Chapter 63. Testing and Trial, Part IV
Translator: Khan
Editor Group: Liber Reverie
After complimenting Aria, her lips curled up a little as she realized she had not inherited such beauty.
Aria picked up a macaron. Its destination was in front of Annie's lips. Annie's eyes were wide open.
"You were so pretty today, too. Do you have any idea how cute you were today?"
"... really?"
"Well, if you were ugly, I wouldn't take you there. Did you forget the young ladies that complimented you?"
Annie's face turned red.
'Yeah, you have to yearn more and more. Be proud and arrogant beyond self-confidence. Fill the mansion with dumb people like you, so that Mielle can't do anything.'
"What if I take you to a meeting where young men are?"
The macaron rubbed on Annie's lips and left a stain on it. The purple powder left in place of the macaron dyed Annie's lips. Slowly lowering her eyes, Annie's eyes blushed at the murmur of Aria, 'Wouldn't they want to steal your cute lips?' Annie was so cute when she moved her sweet butt.
"I think it'll be as sweet as this macaron.... what do you think?"
A little force at her fingertips pushed the macaron in, and half of it went into Annie's mouth. Her eyes dimmed with the purple macaron, and she blushed.
Aria, who stroked her cheek once, held a dark temptation like a wicked woman who had been decapitated and died.
"I trust you will do a good job until then, Annie."
As long as he moved as Aria wanted, her rise in status was not a dream that could not be achieved. No, it might be very easy because there was the hourglass that could give her back her time.
Annie, who cut the macaron, nodded with a bewitching face.
* * *
Sarah seemed to be in contact with the Marquis of Vincent quite often.
'Who said that she was busy with work?'
Aria could tell what was going on without looking at them. The marquis fell in love with Sarah.
Sarah was also very fond of him, who was caring for her and showed unleashing interest in her. So she asked Aria for advice, including a recent report, whenever she had a class. It was strange to ask for help from Aria who was four years younger than her, but it was so helpful that her face brightened with each passing day.
"... I don't know if I can really do that."
"Of course you can. Sarah's hands are so warm. When I hold your hand like this, it feels like I'm holding my mom's hand."
After two walks by the lake, she said she was worried about the cold hands of the Marquis of Vincent. Ordinary young ladies would have given gloves as gifts, but Aria recommended that she held his hand tightly and share her warmth to him.
'Who doesn't like it when a man's favorite woman is holding his hand?'
It was even more so for a casual man such as the Marquis of Vincent, who had stayed away from women. It was clear that the heat from her hand would penetrate his heart and paralyze his rational thinking.
"Everything Lady Aria said was right, so I'll try it again."
"Thank you for believing, Sarah."
"Now winter is coming to an end, but... may I prepare gloves for him, too?"
"Yes, you'd rather give them to him as a gift when your date is over. He would open it in a wagon on his way back and think about Sarah all night. Sarah's warm hands and gloves, which held the hands of the marquis, would overlap. He would be in a stew over you."
"Oh, my God..."
Sarah couldn't hide her surprise. Sarah must be wondering how young Aria was so good at dating. It was due to past experience of having numerous men already, but it was impossible to say so, so Aria smiled shyly and equivocated.
"I guess a lot of love stories I heard before I joined the Roscent family helped. Among the common people, someone's love story is the most enjoyable entertainment. Because it's not easy to get books, it's often passed on through word of mouth. A five-year-old also used to give advice."
"That must have been fun."
"Yes, it's one of my most enjoyable memories. And I'm happy to be able to help Sarah this way."
Now that it was time to finish the class, both of them went down together to the first floor, so Aria could see Sarah off. But the carriage waiting in front of the entrance door was not Sarah's.
'Surely, I've given Annie an instruction in advance.'
Looking back at Annie, her face became pale. It was a look of injustice. Considering her usual behavior, it was hard to say that she would make such a mistake. Perhaps someone arrived before waiting for Sarah's carriage, or it was someone greater than Sarah.
"Isn't that Lady Aria?"
"... Mr. Lane."
Sure enough, it was Lane who got off the wagon. Aria thought his visit was rare recently, but he visited the mansion of Count Roscent without fail. Her father and mother were out, and he should have made an appointment. Even after reading Aria's troubled expression, Lane did not care at all.
"I'm sorry I came here all of a sudden. I only have time now."
Maybe it was because Mielle was not there. He beckoned his servant with a rather stiff face. It had been great last time, but Aria thought he brought a bunch of eye-catching gifts again. Aria hardened her face at the sight of the huge gifts.
"My mother and father are out."
"Did Lady Mielle go out, too?"
"No."
"That's enough. I'm just here to have a cup of tea with her."
No, she couldn't. She couldn't leave Lane and Mielle alone. She didn't know who the man was or who his master was. She couldn't keep such a dangerous person close to Mielle.
"Why don't you come back next time when my father is here?"
"I don't know when I'll be free again."
"And wouldn't the idea of having tea with a single young girl without her parents' consent be a little dangerous?"
"Don't worry. Do you think I'm that bad?"
"I don't think so... but I'm afraid there's going to be a bad rumor about Mielle."
The soft, fresh Aria that had just been around was nowhere to be found now. As if to worry about her little sister with a bit of a hard face and tone, Sarah was worried about her and grabbed her hand.
'Who is this man? Does Aria, who is kind to everyone, have this attitude?'
However, there was dampness on the palm of her hand that Sarah could never question. Sarah, therefore, realized that Aria was very nervous and felt that she considered this matter seriously. Before the man who was wearing an annoying smile could say anything, Sarah hastened to cut in between them.
"Well, why don't you have tea together with us? I was just about to get thirsty."
"... Sarah?"
Aria turned around and Sarah gave strength to her hand. Only then did Aria realize that her hands were damp. She was not also aware of her expression. She showed an ugly look. Whenever unforeseen events and figures appeared, she could not control her behavior and speech.
Luckily, Lane readily accepted Sarah's offer. "Good. As Lady Aria said, there's a considerable age gap, but the combination of both a single man and a single woman does not look good."
'If Sarah wasn't here...'
A cold sweat broke out on her back when she thought about that... She might have crossed the line and shown an ugly look. If she had had the hourglass, she would have turned back the time, but unfortunately, she had come down to see off and hadn't brought it. She almost showed her true colors to a person who she didn't even know his true identity.
It was a good thing. Aria, who felt some reassurance, made a tender look again and smiled at Sarah. Sarah also smiled back as if telling her not to worry. 'Really, is Sarah a guardian from heaven?'
"Oh, come to think of it. I also have something for Lady Aria this time."
Before heading to the lounge to serve the guests, it was the tulip bouquet that Lane gave her. He offered a wagonload of presents to Mielle, and it was only a bouquet of flowers to herself; it couldn't even be compared!
'It's nearly nothing.'
Even though he visited Mielle, it had been a long time since someone had openly discriminated against her.