The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

"In addition, she was definitely in the mansion! But how did she get to the next city? You've seen her, too!"

"… Yes, I saw her."

As usual, he had arrived at the mansion and checked Aria's room. Apparently, the lights had been on in Aria's room, and he remembered seeing her silhouette as well. He also believed she hadn't really sneaked out because he'd always been watching her.

So he had trusted Mielle's words that she had been with Aria at the moment the Count had fallen. Because Mielle had been on the same side, he had believed that she couldn't lie. If Aria hadn't really been in the mansion and Mielle had been doing a one-man show alone, she would not have asked for help purely from him. She had been doing that all the time.

'So I didn't have the slightest doubt about what Mielle said, and I didn't take any action…'

He hadn't doubted that Mielle would do well on her own.

She had always been praised for her shrewdness. Although he had not spent much time with her as he had entered the academy, Mielle had always been a child who had been praised by someone.

Of course, he had just watched with folded arms, because the Crown Prince had stepped forward. It had been possible that if he had made a rash move, he would have taken the false charge. He had also expected that the Crown Prince and Aria would make some evidence because they said they had been to a faraway country.

When he saw Mielle's face, he thought it was a good thing to stand by with folded arms. In the first place, all he had wanted to gain from this was the real power of the mansion

Cain had intended to save Aria who would be in a corner as a criminal and to give a favorable impression, but it was only supplementary, and not for the original purpose. Mielle had a glimmer of hope as he said that he had seen her, and asked with her sparkling eyes,

"… Why, why don't you tell the judge you've seen her now?"

"Mielle. As I told you, it's dangerous to testify that you and I saw her, at the same time. The judge will be asking why we were all there in front of Aria's room in the first place."

"You can say it was a family meeting!"

"Why was the family meeting in front of Aria's room? Besides, it's weird to say that we had a family meeting we'd never had before. It'll also be complicated to explain why our stepmother wasn't there."

When he repeated the answer to Mielle, who was trying to persuade him again, she burst into tears again.

"I'll examine the evidence again. I'll apply for an appeal and bail, so don't worry, just wait a minute."

"… I get it, brother. And I have one more favor to ask of you. I hope Miss Isis will come to see me… I have something to tell her."

"I see. I'll deliver it."

Cain, who left the prison, looked straight at the evidence submitted by Aria. In addition to the court-appointed nobility, two guards followed him. Unfortunately, however, there was no weird thing in it.

If they had produced evidence form only one place, he could do something, but they would have submitted certificates of passage through several cities and finally from the Kingdom of Croa. A certificate of passage from another country… They couldn't even try to fake it.

Moreover, it was marked as a time when one would not arrive unless one moved very tightly. There would be enough time if the Crown Prince moved alone, but there was no extra time to move with Aria who wasn't used to long-distance travel.

'I can't argue…'

With this perfect evidence, there was no manipulation. No, it was a thoroughly planned evidence that could not be refuted. They said it was a vacation, but they didn't spend so much time in the city. Cain, who had been checking them for a long time, covered the files that had sorted out the evidence.

"Have you finished it? If you have any questions, would you like me to explain?"

"… No, thank you. I'll apply for an appeal and bail first."

"I see. It'll take a while because it has to go through the judge. Come with me."

The application was filled out and bailed out according to the instructions, but the only answer returned from Frey was no. The answer returned within a day as if there was no room for review.

[Her age is still young, but she did the heavy crime and there is the risk of a second offense, and I reject your application for bail. I'll reschedule and inform you about the appeal at a later date.]

Cain, who read it, crumpled the document and threw it to the floor. 'I can't believe the judge rejected the bail! It is the nobility of the empire to free a man on bail, even if he kills a person!' It was clear that the Crown Prince had done something.

To make matters worse, even Isis expressed her intention not to meet Mielle. The day to go to the Kingdom of Croa was a short time away, and she said she was busy, but she no longer seemed to want to continue her relationship with Mielle and the family of Count Roscent.

'If my father was fine…!'

If his father had been fine, he would have persuaded the Duke to bring Mielle out somehow. However, the Count was in a coma by the hands of Mielle, and other nobles, who had thought it was a disgraceful crime, turned completely away from their eyes.

It was disgraceful of him to realize that the great power his father had, only after he had driven his father to hell. Even though he had obtained the power, he had failed to use it properly.

'Aria always ignores me!'

Somehow the servants and maids of the mansion took care of Aria, like a glass that was fragile. She had acted as if she had been the power of the county family.

It was too late, but Aria, not Mielle, should have been the culprit. But he could no longer put the false accusation on her as she had completely prepared and refuted.

On the contrary, she earned the name "Poor Lady" and gained the sympathy and love of all people as if she was revered. Though of humble origin, there was even a great deal of public opinion that her character and wisdom were perfect for the Crown Prince's spouse. Even among the Aristocratic Party, no one dared to refute it. Unable to tell Mielle about it, he was seething angrily in bed, when a woman's screams were heard in the Count's room.

"Call the family doctor! Call the family doctor! Hurry!"

It was the Countess. She was screaming with a very surprised face. If she was making a fuss like that, the Count was either dead or awake.

'Don't tell me…?! I haven't achieved anything yet!'

With the fear of assisting and inciting the immoral thing and the thought of having to pay for it, he could not stop his whole body to tremble. Nevertheless, he had to confirm what had happened in the Count's room, so he fearfully opened the door.

"…!"

Cain opened his eyes wide. He had heard that there was a greater chance that his father would not wake up, but the Count, who seemed unable to regain consciousness throughout his life, was staring at the door with his eyes wide open.

Cain's whole body trembled as if he were going to rush in and tear it apart for his immoral crime. But the Count didn't say anything but just stared silently at Cain.

Cain, who had been terrified of the Count for so long, approached him slowly, without any movement. Cain called the Count in a trembling voice, "… Father."

"…"

However, the Count still had no answer. There was no movement, either, except just staring at Cain with all his strength, even though it looked very unnatural.

'Maybe…?' As if he realized something, Cain asked, "Can't you speak?"

Blink. The Count closed his eyes once and then opened to Cain's question. It seemed to be a sign of affirmation. When asked, "Can't you move your body?" this time, the Count closed his eyes once again and opened. Unfortunately, keeping his eyes open seemed to be the limit. Cain swallowed a sigh of relief at the sight.

"… Well, I'm glad you woke up like this. Are you sick anywhere?"

Even when asked awkwardly, the Count blinked once and sent a sign that he was okay. Fortunately, he didn't seem to have any regrets about Cain. Because he just woke up after a very long time and opened his eyes, he seemed to feel uncomfortable.