The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

“Who’s worried about who now? Even if what you’re worried about is happening, do you think our lady will let it go? Does she look like that? Well, all right. If you want to worry and get hurt, do as you please. I’m going to get my share as I get a lot of favor from our lady.”

“Annie…”

Annie, who left her words, left the room as if she no longer wanted to mix words with Jessie. Jessie, left in the lobby, sighed and controlled her complex emotions alone.

* * *

Not long after that, people from the family of Marquis Piast arrived from Croa to attend the wedding. It was an urgent visit with only a few days left before the ceremony.

Upon arriving in tears, Violet, who took Aria’s hands, began to apologize, saying she was sorry for coming late. “I’m sorry I’m late. Even though I was in a hurry…”

“No, thank you for coming.”

Aria’s answer was sincere. She hadn’t thought it was very important for her family to attend, but when the time was about to run out, she had to worry about it.

“We were going to come early, but it took us more time to succeed to the title than I thought,” said Carin, pointing to Chloe.

Aria had heard it in a letter that Chloe had inherited the title of the Marquis.

Now she had become perfectly the Marquise, Carin was truly elegant, beautiful and relaxed enough to suit her status. There was nowhere for her past sight to be seen, which she had to be always wary of the former Count and curry below the knee.

Though she wasn’t worried about her mother, Carin seemed to be doing better than she thought, and the relieved Aria led Violet and Carin into her room, saying she had something to show them.

“What is it?”

“You’ll be surprised when you see it.”

It was so rare for Aria to behave this way that Carin had an interesting look on her face, not to mention Violet, who was happy even if Aria hadn’t said anything about it.

And then a little while later, in a fairly large box which Aria had a hard time bringing, Carin and Violet opened their eyes wide and asked Aria for an answer as if what this was,

“It’s heavier than I thought. It’s the dress I will wear for the wedding.”

“Oh, my God!”

“Oh, my God…” Violet could not speak with a very emotional look as if she had not expected to see it until the wedding day.

Carin asked Arya, “Can I open the box?”

“Of course. Please open it.”

As soon as Aria’s permission was given, Carin quickly opened the lid of the box.

The dress folded neatly in the box was a beautiful dress that was close to an art piece at a glance.

“How can such a dress be this pretty?”

“Would you like me to wear it?”

When Aria asked so, Violet and Carin could not answer as if they asked she dared to do it. It was because it was a dress that was so precious for Aria to wear in the national marriage. ‘What if it’s ruined?’ It wasn’t that easy to break, but it was natural to be bothered anyway.

So they were worried about even sneaking it out like this, but Aria said she would even try it on. When the two failed to answer readily, Aria asked them to help her wear the dress as she took it out of the box.

“Why didn’t you answer? You don’t want to see it? You didn’t see the dress when I chose it, so you should see it now. I want you two to see it before anyone else.”

Originally, when choosing the dress, it was essential for female relatives to be present. But Aria remained alone in the empire apart from her family, so she had to do everything by herself.

At the time, she had thought it was not a big deal, but when she faced Violet and Carin, she thought, somehow, she had to show them the dress before showing it to others.

“Are you really not going to help me?” So when Aria asked again, Violet quickly approached her and began to help her put on the dress. ‘How can I refuse my lovely granddaughter’s request to see it before others?’

So was Carin. She helped Aria wear the dress, thinking that her daughter seemed to have changed so much from a few years ago. It took a lot of time because it was a very careful touch, but soon Aria was able to change into a beautiful, colorful dress.

“… You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. How can such a fancy dress go well with you? This beautiful girl is my grandchild!” Violet, a tearful woman, said, wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and Carin nodded as if she agreed. “You are a child I gave birth to, but you’re a beauty that’s really hard to find. The dress looks very good on you, too. I don’t know who made it, but it’s not enough to give a prize.”

At Carin’s words, Aria mentioned who had made the dress as if she had waited.

“Well, why don’t you say a few words when you meet him at the wedding? I heard that it’s a dress Mr. Asher instructed by himself.”

“… Who?”

“Mr. Asher. I guess he loves the colorful thing. He sent me this colorful dress before. That’s why I couldn’t try it.”

“…!”

‘Is this a dress ordered by the Crown Prince himself?’ The look on their faces was as if they couldn’t believe it, though they didn’t ask again.

How could the Crown Prince order a dress himself…! It was even a fancy and delicate dress that suited Aria so well that they could clearly see how much effort he had put into it.

‘Oh, my God. He is a guy who only thinks of his lover.’ Extending his hand to his lover’s dress, he would have been seen as not a desirable masculine figure to be spoken of in public. Of course, it was the evaluation among men, but it was a totally different assessment among women. A woman would be proud if someone she loved would give her this much care.

‘How can they not be glad that Aria in the distance is loved by her lover?’

Aria, who once again saw her beautiful figure through the mirror, smiled and said to Violet and Carin. “I can only show you this because only the dress arrives here. They are making jewelry fit for my dress. They said it would be here in a few days, so I hope you’ll watch it with me then.”

“Yes, of course. It’s an honor for me to choose jewelry with Lady Aria.”

Very naturally Violet answered yes, and Carin also gave a look of affirmation, though she did not answer otherwise. It seemed as if the conversation was coming to an end so warmly, but Aria, who looked displeased with Violet’s answer, said, staring at Violet as if she had realized the reason right away,

“Mrs. Violet. Why don’t you stop calling me Lady?”

“… Pardon me?” Violet was quite embarrassed by the sudden question, and Aria, finding out that she did not understand her question, opened her mouth again. “When someone calls me, it’s right to call me Lady, but… Mrs. Violet is my grandmother, right? It’s weird even if I think about it for so many times.”

Only then Violet, who understood Aria’s intentions, blinked her eyelids quickly. Unlike in the past when she had been nervous as if she were walking on glass that was about to break right away, Aria cared about and questioned even a trifle thing, and Carin watched Aria with a smile from a distance.

“Just like my mother who doesn’t call me Lady, I think it’s strange that my grandmother calls me Lady. Of course, it’s my first time having a grandmother, so I don’t know exactly. Maybe it’s natural and normal for you to call me Aria just like my mother and father do, but… I’m sorry if I’m wrong.”

“…!”

In other words, Aria meant that Violet should call her comfortably and easily. But Violet was overwhelmed and was embarrassed since it was an unexpected request. And Carin, who was still watching it, added a word for Violet and for her daughter.

“Yes, Aria, you’re right. Usually, family members call each other unless they have something special to do. Unless they want to show that there is a wall between them as they are in a bad relationship.”

“Well, we aren’t in a bad relationship, so we don’t need to call each other using our titles.”

“Yes.”