The Villainess turns the Hourglass
chapter-145

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

Aria, who was wondering what to say in this situation where everyone had a variety of misunderstandings, soon gave a vague answer that was neither negative nor positive.

“… He’s just a friend to me.”

“Oh my gosh…”

The Countess’ upper body staggered while she held her head with her hands. The Count also showed signs of discomfort by shaking his head as if he was not happy with it.

“Hmm… I think you’d better reconsider, Aria.”

Aria replied with an innocent face, “He’s just a friend, so don’t worry. I don’t see him that often. I’m not interested in that yet.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but… Well, maybe it’s time to find the right person for Aria anyway.”

When the Count said so, the Countess was also positive and relieved, and suddenly, Cain was angry, saying, “That’s ridiculous.”

“Aria… is still young.”

Mielle had her mate since she was a lot younger. Cain also added as if he had realized that he had been talking nonsense and that she needed to be careful.

‘It’s dirty…’

‘Although he has no blood relation to her, how can he take such an attitude toward his sister who became a family member?’ It was true that she had used him, but she had never imagined that he would fall into such an ugly way.

‘I’m saying… that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Isn’t he the same man as his father, who gave up his wife’s seat to a prostitute despite everyone’s opposition because of her appearance?’

The Count stared at Cain as if he was strange because he expressed feelings that were not seen to Mielle.

The wise Countess, like Aria, glanced at Cain with contempt. Cain was in a hurry to eat, saving his words as if he was quite embarrassed by his feeling of going wild.

‘I can’t help it now that the Count reacts like this.’

Aria decided to move on, putting an end to what she had been thinking about.

* * *

Since then, the Count had tried to find a mate with all his personal connections. It would be hard to match the family of the Duke, but it seemed to find a family with both power and money. He didn’t even know it was pointless.

As the Countess enthusiastically joined the effort, rumors quickly spread over the empire that the Roscent family’s beautiful eldest daughter was looking for a mate. Because of this, Aria’s mood became uncomfortable day by day.

“Are you really going to marry a man the Count picks?” asked Annie, who knew Aria’s true self. Now that the Marquis of Vincent and Oscar had found their mate, they knew that any of the empire’s nobles would not be enough for Aria. Aria frowned and laid down the book she had been reading.

“Are you going to bother me, too?”

“Oh, no, it’s not… I don’t think there’s anyone in this empire who would suit you…”

Annie, who cringed, dodged her gaze. It might be an impure intention, but nothing had yet progressed as Cain rejected himself.

However, at this rate, she would have to spend her precious time meeting useless men, and she was annoyed. It was something that she might even have to be engaged in.

‘Do I have to use Asher, too…?’

She thought so uncomfortably, but as rumors seemed to have spread, even Rain, who had stopped visiting, came to the mansion with a gift.

“Well, thank you for the other day. But what brings you here today?”

The Count, who had previously told her to meet with him, watched them like a hawk to see if he was interested in Aria. Soon after, however, he softened his face and welcomed Lane, when he made an excuse that there was a woman who promised a future.

“Are you really looking for a marriage partner like this?”

Lane asked Aria, avoiding the Count’s eyes. The contents of the cup that Aria was holding shook slightly. Realizing that she felt very uncomfortable, Lane murmured, “Thank God,” and hurried to give her the letter he had hidden.

“He’s worried.”

She could tell without asking who it was. It must have been sent by Asher. He was so busy, but he was so attentive to the rumors that he even sent the letter through Lane, and she felt a little bit relieved from it. Lane spoke when he saw Aria’s face, which was a little loosened,

“Hmm. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I personally think that you’re a perfect fit for the most powerful person in the empire.”

“Your flattery is amazing. He’s not here.”

Aria’s sarcastically responding mouth was slightly raised. And when Cain, who had been watching their conversation for a long time, saw Aria’s mouth gently rising, he argued to Lane with a frown.

“Pino? I’ve never heard of the family before.”

“It would be impossible for you to know every family in the world.”

Lane narrowed his eyes and scanned Cain, who was provoking him childishly. He could refute it very lightly because he had been minced under Asher for many years.

“… There are a lot of families I don’t need to know.”

“Haha, that’s what it is. However, it may be quite upsetting that all your family members know and trust except you alone. You may feel alienated.”

Cain, who felt attacked, clenched his teeth and tried to hide his mounting anger. He seemed to be looking for words to refute. However, Lane, who had already achieved his goal, left the mansion. He had no intention to deal with Cain anymore.

Aria also hurried up to her room before anything started to happen. Cain’s eyes were lewd after her. Even Annie and Jessie noticed that they could shrink.

“… Mielle?”

As she was going up to the third floor, she came across Mielle, who was coming down the stairs and was dressed nicely. Aria had heard that Mielle went for a walk once in a while, but now she seemed to be able to go out.

Her rough face had returned to normal, and Her fine face was similar to the one before ‘the incident.’ She could tell where she was going without asking. It was clear that her destination would be the Duke’s mansion since she was beautifully dressed.

‘Will you be comforted by Oscar?’

Aria called her, but there was no answer from Mielle.

“…”

Moreover, a sharp, cold look, which she had never seen in her life, slowly swept through Aria from head to toe. It was the face of a wicked woman, who was so cheerful that she wanted to scream in a bad mood.

“You look like you’re going out, aren’t you? Come back in time. Something terrible has happened recently.”

‘You know, like that scary thing you’ve been up to.’

“…”

A few people saw her, and even though she didn’t have to, Aria deliberately mimicked as the more plausible, elder sister, and Mielle said, “You killed Emma,'” and soon turned her head and went downstairs.

“Oh, my God… why would Miss Mielle act like that? Is there something wrong with her?”

“I don’t know, but I think she’s not sick anymore…”

Annie and Jessie swept their arms as if they had gotten goosebumps.

‘Isn’t it a very desirable change? I hope you’ll behave yourself in front of everyone.’ Aria went back to her room with a bright smile.

“Miss, was the letter… given to you by Mr. Lane? Why did Mr. Lane secretly give you a letter?”

As she came back to her room and took out the letter, Annie asked Aria with her eyes wide opened and groped.

“He just delivered it to me.”

Her casual reply was quite relaxed after a long time, so the quick-witted Annie covered her mouth, saying, ‘no way,’ when she said Lane had delivered it, Annie thought Aria might be exchanging letters with his master. Aria, who made no other excuses because it was true, confirmed the letter from Asher.

“… This.”

Aria, who saw what was in the envelope, opened her eyes wide. There was a thin ring inside. The ring with sparkling diamonds and the unknown fine print engraved wasn’t fancy but delicate.

Aria carefully put the ring on her finger and read the contents. She felt different from the usual letter which contained useless words as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t do so.

Still, she slowly read the contents but didn’t miss a single letter, but she was forced to hold her breath while she was amazed by the tough handwriting written at the end.

[I hope you don’t forget me because I’m busy.]

He continued to use an indirect tone, but it seemed to be what he really wanted to tell her.

“Oh my go,” Aria said.

Her face turned red in response to his childlike behavior. She wanted to reply; she really wanted to, but since Lane had already left, she just read the letter a few more times and kept it in her drawer.