NOVEL WEB chapter 28 - Is there a possibility that Sister Liana is back?
Liana was dressed in an elegant light blue evening gown, the soft fabric flowing gracefully around her as the evening breeze brushed against her. She looked as if she had stepped out of a painting—delicate silk shimmering under the moonlight, her smooth skirt swaying with every measured step.
Her makeup was minimal, yet it only accentuated her beauty. She didn’t need anything excessive—this confidence, this striking allure, was what made her the perfect villainess.
And right now, it was her only advantage.
As she walked toward the ballroom, she noticed several unfamiliar faces—nobles from the Venus territory who had been invited for this important occasion.
Whenever she had summoned Mepeilu in the past, there had never been such an elaborate gathering.
This time, things were different.
Liana recalled Olivia’s words—Mepeilu had something important to discuss with her.
Was this the reason for all of this?
"Long time no see, Liana."
The voice was unfamiliar. And yet—it carried a distinct sense of familiarity.
Liana lifted her gaze.
Standing before her was a young woman clad in a light blue dress, a sheer white shawl draped elegantly over her shoulders, highlighting every delicate curve of her figure. Sapphire earrings sparkled against her midnight-black hair, which cascaded down to her waist, a few mischievous strands playing in the wind.
Unlike other noblewomen, she wore no elaborate headdress—just a simple, light blue ribbon gently tying a portion of her hair back.
A thin purple crystal rested against her throat, glowing faintly, making her snow-white skin appear even more radiant. A sky-blue bracelet adorned her wrist, its presence subtle yet enhancing the porcelain-like glow of her hands.
Golden eyes—soft, calm, yet filled with something unreadable—looked at Liana with quiet warmth.
“Elina.” Liana let out a soft breath, her lips curling into a smirk. “You still like copying me, just like before.”
Elina Venus. The third heir to the Venus estate.
A girl adopted by her parents, once Liana’s devoted little shadow. She had followed her everywhere, imitating her every move.
The original novel had even mentioned—briefly—that the reason Elina had worked so desperately to become an heir was because of an agreement she had made with Liana.
What kind of agreement?
The novel never elaborated.
And Liana herself had no memory of it.
Elina made no excuses for her resemblance to Liana.
Instead, she openly admitted it.
“I have always been learning from you, Sister Liana. But I’m not copying you, Liana.”
“Oh?” Liana raised an eyebrow. “So, in your eyes, I was just a phase?”
Elina chuckled softly.
“Beautiful things should be preserved,” she mused. “They shouldn’t be destroyed. They should be kept at their most perfect moment. Don’t you think so?”
Her approach was different from Mepeilu’s.
Instead of treating Liana as a single person, she separated her into two—
The past Liana.
And the present Liana.
The past Liana, the noblewoman who once stood above all, remained untouched, perfect, untarnished.
No matter what Liana did now, it had nothing to do with that Liana.
And, in turn, no matter what happened to this Liana, Elina would not interfere.
After all, in the original story—she never did.
Because of the agreement.
"Is that so?"
Liana wasn’t interested in having a long conversation with her. But it was clear—Elina had come here for her.
Her gaze flickered briefly toward the woman standing beside Elina.
She already had a good guess of what this was about.
"Did you need something from me?"
"Not particularly," Elina replied. "I simply haven’t seen you in a while. I wanted to stop by."
She didn’t bring up Loraviel.
She knew that Liana—this Liana—would not give in so easily.
And pushing too hard would take time.
With the ball about to start, wasting too much of it here would be pointless.
"I see," Liana murmured.
Then, her smirk widened.
"So? You’ve been gone for quite a while. Did you bring me a gift?"
Not only did she not intend to welcome Elina back—she shamelessly expected a present.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than .net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Elina, however, wasn’t surprised.
"Of course," she replied smoothly. "But I can’t give it to you until after the ball."
"Then I’ll look forward to it."
Liana stepped past her, paying no further attention.
Loraviel, standing beside her, lowered her head slightly in a polite bow.
After all, Elina was still an heir to the Venus family. Basic etiquette was required.
"Lady Elina."
The woman beside Elina—Naibet—spoke in a hushed voice.
"That maid beside Princess Liana is the one I mentioned earlier. Her name is Loraviel."
Elina nodded.
Her gaze had already fallen on Loraviel.
She watched carefully.
Yet—she saw no obvious signs of struggle.
No visible hatred.
But also—no signs of gratitude.
Loraviel did not look like a broken girl, nor a grateful servant.
She simply looked… ordinary.
And her mental state—
Far better than Naibet had described.
“She seems… well,” Elina noted.
“Loraviel’s condition has improved significantly,” Naibet admitted. “But I believe it’s because of her training with Lady Olivia. Olivia-sama has likely been protecting her.”
“…Protecting her?”
Elina’s lips curled slightly.
A thought crossed her mind.
“Tell me, Naibet—do you think there’s a possibility?”
“…A possibility of what?”
Elina tilted her head slightly, golden eyes glinting under the chandelier’s glow.
“That Loraviel has already fallen.”
Naibet’s breath hitched.
“…What?”
“That she has already surrendered. That she is no longer struggling. That she has simply accepted her situation.”
A long silence stretched between them.
Naibet’s lips parted slightly—but no words came.
It was possible.
After all—
The nights were long.
Loraviel had been alone with Liana for weeks.
And—
A month ago, at the last ball—Liana had said something very interesting to her.
“…No.”
Naibet finally spoke, shaking her head.
“She hasn’t.”
And yet—her voice wasn’t as certain as before.
Elina chuckled.
“You say that, but—if she had, what would you do?”
Naibet’s fists clenched.
“If that were the case,” she murmured, “then she has to be pulled out—immediately. Otherwise, once Liana grows tired of her… her fate will be tragic.”
“Mm.”
Elina nodded, watching Liana’s retreating figure.
"That’s what I thought, too."
Naibet’s gaze flickered toward her.
"And Lady Elina’s stance on this?"
Elina swirled the wine in her glass, watching the way the full moon reflected in the liquid.
"Tell me, Naibet—do you think there’s a possibility?"
She smiled, taking a slow sip.
"That my dear Sister Liana… is finally coming back?"
Naibet stiffened.
“…Lady Elina, you seem to be in a very good mood tonight.”
Elina chuckled softly.
"Perhaps I am."
Her golden eyes gleamed.
"Things are starting to get interesting."