She knew very wellâSharido and Liana were the same kind of people. Teaching someone like that would only make her even more arrogant, using power to oppress others.
Liana blinked, clearly not expecting such strong resistance from Olivia.
âI thought this was a pretty good deal.â She shrugged.
âA good deal?â Olivia scoffed. âWhatâs so âgoodâ about it? Teaching Sharido stronger abilities so she can help you bully people more effectively?â
â...â
Oh.
Liana finally understood why Olivia had rejected her.
âSharido is no longer part of the Venus family. She isnât my maid anymore.â
âDoesnât matter.â Olivia wasnât bothering with politeness anymore. She didnât belong to the Venus family, so there was no reason to be deferential to Liana. âThe problem is you. Do you get that? Even if itâs a new maid, she still has to obey your orders. I refuse to see someone using the skills I teach to oppress others.â
âOppress others?â
A slow smile spread across Lianaâs lips.
âI think youâre misunderstanding something.â
âIâm not training her so she can bully people. Besidesâ if that was my goal, why wouldnât I just find someone even stronger?â
Liana leaned forward slightly, voice casual.
âI chose you because I figured the Royal Knights would train her better. If my maid is going to serve me, she should at least be durable enough to last. Otherwise, whatâs the fun in having her faint from a little exertion?â
Silence.
For a moment, Olivia genuinely thought she had misheard.
Did⦠did she really just say that?
How the hell did human language even form sentences like this?
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Slowly, she lifted her head, staring straight at Liana.
âAre you even human?â
Princess Mepeilu had once told her that Liana used to be kind, warmhearted, and beloved by everyone.
But nowâshe was like this.
For the first time, Olivia genuinely wonderedâ
Was Liana actually a demon in disguise?
Because no human talked like that.
âProbably,â Liana smirked. âSo? Do we have a deal?â
âFine. I accept.â
In the end, Olivia gave in.
Because she knewâif she refused, Liana would just find someone else.
And that someone else wouldnât train her maid as strictly as the Royal Knights.
If Olivia taught her properly, the girl might even gain the strength to escape Liana.
Sheâd have to inform Princess Mepeilu about this.
Liana clapped her hands together, satisfied.
âIâll be looking forward to it, then. The Royal Knightsâ training better not disappoint me.â
âDonât break the deal.â Olivia warned. âRemember what we agreed on.â
âHmm? What deal?â
Liana smiled.
Olivia really wanted to punch her.
She was doing this on purpose.
By forcing Olivia to get involved, Liana was ensuring that she wouldnât be able to just stand by and do nothing.
This wasnât a deal at all.
It was a trap.
Damn.
Liana was good.
ââ¦Nothing.â Olivia took a deep breath. She knew there was no point in arguingâLiana wasnât going to listen anyway. âI get to decide the training schedule, then?â
Liana thought for a moment.
âIn the mornings, sheâll study etiquette under Nabet. Afternoons, she trains with you. And at night⦠of course, sheâll come and keep me company.â Her smirk widened. âSounds like an enviably full schedule, doesnât it?â
âOh, and actuallyââ Liana tapped her chin, as if just remembering something.
âSheâs almost done with her etiquette lessons, so Iâll be giving her mornings to you as well. Hope you donât disappoint me.â
Olivia frowned. âAnd when is she supposed to rest?â
Liana blinked. âWhat are you talking about? Spending the night with me isnât the best kind of rest?â
ââ¦I was talking about the maid.â Olivia felt like she was about to snap.
Liana shook the bell in her hand.
The sound rang out.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Loraviel stepped in, her movements elegant and precise.
She had never met Olivia before.
But from Oliviaâs uniform, it was obvious she was a knight of high standing.
Placing her right hand over her chest and pinching the hem of her skirt lightly with her left, Loraviel gave a polite bow.
âHonored Royal Knight, I am Loraviel Calipot, Lady Lianaâs personal maid.â
Her pitifully delicate demeanor, coupled with her flawless etiquette, made Oliviaâs stomach churn.
She cursed Liana in her heartâagain.
âWell?â Lianaâs voice was light, teasing.
What else could Olivia say?
It was obviousâthis girl had been coerced.
ââ¦Itâs already afternoon.â Olivia exhaled. âThat means Loraviel is mine for the rest of the day, correct?â
Liana thought about it for a second before flashing a mockingly thoughtful smile.
âDo as you please. Just donât push her too hard.â
âYouâre so âthoughtful,â arenât you?â Olivia snorted.
Without another word, she took Loraviel and left.
Liana stretched lazily and left the room as well.
Back in her own chambers, Liana collapsed onto her luxurious bed.
Bored.
Mepeilu still hadnât arrived.
And as for the three remaining booksâ
Liana flipped through them idly.
They were all about advanced magic.
Butâ
They were far beyond her current level.
Until she properly learned magic, none of it made sense.
Moreoverâ
Ruth had been keeping a closer eye on her lately.
Ever since Sharido was removed, Liana had no more spies planted around her.
Which meantâ
Ruth was more suspicious.
If Liana openly snuck into her parentsâ room, it would only make things worse.
Butâ
The Venus estateâs library?
That was fair game.
Just as she was thinking thisâ
Knock, knock.
âLady Liana.â
Loravielâs voice.
She had finished bathing and was here to warm the bed.
Liana sat up. Perfect timing.
With Olivia training her now, she had a perfect excuse to take Loraviel to the library.
Liana changed out of her nightgown into something suitable for leaving the room.
âCome with me.â
Loraviel hesitated but ultimately nodded. âYes, my lady.â
The two arrived at the Venus estateâs grand library.
âApologies, but the library is closed for the night. Please return tomorââ
The librarian turned to see who it was.
And froze.
Liana?
At this hour?
In the past three years, not once had Liana stepped foot in this place.
âOpen the door.â
The librarian hesitated.
âLady Lianaâ¦â
He looked uncertain.