The Villainess turns the Hourglass

“… Whoa, that dress… It’s like my dress, isn’t it? Did you get it as a present from Oscar last time?”

“…”

“I didn’t know. I only checked my dress and went out, but it suits you very much.”

Mielle staggered like a flame that was about to go out. Aria hadn’t said much, but from now on, Mielle would have to suffer from tens of thousands of speculations and questions.

‘Why does the wicked woman have a similar dress to the one Mr. Oscar gave Mielle?’

Aria covered her mouth with a fan, and after a glance through the hall, took a place right next to a group that had a good relationship with Mielle. Most of them would later become members of a group led by Mielle, and they used to say and do things that made Aria feel humiliated whenever they met her.

While Aria was watching their behavior, she came across the eyes of a lady. Laughing as bright as a rose, the lady hurriedly turned her eyes, which had grown like the eyes of a frightened rabbit, away

‘Oh, yes. It’s you. Not by name, but I remember your face very well.’

There was still innocence in her young face, but later, that face would turn into a devil’s shell.

‘And you stood against me in the past.’

Aria recalled the curse she had heard from her before, ‘She’s a woman who shakes her hips cheaply. She is suitable for a dark, shady brothel.’ The lady had smiled and disappeared with a triumphant expression, thinking that she had touched Aria’s core, whether she had known the words coming out of her mouth were inferior to those of a prostitute rolling in the gutter or not.

“Well… she looks more vulgar than I thought.”

“I don’t think she’s very bright.”

“Maybe she’s going to help destroy the atmosphere.”

“Does she really think she’s a noblewoman?”

“Then, how shameless and ridiculous she is!”

“What about the dress? Maybe she was just jealous and bought it after Mielle?”

“Maybe.”

It was very clear to whom that conversation seemed to be referring. Only the name was left out, and the sound of it was not reduced, as if they were trying to be heard on purpose.

They didn’t hesitate to talk about the countess, who had greeted the visitors with the count, either. There was also a lady who wiped her eyes with a handkerchief while saying that Mielle was pitiful. Jessie watched nervously to see if Aria would make a fuss.

But, Aria didn’t care at all. She just kept her place in an aloof and detached manner, listening to the music playing while the rancid words and smells flowed out of their mouths. It was Mielle who would be hurt if they talked about the dress and other things that day.

Aria quietly showed off her beauty by eating the refreshments that Jessie brought her. The etiquette she had practiced with Sarah was impeccable.

Those who criticized her for being too vulgar gradually stopped talking, as the rumors and Aria’s appearance did not match, and those who were watching her mockingly hardened their expressions as they watched Aria. Mielle’s smile as she greeted the visitors from afar was pitiful.

‘Is this enough?’

This was enough to bring a question to the rumors about the daughter of the prostitute who always acted mischievously. ‘She’s always doing mischievous and unmannered things’ was a phrase that would disappear. As for being called the daughter of a prostitute, Aria had no intention of correcting that since it was true, and there was no way to erase that.

‘Now, let’s place one final curse on Mielle and leave.’

She glanced back and checked the box with the hourglass that Jessie was holding. Touching the beautiful pocket watch hanging from her neck, she wondered how to insult Mielle. Mielle foolishly still had an angelic smile, not knowing that the wicked woman was agonizing over her evil trick.

It was then that Mielle’s face suddenly brightened beyond description by a late arrival. ‘Who the hell is here?’ Aria looked away, following her eyes, and found a handsome, tall man there. The familiar figure was Cain, the count’s eldest son.

‘Why is she so happy to see him when she can see him for the rest of her life?’

Aria, unable to understand Mielle’s delight, leaned her head to the side and realized why Mielle became so excited. There was another behind Cain.

‘Oscar! Why?!’

He had always said he was too busy at the academy, so he had never attended one of Mielle’s parties! He had not even replied to her letter, but he had come to this party.

‘Why does he take care of Mielle even though we are better acquainted than we were in the past?’

“Oh, he’s the heir to the Frederik family.”

“He has a good relationship with Lady Mielle, doesn’t he?”

“I think they’re talking about the engagement. Even during the school year, it’s definitely worth attending her party.”

Her fist clenched by itself. Watching Oscar and Mielle talking so affectionately made her cheeks twist. She bit her lip while paying attention to the conversation that did not sound distant.

It was not just Aria, but everyone in the hall was looking at them. Not just because the image of the two together looked good, but because Oscar was the eldest son of the Frederik family, which was second in power only to the imperial family.

In addition, Mielle was the daughter of Count Roscent, famous for his tremendous wealth. They deserved the attention because the combination of the two houses was expected to cause a great impact. The eldest daughter of the Frederik family also drew great attention due to rumors of her engagement with the Crown Prince.

If they all got engaged and married smoothly, the empire’s power and wealth would gather in one place. It was important to get acquainted with any one of them somehow, and the most accessible one was Mielle.

“Don’t you think they really look good?”

“I’m sure they are really beautiful couple.”

As Mielle paid attention to Oscar, flattering words poured out of Mielle, who never looked at the others. Aria, who didn’t think Oscar would show up, became one of the onlookers, simply watching that day’s center of attention.

‘Why does he give his heart, which he had never given to anyone before, to Mielle now? What did I do wrong?’

She thought about it, but she couldn’t figure out what she had done wrong. She thought she had been doing very well, but she had no idea where and how things had gone wrong. While looking back into her past now that it had become difficult to act hastily, her eyes met Cain’s. Cain had ended his reunion with Mielle and was looking around the hall.

“…!”

He glanced up and down at Aria with a look of astonishment, questioning if she was the same girl he knew. He seemed quite surprised to see the change to her height and weight while he was away.

Facing those eyes, Aria smiled softly, as if by habit, her long eyelashes batting like a butterfly’s wings. Cain was not her target, so she had no intention of seducing him, but like he had done before, he showed his weakness to her beauty, something he had in common with his father, and fixed his eyes on Aria unblinkingly.

“… Cain?”

They should have started moving once the conversation ended, but Cain, who was next to Oscar seemed stunned in place even after Oscar called his name a few times. Cain did not move, whether he couldn’t hear his friend or was ignoring him.

Mielle, who wondered about what was happening, also called his name. Oscar turned to the spot where Cain’s eyes were directed to see on what his attention was so heavily focused.

“…!”

Then, Oscar, like Cain, looked upon Aria. Her more mature appearance, even though they had met only a month ago, was enough to win over the mind of the immature Oscar. Aria smiled at the two while enjoying their eyes on her.

‘As expected, I did nothing wrong.’

They were familiar looks. They were familiar eyes. That was a familiar situation. That was the only reason she had been able to survive in society. In that familiar, natural situation, Aria regained the confidence she had lost momentarily and shook off her uneasiness.

‘Yes, every time he ran into me, even though it was for a short time, he was bewitched by me. I clearly remember his gaze, so it couldn’t have been wrong.’