The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

Vika suddenly spoke to the Marquis of Piast. The Marquis had not been interested in the situation of the empire, but he affirmed that he would do so because he realized that what he really wanted to say was something else in his expression.

Mielle's residence was thus decided, and Isis, Vika, and the Marquis of Piast headed for the empire with the soldiers disguised as commoners.

* * *

"I can't believe Mielle really escaped…"

'What are you going to do now?' Aria had told him it was absurd. Aria knew that Mielle was going to escape because she had heard that from Asher, but she had a laugh as Mielle was so foolish that she had escaped.

"I ordered him to give some advice, but the princess who prepared it is also foolish."

Aria had heard from Asher and had vacated the house's servants to make it easier for her to escape. The guards had been told by the top line, so they had let a slightly suspicious maid come in without checking the maid further.

She didn't need to ask for the source of the information.

Layers Vika, it must be him. As a key figure in the Aristocratic Party, he had made a great contribution to the acquisition of the casino by Viscount Vigue, and he was a spy planted by Asher in the Aristocratic Party.

She remembered that even Count Roscent had received some advice from him. He maintained their trust by constantly giving information and advice to the Aristocratic Party so that his identity could not be revealed.

In the past, Aria had not known it until she had died, but she had now seen Vika in Asher's group with her very own eyes. If she looked back at his movements a little, she could know it easily. As Vika was active within the Aristocratic Party, Asher also did not add any other explanation as he thought Aria would have understood it.

"Would it be better to follow her up and bring another charge for her escape? If she runs off to Croa and disappears, we might not be able to catch her."

Asher shook his head when she asked, and unlike her urgent expression, Asher looked relaxed and a slight smile showed that he had already set another trap.

"No, we don't have to because she can't run anywhere, and it would be better if she and the princess are to be charged with treason. If you intend to forgive her, you may as well pursue her immediately."

"Treason?"

'Is Isis, who will marry the King of Croa, preparing for treason?' Her eyes widened because of the unexpected information.

"Yes, the princess will do something very absurd soon, and it is the last thing we have worked for a long time, and I hope you will not be surprised."

She thought it would be an amazing work if he asked her this much. 'What the hell is that?'

When she asked him as she was curious, Asher said that it was a secret, and he had a very pleasant face because he was in front of the hill to conquer. It was also a playful face.

"… My God, are you still going to keep a secret from me?"

However, when Aria took it seriously and looked sad, he quickly changed his expression and said, "Oh, I didn't mean to make you feel bad, but I'll explain everything, and I hope you'll relax."

"I knew you would, and I want you to explain it."

But Aria was the same as she was playing, so she also smiled softly. She erased her look of sadness in an instant. She still thought he was cute to not figure out who she was and to have a mixed sensation of joy and depression for her every expression.

"… I was deceived by you for a moment."

Asher, who thought she was really sorry for him, was embarrassed for a moment, and then he smiled softly along with her.

"The princess will be back in the empire with the soldiers in secret, pretending to be civilians. A great number of soldiers will be scattered in the houses of the nobles of the Aristocratic Party and prepare for the day of the battle."

At Asher's leisurely answer, Aria's complexion became pale. If he was telling the truth, it would be a great incident. It was not a parable but a rebellion.

"But there is another story here. There is a secret that I have an unexpected acquaintance with a key figure."

"… An unexpected acquaintance?"

"Yes, it's an unexpected acquaintance that the princess would never have imagined."

Asher's expression was almost confident. He was confident it was a fight that he would never lose.

The end of this fight seemed to be the defeat of the princess and the destruction of the Aristocratic Party.

* * *

As Asher said, Isis, who had left for the Kingdom of Croa, returned to the empire shortly after. Unlike information that she would marry the king of Croa, there was no rumor about it. It seemed that she had come back without accomplishing anything.

Aria heard that the princess had not achieved anything, and she laughed at the foolish Isis, who did not even know she was falling. The princess had persuaded all the nobles of the Aristocratic Party and pretended to do great things, but eventually, she did nothing.

"It's been a while, but Mielle hasn't come back. I thought she would be with the princess. I'm afraid something happened to her." Aria said in the quiet dining room and her words were clearly meant for Cain. It was a question whether he was glad because he let her go.

"…"

Nevertheless, Cain quietly had his meal.

The Countess, who did not like it, replied in a scornful tone.

"I'm worried that if she keeps running like this, it will produce irreparable results later. It would be okay if she will never return in the empire for the rest of her life."

Aria smiled unknowingly in the tone that her mother seemed not to worry at all, and Cain looked at her. If it was the past when she had not had anything yet, she would have endured a desperate laugh but not now. Aria had enough power and wealth to laugh at Cain.

It was the Countess who had contributed to this for she was smuggling the Count's family's money in secret. Cain was busy with the business on behalf of the Count.

Of course, it was done with the permission of the Count, who was incapable and was fully dependent on the Countess. It meant that neither of them had ever made a thing to be blamed.

Cain had no idea how much of his fortune he had left, but he was doing the business with all his might. However, all this was incurred by himself.

"… I'm busy, and I'll get up first."

He rose first, leaving a meal that he could not empty half of it as if he was uncomfortable and felt this place was not for him.

"Oh, my God, are you that busy?"

"… Yes."

"I hope our father will recover as soon as possible. Is that right, mother?"

"I suppose so."

Cain, who was a bit hesitant, disappeared like the wind as she reminded him of his and Mielle's faults until the end.

'Why did you make work for yourself? Did the business the Count had worked for decades seem so easy? It is so hard that I invest in it, but what can he do when he has graduated from the academy and became an adult?'

In addition, he would not be able to concentrate on his business, but he had to take care of the soldiers, who had begun to enter the empire one after another with Isis.

Sooner or later, a large army would be coming into the mansion of Count Roscent, and would Cain manage the soldiers who had the king of Croa on their backs?

"I see the acting Count."

"Welcome, gentlemen."

Soon after, dozens of men dressed as simple as ordinary commoners came to the mansion of Count Roscent. They took a courtesy to Cain, but it was Aria who they were wary of. It was because of the scandal with the Crown Prince. Perhaps they had been ordered by the higher-ups. They looked so gentle, and in many ways, they seemed to be aware of her in their manners and postures.

Sometimes they looked stupid as they were charmed with her beautiful appearance, but soon they realized what she was and were wary of her again and were sparing of themselves. However, the soldiers in the other mansions, who had arrived before them, demanded too much and did not listen to them, and the nobles were devoured by anxiety.