The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

As he asked Isis, Lohan smiled, and Isis, who was in a hurry, nodded and said yes. It was in a way that was not hers. Lohan said, smiling contentedly, and everything was as planned.

"Good. I thought it was time to move. I'm excited to see the end soon. Then, before we move forward, we'd better have a quick cup of tea and meet the Marquis of Piast."

"The Marquis of Piast…?"

"Yes, he is a very important man for achieving my purpose. He is the one who prepared soldiers to send to the empire, and I think you will be greatly helped."

If she remembered those papers exchanged in the meantime, It was clear that there were not a few people involved in this, but this was the first time that she was introduced to a person other than Lohan. When Isis was puzzled, Lohan added an explanation.

"He was very passionate about what he wanted because he was a man who had a strong desire. He was the one who has reported only in writing, but when he heard that Miss Isis was in the empire, he suddenly said he would report it in face-to-face. It's not a pre-arranged event, but you can count on it."

Because he added that she could expect it, Isis and Mielle waited for teatime, their eyes shining. Vika also seemed to expect it for another reason.

With such a complex feeling and emotion, they finished the luncheon and moved to the palace garden. There, the Marquis of Piast, who had arrived at the royal castle in advance, was waiting for Lohan in the garden.

"It's been a long time, Marquis. You've been here first."

"I see you, Your Majesty."

Lohan spoke to the Marquis of Piast in a friendly tone, while the Marquis looked hard and his head was lowered. He was a man of old age, who seemed to have already retired, with white hair.

'Does he have no children?' If so, he might have adopted a relative of his family, and it was doubtful to Isis and Mielle that he had kept the position of the Marquis until now.

"He is an old man who has his personal matter and has not been able to pass his title to his successor until he is old, but since he is the only Marquis of Croa, you should refrain from such a dumb face."

As Lohan hardened his facial expression as if he had read the strange feelings of Isis and Mielle, they realized their rudeness and quickly corrected their faces.

"I see the princess of the empire."

"Nice to meet you, Marquis Piast."

After such a short introduction, the conversation was cut off, and Lohan, who had taken a sip of tea alone in a tense atmosphere, led the conversation.

"Are the soldiers and knights ready to move anytime?"

"Yes, they are now in a state of being able to move to the empire."

"That's good. Did you say, five thousand people?"

"Yes, but I can get five thousand more."

Mielle's cheeks were red with excitement as she heard that a total of ten thousand people could head straight for the empire. It was still not enough to formally invade, but they were enough to hide in the empire with the help of Isis and the Aristocratic Party.

If they did the sudden attack, it would be a matter of time before she could take the Imperial Castle, and if the Crown Prince and Aria disappeared, she could make her sin disappear.

"What do you think, Lady Isis?"

"… I am very grateful." Isis replied with her face flushed as if she had thought so too.

Unlike the documents exchanged, She had been surprised that he could not have a national marriage right now. However, it was delayed by the plan that was prepared to be overly perfect. And the apology for this was to go back to the empire and check the documents again, and later point out the young king's mistake.

"Okay, then, we better arrange our men in the houses of the noblemen who follow the princess as planned and wait for the right time.

"Of course, I didn't think of ten thousand people, but I have prepared enough, so I don't think it's too much."

"There are ten thousand of us, so we'll have to go around by dividing that number. It'll take a long time to get them together. It may take months."

Vika also spoke with a look of satisfaction, "Yes, it will cost a little more than I thought, but it will not be a bad wait."

It was a plan to secretly wait for the soldiers not to be seen by the Crown Prince in the houses of noblemen and finally attack the Imperial Castle at the right time.

The great dream of deposing the Crown Prince who had insulted her and intercepted her power finally came and Isis spoke, unable to hide her excitement,

"Thank you, Marquis, for preparing so many men, and I think we should hurry back."

She had no time to waste, and she had to hurry back and greet the soldiers, and then it would cost her a little less for all the expenses was paid by Isis and other noblemen.

The number of soldiers would increase, and the cost would be more than expected. So, as she said, the unexpected figure agreed with Isis.

"I'll come with you."

"What?"

At the sudden words of the Marquis of Piast, Lohan's eyes widened because it was not in the plan. Isis also rolled her eyes to the story she had never heard.

"Marquis, do you feel senile?"

The Marquis of Piast, who gave an unpleasant look at Lohan, as he blamed it on his age, said,

"… Your Majesty, I have told you so many times that I have been looking for someone, so I will go to the empire and find her."

"The Marquis would go himself? To the empire? You didn't like the empire, and did you say you didn't want to go again?"

"Yes, I did, but unfortunately I can't afford to wait. My son's misbehavior suddenly gets worse and my wife is very worried. So I'm going to send off some people and find her myself."

The look on Marquis Piast's face was full of concern, and that was why he had not yet passed on his title to his son. Lohan, who knew all about it, clicked his tongue and said,

"I can't help it. I am afraid to send the Marquis to the empire, but I can't stop you, considering your son."

"Then I shall leave with the party of the princess."

"Do it."

The mood was so grim that it was hard to ask for details.

Isis, who had come to accompany the Marquis without knowing the reason, fell into thought as she drank tea, and only Mielle sipped her tea and then spoke carefully in the atmosphere that she was about to return to the empire.

"Well… Your Majesty Lohan, may I ask you a favor?"

She dared to sit at a table as a maid, but she opened her mouth first. Besides, this was not the first time but the second time. Nevertheless, instead of pointing it out differently, he made a gesture that allowed her to speak, and Mielle, who was confident in it, opened her mouth with her eyes shining.

"I want to stay here, not go back to the empire."

"… Yes? Why?"

"Ah, there's a little more information I haven't told you yet."

It was dangerous to return to the empire now for she had fled her house that she was currently being held at, and the investigation about the hallucinogen had not been completed.

So it was better to sell a little more information about the Crown Prince and build up her position than to go back and get caught. The corners of Lohan's mouth went up at the words that she would continue to sell her country.

"Oh, yes, I am welcome. The more information about the empire, the better, but I need the permission from Lady Isis…"

"I should leave her, for my maid likes it."

Isis had no reason to refuse, and she was going to leave her anyway. Isis had no trouble leaving her as Mielle said that she would remain here by herself. If she didn't threaten with the letters, whether she survived or killed, it was Mielle's fault.

"Then it's a decision, and I'll look forward to your information."

Lohan's eyes were very sharp, but Mielle smiled brightly at the thought of living.

"The Marquis, why don't you take the same carriage as me? I will explain it briefly, as you may not know the situation of the empire yet."