Chapter 103. The Future Different From The Past, Part IX
Translator: Khan
Editor Group: Liber Reverie
"Maybe... I think so."
Because they didn't even want to call her name, Aria became known as 'that person' in no time. Nevertheless, the princess wanted to see her face once. She wondered what face the fox-like girl had, who had bewitched her blunt brother.
Isis ordered one of her servants to call Aria. Then Mielle suggested with an awkward smile, "Why don't you think about it?"
"Why? I'm just trying to call her because she doesn't say hello."
"It's not the kind of person the princess is going to meet. I'm sure you'll just feel bad."
"Really? Then I'll have to meet her even more. That person will be poisonous to Lady Mielle."
Mielle bit her lips with a very awkward face. It seemed that Mielle did not want Isis to meet Aria. Isis's mind was full of questions because it was the first time Mielle was so hyper-contradictory.
And the question was settled neatly after a while when Aria appeared.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Princess Frederick. I'm Aria."
The graceful bending gesture of her knees showed no fault. Based on the rumors, Aria had been doing the mischievous acts the princess was about to find fault with and scold her harshly as soon as she had come to the mansion, but when she personally met Aria, she could not think of anything to scold her about.
'Besides, isn't that face pretty?' She was the daughter of a prostitute, who had lured the count and made herself the countess. The new maid, who brought out Aria's teacup, stopped Isis, who was looking at Aria from head to toe.
Isis was awakened by the slight noise the new maid made. She then said in a calm manner,
"... I'm pleased. I guess you weren't feeling well, were you?"
Aria nodded to the inevitable rebuke.
"Not really, but I decided that it's difficult to visit the princess first with a humble body."
As the daughter of the prostitute, she was quite adept at coping with the situation. Isis's mouth went up.
"I see. It's my fault. I should have called you first. Sit down."
Aria sat down, putting down a box that made Isis curious since she didn't know why Aria had brought it. Despite the addition of unnecessary movements, Aria showed graceful, clean movements, and Isis narrowed her eyes and observed her carefully.
'When did she learn that? She's learned such a good etiquette in just two years? She's just the daughter of a vulgar prostitute, right?'
It was hard to believe. At the sight of Isis, who was watching Aria thoroughly, Mielle's complexion gradually turned pale. Mielle seemed to think that the evaluation of Aria that was mimicking the nobles might have increased.
But Isis had no intention of doing so. It might seem plausible on the surface, but it was empty inside. Being from a humble and dirty background, even though the way she dressed and ate changed, her origin could not be changed.
"Have you adapted yourself to the family of Count Roscent?"
"I'm trying."
"It's been two years, and it's not enough to just try. You shouldn't bring dishonor to the family of the count."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"There are a lot of people who already feel bad about the family of the count because of the rumors that are going on in public, so you'll have to hurry."
Of course, most of the rumors that were known to the public were brought to Isis' attention. Half of what she knew was from Mielle, and the other half was from her imagination. She hadn't met her, but she had thought Aria wouldn't be much different from the rumor.
The princess was furious when she heard from Mielle that the count was likely to remarry. She could not accept a prostitute in the family that was going to become in-laws with the family of the duke later! She wouldn't even accept a mere commoner, but she was about to become worse than that...!
It was Isis, who had urged Mielle not to let the count marry again at all cost. Isis had told Mielle that it would be a shame on her family and that it would ruin her name; in addition, even Mielle might be insulted. So Isis had wanted Mielle to get rid of the prostitute and her daughter.
However, the count had not stopped taking in the prostitute, even as he had read the countenances of the public, and eventually, the dirty stone had rolled in and firmly rooted in the family of Count Roscent.
Without knowing who she was, the dirty stone, named Aria, even answered questions and replied to her reproving words,
"I'll do my best."
Even this time, Aria answered with a clear voice without changing her face, and it made Isis uncomfortable.
Aria picked up the teacup and took a sip from it. It was the black tea of Kranberg province that Isis brought.
'Do you know how precious that tea is, which you are drinking now?' Isis thought. It was clear that Aria couldn't tell the difference between the black tea and other teas.
"How's the tea?" Various emotions were in the eyes of Isis, who asked. The biggest of them was the look that was searching Aria of something she could abuse her with.
Aria, who took one more sip of tea, answered slowly. "I can feel the bitterness in my mouth. It's also sour... is this the black tea of Kranberg province?"
Isis's eyes stiffened at the unexpected answer. So did Mielle. 'How can a daughter of a prostitute know what it is after taking a few sips?'
"... Yes, you know that well."
Aria's reply followed Isis's quivering answer, "I heard it is a famous tea that was usually served in summer. It would have been better if the maid had put half a spoonful of sugar... drinking without it is one way to do it. It's an honor to drink such a precious tea just as it is about to get hot."
Silence followed after her impeccable answer. Isis was going to accuse Aria of not knowing a cup of tea properly, but she couldn't do that anymore. Aria was determined, and she did not show any weak points.
After that, Isis asked a few more questions with the aim of abusing Aria, but only calm answers came back. In the end, Isis told Aria to leave the room without any reprimand or criticism.
"Thank you for calling, Princess."
Aria, who took care of the hourglass on the table, bowed politely and disappeared. Isis didn't know when Aria had taken out the hourglass, but Isis narrowed her brow, thinking of Aria, who had been natural and elegant enough to not even notice Aria's action.
* * *
Aria, who returned to her room, sighed deeply and sat down on the sofa. The hourglass on her lap was very heavy. 'If it hadn't been for the hourglass, the last words I would have heard before leaving the garden would have been ridicule from the princess.'
Isis, which had been criticizing her for not knowing about teas because she was from the common people, rang out in her head. Mielle, who had helped Isis, next to her, had looked very excited. Aria had turned over the hourglass and repeated what they had said, and her cold hand was trembling and was hidden under the table.
Because she had used the hourglass, Aria felt tired and ordered her maid to bring tea, touching her eyes. It was clear that if she fell asleep in a rigid state, she would suffer the next day. Soon after she drank the jasmine tea that Berry brought her, she felt a little relaxed.
'Princess Frederick...'
'Was it because of the rumors with Oscar?' It was the first time that she had met such a look filled with purely evil intentions, so Aria was nervous. She laid in bed and was reassured that she did everything, so she wouldn't be scolded. When she closed her eyes, her eyes were blacked out by the sudden eagerness to sleep.
* * *
Some time later, as expected, all the sugar had run out, and there were people who were suffering. Aria showed mercy to them. The first place she laid her hands on was Flower Mountain, a cafe frequented by the nobility. It was also the place where Aria had gone with Annie and Jessie.
And it was the place that had been damaged the most because there were lots of drinks made with a variety of stylish and flavored ingredients. Aria sent Andrew there to talk to the owner secretly that she could supply sugar.
'The owner of Flower Mountain has shown interest, and the price is going to become ten times more than what it was.'