The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

As Isis entered the lounge, she looked cautious, as if quietly getting up from her seat and welcoming would not offend her by the usual rumors. Isis liked it so much that she felt a little better.

“Don’t stand there like that and sit down, Lady Mielle.”

When Isis sat on the other side, Mielle, who put her butt on, carefully asked how she had been. It wasn’t long ago that she had met her at the engagement ceremony of the Marquis of Vincent, but she seemed to have no other topic to bring up.

Isis replied without faking it, “As you know, it wasn’t very good. It’s because there’s been a rumor going around.”

“I’ve heard that rumor. I don’t know who’s been spreading such false rumors…. and I’ll do my best to help make sure the truth is out.”

“Really?”

But because there was not much Mielle could do, Isis’s expression did not improve. It was true that she offered only words to help, so Mielle held the tea in her hand without saying anything. Young ladies’ conversation was like that.

“I feel very secure.”

Nevertheless, Isis added that she was reliable. It was because she couldn’t afford to neglect Mielle, who had the most money, at a time when she was losing her troops one by one. Besides, there was something she had to do. That was why she called her while she was busy.

“Well, I’ll have to ask you a favor.”

“Just say anything. Whatever it is, I will finish it right away,” replied Mielle, who was full of determination.

Isis said after a sip of warm green tea. “I’ve been telling you this before. I think it’s a little late, but I hope you have to take ‘the woman’ away this time.”

It was to get rid of Aria, who had a secret meeting with the Crown Prince. She couldn’t get rid of the Crown Prince, so it was advisable to get rid of her. Anyway, she was worthless, so there would be few who would be grieved if she disappeared.

“Ah… you mean ‘the woman’.”

Mielle, who realized what Isis referred to was Aria, sneaked off her gaze. Isis was the one who had stressed that before she had entered the Count family, she should be taken away because she would be a family shame.

But for Mielle, who had been still young, there had been no way to do it, and later with Emma’s help, it had failed. After that, she had tried to do something, but Aria seemed to have suffered without a blow.

And now the Count, her father, and the servants were sending a favor to Aria. She couldn’t even sleep at night, so she had thought about how to destroy Aria, but she couldn’t find an answer. So when she could not answer anything, Isis added, with a serious look on her face,

“The rootless woman would be a great stain on the future Duchess, Mielle. It’s like I’ve got this false rumor. You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?”

That was what Isis had always emphasized, and Mielle was sympathetic, so this time Mielle couldn’t help but nod. Indeed, it was clear that the wicked prostitute’s girl would ruin the family’s reputation.

‘… Yes, Emma will do anything for me.’

Mielle glanced behind her on Emma who was waiting. She had Emma who took the place of her dead mother and devoted herself to her. In the past, Emma had suggested pulling a prank on Aria to soothe her grieving with a wagon with some missing parts.

When Mielle recalled her last time that there was a way to add some condiments, she quickly replied with a bright look,

“I’ll try to ease your worries!”

“Thank you. It will be a way for Lady Mielle’s future, so please do me a favor.”

Isis savored the tea with a relieved face as she watched the determined Mielle leave the lounge with a gallant smile. She hoped Mielle would get rid of the wicked woman who disturbed the hearts of her precious beings.

13. Revenge (II)

Aria’s eyes fell on Berry, who was pouring the tea. Although she had remained expressionless for some time, she had been nervous and anxious again in recent days. Sometimes there was even a fit of hidden anger.

On Sarah’s engagement day, after meeting with Asher, she had been unnoticed at first, because she had been in a state of excitement and daze for several days. And it had also played a part in the fact that she had been busy because of aristocratic men who had started making unnecessary visits with flowers and gifts after that day.

However, if she showed such a change in her emotions, her eyes would naturally be on Berry. The change in her emotions was so extreme.

Aria could have gone by, if it had been her past self, thinking that she had finally become obedient. However, she could have noticed that it was strange, because she knew that Berry had a bad temper.

‘Don’t tell me you’re up to something bad.’

It was possible enough because she was not sitting still when she was so high up. She must be up to something.

For such a short time, Aria kept her eye on Berry, who was pouring the tea and setting up the cookies, and Annie, who had been to Baron Burboom, returned with a bright face. Aria could hear the words from the letter she had always seen. Annie used to come back just before sunset when she was out, but it was a little bit early. Perhaps because of this, Berry looked surprised.

“Miss! I brought a letter! There’s a nobleman down there again, who I’ve never seen. I overheard him talking and he was talking about you! If you’re an adult and make your debut in society, all the noblemen of the empire will come to this mansion! You are still so beautiful, and how beautiful an adult girl must be!”

“Don’t make a fuss and give it to me.”

What Annie brought was a letter from Asher. It was exactly a letter to Investor A, but it was one of the things that she was looking forward to because it was full of interesting content. As soon as she received it, she opened the letter, and Annie said to herself with a smile,

“Who is that gentleman and makes you so happy?”

“He’s a great man.”

Unlike in the past, he was great because he had been so good at destroying hostile forces. He was the one who would accomplish ten things if she told him one. Now that the Aristocratic Party had been cut in half. Besides…

‘He’s going to give me all the credit for his business, as an investor.’

Aria laughed bitterly when she read that he would turn all the credit around even though the amount of money she invested in him was not that big. ‘What kind of investor can turn down such a sweet offer?’ It was a super-luxury flattery. Moreover, the last letter said he attracted investment from the Crown Prince and even the imperial family’s budget.

Rather than being childish, of course, it would be just an investment that had been earned in the last luxury goods. At any rate, it seemed that she might know his purpose.

‘He wants to make a rumor that even the young entrepreneurs are related to him. Investor A who stole all the credit will not complain. How much is he planning to build up? Is he going to bring down the Aristocratic Party completely? Looking at his moves, which are different from those of the past, it will be possible now, but why is he so bulky? Just as if he wants to be reborn as something no one else can stand against.’

The image resembled that of herself, who did not want to repeat the past again and was desperate.

She was so lost in thought that she could see Annie on the other side asking Berry to pour the tea. But somehow Berry was hesitant to pour tea into her teacup.

“What’s going on with your ears? Don’t you understand?”

“…”

Aria, who was watching the awkwardness of Berry that was different from usual, narrowed her eyes and checked the location of the hourglass, and handed Annie the tea in front of her.

“I’m not thirsty, so drink this.”

“Miss?”

Annie looked at Aria who was handing over the tea in front of her, at a time when she deserved to scold Berry. And then Berry’s face became pale.

“Well, if you do… Thank you, miss.”

Annie, who was gazing at the tea that Aria gave her, soon picked it up. Then she picked up the teacup, which had just belonged to Aria, and took it near her mouth. It happened very quickly.