The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

“… I just didn’t feel it was necessary. You didn’t ask me if I was an investor.”

She knew it was not an excuse, but she couldn’t stop saying it otherwise. She knew he was going to blame her for what she said. He would have felt frustrated and betrayed just as Asher had hidden his identity.

“So don’t you mind if I ask you everything I want?”

However, Asher asked her as if to confirm, instead of being angry or digging into what she had said. Aria nodded, a little embarrassed, not knowing he was paying attention to each question.

She wondered what he was asking and wondered why he was asking for permission, and as she waited for Asher, who was straining and swallowing, to ask, what Asher asked Aria was unexpected.

“How have you been?”

“… Yes?”

“I think it’s been a while, and when I found out that you were Investor A, I was afraid that you were also as busy as I was.”

‘How can I compare myself to you, the Crown Prince, even if I am an investor with dozens of entrepreneurs?’

“No, I was only reading and answering letters at the mansion. More than that…”

She was worried about Asher, whether he had heard of Princess Isis, or if he had heard she was now marrying a king of another country and gathering the Aristocratic Party again.

“I was worried about you.”

So, she said with a heartfelt expression, and he had a kindness on his face, and he seemed glad that Aria had been worried about him.

“I feel like I’m going to have a hard time… as you’ve worried about me.”

“I’ll be worried about you, and you don’t have to think about it!”

Aria was a little angry at the answer, not knowing whether it was a joke or a serious answer, and Asher closed his eyes and laughed. It was the first time for him to smile so brightly that Aria stared at him for a long time, not knowing that her cheeks were blushing.

“I’m not as weak as you think I am.”

No, the Crown Prince she remembered was a weak man who had been swayed by the Aristocratic Party and could not even give his name. She didn’t understand why he could now spread his wings like this.

As he read the anxiety and worries in Aria’s eyes, he gave an explanation to gain her trust.

“Of course, there’s nothing I can say about looking weak. In fact, I never thought I’d get the upper hand from the Aristocratic Party so soon. I thought it was a long-term game. If necessary… I was thinking of marrying the princess. I was desperate because I didn’t see a single hole to get out.”

As he brought up the story of his marriage to the princess, Aria’s face darkened. As if to reassure her, Asher held the hand of Aria who held the mug tightly. When the warmth of Asher reached her hand, which had cooled down a little bit, she felt that her anxiety was gone.

“But perhaps since I met you.”

He continued with a small smile as if he were recalling the day when he had first met Aria.

“The memory of being so embarrassed was few. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of planning thoroughly and completely… but it all became useless when I met you.”

“… You’re talking about the casino case.”

It was the connection that had begun with the word to sell the auction ticket to the owner of the general store; it was the connection that was possible because of knowing the future, which had never been possible in the past.

“Yes, I’ve been working on it for a long time, but it was going to be wrong. Since then, I’ve confirmed that the rumor has spread, as you said, and I found out that it wasn’t, so I’ve been looking into you.”

There had been a misunderstanding between her and Mielle, and Aria had also mistaken him for his identity.

“The more I knew you, the more mysterious you become. I had a chance that I didn’t expect from your wise advice.”

It had been part of Aria’s perception. But the work of the princess had been different. Although not officially confirmed, they had been talking about marriage for years. But she would suddenly marry the king of another country.

“But the princess…”

“I know what you’re worried about. But I want you to trust me a little more. I’m a person who never misses an opportunity if it comes to me.”

He did not bring up all his words, but the gentle look of Asher was certain that there was a solution.

“May I visit the mansion of the Count in the near future?”

‘Last time you came without permission.’ So, she thought he would like to move the space as he did last time, but at the words that followed, she immediately knew that it was not.

“I’d like to give them a formal greeting and ask them their permission”

“Formal greeting…? And permission for what…?”

“Will it be okay for me to like you in the future?”

“…!?”

Thud. Her heart began to pound as if something heavy had fallen over her chest. She had thought he might have feelings more than like, or like, for herself, but when she heard it through his mouth, she was almost breathless.

“I’ve done that many times before, but… I don’t know if I’ll meet you at the ceremony today, so all I can give is a tulip.”

As if it had already been set up, a beautiful bunch of tulips was in the hands of the butler, who had appeared, and Asher handed it and went down politely to one knee in front of Aria.

“Can I ask for a formal date?”

There was no worry or anxiousness in his eyes, which he asked with a bouquet of flowers. There was a conviction that Aria would receive his bouquet. He was really a man who didn’t miss a chance.

“Then I want to receive it in a place that is a little bit more brilliant and magnificent next time. There’s only once in a lifetime. ”

So, as expected, she received the bouquet of flowers and said while Asher smiled brightly with a big smile,

“I will do it for you even if I use all of the empire’s resources.”

* * *

The Countess, who returned first to the mansion of the Count, did not hear a detailed explanation, but she summed up the situation and the dialogue at that time to draw her own conclusion.

‘The Investor A who has been complimented so much in public was Aria, and she continued to meet the Crown Prince for a long time, and even the princess, who has become famous as the fiancée of the Crown Prince, would be married to the king of another country…’

Perhaps it was a very reasonable conclusion that the Crown Prince had kicked out the princess to make Aria his wife, who had an emerging power on her back. It was a very sound conclusion.

‘… Oh my god!’

After sorting out, a shrill scream on her chest was flowing out. Aria was so beautiful, and the Countess thought she could find a good mate, but she had never thought it would be a member of the imperial family.

She had only a small thought to benefit her daughter by sending her to a good marriage, but she felt highly flattered by the fact that it was the noblest royal family in the empire that was unparalleled to any family. Her astonishment continued even after the carriage arrived at the mansion.

“You’ve been to the completion ceremony quite quickly, which my father was very uncomfortable with.”

Mielle, who was about to go out or come down to the first floor, dressed nicely to greet the Countess. Her personality suddenly changed after Emma’s death, and she blamed the Countess’s behavior, showing signs of discomfort. She seemed to have found her true self, abandoning all her hardworking acts of kindness.

It was true that she knew the Count would hate it, but she had forced herself to go out of the mansion, so she would have laughed if she had been normal, but not now. Mielle didn’t even know what had been revealed at the ceremony.

The Countess replied with a pleasant smile. “Mielle, I wish you had been there with me. There’s been a great thing.”

Although she was very willing to scold her, the Countess, who had a friendly smile that was like a mother’s, answered in a slightly excited voice. A good thing had happened, and there was no need to rush recklessly.