The Villainess turns the Hourglass
chapter-184

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

‘I wonder if there is anyone in this mansion who will truly treat him well. Besides, how would he feel if he finds out that he was betrayed by his own blood and was comforted by his so-called ornaments?’

Aria laughed then said to the Countess, “I’m sorry, but I won’t let Mielle be left untouched although my father woke up. I will also punish Cain even if the county family is doomed.”

“What are you sorry for? That’s a very good judgment. You can’t leave the snake strangling. I’ll help you, too.”

The Countess gritted her teeth as if she had reminded her of Aria who had been falsely accused. She was terrified because she couldn’t take a step out of the room.

If Aria had no background, she would be afraid of the Count and his children even though she was the Countess, but Aria had already won numerous supporters and powers, and she even had the Crown Prince on her back.

Therefore, it would be better to trample on them and get the virtue of a grown-up daughter and son-in-law rather than to curry favor with a man who treated her as an ornament.

While Aria and the Countess were resting in the garden, Cain went into the Count’s room alone. Cain told the servants, who were massaging the Count’s body, to go outside.

“But, but the doctor…”

“I have something to talk to my father for a while, so do it again later.”

‘Talk to the Count? Is he in a position to talk now?’ The servants hesitated to go out, but they still did. He sat by the head of the Count who was staring at him.

“Father.”

When he called him, the Count blinked. There was no change in his face, but it was a reaction that seemed to be asking why. At Cain’s casual appearance, Cain hesitated a little and then opened his mouth again.

“Mielle… she’s in jail now.”

Cain’s words brought waves back into the Count’s eyes. He had thought she might have been punished for pushing him down, but he didn’t know she was in jail.

He had just woken up and hadn’t heard anything about Mielle. What Mielle had done was a terrible, immoral crime, but it was enough if he dismissed and covered it as an unfortunate incident in the family.

‘But prison? Why? Who in the world accused her?’ Cain continued to speak as he saw the color of the Count’s face becoming black.

“She was… on the charge of trying to kill her father. She’s been in trouble because I couldn’t get the permission even if I applied for bail. I think… it’s because the Crown Prince is involved in the middle.”

The Count rolled his eyes when the Crown Prince’s name suddenly appeared. It was shocking that Mielle was in prison, but it seemed to ask why even the name of the Crown Prince came out.

“Well, in fact, Aria was driven to the criminal at first. Then the Crown Prince stepped in.”

As he was unable to tell the whole truth, he said some parts, taking off their faults, and the Count closed his eyes. It was Mielle who had intentionally taken him to Aria’s room, so he seemed to be making a rough guess. There was nothing to benefit from continuing this story, so Cain quickly changed the topic.

“Anyhow, Mielle said she had made a mistake, and she’s very worried about you. She cries every day and regrets her mistake. So, please help Mielle.

Cain’s words sank the Count’s eyes low.

‘Mistake?’ At that time, the face of Mielle, who had pushed him down the stairs, was as vivid as if it was painted. It was never the look of a person making a mistake. It was a clear intention. Still, Cain continued to stress that she had made a mistake until the Count’s face was full of tiredness.

“… If you are in a state you can’t answer, I must have been too talkative. I’m afraid you’re tired today, so I’ll leave now. Take a good rest.”

Cain, who was afraid that his mistake would be revealed if he defended Mielle any longer, went out of the Count’s room at the right time. In the empty room, where Cain had left and no one was present, the Count, who had been staring at the ceiling for some time, soon closed his eyes.

In his eyes, many of the karma he had done fell into tears. His own children that he thought were on his side were too heartless, but only his new wife and stepdaughter were sincere. Even his most loved Mielle tried to kill him. Cain had struggled to say that it had been a mistake, but the Count, who clearly remembered the look of Mielle while pushing him, felt keen that it was not a mistake. Tears didn’t stop at the feeling of being denied everything that he had done so far.

They were all his karma. It was a matter of his own accord. It was an irreversible past that he only realized now that he could no longer lift a finger.

While looking back at his life and shedding tears of regret and resentment, the Countess, who had been away for a while drinking tea with Aria, entered the room. As if she had had no leisurely face, the Countess hurried up to the Count, making a very worried face.

“Where are the servants? Why are you alone? Are you feeling better? Would you like some water? No, do you want me to massage you? Oh, my God… look at these tears, are you hurt somewhere?”

When she saw the Count’s terrible state, the Countess was worried about him, and the Count’s tears that he was holding back burst out again. Though she was a woman of humble origin, she must have been a warmer woman than anyone else.

Nevertheless, resentment and bitterness were in his heart at what he couldn’t express anymore. If she knew this or not, the Countess smiled brightly and held his hands.

“Now that you’ve got your doctor’s words and you’re awake, you’ll get better soon. I’ll do my best to help.”

As if he had found a ray of hope in the face of the talking Countess, the Count glistened his eyes.

* * *

With the dedication of the Countess, the proper prescription of his physician and the constant efforts of everyone in the mansion, the Count was soon able to get his energy back. As his doctor said, his lower body showed no signs of improvement, but it was possible for him to move his arms or hands a little bit. Of course, he couldn’t pick things up or turn around unless he had someone to help him.

“Would you like some water?”

“Yes.”

He could also speak briefly. She didn’t know if it was because he was not feeling well yet or because he didn’t want to talk, but he often answered the Countess’s questions.

“By the way, today is Mielle’s trial day. Shall we go there for a while?”

“… No.”

Despite Cain’s relentless efforts, the Count offered no help for Mielle. Despite Cain’s efforts to bring news of the poor Mielle often… Of course, it was the Countess’s effort. She helped him to stand firm as he had been shaken his heart.

“You’d better take good care of Mielle…? Aria said it was okay, and… but I think the good child should be given a chance to repent…”

“…”

The Count shook his head faintly. Even though it was a small move that wouldn’t be noticeable if she didn’t look closely, the Countess nodded her head as if she knew it.

“She’s a good kid, so she’ll soon understand what you mean.”

The Countess massaged his hand to justify the Count’s coldness of abandoning her own daughter. There was not a shadow in her smiley face.

“Come to think of it, the doctor strongly advised me that you should take a rest and recover in a resort. Why don’t you buy a villa at this time? A villa where you can get a good rest. I’ll check it out and buy it without bothering you.”

“… Ok.”

No matter how much the Count’s condition improved, he would not be able to live and work normally. Therefore, it was clear that the county family would fall into Cain’s hands as it was.

‘So why not take away even the property in return for humiliation and persecution?’ The Countess, who had a chance to take the property from the Count, smiled brightly at him, who believed in her and answered yes.

* * *

“Considering the Count’s awakening, I’m sentencing Roscent Mielle to five years of house arrest.”

At Frey’s sentence, Mielle collapsed again to the floor. ‘House arrest? Why should I be punished when my father is not dead? And why didn’t my father request for a plea for mercy?’