The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

The servants from the house began to whisper at what they saw. Aria said goodbye first, leaving regret behind.

“I’ll go.”

“… Yeah.”

Asher, who nodded with a face full of regret, got out of the wagon with Aria. It was when the servants, who were watching them, began to misunderstand because they made an awkward atmosphere in front of the mansion without breaking up even after saying goodbye.

“…!”

“… My God.”

As if he couldn’t just go back, he grabbed her waist and kissed her lightly as if stealing her. It was a ridiculously light kiss compared to what had happened in the wagon, but it was enough to make the people, who saw it, blush, and even Aria who did not expect it.

“Miss, Miss!”

Annie and Jessie ran after Aria, who had disappeared into the mansion as soon as his lips fell. Asher, who was left alone in front of the mansion, looked at this for a long time then disappeared in the carriage as if nothing had happened.

“Miss! Please open the door! You must wash and change your clothes!”

The girls’ shouts from outside the door were full of joy, and they wanted to break the door right away and ask what had happened today.

But Aria, whose face had just calmed down burst into flames again, had not come out with the covers on until dawn, and the servants of the mansion, including Annie and Jessie, had imaginative wings in addition to what they had seen on the porch of the mansion.

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The houses of the nobles had been in a fuss since dawn as they had to attack the Imperial Castle upon daybreak.

The soldiers, who had been looking for entertainment like a maniac, had been ready for battle with their weapons and armors. Looking at the dignified and brave appearance, the nobles had a smile of relief in their expressions, who had been filled with worries in the meantime. It was because they thought that after the scattered soldiers would gather together to occupy the Imperial Castle, they would only appear and enjoy the victory.

“Well, Viscount, it’s too early, but we’ll go first. We’ve been sorry in the meantime.”

“Haha, that’s all right! Go on, I’ll wait quietly in the house and go out when you’re done.”

“Yes, then.”

The highest rank of the soldiers led dozens of men out of the mansion. The Viscount had thought if it was necessary for each soldier to have a horse when they had asked for horses, but he was glad to see that they were leaving the house with a strong force.

Of course, the soldiers were heading out of the capital rather than in the direction of the Imperial Castle, but it was a fact that they could not know after a while from the mansion, so the soldiers could escape the capital without being seen by anyone.

At the same time, Aria, who had not been out of bed until dawn, slowly stepped out of her bed upon hearing the chatter outside the castle. She had forgotten something because of what had happened with Asher last night, but today was a very important day because she had to see the end of those who she had been looking forward to. It was not the time for her to stay in her room.

Aria opened the window and looked out to check, and the soldiers, who had been disturbing the mansion of the Count, were ready to travel on horseback. One of them was adjusting his dress, and he happened to see Aria.

“…!”

The soldier, who had almost fallen off the horse in surprise, immediately straightened himself and bowed to Aria. It was a greeting to someone who knew the situation. She raised her hand and wished for the soldier to return safely.

The soldier, who had almost fallen off his horse again, was surprised by her gesture, and even the other soldiers began to greet her, following his gaze. There were quite a few of them who greeted her, so she had to hold her hand for a long time. The last one who recognized her was… no more than Cain.

Like any nobleman, Cain, who had been talking to the most senior of the soldiers, looked up at Aria. He was a little distant, and she couldn’t see him that well, but he looked rather unpleasant. After the conversation, Cain saw the soldiers off, and again, he saw Aria staring at the disappearing soldiers. He turned and walked quickly into the mansion and climbed up the stairs.

As he climbed the stairs with his noisy footsteps, the servants who just woke up glanced at him or followed him. The place where Cain arrived at, of course, was Aria’s room.

“Aria.”

Cain, in a voice that was very furious, called her name, and it was an unexpected reaction for Aria, who had only seen off the soldiers out of the window. Aria thought that he was a very strange man. She then replied while cocking her head,

“What brings you here so early?”

“… I heard you were late last night.”

Cain had returned home later than Aria, so he could not say anything to her about that. So she pointed that out as she didn’t care at all.

“It’s not right for you to reprimand me about that when you always come home at dawn yourself.”

“I’m the head of the house, so I come home late because of work, but you…”

He was about to shout furiously but quickly closed his mouth as if it was hard to connect the words.

She thought he had lost his mind for her because he had been engrossed in the Count’s business, but he still felt so much jealousy. If the day broke, his life would end. At his foolish appearance, the corners of her mouth went up.

“What are you talking about? This is not the first time for me and Asher to have dinner and come home late, so I don’t know why you’re so angry… Did you hear anything else?”

Otherwise, it was impossible for him to be so angry. He must have heard the news of Asher kissing her. She had done it openly in front of the mansion, and he must have known it because the servants would have been excited and talked about it until dawn.

“How dare you say that?”

Sure enough, she didn’t ask what exactly it was, but Cain was furious and raised his voice again and was angry. He was not angry as her brother, but he seemed to be caught in jealousy.

The servants, who were waiting at a distance, began to gather. The door was open, and they could see Aria and Cain’s confrontation. The servants were worried that she would be harmed and prayed that she would be all right.

She would be all right as they wished, but it was Cain, who was daring to rebel and challenge the imperial authority, that would be harmed.

‘You should pay for the price of cutting your stepsister’s head in the past and the fact that you’re having sexual desire for your sister, who you had killed yourself. How can I punish you? Oh, yes.’

She thought about what he was most afraid of even though she hadn’t thought about it for a long time. The cause for that anger; to let him know that Aria, who had been baiting and giving room from time to time, had left his hand perfectly; to be rejected by a woman who he had first fallen in love with in both the past and the present; to inform that the woman who he had wanted even if he had sold his father, without being able to do so, had been already cemented by love with another man.

She asked Cain, making a naive expression to remind him of those things.

“Don’t tell me, you are angry with me for not being an adult yet.”

“What, what do you mean…?”

The meaningful words made Cain stiffen, and the servants, who were watching from outside the room, also widened their eyes and listened carefully. Apparently, they were thinking of what had happened last night.

“This is not the first time I’ve met Asher alone… You don’t know this, but I’ve secretly met him in my room, and I’ve traveled to Croa with him. We used the same room… But even so, I’m going to marry Asher anyway.”

It was just before her provocative words ended when Cain, whose eyes were bloodshot, suddenly rushed toward Aria. If Aria, who had prepared in advance, had not hurriedly avoided, she might have rolled on the floor with him or she might have been choked.

“Miss!”

Aria, who pretended to be frightened, hid behind one of the servants and then made a pitiful appearance. Annie and Jessie rushed over and embraced the shoulders of their slender master.