The Villainous Noblewoman Is About to Be Forced into Love, Isn’t This Wrong? Chapter 34

"I hate you, peilu."

Ruth watched as Liana stord away, barely able to hide the smile creeping onto her lips.

Still, she had to scold Liana to keep up appearances.

"Liana! Is that how you speak to Grand Princess peilu?"

After rebuking Liana, Ruth turned to peilu, putting on an apologetic expression.

"I’m terribly sorry, Grand Princess peilu. It’s my fault—I haven’t disciplined her well enough. I’ve spoiled her too much, and this is the result."

"Get out."

Minoja cut Ruth off imdiately.

"Y-Yes, of course!" Ruth nodded frantically, unsure why Minoja seed to despise her so much.

But peilu had no patience for Ruth’s words right now. She rubbed her eyes, exhausted.

"Countess Ruth, I need so ti to rest. Let’s discuss any matters tomorrow."

Ruth had planned to say sothing polite, but when she saw Minoja’s hand on the hilt of her sword, she wisely shut her mouth and left, closing the door behind her.

As soon as the door clicked shut, peilu collapsed into a chair, sighing deeply.

How did things end up like this?

Minoja stood silently beside her, saying nothing.

Now that Liana had left, peilu felt herself calming down.

She had always had this weakness—whenever she faced Liana, she would lose all rationality.

She began replaying the day’s events, analyzing them carefully.

Sothing about Liana was... off.

She clutched the vial of forbidden drug in her hands.

"Minoja... this is a forbidden drug, isn’t it?"

"Without a doubt."

"..."

"But these ingredients—they an nothing to the Venus family. Even if outsiders found them strange, this drug is forbidden knowledge. No one should even be aware of it.

"And she’s Liana. She’s never needed logic in her actions.

"So why? Why would she take such a risk just to ask for them?"

peilu frowned, deep in thought.

"This vial... it looks like it was brewed a while ago. It must have been made long before we arrived—even before Liana called here.

"But it hasn’t been opened yet."

"If Liana really planned to use it to harm soone, there would be no reason to keep it until now.

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

"And if she was going to call , why not wait until after she used the ingredients?

"If she had done that, even if soone discovered what the materials were for, there wouldn’t be any evidence left. She could have made up any excuse to cover it up."

peilu’s thoughts were spinning faster and faster.

"Unless... this drug wasn’t ant for soone else.

"It was ant for Liana herself."

"That would explain everything.

"Why she could still use basic magic at first—but later lost the ability completely!"

peilu’s heart raced.

"You’re still defending Liana, Grand Princess peilu. But this is only your own speculation, isn’t it?" Minoja’s voice was calm.

peilu knew.

Minoja only cared about the kingdom. To her, facts were absolute—there were only yes or no answers.

peilu bit her lip.

"I just... don’t want to regret anything ever again."

"...What are you planning to do, Grand Princess peilu?"

"If this is true...

"Then Liana must have another reason for needing these materials."

peilu stood up and headed for the door.

"Where are you going at this hour?" Minoja asked.

"There’s sothing I need to confirm."

Although the mory was faint, peilu found her way to the room of Ambis and Duke Venus.

"Grand Princess peilu!"

The knights guarding the room saluted her.

Since this was the night of the ball, there were many guests. If soone slipped into the Duke’s quarters, it would be disastrous. So Neybert had stationed guards here.

peilu nodded at them.

"Are you here to enter Duke Venus’s chamber, Grand Princess?" one of the knights asked.

"Yes."

"I understand."

The knight turned to another guard. "Go inform Lady Neybert. I will remain on watch here."

"Understood."

peilu actually had a key to this room—Ambis had given it to her personally.

But she had never planned to visit this place again.

So she hadn’t brought it.

peilu stepped forward, a wave of nostalgia washing over her.

She reached out her hand—

But before she could touch the door, the knight warned her.

"Grand Princess peilu, please do not touch the door casually. Duke Venus’s chamber is protected by magic.

"During the ball, it’s best not to trigger any alarms."

"...Alarms?"

peilu could feel the magic surrounding the room.

"This... this wasn’t here before."

"Grand Princess peilu," Minoja reminded her, "how long has it been since you last ca to this room?"

"...Five years? No, maybe four..."

Ever since Liana changed, peilu had never set foot here.

She couldn’t.

She had no right to face Ambis and Duke Venus anymore.

But under normal circumstances, there was no need for such a powerful protective spell.

Which ant—

Soone had broken in before.

peilu felt herself getting closer to the truth.

"Did sothing happen here before?" she asked the knight.

"I don’t know the details. Ah—Lady Neybert is here. You should ask her, Grand Princess. She knows more than I do."

"Grand Princess peilu."

Neybert bowed, one hand over her chest, the other lifting her skirt in a perfect curtsy.

"We et again, Neybert." peilu greeted her lightly.

"Have you co to Duke Venus’s chamber for a reason, Grand Princess?" Neybert gestured for the guards to stand down.

"I don’t recall this room being protected by magic before. Did sothing happen?"

"I’m not entirely sure," Neybert replied.

"I wasn’t in the Venus estate at the ti.

"I was away on a mission.

"But when I returned, I was inford that soone had broken into the Duke’s chamber."

Neybert paused, then continued.

"But after thorough investigation, nothing was missing.

"Still, as a precaution, we reinforced the room’s security."

"When exactly did this happen?"

"...Three years ago."

peilu’s heart stopped for a mont.

That was... a very convenient ti fra.

She felt like she was one step away from the truth.

"Neybert... has Liana co to this room recently?" peilu asked.

Neybert hesitated.

"Grand Princess peilu... how did you know?"

peilu’s pulse pounded in her ears.

"When was it?"

"...About a month ago."

It matches.

The timing fits.