The Villainous Noblewoman Is About to Be Forced into Love, Isn’t This Wrong? Chapter 54: Cannibal tree, social wrist, dark psychology

"Beautiful things are ant to be destroyed by one's own hands, don’t you think?"

"Or... are you saying that even you, Countess Ruth, refuse to help ? That’s exactly what I hate about all of you! Neibet, peilu, Olivia... And now even you are standing on Loraviel’s side?!"

In Countess Ruth’s eyes, Liana was jealous of Loraviel.

"I see now... I understand." Ruth smiled slightly. "But Liana, you’re mistaken about one thing. I am not standing on Loraviel’s side. I will always stand by your side. You have my word." She pulled Liana into an embrace.

"I know, Countess Ruth. I know you’ll help —that’s why I ca to you."

She despised Ruth, but to make it more convincing, she bit down hard on her tongue. The pain forced tears to form in her eyes.

"However, using poison carries risks. If sothing were to happen to you, I would feel guilty," Ruth said, feigning concern.

Liana was certain that Ruth wouldn’t want to lose her as a pawn just yet. That’s why she confidently replied, "Then... why not give the antidote as well? I’ll keep it in my mouth. If anything unexpected happens, I can swallow it imdiately."

"How clever." Ruth chuckled, ruffling Liana’s hair in a fond gesture. "But preparing both poison and antidote will take so ti. Three days from now, go to the usual place. The passphrase is ‘Black Rose’."

"Alright! Thank you, Countess Ruth. I knew you were the best." Liana nestled into Ruth’s embrace, her face glowing with delight.

Man-eating flower. Social manipulation. Dark psychology. The secrets of human nature.

Countess Ruth was careful—exceedingly so. Liana never received anything from her directly.

The passphrase changed each ti, making it impossible for Liana to use any past interactions as evidence. She was too cautious.

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

"Even with the antidote, the poisoning process will be extrely painful. Be careful." Ruth warned.

"Of course." Liana listened to a few more concerned words from Ruth before leaving the room.

Ruth will probably moderate the poison’s potency because of . And with the antidote in hand, if anything happens to Loraviel, there’s still a way to save her.

When Liana returned to her room, two people were standing at her door.

Elina and Neibet.

"What’s this? Blocking my door—do you need sothing?" Liana asked, feigning ignorance.

"Lady Liana, where have you been?" Neibet frowned, displeased.

They had been waiting here for over an hour.

"Where I go is my own business, isn’t it?" Liana replied indifferently.

"You knew Lady Elina was coming. I even inford you about it."

"Ah, right. I do rember hearing sothing about that." Liana smirked. "But I never said I’d et her. I only said that if she wanted to see , she had to co herself. Whether I choose to see her, however, is entirely up to my mood."

Her gaze shifted to the young girl standing beside Neibet.

Elina was barely a month younger than her, yet she carried herself with a composed, mature deanor.

She was dressed in the uniform of Ibet Magic Academy—a white and blue ensemble that made her look refreshingly pure.

Elina gently patted Neibet’s shoulder, signaling her to stop speaking. She stepped forward, her golden eyes locking onto Liana’s.

"Can we talk for a bit, Liana?"

Liana raised an eyebrow. "Liana? I don’t think I can bear such familiarity, future Lord of Venus."

If peilu had other competitors for her inheritance, Elina had none.

She utterly crushed both Liana and Cain in terms of legitimacy.

Elina’s transformation had also begun around the sa ti as Liana’s—after the Duke of Venus and Lady Ambis vanished.

Both of them had changed after that incident.

So had even joked that Liana’s soul must have jumped into Elina’s body.

If it weren’t for Ruth’s influence, Elina’s young age, and the fact that she wasn’t a direct descendant of the Venus family, she likely would have already inherited everything.

Which was why Liana’s words weren’t unfounded.

"Move. I’m going inside."

"Can’t we have a proper conversation?" Elina asked.

"If you want to talk, you can do it out here. I don’t mind." Liana withdrew her hand from the doorknob. "Besides, you haven’t even given my gift yet. At the very least, let receive it before rejecting you."

"Thank you."

Liana pushed the door open.

"Not coming in? Or has it been too long, and now it feels unfamiliar?"

She smirked. "Or perhaps... Welco, future Lord, to my humble quarters."

Elina shot a glance at Neibet—who looked downright furious—and gestured for her to stay outside.

She would go in alone.

Elina stepped into Liana’s room.

It hadn’t changed much over the years.

Aside from the unfamiliar costics scattered around and the books on her desk—books that had clearly been read.

Liana kicked off her shoes, lightly flicking her toes to remove them, and jumped onto her bed.

"Find yourself a seat, Lady Elina. Or... do you prefer to sleep with ?"

Liana sprawled across the bed, her bare feet idly swaying in the air.

She had already returned the books she had taken from her mother’s room.

Before putting them back, she had erased any trace of having ever read them.

There was no need to keep them anymore.

The antidote was peilu’s responsibility now—Liana didn’t have to deal with it anymore.

The only books left on her desk were just common reading material.

Elina sat at the desk, her gaze falling on one particular book that lay open.

A fairy tale.

Her fingers twitched.

That book...

It was the sa one that Lady Ambis had read to her when she first arrived at Venus Manor, frightened and uncertain.

And—it was once Liana’s favorite book.

Is she reminiscing? Or...

"So? What brings you here, Lady Elina?" Liana’s voice was direct.

"Are you here to lecture ?"

She smirked.

"Unfortunately for you, I have no intention of listening. Nor do I plan to change anything about what I’m doing."