The Villainess turns the Hourglass
chapter-113

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

Aria, who watched the two talk for a while, met eyes with Isis, who happened to turn her head. Hiding a look of surprise, Aria greeted Isis politely, and Isis replaced her answer with a cold look. It was a rude response, no matter how unnoticed it was, even the eldest daughter of the family of the Duke of Frederick.

‘That’s going to be her true self.’

Aria was not offended because she had already had that kind of reaction hundreds or thousands of times. On the contrary, she seemed to know her true self, so there came no laughter. And now she wanted to talk to Oscar more than that.

In return, Oscar, who noticed his sister’s cold face, turned his head to see where his sister’s eyes were going. At the unexpected sight of Aria, Oscar solidified himself with a surprised face.

Again, Aria greeted Oscar without losing her elegance. She added an alluring smile that had always thrown him into confusion and trials. It was also a reward for the birthday gift. It was a moment of wonder how he would react. The princess, who faced Aria’s smile with Oscar, narrowed the middle of her brow to a point that it could not be seen.

‘Should he blush? Or would he get out of his seat right now and come this way?’

The princess tapped Oscar’s arm with a fan as Aria was expecting him to smile at least because he had left a gift behind in front of her room. Then Oscar, who bit his lower lip, turned his head coldly from Aria, without showing any answer.

The princess wiped her brother’s cheek with a very benevolent and gentle smile, like a compliment. It happened very quickly.

‘… Why the hell?’

Aria couldn’t do anything for a while because she had never dreamed of being ignored by Oscar at the time when she had even received a gift. It was cruel of him not to give her a small smile, no matter how close the princess was.

After all, it was Oscar and the princess who left the seat first. He appeared to be leaving the mansion. Aria had been hardened on the stairs for a long time, but he had not given a single glance. It was the end of the loser. Aria bit her lips as soon as they left and returned to her room.

‘How many times does he have to disappoint me?

Finally, after returning to her room feeling miserable, Aria stared at the brooch in her hand.

‘If he was going to ignore this, why did he send me this brooch?’

Because she felt as if she had been fooled by him many times, she was so angry that she raised her hand to throw it in her hand, and at the end of her gaze, her eyes reached the bright-colored flower. It was a tulip sent by Asher, the flower that had not been in the past. It had been quite a while since she had received it, but its freshness remained unchanged.

When it caught her sight, she was now able to realize her own reality. Unlike in the past, she had been accomplishing many things. The tulip was one of them. When she thought so, she felt her anger chilled.

‘Foolishly… I tried to use him, but was it me who was eventually used?’

Aria had only given Mielle great happiness. The engagement was only a matter of time, as Mielle had even got the ring, though three years were left until her coming of age. Mielle might marry him with an engagement at the same time.

With her hatred of Oscar came the ugly face of Mielle, the main culprit of all this. Aria put strength to her hand which grabbed the brooch.

‘The devilish bitch.’

If Mielle had left her alone, Aria would have grown up to be a satisfied girl with a fancy dress with ribbons and jewels. She would have lived a modestly complacent life and stupidly without wishing for any further rise in status.

But what about the results? The past tidal waves came, and her vengeance against Mielle made her heart throb again.

‘If I show Mielle this brooch… how will she take it?’

Yeah. That was a very good idea. It was clear that Mielle would recognize the identity of the brooch. She had been bragging about getting a brooch from Oscar, so she would be going to be upset. In addition, her faith in Oscar would also be cracked. Of course, the cracks would not easily destroy Mielle’s one-sided love, but they would be placed deep in her heart, in the sense of doubt.

Aria decided to put it into practice straight away. It was a very childish move, but for now, that was the only way to hurt Mielle. Such a trivial move would become a fatal dagger and settle in her heart as a pain. It was a precious and desperate experience that Aria had experienced in person in the past.

And the date was very close. Aria decided to do it a few days later because it would only add to the image of the wicked girl if she did it now on Mielle’s birthday.

Aria, with a brooch on her chest, sat down at the table. As always, no one paid attention to her. Still, she did not shrink and sought the right time. Recently, the main topic of conversation was Mielle’s engagement, so she listened quietly.

“… So I thought it would be appropriate after Miss Isis marries.”

“It may be nice. The Crown Prince needs to make a decision quickly.”

“Oh, my God… then Isis, the Crown Prince’s wife, will attend Mielle’s engagement, right? And His Highness, too.”

The countess spoke in superlatives with great surprise. Realizing that Aria no longer had a chance, she put all her heart into the future of Mielle.

The engagement ceremony, blessed by the royal family, was significant. It would also help to build to save their face. In the first place, it meant that the marriage of the Crown Prince and the Princess, the Crown Prince’s Party succumbed to the Aristocratic Party at the point of marriage. And Mielle was to enter into such a family’s hostess.

“Somehow, he will attend, right?”

“There must be many things to care about. You’ll have to be the most beautiful bride in the world. Which designer should we call for your dress?”

“It was decided that we’d be going to fix the dress the duchesses have worn for generations. It’s been a while since you came to the family of Count Roscent, so I’m sure you don’t know well… The duke family’s engagement and wedding ceremonies have been held like that for generations.”

Mielle’s reply was so cold that the countess was embarrassed, who tried to pretend to know and prepare for the engagement. Mielle’s face was full of smiles, but her tone reproached the ignorance of the countess.

So the countess struggled to keep her smile on her face and asked again. “… Have you already decided to do that?”

“Yes, the princess cares about it in many ways.”

Aria wanted to throw hot soup on Mielle’s face, smiling brightly. But there was something to ruin her face much more effectively than hot soup. It was the brooch. Aria straightened her back and broke into the conversation with her heart wide open.

“I really envy you, Mielle. You’ll definitely be the most beautiful bride in the Empire.”

“… Thank you, sister.”

To Aria’s sudden celebration, Mielle answered with an awkward face. It seemed that she didn’t know Aria was going to get involved in this conversation.

It was Aria who had been eating quietly for days without interrupting the conversation. And Mielle had also deliberately brought up topics that Aria could not step into.

But it wasn’t Aria who was still there. “So you said that Oscar had given you a brooch before? Actually, not long ago, I also got a brooch as a present.”

She naturally changed the subject to Oscar’s story. Since Mielle also had a precious brooch on her chest today, the conversation was very plausible. Everyone’s eyes turned to Aria’s chest.

“Rose… shape? The design is…!” Mielle’s eyes trembled after checking the brooch.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I think it’s a red diamond.”

Her words of beauty were true, so the count and the countess expressed some interest. Each family’s emblems, which embellished flowers, were often used as decorations, so they did not seem to think strangely. That was because they had announced Mielle’s engagement just a few days ago.

The countess, who was always interested in jewelry, asked, “It looks pretty expensive. Who did you get it from?”

“I don’t know. It was in front of my room while I was away to attend Mielle’s birthday party.”

Mielle’s face turned pale when Aria hinted that she had received it from someone who had been also anonymous on Mielle’s birthday.