TVRTH [Book 1]

Chapter 171

"... You said it's okay to come in, so I'll really go in."

So he gave notice of what Aria had given her permission for and opened the door carefully. Although he had ever sneaked in once, and he had been given permission, he went inside clearing his throat in vain. It was obvious that someone would misunderstand.

"... Lady Aria."

She seemed to have no sleeping habits, so Aria's face was somehow pale. It also looked sick. Come to think of it, she looked very strange today. She had suddenly pushed the child with an excuse of a bug.

'Is she okay? Should I call a doctor?' He began to worry that she might have been sick by a series of things. It wasn't too much to think like that. 'Even though she was not a biological sister, how could she remain intact when she was framed by her sister?'

"Lady Aria."

As he thought of it, he stroked Aria's hair carefully. It wasn't so messy, but somehow he wanted to do that. He felt at the end of his hand that he didn't want to wake her up.

It would be better to just put her to sleep like this. They had already made solid evidence and witnesses. Thinking so, he turned his head for a while, and he saw a box on the bedside table, which Aria had usually carried on.

'It's the box with an hourglass...'

It was a box containing an hourglass that she had said she felt comfortable to have. It was a little unusual for a woman to carry around in her arms.

As soon as he saw Aria asleep, he took the box carefully. It was a little heavy for a weak lady to carry around. Nevertheless, she had carried it with her, and she seemed to cherish it.

As he thought about it, he was curious about the contents, and opened the box and checked the hourglass; he looked at Aria again and took it in his hand.

By the way, he felt like he wasn't touching things, somehow.

'... What is it?'

Still, it was like a strange sensation he had ever felt somewhere, a very strange sensation that could not be felt on an hourglass. The familiar yet unfamiliar sense made the heart of Asher beat fast, who had been beset with anxiety.

'What the hell is this? Why is it felt in Aria's hourglass?' The gaze of Asher, who had touched it for a long time, soon went to the hand of Aria, who had fallen asleep. The ring on the ring finger had its own color as if nothing had happened.

'The child of a woman who married a royal family and drank holy water; Aria resembling the child; an hourglass with a strange feeling; a man named Chloe, who was expelled from the empire seventeen years ago; the ring which seemed to have changed color... Besides, Aria will also turn seventeen years old after her birthday this year.'

... Even though it made no sense to think for himself, the hand with the hourglass began to tremble a little. Even though the puzzle was already on its way, he shook his head, saying, "It's conjecture."

Still, the strange sensation of the hourglass from his hand indicated that he was getting the right answer. But at the same time, he felt great anxiety. It was a sense of uneasiness that he should not hold the hourglass still. It was time to hurry back the hourglass.

"My hourglass...!"

Suddenly, Aria held Asher's wrist, as soon as she opened her eyes wide. It was like asking why he had her hourglass. It was a very cold eye as if facing another.

As a result, he made an excuse with embarrassment. "... I thought it was going to fall off the table, so I was going to put it back."

"Was it going to fall off the table?"

But the inquiring Aria's speech was full of thorns. If it simply seemed to fall off the table, she wanted to ask why he was holding the hourglass himself, not the box.

No matter how embarrassed he was, he lied to Aria and felt like he was a criminal who had committed treason, and he quickly put the hourglass back in place, telling the truth.

"... No. Actually, I was wondering about this box that you carry all the time. I'm so sorry."

'I'm sure she'll get angry. That's her favorite hourglass.'

It was she who even woke up with a sense of deja vu. After looking at him in a calm, unspoken stare for some time, she soon slowly closed her eyes and nodded her head, saying, "I see. I would have shown you if you had told me."

In addition, the sharp expression on her face had disappeared. It was because she had great confidence in Asher.

"Is the carriage here?"

"Yes? Oh, yes. We have to go."

"Then I'll change my clothes and see you outside."

"... Okay."

Then he left Aria's room and glanced back. There was a box of the hourglass within the reach of his gaze.