The Villainess turns the Hourglass

“You look pretty cold too.”

Annie shook her head, surprised by Aria’s sudden statement. “Oh, no. I’m fine.”

“Really? You must be strong in the cold.”

“Well, that’s right…”

“Regardless, I’m afraid you’ll catch a cold if you don’t put anything on.”

“It’s all right…”

The maid looked very uncomfortable in the position she was in now. She had not expected to serve Aria, and Aria had also never imagined that such an opportunity would come. It would not have happened without the hourglass.

Sarah smiled softly while looking at Aria, who was taking care of even her maid.

“Do you mind if I do something different today, teacher?”

“Something new?”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to your social debut at the year’s end, so I think we should rehearse.”

‘That way, Annie will start to envy me. Greedy… She seems very interested in that.’

“That’s a good idea.”

With Sarah’s consent, Aria learned how to walk gracefully in her pointed shoes, how to gently fan herself, and how to respond to her escort.

Annie watched it from start to finish. Her eyes glistened with envy. It was a world unknown to her, which she would never experience in her life.

‘So, if you give up early, your life will be smooth, but you can’t hide your greed, so this wicked bitch will extend her hands to you.’

Finally, when checking the dance steps, Sarah’s eyes widened, and she said, “Oh, I think you’re better than me.”

“Your compliment is too much. I guess it’s thanks to the fact that I’ve been practicing alone.”

The moves that Sarah and she practiced were very easy and simple for Aria, who had used to party all the time. In those days, she had only thought about making herself attractive to others.

Of course, all of the moves were meant to accentuate beauty, not to express grace, so they had to be accompanied by the etiquette that she had learned and practiced from Sarah. Fortunately, it wasn’t that difficult. All she had to do was stop any indecent laughs, which naturally came out of her.

By the time they were about to start the dancing practice, with either one taking the role of man or woman at a time, Jessie returned from her errand. She hurriedly replaced Annie, her face flushed as she seemed to have run out of breath on her way to the third floor.

Annie left Aria’s room with a look of regret because she couldn’t watch the dance that was about to start now in earnest. At last, Aria saw that Annie’s eyes went to the golden brooch on Jessie’s chest.

‘I’m sure you’re wondering. Let’s give her a little time to imagine all kinds of things.’

Aria burst into childish laughter and gave Jessie a cup of water.

“Mi-miss!”

“You didn’t have to be in such a hurry… I felt sorry to see your face so flushed and poured the water without realizing it. Take it.”

“Th-thank you!”

“There’s nothing to do, so you can rest. Right, teacher?”

“Yes, I’m afraid she’s going to faint like that.”

Jessie’s face was glistening so much that it would be strange for her to collapse right there.

After taking the glass of water, Jessie watched the class quietly drinking it in the corner. Annie’s return eliminated the need to continue that tedious dance practice, so the class ended quickly. Aria, who was watching Sarah’s carriage leave for a moment, asked Jessie if she had done well in what she had asked Jessie to do.

“Yes, miss. He decided to bring a design and samples in a few days.”

—————–

A few days had passed, as she had said, and a drawing and six samples of the watch Aria had asked for from the jeweler arrived. The owner of the jewelry brought it in person. The watch, which was composed of colorful jewels and craftsmanship, seemed suitable to be used as a pendant for a long necklace. Aria was agonizing over the six samples in front of her.

“I’m worried because everything’s beautiful. Jessie, which one do you think is best?”

“M-me?”

Jessie, who had been called by name, hesitated to answer in surprise.

‘Why is she not brave with that?’ Well, she had been subservient her entire life, but Aria still didn’t like Jessie to be surprised by everything even though Aria had already warned her about that.

“I’ll take the first sample because it’s more refined.”

“That’s an excellent choice.”

It was a pocket watch with opal, rainbow lily set on it. The diamond that decorated the inside of the watch looked alright, but the craftwork on the rim was exquisite and much more valuable than jewels. Of course, that was only an unfinished sample, so the real one would be a little different, but she had the impression that it might be a lot better than this.

Like she had expected, the finished work she received about a week later was much more luxurious and beautiful than the sample. It was a beautiful pocket clock that could also act as a pendant to hand from a necklace.

‘When would be a good time to start?’

The ability of the hourglass and the tool to make proper use of it were ready to drive Mielle into the depths of despair.

‘Would her birthday be good, or should I steal her maid first?’

Either way, it was certain that Mielle’s future would not be smooth.

* * *

Aria did not have to agonize over the first use of her pocket watch. Much to her regret, Mielle recommended some of her maids to Aria.

It seemed a little early, it was still before the end of the year, but perhaps Oscar’s visit had been the trigger. That must’ve been why she had shown up at the dining hall when she hadn’t even shown her face since his visit and eaten with her ears pricked up.

‘How stupid you are!’

Mielle had probably sent her maid because she hadn’t gotten any information. Aria did not miss this opportunity and took in Mielle’s maid. Mielle had recommended Annie because Aria didn’t need a lot of maids yet, but at the very least, she needed a maid to do all the chores.

It wasn’t as if Mielle had decided on Annie at first. Only after Aria had used the hourglass to return to the past and posited that it would be good for the young maid to serve her had the maid been assigned to her. So, without having to choose, she used the pocket watch for the first time to bring any into her service.

Unlike Jessie, who took a short break when Aria was absorbed in a book, Annie followed Aria wherever she went, from morning to night, in the name of “an immediate, quick response.”

Aria assumed that Mielle had instructed her to do that. She was certain that Mielle couldn’t even sleep because of wondering what Aria and Oscar had talked about. And so, Annie’s actions were to drive Aria, the thorn in her eyes, into an abyss.

“Annie, will you change the tea?”

“Yes, miss.”

When she gave the order without taking her eyes off the book, Annie brought some new tea right away. It seemed to have been prepared in advance.

‘No matter how young you are, you’re Mielle’s maid.’

Annie was more capable than she had thought. Even though she was young, she had worked as a maid for a long time. In addition, everyone in the mansion was a close associate of the beloved Mielle. There was no way that she would not be competent.

Aria, who observed her pouring the tea politely nearby, spoke to her with a face that Annie found something very strange.

“How nice your skin is!”

“… Yes?”

“You have freckles, so I didn’t notice from afar, but your skin is very white and fine.”

Annie’s face turned red when Aria suddenly praised her skin.

Driven by hunger, Aria’s praise continued. “You have big eyes, a sharp nose, and fair skin.”

“…”

“If you dress well, you’ll be called a noblewoman.”

Annie didn’t respond to that series of compliments. She just blushed and looked at the floor. That was because Aria and she did not have a good relationship yet.

In addition, Aria had been abusive to her master, Mielle. She had been born the daughter of a prostitute, who was worse than a commoner, and had been lucky enough to become a noblewoman, so Annie had been busy cursing her birth, thinking Aria was different from the real nobles. Surprisingly, Aria began to extol her, so it was only natural that she didn’t know what to say.