The Villainess turns the Hourglass
chapter-20

If Aria could, it was better for her to do it first. That way, she could keep Mielle from climbing the social ladder. Aria, running through her memory in search of those who had backed Mielle, suddenly came to her senses at the sound of someone calling her.

“… Yeah?”

“You’re so lost in thought. I asked how long it’s been since you learned embroidery.”

“Oh, it’s still about a month.”

“Oh, my God! Then, you were able to master it within just a month?”

“I’ll correct that. It’s only been about two weeks.”

Sarah, who put her handkerchief back in the case, stepped in. She looked very proud because the girl she loved was being praised. It was heartwarming to see a kind and cute girl, who had been misunderstood by everyone, now properly evaluated.

“If you’d like, I’ll prepare another embroidery for all of you next time.”

“Don’t you think it’s bothersome?”

“No! Not at all. It’s my only hobby. On the contrary, I’m rather glad”

The adorable words added a hot fire to the hearts of the young ladies. The protective instincts of the young ladies, which were fueled by Aria’s small and young appearance, played a major role in that, even though they were not much older.

Girls in their mid-teens were apt to be swept away by one word or another, and at the same time, they were stubborn and unswerving once they were sure. This time, their belief in Aria would be that certainty.

“May I ask you for another next time, then?”

“Of course!”

“Oh, and come with me if you want to buy a dress in the future. I know a designer who makes very elegant dresses. I’m sure there are many dresses that will suit Lady Aria.”

“Can I come with you too? I also have a boutique that I know well.”

Her title as Lady Roscent had turned into Lady Aria without them noticing, and all of the young ladies in attendance wanted to do something for poor Aria, which she thought was ridiculous.

“I think it’s a good idea to have our next meeting outside. There’s a dessert shop I go to often, and their sweet macarons that melt gently in the mouth are famous.”

“I think I know them. I got one as a present before, so I tried it, and it was really good.”

Laughter bloomed in the garden as the girls recounted their favorite desserts. They asked one another’s schedule to set a date for the next meeting as soon as possible, and Aria joined in joyfully.

By the time they had roughly agreed on a date for the next party, a young lady who had been listening carefully to the conversation stepped in and said, “Wouldn’t it be a little dangerous to meet outside? There have been some bad incidents lately.”

“Bad incidents?”

“Didn’t you hear? The case of Viscount Lupre.”

Attention was drawn to the young lady, who brought up a breaking story on a topic that nobody had known. It was about Viscount Lupre, a large man who managed the casino and was making huge profits.

“He was using the basement of the casino for human trafficking a few days ago. The case was being investigated by the Crown Prince himself.”

“Oh, my God! But, why didn’t we know that?”

“So? What happened?”

Aria’s ears pricked up too. Looking back on the past, the Crown Prince had captured Viscount Lupre, and his achievements had been immediately known throughout the world. So, it was a little strange that the public was quiet even a few days later. The young lady who brought up the story looked around and held her hand to her mouth, telling them to keep the news secret.

“We don’t know why, but the Crown Prince missed Viscount Lupre! I heard that the Crown Prince was in a strange hurry at that time, very unlike him, who is meticulous and serious about everything.”

“So, they still haven’t caught the viscount?”

“I guess not.”

“Oh, my God! So, you’re saying that a human trafficker is out there?!”

Everyone was appalled by the idea of a terrible criminal being free, and Aria was the most astounded of them.

‘Why has the past changed? Why? Why couldn’t he arrest Viscount Lupre?’

In the past, Viscount Lupre had been clearly arrested on the spot and punished for three generations. She had heard that he had planned to run away in advance in the case, but he had been helpless to the Crown Prince’s meticulous and covert plans. The public had been outspoken in its praises of the prince. They had said that His Highness, the noble Crown Prince, had saved his people.

‘What on earth happened, and why did Crown Prince’s plans go wrong?’

Sarah, looking at Aria, who was frightened by the fear that the past had changed and was shaking visibly, hugged her, saying that she would be fine. Aria’s lips turned pale before she realized it.

‘It won’t be all right. Everything I know about the future will be wrong if a big event like this has changed, even if it has nothing to do with me.’

Aria’s head was as tangled as a loose thread with how unexpectedly the events were unfolding.

‘It’s OK. It’s going to be OK.’ She desperately told herself that a minor incident with the Crown Prince would not affect her revenge.

With the advent of that spooky topic, the tea party came to an end. Aria returned to the count’s mansion, requesting that the next meeting be put on hold for the time being, until Viscount Lupre was captured.

Aria, after arriving at the mansion, called for John and ordered him to find out more information about the Crown Prince’s case. She thought she’d get rid of her anxiety once she found out the reason for the change.

* * *

John visited his former colleague to find out about the case of Viscount Lupre.

Lowell had been like that for a long time. John was sure that Lowell had been promoted to with great speed because his higher-ranked superiors liked him due to his easy-going and affable personality.

The two men, who left the Imperial Palace and settled in a nearby tavern, talked about their old days: the memory of swinging a sword until the sun rise in the training hall, or the story about a stupid nobleman who had lost his pet near the Imperial Palace. Those were the main topics of their conversation.

“When I found the pet in the stable with the princess’ horse, I was so surprised!”

“If it touched the princess’ horse wrong, the noble would have lost his head!”

“But there was nothing to do. We were just knights! I did my duty faithfully to save the wicked cat!”

As the story came to an end, so passed the day. John, who lightly emptied the beer cup in his hand, measured the timing. Although he was doubtful that Lowell would speak about the incident because he valued his honor and pride as a knight, he decided to push when he saw it was becoming hard to understand what Lowell was saying because of his drunk and dull pronunciation.

“So, what happened to him? Our lady can’t sleep at night because she is scared.”

“Who is he?”

“Oh, I am talking about that human trafficker who recently ran away.”

Lowell cocked his head and rolled his eyes. It seemed hard to think with his brain paralyzed by alcohol. He rolled his eyes from place to place for a long time without saying anything, and then answered with a pound on the table, as if he had remembered the man, “Are you talking about Viscount Lupre?”

“Yes! That’s him!”

“Well, I don’t know because I was not involved in that operation, but I’m sure we’ll be able to catch him any minute? The Crown Prince is searching for him!”

“Is that so?”

John chuckled and smiled awkwardly, touching the beer cup he held in his hand. Since Lowell had not been deployed in the operation, there was no way for him to know the details. However, it was not possible for John to go back with just that. If he didn’t take even a little bit of information back, Aria might reveal every single one of his wrongdoings of that day. The little girl of humble origins seemed likely to do it at any time.

“But, why on earth did the Crown Prince miss Viscount Lupre? I can’t believe it.”

“I don’t know that.”

“His Highness is quite organized and meticulous, even if he’s still young.”

“… Well, that’s true.”

“If he missed Viscount Lupre, and it wasn’t a very difficult task, there has to be a reason for it.”

“… Hmm, isn’t it?”