The Villainess turns the Hourglass

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

As if to recall the promise at that time, Sarah lifted the hairpin with a soft smile. It was pinning the already fixed hair into it, but it was too delicate and prudent to touch it for fear of making mistakes.

“… I’m done.”

“Thank you.”

It was very simple and quickly over, comparing to the long waiting for their turn, but Aria and Sarah were able to confirm their friendship again.

Aria, who had finished her final preparation, stood up and checked her dress one more time, and gave Sarah, Carin, and Violet a very long, soft look.

After a long journey, a woman finally became an adult from a child, and it was the last goodbye to leave her family and move on to a new path.

It was an inexplicable emotion not to be able to express with words. Nevertheless, it was also a warm feeling that everyone understood and wished for happiness.

* * *

Before Aria, who had finished her preparations, left the mansion, she put her eyes briefly on the carriage that looked out of the hall window.

The carriage sent to Aria for today was a colorful one decorated with tulips and jewels. The white body reflected the warm sun and glistened. The light seemed to bless Aria’s future.

Now if she would put herself in the carriage and start, she would no longer return to Carin’s mansion. All the important luggage had been sent to the Imperial Castle in advance, and the maids who were to be brought along today were also scheduled to enter with her. So there was no more reason to return to the mansion.

“Miss…”

“What are you talking about? Now she is the Crown Princess, not our lady.”

“… I can’t believe you won’t come back anymore…!”

“Miss… I hope you get along well in the Imperial Castle!”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine!”

“Please don’t forget us!”

The ownerless mansion must be a paradise on earth, but the servants of the mansion wept for Aria to leave for some reason.

When Aria had first entered the mansion of the former Count, they had cursed her so much, saying she was shallow and humble, but now they had already grieved for her absence with deep loyalty as if they hadn’t done that. It was a quick turnaround in posture. In the past, not only these people but also the children on the streets had cursed Aria, but now that she was loved by everyone, it was ironic.

‘… I’ve only changed my outward attitude.’

Her inside still thought about how to fill her own gains. For her purpose, she hadn’t cared about the means and methods. Moreover, she had been a wicked woman who gave death to those who harmed her.

‘But now that I think about it, not just myself but everyone did. Don’t the servants feel good only to the masters who gave benefits to them?’ So there was no need to feel guilty about acting selfishly for her own benefit, for her happiness. Of course, it had been a long time since she didn’t feel guilty or remorse, but she just thought of it all of a sudden.

“See you at the castle.”

Just before leaving the mansion, Aria said so to her family. It was because the people of the Marquis family of Piast were to head to the Imperial Castle together in another carriage that would follow her carriage.

Aria’s carriage, accompanied by knights riding white horses back and forth, would slowly circle the capital before entering the Imperial Castle, where the wedding would take place, followed by the carriage of the Marquis family of Piast. And it was in order for Asher to greet Aria who would get off the carriage; it was the schedule for the future.

“… Yes.” Violet’s expression of the answer, in a very natural order, was faintly lonesome.

Carin then took Violet’s hand and consoled her. “Now we ride a carriage separately, but we can see her again when we go to the Imperial Castle. And since Aria said she would come to visit often, please wait happily. Go ahead, Aria.”

“Yes, I will.”

She seemed not to want to spoil the mood because she was in a situation where only congratulations were not enough. Aria agreed and ended her last goodbye with great politeness and grace.

Still, Violet could not erase her lonely face, so she turned her body to start before the gloomy mood continued, and the servants opened the front door of the mansion as if they had waited. It was time to get on the wagon.

So, she was going to, but…

“Mr. Asher…?”

‘Why is Asher standing in front of the entrance to the mansion as he should greet her in the Imperial Castle?’ Surprised, Aria stared vacantly at Asher for a moment, who was waiting for her.

She looked at him, measuring Asher was a reality as he was seen in front of her. There was no wonder because Asher was dressed in a white suit, and she could not feel him real.

“I’m here to pick you up. My lovely princess.”

Then Asher reached out to Aria. It seemed to mean that she should hold his hand.

At this scene, the servants who had come to the hall to see Aria off, responded by blushing or covering their mouths with their hands, bringing to their eyes what they would never see again.

“… How much he would like to see her…” Carin spoke to herself quietly, unnoticed by anyone. The purpose of the visit was obvious because it was Asher, who had visited the mansion on the pretext of jewelry a few days ago.

Besides, he said ‘My lovely princess.’ Although it was not wrong because the wedding ceremony was scheduled today, it was not yet done, so it could have been premature to call her that way.

However, if she pointed this out, he would certainly make excuses for calling Aria princess for various reasons. And no one pointed out the excessive behavior of Asher, because it was so good to see him being a dull fellow to no one else but Aria.

“… Mr. Asher.”

Aria, whose face was blushing, called Asher’s name. Even though she was called a shameful title in public, she did not seem to dislike it. No, she would rather express that joy, but she didn’t know how to express it, so she seemed to have replaced it by calling his name.

“Please hold my hand.”

At the urging of Asher, Aria slowly took his hand. Unlike his nonchalant attitude and way of speaking, he had a strong grip on his hand. Nevertheless, he did not show anything outwardly and walked out of the mansion with Aria and got into the carriage.

It seemed that they had decorated elaborately not only on the outside but also on the inside as the Crown Princess would ride. As they sat in a cozy chair, the carriage began to leave as if it had been waiting. It was a very slow move for a hurried start.

It was to inform the people of the empire that a new Crown Princess was born, rather than to let Aria see the scenery outside the window. Aria, who was watching the servants of the mansion bowing down in unison and showing their respect to her, turned to Asher soon as it faded away.

“How did you get here? Shouldn’t you have waited in the Imperial Castle?”

“… I wanted to see my princess as soon as possible. Didn’t you kick me out coldly the other day?”

“But what shall I do if you broke the order and came here?”

‘I’ve been studying hard. I filled my knowledge day and night for fear that I might be laughed at by any small mistake. But if Asher breaks the order so easily, why did I study so hard?’ So when she asked back, complaining a little bit because of unfairness, he could not hide his disappointment as if his unfairness was more than Aria’s.

“Is it important to be in order, or am I important?”

“… Yes?”

‘What’s this question all of a sudden?’

“I’ve been running this fast, hoping to see my princess as soon as possible. Is the order more important?”

“That… of course not. How can I compare the order to Mr. Asher?”

It was a question of no value, so she answered it in a hurry, and Asher said, taking Aria’s hand and putting it on his cheek. “I knew you’d say that.”

With his words, Aria’s heart melted away though she had wanted to complain. It was because he looked and talked as if he only wanted her to think about him, not only now but also in the future.