The Villainous Noblewoman Is About to Be Forced into Love, Isn’t This Wrong? Chapter 80: King Lisat

peilu’s pressure was too much!

“Mm, I understand. In about a week, I should be able to send it to Her Highness Liana.”

Since this was a new technique, it wasn’t yet fully mastered and required more ti.

“How is it? Does the royal cuisine suit your taste?” peilu asked. “If you need anything, just place your hand on that magic book, and soone will co imdiately.”

Magic again. It seed that the demand for magic in the Lisat royal capital had increased significantly. People unable to use magic were probably struggling to find a place for themselves.

However, the number of people who could use magic was also increasing rapidly. Before long, the number of those unable to use magic might beco the minority.

Even so, this kind of discrimination made Liana feel quite uncomfortable.

“It looks like without magic, it’s impossible to take even a step in Lisat’s royal capital,” Liana sighed. Five years ago, things hadn’t been like this.

“This was the decision of the First Prince, Hodwin Lisat. He believes that those unable to use magic will inevitably beco a burden to Lisat. No matter what, the contributions of non-magic users can never surpass those who can wield magic.”

“The old king doesn’t think that way, does he?” Liana questioned. The Lisat King shouldn’t be fond of such policies.

“His Majesty the King has almost no involvent in the kingdom’s affairs anymore. He has handed everything over to the three princes for governance. Right now, it’s a state of precarious stability—after all, there are three princes.”

“If soone wants to target one of them, they must also be wary of the other two. Since none of the heirs can eliminate the others outright, they can only focus on completing their own tasks.”

“As long as it doesn’t cause massive disruption to Lisat, His Majesty turns a blind eye. Besides, considering the current results, the policy seems to be working well.”

“Even though so might see it as unfair, overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Moreover, those who can’t use magic but have talents are still rewarded—just not as much as those who can.”

“I see.” Liana could understand the First Prince’s reasoning. It was extre, but undeniably effective.

“By the way, Liana, His Majesty the King wishes to see you. Will you co with ?” philang asked.

“His Majesty...?”

To be honest, Liana didn’t really want to go. It was the King after all. She felt a bit pressured. Besides, it had been five years since she last t him.

How was she supposed to face him now? It was a problem. But it was also sothing she had to deal with eventually. Even if she refused now, she would have to et him sooner or later.

And besides, rejecting the invitation now didn’t seem to offer any benefits.

“...I feel a little nervous,” Liana admitted.

“The King isn’t that scary. Just relax,” philang reassured her.

“Do I need to prepare a gift or sothing? Does the King know about the mischief I’ve been up to? Do I have to explain everything that’s happened lately?”

“Your Highness Liana, you sound like soone about to et their lover’s parents for the first ti,” Minoja comnted.

Liana didn’t have any particular reaction to Minoja’s words. It was her first ti eting the King, so it was natural to feel a little nervous. She had also heard all sorts of exaggerated stories about him growing up. Plus, her parents seed to have a good relationship with the King, which only made her worry more—what if she got scolded?

However, upon hearing her own words, Minoja’s face turned red, and she frantically tried to wave it off.

This woman really couldn’t resist stirring up trouble!

“Feeling nervous about eting the King is normal, isn’t it?” Liana sighed. “Besides, my reputation isn’t exactly great. Maybe His Majesty has already heard about ?”

In public, her golden status was useful. But in front of the King, it was just laughable.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out,” Minoja said.

“No need to prepare gifts. His Majesty doesn’t care about such things... Just showing up is enough,” philang added.

“...Alright.” The only way to know was to go and et him.

Worrying about it now wouldn’t change anything.

“Shall we go now? Since I’ve decided, I don’t want to waste ti.”

“Have you finished eating, Liana?”

“Mm, I’m full. Besides, with you around, philang, do you think I’d ever go hungry in Lisat’s royal capital?” Liana teased with a smile.

“You could never go hungry with here, don’t worry,” philang replied with a playful grin, standing up. “Alright, follow .”

As the two of them stepped out of the room, Liana was surprised to see that the outside was already packed with people.

And this was before the festival had even started. She couldn’t imagine how much livelier it would be once it did.

Just looking at the scene made Liana’s social anxiety act up. If she was made to stand on that stage and speak, there was absolutely no way she could do it.

She raised her head and saw a man standing on the high stage, dressed in luxurious attire. His golden hair alone was enough to indicate his status. Every movent he made exuded regal grace.

That man was the current King of Lisat—Auster Lisat.

At the mont, he was addressing the nobles who supported him.

But Liana had no interest in what he was saying.

At that mont, Auster lifted his gaze. His crimson eyes locked onto Liana.

For a few seconds, their eyes t.

Then, Auster’s lips curved into a mysterious smile.

Liana felt nothing but disgust. A shiver ran down her spine.

Auster didn’t care much for the bloodline struggles within the royal family. He wasn’t as decisive and sharp as the First Prince, nor was he as beloved by the people as peilu.

But his age was on his side. He had achieved as much as they had, despite being younger.

That was why he used... certain special thods.

“...What is it?” philang turned back and followed Liana’s gaze.

She saw Auster.

Without hesitation, she instinctively moved to shield Liana behind her.

She leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry, Liana. I won’t let him hurt you.”

“It’s nothing,” Liana exhaled and shrugged her shoulders. “Let’s just go.”

Leaving the noise of the banquet behind, Liana finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Liana, it seems like you don’t enjoy these kinds of occasions. You weren’t this resistant before," peilu remarked.

"That was then, this is now," Liana shrugged.

She didn’t mind standing in front of a crowd, as long as she convinced herself she was just an NPC. But if possible, she would rather avoid such situations altogether.

"It’s taking forever," Liana suddenly muttered.

They had been walking for over ten minutes, yet it felt like they hadn’t moved at all.

She had always thought the Venus Manor was vast, and she was well aware that the royal palace would be even larger, but the Lisat royal capital’s palace was far beyond her expectations.

"With so many guests, it’s not possible to host the banquet too close to His Majesty’s quarters," peilu explained.

"That makes sense." But compared to this, her own ho seed almost compact.

After walking for another five minutes, Liana noticed knights clad in black armor and mages in gray robes standing on both sides of the corridor.

Their sheer presence was enough to intimidate any outsiders.

A quick glance down the hall revealed at least ten such units standing in formation.

And these were only the outer gate guards. Inside the palace, there were surely even more formidable royal protectors.

With such an overwhelming security presence, any intruder would abandon the idea of infiltration just by looking at them.

"Your Highness, Princess. Your Highness, Lady Liana."

Every ti they passed a set of guards, the knights and mages greeted them with bows.

"Now that I think about it, this is your first ti here, isn’t it, Liana?" peilu asked.

"It seems so." Liana searched her mory but found no recollection of ever stepping foot in this place.

Most of her royal visits had been to the royal garden, accompanying her mother.

Five years ago, it was the King himself who had co to Venus Manor to see her.

But now, everyone was older, though Liana felt as if she had been old from the very start.

Her heartbeat quickened as they approached the inner security checkpoint. Seeing guards of this caliber, it was impossible not to feel nervous.

peilu sensed Liana’s tension and casually linked arms with her.

"Relax. Don’t be too nervous. I’ll be right by your side."

"Mm." Liana’s breathing steadied.

At the end of the corridor, two stunning won stood guard. However, their insignias and the lack of any detectable magic aura made it imdiately clear that these two were far from ordinary.

They were a High Executor Knight and a High Executor Mage—the King’s personal enforcers.

"Your Highness, Princess. Your Highness, Lady Liana."

"His Majesty should have already inford you of our visit. We’re here to see him," peilu stated.

"Yes. However, Princess, you should know that protocol still applies." The Executor Mage’s voice was firm.

"Understood." peilu turned to Liana. "Liana, stay calm. They just need to check if we’re carrying anything dangerous. It’s a magic-based scan, so it might feel slightly uncomfortable, but bear with it."

"Alright." Liana nodded.

"Excuse us, Your Highnesses."

A wave of magical energy wrapped around Liana. It wasn’t painful, just an eerie sensation of her entire body being scanned.

A few monts later, the results ca in—both peilu and Liana had passed the inspection.

"His Majesty is expecting you inside." The guards stepped aside and unlocked the mithril gate.

Liana stepped forward, taking a deep breath as the fresh air filled her lungs.

What lay before her was a breathtakingly beautiful courtyard.

She walked along a pebble-paved path, surrounded by ancient, verdant trees.

Between the trees, delicate green flowers swayed gently in the breeze, releasing a faint, pleasant fragrance.

At the courtyard’s center, a fountain gurgled softly. Its crystal-clear water shimred, and at the bottom of the fountain, tiny fragnts of star sand glittered like specks of blue light against the polished marble, resembling jade.

Sunlight filtered through the water, scattering into brilliant golden reflections—they landed softly on the back of a man tending to his garden.

He held a watering can, carefully nurturing the delicate seedlings.

Noticing their arrival, the man finally spoke.

"Welco to my garden."

At this mont, there were only two people in this courtyard.

Liana recalled that the King should be over fifty years old by now.

In this world, magic extended lifespans, so he shouldn’t have visibly aged too much.

Yet the traces of ti had clearly left their mark. His hair had turned gray.

He wore no extravagant robes, nor did he adorn his royal crown.

If anything, he looked less like a king and more like a humble old man devoted to his flowers.

But soon, Liana realized—she was wrong.

Though his golden hair had been touched by ti, streaked with white, his sharp eyes remained as piercing and authoritative as ever.

Even without speaking, his presence carried an undeniable air of command.

The weight of his gaze alone was enough to make Liana feel oppressed.

"Your Majesty." Liana placed both hands over her chest and bowed her head in greeting.

"Liana."

The King of Lisat’s voice was deep and powerful.

"It’s been a long ti."

peilu, standing to the side, felt a sudden surge of nervousness.

Why was she feeling tense?

She had t the King countless tis before. Why did it feel different now?

"It has been five years, Your Majesty."

The King studied her carefully. "You’re not quite what the rumors say."

"Is that so?"

Liana stood perfectly composed, hands folded in front of her.

Not a hint of rebellion could be seen in her deanor.

The King put down his watering can and walked towards the pavilion.

"Sit."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Liana sat upright, her posture exemplary.

peilu sat beside her, resting a hand on Liana’s hand.

A mont later, several vines extended across the table, carefully placing down a teapot and teacups, pouring steaming-hot tea for everyone.

"This is..." Liana observed the intricate floral crest on the cups—they were being manipulated by magic.

"In the original story, the King rarely acted directly. After peilu’s mother passed, he had hidden away in the shadows, seldom interfering in the governance of Lisat."

But his children had not disappointed him. The kingdom flourished under their rule.

Still, Liana recalled hearing whispers—that certain figures within the royal family were becoming increasingly restless.

"If anyone underestimated the Lisat King because of his seemingly frail appearance... they would pay a terrible price."

Back in his pri, he had broken the shackles of tradition with his own fists and seized the throne single-handedly.

Never mind his royal guards—King Lisat himself was a Judicator-ranked powerhouse, ranking among the top ten Judicators in the world.

"Try it," King Lisat said.

"Alright."

Liana looked at the steaming cup, blew on it slightly, and took a small sip.

She froze.

Her entire body turned stone-cold, her expression stiff, her eye twitching uncontrollably.

【This is so bitter!!!】

Liana slowly set down the cup, a polite smile on her lips.

"It has a very refined taste, Your Majesty."

"Really? That’s strange. I rember Father’s tea always having a peculiar flavor."

Trusting Liana, peilu took a small sip.

A mont later, she stuck out her tongue, grimacing.

"It’s so bitter...!"

Imdiately, Liana felt a pair of resentful eyes locking onto her.

"Liar."

"Hahahahaha!"

King Lisat burst into hearty laughter.

"Liana, you’ve beco much more diplomatic."

Liana simply responded with a courteous smile.

The King, clearly enjoying his tea, seed genuinely satisfied. Or perhaps... not. It appeared everyone had their own unique tastes.

"Haha... Your Majesty, you have a rather distinct palate," Liana said, choosing her words carefully. "People’s tastes vary. So might even enjoy the subtle sweetness that lingers afterward."

Internally, however—

【Who in their right mind would like sothing this bitter?! How do you even drink this?!】

King Lisat set his cup down, his piercing gaze locking onto her.

"You’re tactful, and quite different from how outsiders describe you. It seems there are many misunderstandings about you in the world."

Liana felt a cold sweat form on the back of her neck.

"Is this... the power of a Judicator?"

She had used no magic whatsoever, yet he had seen right through her in an instant.

This was bad.

If a Judicator could detect things so effortlessly, then the Judicator by Auster’s side would undoubtedly report it to him as well.

"Your Majesty, how did you know that I can use magic?" Liana asked cautiously.

"Minoja told ."

"......"

Liana felt speechless.

"Then, if Miss Minoja hadn’t told you, would you have been able to tell?"

This was crucial information.

It would determine her next course of action.

King Lisat chuckled. "As of now, no one can determine magic ability just by looking at soone. If you don’t actively use magic, even I wouldn’t be able to tell."

Liana exhaled in relief.

She could still keep it hidden for a while longer.

"But, you’ve truly surprised ," King Lisat continued, his gaze filled with interest. "Minoja told everything about what you’ve been through these past few years. To think that at such a young age, you were able to think so far ahead."

Liana could only offer her well-practiced, ambiguous smile.

"To think Saint Lucia would be so ruthless to her own maid that she resorted to using forbidden substances," King Lisat mused. "Though... that’s quite fitting for noble politics."

He studied Liana closely, as if waiting for her response.

Liana shook her head. "Your Majesty, you’ve misunderstood Countess Ruth."

"Aside from being a terrible father, do we have any evidence that she wasn’t involved?"

King Lisat raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued.

"So, Minoja wasn’t exaggerating. Fine, let hear what you, the so-called 'villain,' think."

Liana hesitated for a mont before deciding to speak her mind.

"My thoughts? They’re not that complicated. Venus Manor still needs stabilization. We need soone who can unify people—a presentable figure. And for that role, Countess Ruth is the best choice."

"She may want her son to inherit the Venus estate, but even if you gave her twice the courage, she wouldn’t dare to dabble in forbidden arts."

"In fact, I suspect she doesn’t even know about the forbidden magic involved in this incident."

"That leaves only one possibility—soone must be backing her. A noble, likely one of the heirs, using this event to drag peilu down with ."

"Over the past three years, peilu has lost so supporters because of —directly ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) or indirectly."

"If Countess Ruth wants to use to harm peilu, then why can’t I use her own intentions against her to find the mastermind behind all this?"

Among the three heirs, excluding peilu, only two remained.

It wasn’t difficult to narrow it down.

The challenge was finding evidence.

"That’s why I want to maintain the current situation and keep up appearances. That’s what I intend to do next."

King Lisat nodded. "You wish to prove your worth to your father?"

"My father and I have survived life-and-death situations together. If he ignored , it wasn’t because he didn’t care—it was because Venus Manor is a battlefield of its own. If I can’t rise above the power struggles, then I have no right to be acknowledged."

"A king bears responsibility for an entire kingdom. Personal sentints cannot override national duty."

"Just as Your Majesty does now—you’re well aware of the unrest among your people. This, too, is your test for the heirs."

"Can they eliminate the hidden threats within Lisat? Can they root out the traitors? As future rulers, these are their trials."

King Lisat had always been satisfied with peilu.

His only concern had been Liana.

But now... he seed sowhat reassured.

"Clap, clap, clap."

King Lisat applauded.

"Impressive. Very impressive."

The repeated praise made Liana slightly embarrassed.

"It’s nothing much... just a small effort to make up for what peilu has lost."

She gently squeezed peilu’s hand.

King Lisat smiled. "I can entrust Venus Manor to you with peace of mind."

Liana, however, shook her head.

"Your Majesty, I’m not interested in inheriting the Venus estate. I believe my sister, Aileen, is far more suited for the role."

"Even if I were qualified, I wouldn’t take the position. It’s way too much of a hassle."

"Aileen can have it."

King Lisat chuckled. "Aileen, huh? She is indeed a promising candidate."

Even though he had stepped back from politics, he still kept an eye on the promising successors among the nobility.

"I am rely an old man who enjoys gardening now," he said with a sigh. "As long as you don’t threaten Lisat, I will not interfere in your struggles for power."

Then, he turned to peilu.

"I am very satisfied with you. You are intelligent and diligent. But you understand well—power struggles are cruel."

Finally, he looked at Liana.

"Just as your father entrusted with his trust, I now entrust peilu to you."

peilu’s face flushed red.

"F-Father... what do you an by that?!"

"What do you an, 'entrust peilu to '?!