The Villainess turns the Hourglass
Chapter 68: Testing And Trial, Part IX

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

Anyway, since the family was talking about their marriage, it could be considered impure if it was impure. Aria needed help exchanging letters with him. The only person she knew was Jessie, but inevitably, Annie now knew it, and both of them all.

‘The first time I sent him a letter, he didn’t reply for quite a while.’

As she was about to be disappointed, she was a little moved by the man who visited her and handed her the letter. After that, the reply was not too late. Sometimes it came back so fast that she thought it had already arrived.

It was all about asking for her regards or devoting himself to studying, but she couldn’t hide her excitement about the achievement that she had taken away by the man Mielle loved. It was enough to make her feel like she would be running around the whole mansion and trying to talk out loud about the fact that she was exchanging letters with him.

‘But I can’t do that.’

If she used the hourglass, it would be OK, but if she did it in her sober mind, she would only repeat her mistake again. Aria took out the letter papers she always used and wrote back to Oscar. In the first part, she wrote in detail about the weather and health stories, and how well his studies were doing, as always.

After that, it was spring, and she wanted to go out to see the flowers. As she was about to finish the letter, she remembered what Mielle had been up to.

‘If I write down Lane’s story… how will Oscar react?’

He might be jealous. If he might not be jealous, he might be nervous, if not jealousy. He might be curious about Lane’s identity as it was related to the girl he was going to marry later.

The most desirable reaction would be for him to pay no attention, but thinking that he would, she added the story of Lane and Mielle. She hoped he would reveal the identity of the man she did not find, and she ended up wondering about the man.

“Shall I deliver it to Mr. Oscar?”

“Yes. Keep it and send it in a few days.”

He would be panicking if she spent a little time and sent it. It was only when he couldn’t see and didn’t hear the news that he would miss. Just like a few months ago, a late letter moved her unthinkable.

* * *

There was no mention of Lane in the letter back from Oscar. She didn’t know if he had avoided it on purpose or if he hadn’t been interested, and she couldn’t mention it twice, so Lane’s story naturally disappeared from the letter. She hoped he would care.

Aria spent the winter with self-study, Sarah’s love counseling, classes with the Viscountesses, and studies in many fields. The count continued to work in the capital because the fur business was so successful that he couldn’t care about other businesses. Even though he was in the capital, she couldn’t see his face often during dinner time, but sometimes she asked her in a subtle way if she had any other information when they had dinner together.

“Now there will be a full spring, so there will be more nobles taking off their fur.”

“That’s right. I hope spring will come soon.”

Despite Mielle’s unnoticed reply, the count smiled without showing any signs of displeasure. ‘Is your daughter beautiful in any way she does or speaks?’ Aria, who had never received unconditional love even from her mother, was full of wonder.

“Are you thinking about the next thing in the fur business?”

Lane asked after coming to dinner after a long time. The question was asked to the count, but his eyes were evenly divided between Mielle and Aria. He seemed to be looking forward to how they would respond.

“Yes, since the fur business is in a stable position. Now that the trend in the capital has passed, I should expand into the provinces and work on other businesses.”

‘Why is it that you are expanding your business even if you are the best in the Empire in terms of wealth? Do you want to sweep all the Empire’s goods?’

At the count’s undiminished spirit, she naturally cocked her head.

“What do you think of that, Lady Mielle?” asked Lane, who was still testing her.

It was amazing to not give up even though he had heard disappointing answers several times so far. Of course, he didn’t show as much interest as he had done for the first time, but Mielle was always his priority to ask if there was any hope left.

“In spring, thick outerwear becomes unnecessary, so why don’t you look for light materials?”

“Light materials…You mean…?

“Yes. For example, silk that is good for color or velvet with a soft touch might be good.”

Aria swallowed the soft soup with a side dish, stiffening the face of Lane. ‘It’s a soup with broccoli that I hate, but how is it so sweet. Did she really think what she just said was a good idea?’

“That’s a good idea. Silk and velvet have quite a few likes. They are also used a lot as dress materials.”

Personally, I think it would be nice to have a light silk. We can also cover up the sun in the summer with it.”

“That’s a very good idea.”

‘Is it a good idea to suggest the already widely used fabrics for a new business idea?’ Aria kept her mouth shut as she continued to eat while trying to bear her mocking, and she suddenly felt a gaze… As she looked up, she could see Lane and the count looking this way.

“Do you have anything to say…?”

“Aria, I wonder what you think.”

‘Alas, you’re in dire need of a new business item, aren’t you? Well, father, what do you want me to say when all of my exploits in the fur business has been lost to Mielle?’

Besides, she didn’t want to get Lane’s attention anymore. She was satisfied with what she had taken from Mielle. She thought too much attention would only hinder her future work.

“I agree with what Mielle said. I’d like velvet and silk. The velvet dress is very beautiful.”

The eyes of the two men showed disappointment. ‘I only agreed with the lovely Mielle’s opinion, so why should one side be praised and the other side faces disappointed eyes? If that’s the case, I have no choice but to live up to your expectations.’

“Oh! Come to think of it…”

As she had a gesture as if something had come to mind, the count, Lane, and the countess, Mielle’s gaze went to Aria. Aria smiled softly and curled her eyes.

“I’d like to have a velvet dress. I think it’s perfect for the change of seasons.”

“You’ll look great, sister.”

“Is that right?”

Mielle also smiled broadly at the wicked woman’s stupid remarks.

Are you satisfied? Are you disappointed, two men? The count no longer spoke to Aria. Still, he was a loving father to Mielle, and it was the beginning of the nonsense.

After a quiet meal only for Aria, she went up to her room and drank tea before bed. When she was reading a book while drinking fragrant herb tea, Annie, who was waiting by her side, was restless with her fingers crossed.

“What’s up? Do you have anything to say?”

“Ah, that’s what I…”

Now that she was used to decorating her face with makeup, she hid her freckles and acted as if her fair skin was her own. Aria didn’t know what she had made an excuse for Mielle or maybe she was giving her the information without making an excuse, but now she seemed to be a close aide of Aria, showing off her beauty to other maids.

“Don’t hesitate to speak.”

“I want to go to the festival next week. Maybe a day or so… No, I’d like half a day. Can I take a vacation?”

“Festival?”

It was time for the festival. A festival welcoming spring was held over the weekend at a time when it changed from winter to spring every year. It was a festival for the common people, with many street vendors and performances on the streets, but aristocrats often stopped by because they had a lot to see.

Aria in her childhood was poor and it was too dangerous to go alone, and she never stopped by because she didn’t want to get involved in the lives of ordinary people even after she became a noblewoman. Of course, she was still not interested, but she readily accepted Annie’s request as she knew it was one of the few entertainment attractions that ordinary people were waiting for.