The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

It wasn’t because there was a plan. It was just fun. ‘Why should I go ahead and give them pleasure?’ That was not necessary.

“Jessie, deliver this letter to Sarah. And bring a snack to the room.”

Aria wrote a letter describing her situation to Sarah. She sealed it finely and handed it to Jessie.

“You just said you weren’t feeling well.” Annie said that she would bring Aria’s meal instead of the puzzled Jessie.

She spent a leisurely morning relaxing with light soups and drinks and organizing her plans for the future. Looking out, she saw some young men who seemed to be wrestling with guards in front of the mansion gate.

“… Lady Aria…! Just a moment…!”

Aria didn’t hear what he was saying because he was too far, but she thought that it might have something to do with himself after the completion ceremony. So Aria sent Annie to find out about the disturbance, and it was as she had guessed.

“He’s making a fuss about showing his business plan to you.”

“Really?”

“They say he doesn’t listen to them even if they ask him to go back. He wants to see you at least once. Even if I ask him to deliver the plan to Baron Burboom, he doesn’t listen! How rude!”

That was understandable because it was rare to invest in a commoner with no foundation. In addition, there was a widespread rumor that Investor A’s investment projects had all hit the jackpot. Moreover, she had invested in the academy like charity, and she had proudly declared that she would continue to invest, so anyone would want Aria to take a look at their business.

“Let him come in.”

“… Miss?”

“It’s my job to look at his business plan. I can’t treat him badly since he had come this far.”

She had managed to find a way to freshen up her image, so she couldn’t throw away anything regardless of how small it was. Now was the time to embrace the poor and make the wicked woman into a saint.

“I’m sure he’s been walking since early in the morning, so he’d better take a simple meal with me. Tell the servants and maids to decorate the garden for a meal, enough to serve a guest.”

“But, but Miss…! You don’t know what kind of trouble you can get into if you just let anyone come in!”

That was true, but she had the hourglass to prepare for such things. Aria smiled softly as she glanced at the hourglass she had placed at the cabinet.

“Annie, do you think I’m stupid?”

It was only then that Annie swallowed her saliva when she recalled that Aria had already gone through a lot of frightening things. Recently, Aria clearly showed a benevolent, soft-faced look and went around as if she were a saint, but Annie, who was nearby, could tell that the wicked woman sometimes lurked inside of her just as the rumors said.

“So make sure it’s not too late to prepare it.”

“… Yes, yes! Miss!”

With the help of Annie’s quick actions, they quickly became ready to receive their guest in the garden. The Count, who had not been able to go out to hear the details from Aria, was puzzled and asked the servant why,

“I just heard… that Lady Aria told Annie to prepare…”

“Did Aria order it?”

The Count expressed his pride, misunderstanding that she had arranged the meeting place to explain the details to him. He didn’t know that it was a big misunderstanding.

“My God, Lady Aria! Thank you very much! I would already be glad if you accept my business plan, but you also arranged a meal like this for me!”

“You’ve come to me like this, and I can’t refuse your admittance. I’m sure you’ve had a hard time, and I hope you enjoy your meal slowly. While you’re eating, I’ll go through your business plan.”

“Thank, thank you!”

In the soft and warm sunshine, nearly ten young men began to eat in a hurry. Then the Count, the Countess, and Cain, who had misunderstood, came and saw it with a stunned face. Mielle, with a tender heart, watched the scene from the window and soon closed the window with a distorted face. The Count approached Aria, who reviewed the documents with a serious face and asked quietly,

“… Aria, don’t you think that it would be enough if you have just received the documents?”

“They’ve been waiting since morning, and I can’t just send them back.”

“I… ”

‘I’ve been waiting for you since last night.’ The Count gave a bitter smile since he couldn’t say what he really wanted to say. ‘How did I end up in a position where I could not speak my mind to my stepdaughter?’ Having the merchant’s temperament to the bone, he closed his mouth and sat in the dining table when he realized that he was not supposed to do so.

“Didn’t you eat inside already?”

“I can’t miss this place with the young businessmen! I’m curious because they will become the pillar of the empire in the future.”

The Count, who never thought so, wrapped up in plausible words, and Cain and the Countess followed him. They seemed very uncomfortable, but no one took it out of their mouths.

“Do they have any good ideas?”

Aria made a meaningful smile at the Count’s question. What he wanted was to see them. But she could not. Unlike herself, who only cared about investing purely, the Count seemed to take the brilliant ideas of these young businessmen, so she replaced the answer with just a nod.

“Okay, you’ve all brought a good plan.”

The faces of the young people, who were eating, became bright. The fact that they were recognized by Aria meant that they were excellent in doing business.

“They are fresh and unique. They are valuable projects. However, I still see things that need to be revised.”

Of course, it was empty talk. In retrospect, none of the business plans would succeed in the future. Furthermore, judging from the knowledge that they put in their projects, they were just common people, who were not fit for doing business.

Even so, it was judged that if they had the ability to make such a neat analysis and organize a plan, they could help others. It was a great opportunity.

“So I want to give you a chance.”

Aria suggested that they should study at the academy. The young people became disappointed upon hearing what Aria said. They felt rejected because of what Aria said. She served them lunch, but she couldn’t just finish the meeting just like that, so Aria told them the following,

“If you all didn’t have any talent, I wouldn’t recommend the academy to all of you and just sent you back… but you all are talented people, so I’ll support you with your school expenses.”

She had been thinking that it would not be too bad to support a scholarship named after her anyway. It was also an offer from Asher, and it was so she could put on airs so she could look good. It was nothing more than a penny. The young people were thrilled to hear that she would even sponsor their tuition, along with praise for their talent although they kind of got rejected.

“Why don’t you have a cup of tea and go back?”

“No, I got a great favor from you, and I can’t stay still!”

Aria, watching the vigorous disappearance of the young men, slowly hardened her face and laid down her fork and knife. The meal was excellent, but she had a bad appetite. It was due to the table manners of the young people.

She felt like she knew how they had felt when they had been in the same situation as she had had no table manners in the past. Thinking that the hindrance had finally disappeared, the Count spoke to Aria without missing the chance,

“Aria, are the rumors true?”

He had a very urgent look on his face. He deserved it as he saw even the young people who came with business plans. They were not like… noblemen, but hungry beasts that were wandering the streets.

“… Rumors?” She couldn’t see the Count’s face that much, and she pretended not to know it.

He raised his voice as if he were frustrated and said, “The rumors that you’re Investor A and are close to the Crown Prince!”

He already saw the young people come and then go, but he still wanted to confirm.

When she nodded and expressed a sign of affirmation, the Count smiled brightly and said, “That was cool.” The Count did not confirm the rumors again because the Countess had already seen it in person, and he had already confirmed it through numerous mouths.

“As expected, I’ve always known that you have the talent since you were young!”

‘Does he mean the fur business, which Lane misunderstood as Mielle’s design?’