The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

Perhaps Sarah’s offer to be on her side was not just empty words, but she officially began to express her opinion, saying, ‘Aria is not a wicked girl but a good girl,’ and Marquis Vincent also sided with her, saying, ‘I hope the poor Lady Roscent’s case will be resolved quickly.’

The support of those with power exerted far greater effect than the groundless rumors that had been passed down from a person to another. Just a few days ago, because she had attended Sarah’s engagement ceremony, many people liked and were interested in Aria. Therefore, people who had seen her in person and had experienced her looks and characteristics began to express their opinions, one by one, rather than rumors from unknown sources.

Annie’s contribution also played a big role. Thanks to her spreading rumors around, Aria had become a poor girl, who had truly suffered unhappiness without any wrongdoing.

The servants of the mansion chatted, and the Count was angry at the shame of the family, and the Countess was in tears. And after days and days of sleepless nights of ever-changing rumors, Mielle was again given a letter from the princess.

* * *

In the midst of such a tumultuous winter, Berry was still not caught. They searched her family, relatives, and acquaintances, but they couldn’t find her.

It was questionable why such a small girl in her late teens could not be found. They also took the issue seriously and tightened security for entering and leaving the capital city. Doubts and suspicions grew bigger, and in time Aria used Annie to pour a dash of oil into the fire.

‘Unless there is someone behind her, it will be impossible to spend this cold winter alone!’

It was indeed plausible and true that rumors spread that Berry must have been receiving help from someone, and several times the guards visited the mansion to inspect the servants and maids.

“I am not! I love Lady Aria so much!”

“Not me either! How much help could a servant give to a fugitive in the first place?”

They truly complained of their injustice, and it was true that the same servants’ help would not last very long, so the investigation for the servants and maids was soon terminated. Of the successive claims, it was also due to the most credible one.

“I’m sure Emma’s the only one at home who hates Aria. Emma felt sorry for Aria, whose origin was a commoner. She’s always been so mean and said that Lady Aria was frivolous.”

It was Annie’s testimony. She had shared the moment when Aria was poisoned, and her experience working under Emma made her remarks highly reliable. Of course, it wasn’t just her testimony. Confidence grew even more as other servants and maids said they had felt the same way. Also, Aria’s tearful experiences played a part.

“Emma? I don’t know… Emma… I guess she thought I’m defaming Mielle’s reputation. Of course, she is right. As you can see, my origin is not good… and I’m still a little inexperienced to stand side by side with Mielle.”

Aria, answering the question, was greeted with a glare of guardians. Every now and then she would shed a tear of lamentation and sorrow. She looked as if she were an angel from heaven, wearing a light pink outer garment that looked as soft as snow on top of a pure white indoor dress with no pattern.

Her blinking light-green eyes and the glare of her glimmering blonde hair, whenever she talked, the guards would blush.

“Oh, have you spoken to Mielle?”

“Oh, no. Lady Mielle seems to be quite shocked, and we haven’t seen her yet.”

“I see… She’s a weak girl. But since Mielle is closest to Emma, I don’t know if she knows anything.”

So, Aria, who had been answering their questions for a while, saw the cold tea and called Jessie and Annie.

“Jessie, and Annie. The knights’ tea is already cold. Please bring some more snacks and fruit.”

“Oh, no. We have to return in a minute.”

Aria smiled softly and shook her head, holding the hand of the knight who was flustered and waving.

“It’s still cold, but it’s sinful as you’re suffering because of me. I hope you take a little break, so please don’t refuse.”

“… Well, well, if that’s the case, we’d excuse you.”

No one could resist her determined temptation. When they saw Aria, they could not hide their anger at the fact that such a beautiful and pure lady had suffered such a terrible thing, and the investigation was becoming more and more for self-interest. Therefore, there was no difficulty in driving Emma to the back of the incident.

“Do you really think Emma is the culprit?”

Annie asked as she arranged the table. The tulips that had been changed and brought back looked as fresh as if they had just been re-watered.

Aria, who glanced at it and then turned to the book, replied. “I think she’s related.”

“I think so, too! I came to you on Emma’s order, too.”

When Annie realized that she had made a mistake, she began to excuse Aria for a moment.

“Well, that’s true, but we just fell apart! I quickly realized that it was wrong! I have no relationship with them now. I’m here only for Miss Aria!”

Annie blushed when Aria smiled with a laugh at the sight of her being bothered for nothing.

“Oh, by the way, if Berry gets caught, the real culprit will be revealed, right? Emma’s under surveillance by the guards, so it’s hard to escape.”

“Yes, I hope we find the real culprit soon.”

‘The real culprit behind Emma.’ But perhaps it was hard to tell that she was the real culprit. If she had not been crazy, Mielle couldn’t have given orders to Berry herself, so Berry couldn’t testify either.

‘Even so, if Emma was proven to be the culprit, Mielle won’t be safe either. Isn’t she following her like she was her mother? There will be very little doubt that Mielle is behind everything. It would be so frustrating to see how disheartening it would be to not have killed the one who she had tried to kill and to have her ally’s reputation get cut down.

As she had delayed enough time, she had got what she wanted to have. Now all that remained was to catch Berry. Aria, who had finished reading the book recommended by Asher, said to Annie, putting it down on the table,

“But where do you get tulips this winter? You don’t have to go like this every day because it’s not my favorite flower.”

“Tulips? Me? It’s not a gift you received, is it?”

“What? I don’t remember receiving such a gift…”

“Really? Then who the hell brought it? Jessie? It has changed so many times.”

Annie’s addition to the fact that she didn’t know who changed tulips that didn’t wither so often allowed her to guess who had brought the flowers.

‘… Asher?’

She couldn’t think of anyone else. He had the ability to move from one place to another, so he could have come to the mansion if he wanted to.

When did he come here? He said there was a price, but if he used his ability often, would he be okay?

She was disappointed because he didn’t show up even though there was a rumor that she was sick due to something terrible, but her regretful heart melted like snow when she knew it was not.

‘I hope he would see my face. What’s so urgent that he left the flowers behind? Since no one saw him, did he come at dawn?’ She was thinking about not sleeping for a while, but she touched the petals because she felt sorry. After a while, she suddenly got up after hearing some harsh footsteps.

‘Who’s going around the mansion so frivolously? The servants and maids are always attentive to every action, not to mention the Count, Countess, and Mielle. Moreover, the only room on the third floor was Aria’s, so the sound of footsteps must be someone who has something to do with her, so why is he moving carelessly?’

When the footsteps stopped in front of her room, Annie and Aria hardened themselves with nervous faces. Moreover, it was not long after something bad had happened, so it added to the tension. But even though it had been long since it stopped, no sound had been heard, and in the end, they were forced to confirm who it was.

“… Who is it?”

No one outside the door replied to Annie’s trembling voice. All she could hear was the sound of feet moving away and getting closer again as if he were hesitating. ‘Who the hell is that? He wouldn’t be an outsider to see such a fuss.’