The Villainess turns the Hourglass
chapter-144

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

She didn’t know if there was a word made by Baron Burboom, but the gifts were things that all women would like.

Other eye-catching cosmetics, perfumes, and luxurious pouches were displayed as if they were displayed within the eyes of the maids. Situated in tens of units instead of one or two, they were enough to arouse the attention and greed of the maids.

“Miss, I have a question… why on earth did you buy so many of these precious things?”

When a curious maid asked her so, Annie answered instead of Aria as if she were foolish.

“Do you think Miss Aria bought those? It’s natural that she got a gift. That’s how difficult it is to deal with.”

“Ah…!”

As Annie said, some of the items were sent by men who really liked her, but most of those who had the same kind in large quantities were gifts. Annie knew it all but added a bluff as she wanted to make her master look good.

Aria looked at Annie with a satisfied smile. All the gold and silver coins she had invested in Annie had been so desirable. Of course, it was true that she had received the gift, so she didn’t lie.

The maids looked at Aria enjoying tea with their eyes glistening. The look was not just about respect for the elegant, prestigious noblewoman. There were envy and longing for the woman who overcame her humble origin, which could be seen as much lower than them, and who charmed the men of the Empire with her beautiful appearance and fine character. And…

“Miss Aria often takes care of these things by giving them to her maids. This many is just too much for her.”

There also existed jealousy for Annie, who transformed her form from a naughty girl to an elegant woman in just a year. There had come out some words at first as she had betrayed Mielle and had been attached to Aria, but in the end, the winner was her. Wasn’t she enjoying life as much as a noblewoman?

And now she might really be elevated to aristocracy. It was because there were rumors among the public that she was meeting with the successful Baron Burboom because of Aria’s help. So how could they not be envious?

It was enough to turn her maids’ eyes, thanks to Mielle, who had yet to wake up because of the shock of losing Emma. They all wanted to be like Annie and like Aria.

“Oh, come to think of it, Miss Mielle took a walk in the garden this morning for a while. Within that time, we were able to clean her room.”

“That’s right. I accompanied her. She still couldn’t talk, but she seemed a little refreshed. Maybe it’s because of the letter.”

“Letter?”

“Yes. She got a letter from the princess. It’s been a long time since the incident. As soon as I told her that she had a letter from the princess, she told me to go in her room right away. I was surprised.”

The maids, who were quick to understand, released the information to Aria. They seemed to realize that Annie had acted like that and had enjoyed a rich life—by selling her master, Mielle.

“Really? That’s great.”

Aria replied with great joy. She did not come out of the room with all the efforts of the Count who loved her but took a walk in a letter from the princess.

‘Don’t tell me anything about Oscar… Or if he is going to visit.’

That was all she could think of. Oscar was the only one she loved. Her love for him overshadowed her love for Emma.

‘I know it was the best thing to charm Oscar as expected.’

But after many efforts, it was over, and somehow the face of Asher came to mind, who put himself at the edge of a knife even against Cain, her brother. She had been embarrassed at the time, but it wasn’t a bad mood to think about it again. No, rather… She felt a bit of pleasure, thinking about it…

Aria did not hide her smile from the feelings and information about Mielle the maids told her, and a very small gift was given to the maids.

“I’ll ask you well in the future. I want to help the poor Mielle, but unfortunately, I have dark ears.”

” Yes, Yes! Miss! ”

When they realized that the power of wealth in their hands was greater than the satisfaction of having a proud master, they came to Aria every day.

* * *

“Wait.”

“… Yes?”

Cain called Annie who had just come back. She was heading to Aria’s room with letters from young businessmen. Annie took something in her bosom, and he took it strange to see her smiling as if she were in a good mood. Cain asked Annie,

“Why are you carrying so much?”

“Yes…?”

It wasn’t such a surprising question, but Cain frowned at the excessive response of Annie.

“Don’t tell me, it’s Mr. Pinonua.”

Pinonua? Annie cocked her head to the unexpected name. ‘Why did the name of Pinonua Louie suddenly came out?’ He was just one of many businessmen. Cain, who read Annie’s expression, asked again, feeling a little relieved.

“Is there anyone else?”

“It’s… it’s personal…”

Even so, when Aria was hiding it from the outside, she was perplexed again, and Cain, who was considering something, asked again, “Did you meet with that young Baron?”

Annie nodded quickly at his wrong assumption. Rather than making lame excuses, it was better to affirm as he misunderstood. Then Cain, who returned with an expressionless face, said, “Go now.”

“Yes, yes…”

“Oh, by the way.”

She thought his questioning was over, but Cain called Annie again. The startled Annie jumped up and turned her stiff head, and Cain asked again about Pinonua,

“How often does that Pinonua meet with Aria?”

“… Mr. Pinonua? I don’t know. I don’t think she’s ever seen him…”

When she answered there, Cain released Annie, and she hurried to Aria’s room. Aria asked why as Annie walked in with a short breath.

“Well, Mr. Cain asked something strange.”

“… What?”

“Mr. Pinonua. He asked me if you are seeing him often. I don’t know why he’s wondering… he asked me if the letter I brought was from him.”

Aria frowned at her answer. Since the day of his encounter with Asher, he had only a strange look in his eyes, but she was worried as he would not question her otherwise, but he seemed to have asked the maids, not Aria.

‘What should I do?’

It was impossible to reveal the true identity of Asher. It wasn’t because he was the Crown Prince. ‘Isn’t he the Crown Prince who broke up the Aristocratic Party one by one, and let the princess clench her teeth and darkened the Count’s face?’

She read the letters Annie brought in agony. As usual, there was a list of new businessmen who wanted to report and recommend a business. After reading them carefully, she got her hands on the last letter. It was a letter from Asher, which came in having the name of Pinonua Louie.

[I think we’ll be ready soon. May I ask you a favor in response?]

Aria’s eyes shook after reading the passage. He was asking her to show up for completion. ‘Is it really okay to reveal myself now?’ She thought she needed to be more careful.

‘Can I deal with Mielle and the princess behind her even if I reveal who I am?’ What he said suddenly came to her mind.

‘He said he wanted to have me near. I think it’s possible if I use Asher.’

Somehow she felt uncomfortable. She could not make up her mind about using him, like Oscar, even though she knew he liked her. It was a strange feeling for Aria, but Aria’s troubles had been ruined by Cain’s remarks.

“The Pinonua family isn’t fit for Aria.”

The Count and Countess, who were eating, opened their eyes and asked why since he suddenly mentioned the Pinonua family. Aria also blinked with embarrassment. She didn’t know he would say it in a place like this.

“The man Aria is meeting.”

“Is Aria meeting Pinonua?”

The attention to Cain went back to Aria. After a long period of time, she pretended to be in better shape and attended dinner and suddenly she was faced with this situation.

He seemed to have worked hard to investigate the family of Viscount Pinonua, and Cain said, “Aria should not meet with him,” citing several reasons.

“Aria, Aria. Are you really meeting Pinonua? Where on earth did you first meet him?”

The Countess, embarrassed by that, stammered and asked. The Count also stared at Aria with crumpled eyebrows as he realized that she did not have to meet the nobleman in the periphery, who proved her worth more than she had in the past.