THE VILLAINESS TURNS THE HOURGLASS

Chapter 60. Testing And Trial, Part I

"It looks better than I thought it would. As expected, Annie, you look great with jewels. The more you decorate yourself, the more you'll shine."

At that moment, Annie's anxiety vanished in a flash. The satisfaction of the gold far outweighed the betrayal of the saint. For that reason, she would side against her master again and again.

"Well... and when the teacher embroidered most of the pattern first, Ms. Mielle finished up the parts that she had left open."

"Oh, my God! So, that's what happened!"

Siding against someone for the first time was difficult. The second time and the third were easy. In addition, a person who had once betrayed someone could never return to her original place again. Mielle would not be able to use her maid to do anything bad against Aria.

Aria smiled softly, expecting that chatty maid to cause a disturbance in the mansion.

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One day, with the meeting just around the corner, Lane visited again with a wagon full of presents. There were men who sometimes pushed for quantity rather than quality, but most of the gifts he brought weren't readily available even at a high price.

"This is a gift from my master to Miss Mielle."

"Oh, my God!"

The countess was dumbfounded, and it was the same with Mielle. That was because she had only been trying to marry Oscar, so instead of accepting gifts, she had previously devoted herself to offering them. Oscar had always given something to her in return for her attention. Compared with him, the difference between the gifts was like the difference between Heaven and Earth.

'What kind of man is his master?'

It was not something an ordinary nobleman could prepare. If an ordinary nobleman sold his entire fortune, it might be possible, but it was hard to understand that he would sell his whole fortune to send periodic gifts when he hadn't even shown his face. Therefore, he had to be an extraordinary figure.

'Is he a foreign aristocrat?'

Otherwise, there was no way he could give all of that attention to Mielle. It was like throwing money on the street to shower a homeless woman. Maybe he didn't know much about Mielle or the Roscent family.

'No matter what, he must be stupid.'

If he had investigated them just a little, he'd have known that she only had eyes for Oscar. 'Or is he a big, powerful man who doesn't care about that?' If that was the case, Aria had to divert the attention that was being poured on Mielle. It was just in case she changed her mind and found a new love.

The countess, Mielle, and Aria had lunch with Lane because the count, who was busy, was out. Aria, as she had done last time, ate her meal slowly, watching Lane, who was paying extreme attention to Mielle.

Unlike usual, the dining hall was noisy because the gifts he had brought this time were enough to excite the countess, who was speaking more loudly.

"I'm embarrassed that I haven't treated you better when you keep bringing Mielle so many gifts."

"Don't mind that. It's just what my master wants to do."

"What kind of person is your master? I wonder about that since he's so interested in Mielle."

Mielle's eyes glistened at the countess' question. She had become interested since receiving the piles of gifts.

Aria, too, pricked up her ears and waited for Lane's reply.

"Ah... I can't reveal it yet."

But, the response was very disappointing. Lane's face turned dull, as if that was really hard for him to answer.

Nevertheless, the countess did not give up and urged Lane on, asking for some information. Aria agreed with her. Lane, with a troubled face, carefully opened his mouth as the countess continued to urge him.

"Well... He is the heir to a larger family. He's been carrying a significant burden from a young age. He said that since he liked smart people he had become interested in Miss Mielle."

"How did he know that our Mielle was smart?"

"He said he's met her face-to-face. And while he was using me as a messenger, that's what the count said as well."

"He met me face-to-face?" Mielle asked back, puzzled.

She looked oblivious to any memory of such an event. When and where had she met Lane's master when she rarely went out? Aria also questioned that.

"Yes, I can't give you details, but he said he's met you."

"I don't remember that..."

"It has been a while since you ran into him, so it's possible you don't remember it."

"... Is that so?"

Mielle still looked puzzled. Undoubtedly, she might have run into Lane's secretive master. After being silent for a long time, she said only one word, "Maybe... Did I meet him the day I was out with my brother?"