The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

After a light breakfast, she sat quietly and immersed herself in the book, but today there was an unusually noisy mess inside and outside the mansion.

“What’s going on?”

Aria, who had been quiet all the time, suddenly spoke to herself. Then Berry, who was wiping the clean floor with a dry mop, lowered her body in surprise.

‘I haven’t even bothered you for a long time, but you’ve already been afraid of me.’

When she opened the window with her tongue clicked and checked out, she could see the servants and maids moving around busily.

‘Because of a series of incidents, the count has vacated the mansion often, so there would be no guests…’

However, they were eager to put their efforts to receive such a great guest. When she called Annie out of curiosity and asked why Annie immediately spewed out the information.

“Oh my! I forgot to tell you. Princess Frederick is coming today. I heard she’s having a tea party with Miss Mielle.”

Aria hadn’t even known that this mishap had happened because she had not called Annie who had been taken a rest because she had enjoyed reading quietly. It seemed to have heard a similar story directly from Mielle’s mouth, but she must have forgotten it.

“Princess Frederick…”

She was the one Aria didn’t want to encounter yet. It was clear that Aria would be in bad shape if she encountered the princess with her present self, who had nothing else to show. It was more so since the rumor with Oscar had spread. So she had tried to avoid meeting the princess, but unfortunately, Princess Frederick had no intention of doing so.

“Well, miss, the princess is waiting downstairs…”

The princess had wanted to say hello and sent a maid to her. How could she avoid it? Aria was just a daughter of a vulgar prostitute. If she avoided the princess, an absurd rumor might spread. Of course, it was unclear if a good rumor would spread with her meeting, but it was better to give no room.

“… tell her I understand.” It was a poor pronunciation since she bit her lips, but it was best to answer that.

“Yes, miss.”

Aria took a sigh, looking at the maid who was going down and saw her in front of the mirror. It was very annoying but she never had to make anything to be blamed.

* * *

It was only a short while after the acquisition had been completed that the news of the acquisition of the casino by Viscount Vigue entered the ear of the princess. It was because Vika had forced Viscount Vigue not to tell anyone until the acquisition had been completed.

Vika had emphasized the secret, saying that he had persuaded the Crown Prince to sell it at a low price by cheating him, and had added a warning that if someone would find out, it would certainly be difficult to acquire.

Viscount Vigue, who had only inherited the successful business of his predecessor, had believed the words without doubt, and due to it, the takeover of the casino had ended, not unknown to the outside world, except for a handful of people who had been involved in.

Therefore, the princess and her close aides who had belatedly learned of this fact had been forced to vent their anger at the stupidity Viscount Vigue had done. He had been so desperate for immediate profits that he had abandoned the great weapon that they could strangle the Crown Prince.

‘… how lucky the Crown Prince is!’

The princess wanted to buy the luck of the Crown Prince, who had avoided the misfortune of strangling his neck. She could see the end of this breathtaking tug-of-war, but when she had felt that she had won as she had pulled the rope as hard as she could, and she had loosened it, he had pulled it back again.

‘It must have been the Crown Prince who had blocked the trade route by selecting luxuries that were safe for the common people.’

She didn’t know if he was going to cut off the cash cow, but it wouldn’t be that simple and easy with the family of Count Roscent.

“Princess Isis! You’ve had a hard time coming all the way!”

“Good to see you, Mielle.”

Arriving at the mansion of the family of Count Roscent, Isis was able to regain stability by watching Mielle greet her with a bright smile. Recently a series of bad things had caused her to lose her appetite, but when she looked at Mielle who was shaking her tail, she breathed easy again.

Not long ago, the princess had doubted the Crown Prince and Mielle because of the unsavory things that had happened on her birthday, but after careful examination, she had been able to find no other contact between Mielle and the Crown Prince, so that she could again have a favor with Mielle.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No. Never mind.”

It was only a remark, but it was none of her business to worry about as Mielle answered. It might have been a problem if someone had made the princess wait, but if she had someone waiting for herself was quite within the normal range.

“It’s small, but a gift. It’s black tea from the Kranberg region, and they say they drink it a lot to survive the summer.”

“Gift…! Thank you very much.”

As they moved into the garden where the refreshments were ready, the princess asked Mielle, “How are all other young ladies? I am so busy that I don’t have time to meet.”

“Yes, everyone is looking forward to seeing you. But at the same time, they wish that the work you are doing is done well.”

It was up to Mielle to manage those who supported the princess. It was because she was favored most by the princess. Rumors that she would become the next hostess of the family of Duke Frederick also played a part. So even though she had done nothing, Mielle became the next one after the princess in power.

Fortunately, however, there was no need to take care of them otherwise. Most of the ladies wanted to keep a close relationship with the princess and Mielle for a long time. It was for their bright and brilliant future.

“It’s a pleasure, then. Maybe it’s because they’re broad-minded and friendly.”

“I think it’s because of the grace and virtue you sowed. Everyone likes and respects the princess.”

Indeed, Mielle was the faithful dog of Princess Isis. No matter what questions the princess asked or said, her answer ended in the praise of the princess. Isis sat on a prepared chair, smiling contentedly.

Aside from the financial resources, Mielle was fit for Oscar’s wife. Isis chose a topic Mielle would be pleased to hear, who was making every effort to please her.

“The brooch goes very well together.”

“Mr. Oscar sent it to me. It’s so pretty that I wear it every day.”

“I thought so. Oscar has a similar brooch.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes, it is. He bought it because it was a beautiful diamond, but he said that when he saw it, he thought of Lady Mielle.”

“Oh, my God…! Did he say that…? So I had a brooch similar to Mr. Oscar’s!”

“It’s Oscar’s favorite brooch.”

Isis’s eyes were warm as she saw Mielle, who was moved to tears. Maybe Mielle would have known that the brooch that she had received as a gift had not come from Oscar. Nevertheless, she must keep her pride by pretending not to know. It was a very desirable attitude of an aristocratic lady.

Oscar had never bought brooches or jewelry. But that Oscar had been carrying a brooch. And the princess had questioned him in doubt, the daughter of the vulgar prostitute had come forward. She had been going to throw it away in the gutter, but she had changed her mind and put it back in Oscar’s hand. And she had made a similar brooch and sent it to Mielle as a gift.

“From now on, this brooch isn’t from the daughter of a dirty prostitute, but it’s for you and Mielle. Do you understand?’

Isis, who had clenched the hand of Oscar who had rather tried to destroy it, had warned in a low voice, “Let’s help the daughter of a prostitute, who has barely stepped into the aristocratic society, live in peace.” Then he had listened to her without any resistance, and he had been looked so cute to her.

“By the way, I haven’t seen the new person who has come to the family of the count yet.”

“Ah… You’re talking about that person.”

Mielle lowered her voice, conscious of her surroundings. She must have thought of her image.

“Yes, I’m talking about that person. No matter how humble she is, I don’t know which country’s manner has it if she does not come down to say hello. Is that the manner of that person who lived in the place we don’t even want to talk about?”