaintances.
Liana ignored her completely. “Countess Ruth.”
Ruth was pleased. After all, her status was higher than Olivia’s. But she still had to put on an act of discipline.
“Liana! A guest is speaking to you. This is very rude!” she scolded.
“Is that so?” Liana sat down across from Olivia, cutting straight to the point. “Where’s Mepeilu?”
“Liana,” Ruth’s voice hardened.
“Alright, alright. Where is Princess Mepeilu? I don’t see her anywhere.” Liana rephrased her words but kept the same disinterested tone.
“Princess Mepeilu has urgent matters to attend to,” Olivia replied, her voice level. “For now, I have been sent to ensure your safety.”
Liana couldn’t sense magic, but the emblem on Olivia’s chest made it clear—she was a high-ranking Executor.
In this world, knights were divided into five—no, strictly speaking, six—ranks:
The few Judicators in the Lisat Kingdom only served the King or the direct heir to the throne. The fact that Mepeilu sent a high-ranking Executor to protect Liana showed just how much she still cared.
Even if Mepeilu claimed she no longer concerned herself with Liana’s affairs, her actions proved otherwise.
“When is she coming?” Liana’s haughty tone made the armored knight frown slightly.
“As soon as Princess Mepeilu finishes her work, she will come immediately. Until then, I—Olivia, High Executor of the Royal Knights—will ensure your safety.”
“Oh.” Liana nodded.
“Liana, have you run into some trouble?” Ruth asked from the side.
Every time Liana called for Mepeilu, Ruth always managed to pop up.
“No, nothing like that.” Liana’s lips curved slightly. “I just haven’t seen Mepeilu in a while. She always brings plenty of gifts whenever she comes, so I was curious about what she’d bring me this time.”
“Oh?” Ruth let out a relieved sigh.
But Olivia’s temperature visibly rose.
You called the princess over… for such a ridiculous reason?
Still, as a high-ranking Executor, Olivia had long grown used to absurd requests. She knew that no matter what she said, it wouldn’t make a difference.
After all, Mepeilu had already lectured Liana about this countless times.
Besides, the two of them were childhood friends—Olivia had no place to interfere.
Liana liked people who understood their place.
If every single person tried to lecture her, she’d be exhausted just keeping up her image.
“Liana, if there’s something you want, you can always come to me.” Ruth smiled sweetly. “I’ll get you anything you desire. So there’s no need to trouble Princess Mepeilu over such things anymore.”
“Mmm, sure.” Liana nodded. “If I ever find something I really like, I’ll come straight to you, Countess Ruth.”
Satisfied, Ruth decided it was time to leave.
“There are some family matters I need to handle, so I won’t keep you two any longer.” She stood up gracefully.
“Please take care, Countess Ruth.” Liana watched as the woman walked away.
With Ruth successfully fooled, Liana turned her sights onto Olivia.
Although Nabet was teaching Loraviel some self-defense techniques, at the end of the day—she was just a maid.
Her rank was lower than Olivia’s—Loraviel was a Junior Executor, while Olivia was a High Executor trained by the royal family.
If Liana was going to get someone qualified, it had to be Olivia.
“I’m perfectly safe. I don’t need your protection,” Liana said.
But Olivia wouldn’t budge.
She followed Mepeilu’s orders, not Liana’s.
“My duty is only to protect you, Lady Liana.”
“Well, then your job is done. You can go now. I asked for Mepeilu, not you.”
“Until Princess Mepeilu arrives, I will remain by your side.”
“Then… how about we make a deal?” Liana suddenly proposed.
Olivia didn’t even acknowledge her.
She had heard this before.
Every time Liana brought up ‘a deal,’ she would always demand something outrageous.
“You wouldn’t want Mepeilu to keep getting dragged here every time, would you?”
“You—”
This was the first time Liana had used Mepeilu as leverage against Olivia.
And the worst part?
Olivia knew she would do it.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Not only would Liana summon Mepeilu, but the princess would actually come—even if it was begrudgingly.
“You’ve broken agreements plenty of times before.” Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Why should I believe you now?”
She had dealt with Liana before.
Even when Olivia upheld her end of the bargain flawlessly, Liana would conveniently ‘forget’ and act as if the agreement had never happened.
Because of Liana’s status, Olivia couldn’t even call her out on it.
All she could do was drop the matter.
“Oh, nothing. Believe me or don’t—it’s up to you.” Liana waved dismissively. “I just had a sudden thought. Feel free to ignore it.”
And that—
That was exactly why Olivia found her so infuriating.
But no matter how annoying Liana was, if this really meant lightening Mepeilu’s burden, Olivia had to at least consider it.
“…Fine.” Olivia exhaled sharply. “Tell me what the deal is.”
Of course, she had her own principles.
This was Liana.
There was no way Olivia was blindly walking into this.
Liana glanced around.
Ruth was definitely eavesdropping somewhere.
This wasn’t a safe place to talk.
“Come to my room for a bit?” she suggested.
“Whatever it is, say it here. I am not going into your room.” Olivia’s tone was firm.
She was so damn uptight sometimes.
“Fine.” Liana shrugged.
Originally, she planned to negotiate properly.
But now?
Well, looks like she was about to make someone hate her again.
Not that Olivia didn’t already dislike her.
“I want you to train my maid. Teach her some magic and self-defense.”
“No.”
Olivia rejected her instantly.