THE VILLAINESS TURNS THE HOURGLASS

Translator: Khan

Editor Group: Liber Reverie

“Yes! That’s what she said at the end. But I don’t know if it’s real or not.”

“I see.”

Asher answered while laughing a little bit. It was more of a sneer at Mielle. As soon as he looked through the papers again, he rose from his seat.

“I will directly go face to face with her.”

“… Directly, sir?”

“I’m in charge, so I will do it.”

“Ah…!”

The servant, who was waiting in the corner, rushed to fetch Asher’s robe. As soon as he was ready with the help from his servant, he left his office with the report. It was an unseemingly step that did not seem to have been under heavy pressure for a very long time.

The investigator followed him with a puff. The investigator’s face was filled with satisfaction when he saw the report in Asher’s hand. As they walked along the corridor of the Imperial Castle in such a quick and large stride, the man from the other side suddenly came in and was surprised at the sight of Asher.

“Your Highness? Where are you going?” It was Vika. Instead of asking for his destination, he asked why he was leaving the Imperial Castle in such a hurry.

Asher answered with displeasure, “To jail. I got a report on the case.”

“… Jail? You mean now? Pinonua will be here soon.”

When Vika said that Pinonua Lane was coming back, Asher rolled his eyes and did not answer. It was because he had forgotten him for a while since he had been in the countryside. Lane was one of the few close aides of Asher that could move away from the eyes of the Aristocratic Party.

It was partly because he had met people using various aliases, and because the Pinonua family itself did not have much influence, he was not very close to the nobles. He was similar yet different to Vika, the spy.

That was why he had let Lane run to every corner of the empire to keep track of the situation and keep getting reports. However, today was the day he should come back. So, Asher, who had been agonizing for a while, made a decision soon and said with a different face, “I can’t postpone my schedule and stay in the Oval Office to just wait for his return. Tell him to wait.”

“… Yes.”

“I have received all the important reports in writing, so I don’t have to meet him.”

As Asher said, Lane had reported all the information he had obtained from traveling around the empire through a letter. The only thing he could share with Lane, who was back in the capital, was a welcome greeting for his return or consolation for his hard work.

“Or just tell him to go home and rest. I’ll call him later.”

“… Your Highness Asterope!”

Besides, he must be tired because he had been around the empire for a long time. So, as he pretended to be considerate, Vika called out Asher’s name with a look of real disappointment.

“He’s been out for a long time, but you are being too hard on him. I think you should meet him and tell him that he has done a good job…”

“Doesn’t he feel comfortable without me? That’s strange. I’ve thought so far.”

It had been different depending on the situation, but it was real. So Vika couldn’t answer and closed his mouth. It was partly because the investigator behind Asher added an explanation that it was about Aria, and he should shut up with his mouth shape and gesture.

As Vika was forced to show acceptance without further questioning, Asher left his last words and hurried again.

“If he has anything else he needed to report that he did not mention in his previous letter, ask him to leave a document.”

“… I see.”

Unlike when he had met Aria, Asher rode a wagon which was so simple and light that they did not know if it was really from the Imperial Castle. He headed straight to the prison where Mielle was imprisoned.

As no one had visited the prison since the last investigator had visited, Mielle was lying helpless on the floor as if she had given up on everything.

She did not look strange even if she died right away. It was partly due to the fact that the only thing that was keeping her alive was water since that was the only thing that was given to her for several days. Nevertheless, as she heard the footsteps of Asher and the investigator, she raised her stiff head in surprise.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince…”

But when she realized that the man who visited her was Asher, she looked as if the sky had collapsed because Aria’s lover would never listen to her.

“What a pity. I can’t imagine the woman who tried to sell the empire by clinging to Lohan would end up like this,” Asher gave a sour and frank impression to Mielle.

‘Who can think of the most graceful lady of the empire when looking at this ugly and miserable appearance?’ Asher looked down at Mielle’s ugly appearance.

“I’m… I’m not really… Sob. That woman… that woman ordered me to do this… The worst woman is not me, but…!”

And Mielle, unable to bear the stillness, told Asher, still hoping that someone would believe her. She also lamented that he should realize the identity of a truly evil woman.

Asher answered with a funny smile, raising the corners of his mouth, “So?”

“… Yes…?”

“So what? I don’t care.”

Mielle, who thought Asher hadn’t quite understood what she meant, again revealed Aria’s identity. “The, the wicked woman, has done so many terrible things so far… Well, Your Highness can’t imagine… She pretends to be good on the outside, but she always wonders how she can do bad things inside!”

“That must be you.”

But Asher did not listen to what she said until the end but immediately answered with a cold face, and Mielle swallowed her breath in surprise as if she had been struck by lightning.

“You said that you did not do it, but you pushed Count Roscent down the stairs. You even blamed Lady Aria for that crime.”

“That’s, that’s…!”

“Other people couldn’t see the scene, but I saw it clearly. As you said, I moved the space and appeared there. So I think you’re the villain you’re talking about, not Lady Aria.”

“…!”

Because it was the last time, Asher mentioned his own ability.

“Then, what I saw…!”

“Yes, that’s right. However, it doesn’t change anything.”

It was not only Mielle who was surprised, but the investigator opened his mouth and his eyes wide. As soon as he noticed it, Asher urged him to leave the prison.

“Besides, I don’t care who Lady Aria is. It doesn’t matter if she’s the horribly wicked woman as you say. No, it may be better if she’s willing to deal with women like you and survive.”

Asher added that Aria deserved to pay back what she had been afflicted and harmed and said, “It really doesn’t matter what kind of character Aria has.

‘What kind of answer can I give to this man?’ Now that there was no one else to listen to her, Mielle fell to the floor.

Her arms that were supported by all her strength left were out of function. She did not even have the strength to squeeze her tears out anymore, and soon, she breathed out like a crumbling dead woman. At that moment, the sound of footsteps approaching began to be heard gradually.

When she turned her eyes to see who had come to mock her, it was unexpectedly Pinonua Lane, who Mielle thought was a servant of a great and rich man; the servant of the master who had sent a lot of gold and silver treasures to her and expressed his favor.

“Lane, Mr. Lane…!” Mielle called out Lane’s name with a glimmer of hope that the rich man might have sent him to save herself!

“Oh, my God. You look terrible.”

Before he pretended to know Asher, Mielle called his name anxiously, and he answered with a very sad face.

“You are here to help me? Right?”

“… Huh?” However, in her sudden, unexpected words, he opened his eyes wide and asked again, “What does that mean?”

Hastened by this, Mielle was very excited and hurried to speak.

“The master of Lane expressed his favor for me… Please get me out of here… I’ll give everything he wants…! He can do that at least…! Come on, please. Please…!”

She seemed to think that he had such great wealth so that he must have the ability to bring her out and give her a chance to defend herself

‘You don’t know who he is.’ With a funny smile, Asher stared at Lane.

As he didn’t know that Mielle would say such things to himself, Lane, who was genuinely embarrassed by the fact that he didn’t know how to answer it, was in trouble, frowning.