TVRTH [Book 1]

Chapter 41

The Secret Of The Hourglass, Part II

Translator: Khan

Editor: SootyOwl

The next day. It was around when the Sun was in the middle of the sky that Aria opened her eyes. Jessie had been unable to wake her up for breakfast, but she was able to come to her senses by lunchtime.

"You're not sick, are you? Shall I call a doctor?"

"No, it's OK. It's not like that."

Jessie became very worried by Aria's words. She had skipped breakfast and decided to have lunch in her room.

Despite her worries, however, Aria had just slept too long, so she didn't have an appetite. Drinking cool juice made her sober up a little.

"How could I sleep for so long?"

"I've been calling you since yesterday, but you didn't answer. I didn't ask for permission to come in because I thought you were ill, but even when I shook your body, you didn't get up, remaining sound asleep."

"Why was I so tired though? I didn't do much."

"Do you want me to call a doctor now?" asked Jessie with a worried look.

But Aria didn't feel the need for that, so she shook her head and refused it. She didn't feel sick anywhere, and because she felt as good as usual, she didn't think that illness was the issue.

When the last drop of juice had been emptied, Jessie urged her to have some dessert, "Would you like dessert?"

"No, it's fine."

"Yes, miss. Then, I'll clean it up."

Jessie left the room after taking the empty bowl.

As she followed Jessie with her eyes, Aria suddenly found the hourglass on the corner of the table. She had forgotten to put it away after checking to see if it was alright, and had fallen asleep with it out, leaving it unattended.

After her late meal, she was so sleepy that she lifted up the hourglass without thinking about it and turned it over. Chareureuk! After that faint noise, she put her hand on her chin to watch the falling grains of sand.

That's when she heard Jessie's voice suddenly, "I've been calling you since yesterday, but you didn't answer. I didn't ask for permission to come in because I thought you were ill, but even when I shook your body, you didn't get up, remaining sound asleep."

"... What?"

As Aria stared at her, who was repeating what she had said just a little while ago, Jessie asked with a worried face, "Do you want me to call a doctor now?"

"No..."

'Why are you here again?'

Aria didn't understand why Jessie was in her room. She was sure that she had taken the dishes and left the room. The dishes were all scattered on the table and had returned to their former locations.

"Didn't you say you were going to clean up the bowls?"

"Yes? No. You haven't finished the juice yet. Shall I clean it up still?" Jessie asked with a very perplexed look.

'I didn't finish the juice? I'm sure I finished my drinks and I heard Jessie asking about dessert!'

As she lowered her gaze, she found that the glass that had had its contents emptied just now still had juice in it.

There was no way Jessie could have refilled it in that short time. Aria hadn't seen her line up the dishes again, so she wouldn't have been able to.