The Villainess turns the Hourglass
chapter-79

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

‘And it’s your idea.’ The count and Lane’s eyes grew bigger and bigger at her slow-paced remarks. They, who had thought it was a good idea since the first time she had talked about the warehouse were amazed at the specifics of the explanation.

“… what in the world did you think about that?”

“I just came up with the thinking to myself. It’s not such a great idea.”

“No… it’s a great idea. It’s a matter that your father needs right now, and it’s a great idea to contribute a lot to his profits in the long run.”

“I’m just grateful if you see it like that.”

At the smile of Aria who was pretending to be shy, Mielle, who did not recognize the situation, gave advice,

“… but wouldn’t the cost of building a new warehouse, the cost of hiring new workers, and the cost of maintenance, be a hurdle?”

“It may be if you see it simply, but it’s a different story if your father expands his business by adding more items. It’s going to be less than the fur tax he brought in.”

“Ah… was the fur tax so big?”

“Yes, it’s a luxury. Haha, I guess Lady Mielle only knew that fur would be popular. That was great, too!”

As Lane said it like a joke, there was silence in the dining hall.

‘Mielle, you could blow yourself up like that.’

The reaction of Mielle and the count was expected.

‘You have been honored to say that you did what you didn’t do, so you’ll pay the price. I couldn’t believe you stole it when I was right in front of you. It would not be enough for both of you to be executed and hung on the wall of the castle.’

Aria brightened her eyes and waited for Mielle to open her mouth.

“The fashion of fur…?”

Stealing the glory was the count’s solo act, and Mielle looked puzzled and cocked her head as if the count had not spoken it to her. At her reaction, Lane was bewildered. He seemed not to understand why the conversation didn’t work.

“… let’s have a meal first. I’ve found a good way, and suddenly I have a good appetite!”

It was the count who cut off their conversation. He recommended them to eat in a loud voice, unlike him. Next to him, the countess had an unhappy look on her face, and Mielle continued to eat, according to her father’s words. It was a maneuver to cover up the truth.

‘Do you know what you’re ashamed of?’

Aria did not regain her glory, but she did not intend to retrieve Lane’s attention, so Aria followed the count’s words and resumed her meal quietly. The people of the Roscent family all closed their mouths and resumed their meal, so Lane followed them with a dubious face. The count did not look at Aria until the meal was over.

She was about to go up to her room after dinner, which had suddenly become quiet. The countess’s wife smiled awkwardly and agreed with the count’s remark that he would not be able to serve tea because it was late at night.

Did the countess even notice that the count had deprived her daughter of glory? It might have been her best as she could never offend the count’s mood. Aria knew her survival instinct so well that she left without any complaints, saying, “I will dismiss you first.”

‘Now Lane won’t come back.’

A little thought would tell him the truth. He might feel resentful when he knew the truth, and even his master might be so. Aria’s steps upstairs were light. Jessie glanced at her with a burst of laughter.

But that laughter didn’t last long. Because after a few days, Mielle received a present. It was a gift from Oscar. Inside were beautiful dresses, shoes, gloves, and even jewelry.

[Dear Lady Mielle,

It’s simple, but please, I’d like you to wear it to my sister, Isis’s birthday party.]

Oscar even accompanied a friendly letter as if he had really intended to give her his heart. Besides, “please.” ‘Isn’t that what I wrote in my letter to Oscar?’ It was a letter that she had barely sent after thinking so many times to rewrite the letter.

‘I can’t believe he sent a letter with that “please” to Mielle.’ Faced with Mielle’s wicked face on the first floor, Aria rushed back to her room, feeling like she was about to fall straight to the floor.

“Miss…!”

“Let me be alone.”

When she dismissed Annie, who was stamping her feet and was crying, she became lonely.

‘Oscar… did Oscar really decide to cut me off?’

Otherwise, he would not be so cruel like this. It was her who had not even received an answer yet. She wrote a letter with her sincere desire to continue to exchange letters, but her hearty effort returned as a gift to Mielle.

She felt like crying, covering herself with a blanket. It would be fine once there was no one here. So Aria covered herself with a blanket and threw up her sorrows because the opportunity, which she had had—turning over the hourglass—was useless.

* * *

A few days later, Mielle wore a gift from Oscar and participated in Princess Frederick’s birthday party. The princess, who was an adult at the age of a woman, was still unmarried and was on the verge of engagement, so she held a party before sunset.

This was all the more so because it was the Crown Prince that she had a proposal of marriage with. It meant that she needed to be on her best behavior as she might become an Empress in the future. And most people, including her neighbors, thought it was natural. It was only natural for Princess Isis to become an Empress to keep the Crown Prince in check. It was also the result of having the support of the Aristocratic Party.

After getting off the wagon, Mielle asked the servants of the Frederick family to find out where Isis was. The reason was that it was not easy to find her because the entire mansion was used as a party hall.

Many people gathered to celebrate Isis’s birthday, so even her servants did not know where she was. Mielle went around the mansion and managed to reach Isis’s side after half a turn.

“Princess Isis!”

“Lady Mielle! You’re here! Oh, my God…! You so beautiful today.”

Isis was surprised and praised Mielle. Miele’s face blushed.

“Really? Actually… these are clothes and ornaments from Oscar! He told me to wear it today.”

“Oscar? How did the blunt man ask such a thing? He seems to really like Lady Mielle.”

“I’d love that.”

Mielle could not help but expect Oscar even though she knew it was less likely. He had been consistent with his blunt response, but it was how he was with everyone.

But recently, he had been a little different. She had been wary of him because he put his eyes on a prostitute’s daughter, but he had come back like this. No matter how much the princess had warned him, if he really didn’t like her, he wouldn’t have put his heart and soul this far. So she had no choice but to expect it!

“There is not much time left for the princess’s engagement.”

“I hope the Crown Prince will become an adult soon. It’s quite inconvenient and cumbersome that men and women have different adult standards.”

The Crown Prince was eighteen years old, the same age as the princess, but he was not yet an adult. A nobleman generally admitted to being an adult only when he was two years older than a woman since he graduated from the academy and studied to take over his family.

“After you become an Empress, why don’t you lower the adult standard for men to eighteen?”

“I should. I think it’s the first thing I need to fix.”

Their conversation, assuming that she would be an Empress, was natural without awkwardness.

“How is the count?”

“His business is always flourishing.”

“That’s a good thing.”

They had no regard for the countess. It was because she was a trivial thing to argue about. If time passed and the flower fell, he would throw her away. Mielle and Isis also thought that the countess’s value to the count was just that.

“Just wait for a while. Oscar will be here soon. He’s still working on his clothes. He must have been nervous since Lady Mielle’s coming.”

“Really? Actually, I like Oscar’s clothes whatever they are… I can’t wait to see him.”

“You can expect it because he will appear to satisfy Lady Mielle who he was waiting for.”

At the words of Isis, Mielle’s cheeks and ears turned red.