Responses
I mean she didn't have the political standing to be able to tell him off before. It's only recently that she's achieved power and then she had to kind of play into the duke's interest/put up with his behaviour to investigate him creating a potential rebellion.
Also, men are scary, especially big crazy ones. She's strong but unfortunately, she isn't Superman and the title of saintess only protects her so much Him being a duke and having allyship with multiple other people (hence rebellion) would mean he would only get a slap on the wrist if he hurt her (and she knows this).
I've read many chapters of this story and I am very frustrated that the FL Niveia don't do real shit against Duke Aetius!!!
Everytime she encounters him, she just gets angry, endures, holds herself back, throwing some comedic tantrums and doesn't really win against him. ヽ(`Д´)ノ
Only recently in Ch106-107 did she finally criticize Aetius directly out loud but he only gets more obsessed & determined + it is shown that she is intimidated by him...
Lion Bitch Melissa Podebrat (Beware the Villainess) + Su Lüxia did far more damages to OG Male Leads than any other Isekai Heroines/Transmigrators with their own strenght!!!!!
Niveia pales in comparison to Villainess Melissa Podebrat who single-handedly destroyed the huge egos of four shitty Male Leads. ( ̄へ ̄)