The Villainess turns the Hourglass
chapter-159

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

‘If you had just dressed up like this, I would have recognized that you are the Crown Prince.’

Aria greeted him with a flush of redness as he was more attentive than the academy’s completion ceremony.

“Mr. Asher, you’ve had a hard time after coming a long way.”

“I was just happy on my way to see you.”

Asher said in a friendly manner. They could only hear his voice, but they could feel how much he was for Aria.

“And the hardships must have been with the people in the mansion.”

‘What a benevolent person you are.’ The Crown Prince might be a little arrogant, but Asher said something he didn’t want to say to the people around him.

“Many people have suffered as you said, so please look around the mansion decorated with all their heart.”

“I’ll do that. I’m looking forward to it. Will you guide me?”

“Sure. Who else would do except me?”

In response, even Aria performed a pretentious performance, giving great emotion and joy to those who could only hear their voices.

“… Mr. Asterope.”

As the two continued their futile talk in front of those who had bowed their heads, one of the closest aides of Asher finally winked at him by calling his name. This was because the conversation continued until all the presents on the wagon were dropped.

The one who spoke was well acquainted with Aria. It was Sorke, the knight whom she had met in the general store. Sorke, whose eyes met Aria, paid a brief silent tribute to her.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You can all stand up.”

Only then did the people of the mansion, who raised their heads, identified the face of Asher. Unlike the secret rumors that he had shown only the weak aspects pushed by the Aristocratic Party, he was so bright and handsome, and they tried to swallow their reactions that were about to erupt.

‘What on earth is that gold and silver coin?’ An unheard-of gift of a wagonload of great gifts stole their attention. It was like a great gift in a fairy tale.

“This is my father and my mother.”

The Count and Countess, who were briefly fascinated by Aria’s introduction, bowed down again.

“I heard you’re good people. Especially, the Count was very good at business. Lady Aria may have inherited that brilliance. And the Countess… you’re such a beauty. I thought the most beautiful woman in the empire was Aria, but there are actually two. Thank you for allowing me to visit this way.”

The tension disappeared a little from the Count and Countess’s face as he complimented them by flattery as if he had oiled his mouth. They had been very worried because he was the Crown Prince, but he was so different. The Countess gazed ecstatically at him with a flushed face.

“And here… my brother Cain and sister Mielle.”

Cain and Mielle took their courtesy at the introduction of Aria, which followed. It wasn’t a bright look, but it wasn’t even a face to be pointed out. They looked nervous, but the Crown Prince could overlook it. As expected, they were nobles, who knew how to hide their true self.

“I see.”

Nevertheless, the response from Asher was cool. It was because he recognized Cain’s face. He couldn’t think of him as a good man who had shown his possessiveness to Aria in court. It was the dirty desire to possess her under the mask for her younger sister.

Besides, next to him was Mielle of the rumor. The sister who had used dirty tricks to bring Aria to death, and she was also the frontman of the ugly princess Isis.

They should be affectionate, but they had a brusque face. Asher gave strength to his fists for a while, and unlike the friendliness, he showed to the Count couple, he finished his greetings to Cain and Mielle with a quick glance.

“I am hungry. Maybe it’s because I’ve been in a hurry since morning to meet you.”

‘How can you show them this satisfactory response?’ Aria smiled brightly at the words of Asher, and the Count and Countess’s face was again in contemplation. They then made a fuss, saying, “We should have moved to the dining area where we arranged in the garden before he mentioned it!”

Cain and Mielle, who couldn’t complete the introduction properly and couldn’t move due to stiffness, were laid aside. In the first place, he was in a position that was not strange enough to ignore them, and now the most important thing here was the hunger of Asher, so no one cared about it.

“I’m glad the weather is good. We’ve arranged a luncheon in the garden.”

As she took his hand and moved to the luncheon venue, she glanced behind and saw her sister and brother, who tried to hide their angry expressions.

‘The Crown Prince has visited, and you won’t be able to leave first.’

‘How uncomfortable is this seat?’ They, who despised Aria for her humble origin, were now swallowing their anger, unable to resist a higher status than they were.

‘You reap what you sow.’

Aria, feeling better thanks to Asher, smiled brightly and gracefully. It was a more beautiful smile than a garden full of lilies. Then, Asher also smiled facing Aria, as if he felt better. The two looked like they had already fallen in love with each other even though they just started dating. The Countess, who was impressed by this, glared her eyes and looked at it.

As soon as everyone sat down at the table, the meal began right away without delay. Whether they practiced all day and night, the movements of the attendants were so neat that they made no mistake.

“You must have cared about it.”

As he said, the elaborate dishes filled the tables one by one. They were course dishes that used the highest quality materials. It would be fine if it was dinner, but it was a little bit too much just for lunch.

Since he had left all the work for the meal to the Countess, the Count noticed the fact now, and he had a sinking heart. He seemed to think it was irony. At the inappropriate response, the Count swallowed and was worried that the Crown Prince would not be angry.

“I am deeply flattered by your treatment as it is too much.”

But unlike the Count’s worries, Asher was grateful for the meal rather than complaining about it, and he enjoyed it. The Count soon looked puzzled, and the Countess, who could not grasp the atmosphere, asked, blushing with delight, thinking that she had been praised for her work.

“I don’t know if it will fit your taste.”

“What are you talking about? It’s delicious.”

Although it was not necessary to gain their favor, Asher expressed his feelings to the Count and Countess throughout the meal. He behaved as if he had the lowest position there.

However, no matter how hostile he was as an opponent, as the Crown Prince, who would be the next emperor, he lowered himself and talked intimately. The Count became more excited like a disciple who wanted to be praised by his teacher.

“I heard that you’ve had a hard time with the fur business.”

“Yes. Taxes on luxury goods are too much!”

“Oh, my… I could have helped you if I had known beforehand. I’m sorry about that.”

“Thank you, those kind words are enough. I’ve been struggling with taxes for a while, but fortunately, Aria proposed a warehouse business, and I’ve been able to cut the taxes significantly. It was a bit of heavenly luck.”

‘You don’t even know what you’re talking about. Who helped you? Aria? In the first place, you made me suffer because of the tax matter.’

As if to prove that he was not the biological father of Aria, he showed his foolish side. Asher answered with his eyes squinted because of laughter,

“Oh, you did. Lady Aria is very intelligent indeed. I guess that’s why I’m after her restlessly.”

“… Oh my gosh.”

The Countess had already uttered a lot of exclamations that she couldn’t even count how many it was, and the conversation ended with Aria being praised. It was a matter of course. Today’s main characters were Aria and Asher, and Aria had some commendable achievements, deserving the praise. It was quite natural to take such steps.

Mielle’s face was pale, unable to put anything in her mouth the whole time because the table was uncomfortable. Sometimes she stared at her father, who complimented Aria.

Cain, on the other hand, gritted his teeth because of the friendly conversation that were happening, and he didn’t touch the food in front of him as well. Nevertheless, he was afraid of his future and could not show it.

Aria, who glanced sideways at the two, smiled and opened her mouth. “Father and Mr. Asher, don’t say that. I still can’t catch up to Mielle. She’s the best aristocratic spirit I have to emulate.”