THE VILLAINESS TURNS THE HOURGLASS

Chapter 142. Revenge (II), Part XIV

"There's someone waiting for you."

Aria, realizing who Lane meant, nodded slowly. She wondered if he had been here since the beginning. 'Because he was worried? Or by realizing another true color of herself doing things this big?'

Cain, who watched Aria quietly leave her seat soon after taking advantage of the uproar, followed her with a strange look.

Asher was waiting for Aria not too far away. Aria's steps to the place Lane told her were heavy. 'I wish he'd been worried, but... what if it's not.'

As if she had been well versed in the court geography, fortunately there was no one in contact throughout the journey to the place Lane had informed. When there was not much left to the destination, someone suddenly called Aria's name,

"Aria!"

"... Cain?"

Surprised, Aria looked around for nothing. 'Why on earth did he follow her so far, leaving his poor sister alone?'

Cain also looked around once and said strangely, "I don't think this is a way out."

"Ah..."

As she continued to move to places where there was no reason for the general public to look, Cain seemed to be following her and talking. She thought she had sneaked out alone, but Lane didn't stop Cain. Aria blamed Lane for the situation and changed the topic.

"What about Mielle? Is she all right? She didn't seem to be breathing very well..."

Cain frowned that he had read Aria's words about what he was doing here without caring for his younger sister. He seemed to think only now that he had just thrown out his sick sister and followed Aria. Unexpectedly, he stammered out an excuse,

"They said she's going to the hospital, so I'm sure she'll be okay. I don't think it's temporary because she's not even a child with a chronic disease. And my father went with her, so I'm sure she'll be fine."

However, this could not be the reason to follow Aria. Whoever was next to Mielle, it was true that he followed his fake sister, who had moved away from the eyes of others rather than her own sick sister.

"I think it will be a big deal because it's not a chronic disease. She couldn't breathe well, so maybe she's got a dire illness. You have to stand by her."

When she said, "Why don't you go to your sister because everything you have to do today is over?" Cain couldn't answer for a moment and stared on the floor, because he realized what she meant.

But Cain continued, "That's true, but... I don't think she'd get well if I go there, so I think I'd better go back with you in case I don't know."

'Asher will be waiting.'

He never stopped asking where she was going with useless excuses. She was unable to proudly say, "I'm going to meet the Crown Prince," so when Aria delayed her answer and made an excuse for Mielle, he was even more determined to go back with her, as if his doubts had deepened.

Cain, who glanced at something over Aria's shoulder, stiffened his face, as she was worried that Asher might just go back when the time was delayed.

'Don't tell me...?'

As soon as he tried to look back on the idea that passed through his head, he heard the voice of Asher calling Aria's name earlier than the act,

"Lady Aria."

His voice calling for the name was quite cold. It was like the first time she had met him in the general store, and for an instant her whole body was nervous.

"... Who is it?"

Cain expressed strong hostility and vigilance at the sudden appearance of a mysterious man. Aria was also perplexed because she did not think about the situation the two were facing.

"And you?"

Asher's inquiring tone was very sharp. Cain was asking Aria, but she did not answer in difficulty, so Asher took it for her.

"I asked first."

Cain answered, scanning up and down the appearance of Asher. Perhaps it was because he did not look like the Crown Prince, but as Cain was showing signs of discomfort as he retorted, Aria's face turned white.

"You don't even know how polite it is to introduce yourself first before asking about others."

"I know I don't have to be polite to the intruder."

Suddenly, the two were in a war of nerves, so Aria rushed in. It was a very bad situation.

"Brother, I have an appointment with this man, so please go back to Mielle."

"... you have an appointment with him?"

Cain asked again with disbelief when he heard that Aria had an appointment with a strange man.

As soon as Asher saw him, he took a step closer to Aria's side and said, "Now it's clear who's the intruder."

Asher triumphantly said as if it was not a big thing... It looked so childish and she was about to say that he should leave now, but Cain suddenly grabbed Aria by her wrist and pulled her towards him.

"No, I can't have Aria, who's not yet an adult, alone with a man who I don't even know who he is."

"...?!"

Aria was quickly dragged to Cain's side. He hid Aria behind him as if she belonged to him. The pain was so severe that her eyebrows were frowned upon by the harsh movements and the strong force that vigorously pulled her.