THE VILLAINESS TURNS THE HOURGLASS

Translator: Khan

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

“The other day, I gave Annie a warning, and I thought that she had a better relationship with you…”

Aria’s voice sounded as if she was regretful of something, and it rang in the silent room. She also said that she had tried to correct Annie’s behavior, by scolding her. And there was her lingering feeling that the method was no longer useful.

“… She did whenever you’re not looking.”

As Mielle brought up the answer she had been waiting for, Aria sighed heavily and threw a small bait, “Everybody doesn’t know until they’ve had their own experience…”

Of course, there were people who experienced and did not know, like Mielle. They were people who only suffered from the pain they suffered. So, she didn’t remove the malice yet.

“There’s a problem that’s not solved by being still…”

Jessie, who had been agonizing for a while, said, “I agree with you. That’s what I think, Miss. Mielle is in so much pain that she can’t seem to let it go. Although Mielle is lower than Annie as a maid, she doesn’t have to endure it all, so I think Mielle has to say what she has to say, not stay put.”

“Do you mean Mielle has to argue with her, even in anger?”

“That’s right. In fact, servants and maids often run into each other on business, and it often causes trouble. People help them to solve that trouble around, but the quickest solution is to have a conversation among themselves.”

“What do you think, Mielle?”

Whatever the opinion of Aria and Jessie was, it was up to Mielle to decide. Because of the insidious nature of Mielle, she would not stay still.

“… But what if Annie sends me back to prison?”

Finally, it was Annie who held Mielle’s leash. If she would rebel and avenge her, she would be returned to prison… Nothing could have been more terrible than that. And Annie, who was well aware that Mielle was most afraid of the situation, had been using the threat properly, so Mielle had endured even if she had been humiliated.

Aria said, furrowing her forehead, “What are you talking about, Mielle? Although Annie is your guardian on paper, you know that she can’t do that without my permission.”

When Aria told her that even if she would avenge her, she would never return Mielle to prison. Mielle’s face was bright. Jessie also looked relieved as Aria showed an attitude of active involvement.

“So don’t worry, and you can raise your voice when you’re treated unfairly. Oh, the tea is a little cold. Jessie, can you get us new tea?”

“Yes! Miss! Shall I bring some fruit?”

“Yes. Bring different types of fruit.”

Aria let her out of the room before bringing up the main point that Jessie should no longer hear because she had laid all the bases.

Aria, who erased an elder sister’s look that was worried about her younger sister as soon as the door was closed, suggested one trick to Mielle, who was agonizing over how to get revenge on Annie with an evil look.

“Mielle, I don’t think it’s a good idea to argue with words because your reputation isn’t good enough.”

In Aria, who turned into a plausible evil woman’s face, Mielle asked back cautiously, startled,

“… What then?”

In the first place, Mielle was not a person who could fight head-on. She wasn’t a character of speaking without reserve.

“You can do what you’ve been doing.”

‘Yeah, just like you’ve been doing.’

Mielle’s specialty was to use others to harass someone while she was completely out of it. In the past, she had urged her maids to do evil by putting them to Aria, and even killed her by pretending that she was the victim. It was the way that she had tried through Emma, Berry, and Annie not only in the past but also after Aria went back in time.

Mielle’s face turned pale again when Aria mentioned the way she had sacrificed Emma who had helped her. She had been trying to calm herself down, but it seemed to remind her of Emma’s death again.

Moreover, she seemed to have no more courage to do such a daring thing. Aria, who noticed this, said with a smile as to show how seriously worried she was,

“What are you so worried about? I don’t mean to make things big. It’s enough to make just a little surprise. A cute little prank will be fine, like putting a drug in the tea which will cause a stomach-ache so that no one can accuse you.”

When she was told to play a trick that would only lead to an upset stomach at the most, Mielle forced to make a laugh as if it was ridiculous.

That much was a piece of cake for Mielle. She was the one who had tried to kill people many times. On the contrary, it was a laugh about whether such petty pranks would be revengeful, so Aria added a word, as if she was thoughtless, with a soft smile.

“Of course, if such a light prank is repeated several times, it will cause great fear. No matter what she eats, if her stomach hurts, she might not be able to eat anymore. She might suspect that she has a mysterious disease.”

“…!”

It was a very small prank, as Aria said, but it was only a stomach-ache, so it was clear that the first few times would be overlooked, and if it were repeated, Annie would doubt if she was ill. However, as a result of a playful stomach-ache, doctors would not be able to seek special causes and measures, but if the stomach-ache would continue, she would not be able to live with a peace of mind.

Mielle might reach the thought in her mind, and she came to imagine some pretty plausible tricks. It was simple and small revenge, but she thought the effect would be very big.

“In fact, I didn’t like Annie’s interference as a maid, and I’d be very happy to see her complaining of stomach-ache.”

Moreover, Mielle’s face was all smiles as Aria said that she would remain an idle onlooker. Mielle seemed to want to do it right away because she thought it was a small prank compared to what she had done so far.

Aria, who confirmed it, smiled since it was finally time and opened her mouth to Mielle very privately and carefully.

“Why don’t you use the Inducing Flower?”

“… Inducing Flower?”

“Yes, Inducing Flower. It’s a flower that is relatively easy to get. The flower can be poisonous or medicinal depending on how you use it.”

“But that’s… a little dangerous, isn’t it?”

It was so toxic that it could cause death if she used it in the wrong way. Soon after returning from a terrible death, Aria had decided to become the flower to deal with the lily-like Mielle.

“It’s dangerous, but if only a very small amount was used, one will only end up with an upset stomach or vomiting. The Inducing Flower is also a medicinal plant, so you can make an excuse when caught.”

“…”

Of course, even the smallest amount of flowers could lead to death if Annie were unlucky, but Aria did not say such a thing. It would not be her or Annie who would drink the poisoned tea anyway.

“… I think it’s a good idea.”

“You thought very well. I’ll find a place for you to get the flower.”

At the same time as Mielle nodded, Jessie’s voice was heard, saying she had brought new tea outside the door. It was perfect timing.

“Come on in.”

As soon as Aria’s permission was given, Jessie looked pleased as she looked at Mielle, who looked clear of worry as if she was no longer worried. Mielle didn’t even know she was caught in a trick that had driven a stupid wicked woman in the past.

————–

“… Sister, I got the Inducing Flower from where you said.”

Mielle quickly followed her and said as Aria was walking up the stairs after breakfast. It was very cute of her to talk secretly, covering her mouth for fear of being caught.

Aria wondered if Mielle didn’t know that what she was doing looked more suspicious. It had only been a day since she had told her where to find the Inducing Flower, but how urgent she was to get it already!

Of course, Aria tipped Annie off to keep Mielle from changing her mind. If Annie didn’t keep Mielle to obey her instruction now, she might stand against her later, so she had to give her a hard training. As if to respond, Annie, who was coming down from upstairs, found Mielle and began to push her hard, glaring at her.

“Miss, you said that you were going out, didn’t you? Please go up quickly. Mielle, have you finished cleaning? You’ve got piles of work to do. What the hell are you doing here?”

“…”