The Villainess turns the Hourglass - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Chapter 19 . Changed Future, Part III

Translator: Khan

Editor: SootyOwl

‘Look at my clothes . I had to wear these dirty, shabby clothes . ’

The young ladies’ eyes were directed at Aria’s clothes because she had created a situation that had attracted attention with her purposefully late arrival . Everyone was shocked by her humble dress, which was no different from those of the common people .

It was not without sense . Even though it was a shabby dress, she had adorned it with various decorations to distract the eyes . Though, it was hard to say if the decorations were classy .

Her appearance was so different from the rumor that all the young ladies in the garden were speechless . Sarah, who had come to her senses at last, greeted Aria and urged the other young ladies to be courteous . Only then, did the young ladies, realizing how rude they had been, hastened to greet Aria .

Aria greeted them with a shy smile that blushed her cheeks . She looked like a young lily, the seal of the Roscents, leaving a lovely impression in everyone’s heart .

“Now that we’re all here, shall we start?”

It was late, but a full-fledged tea party began as Aria took her place . Rose tea, which was a product from a faraway foreign land, was prepared, and sweet cookies and cakes filled the table .

Aria, who had never participated in alcohol-free gatherings since she was young, observed everything with interest . Her presence was interpreted in a slightly different way to that of the other young ladies . Her simple dress also played a part in that .

‘Why is it so simple, like a commoner’s? Is this her first time seeing cookies and cakes?’

It couldn’t be, but Aria’s attire and demeanor made them think so . In the end, a young lady, unable to bear her curiosity, asked Aria . “Lady Roscent, is this your first tea party?”

“Yes, it’s my first time . Cookies and cakes are really pretty . ”

“Oh, my God . ”

There was a sigh of admiration from someone’s mouth . It represented both surprise and pity . It had been a year since she had joined the family of the count, so they wondered how she had never attended a tea party .

Young girls from noble families normally enjoyed tea parties in their own mansions . Those were also events aimed at preparing them for their advancement into society . In families with sisters, they held a small gathering together, and in families with none, they invited a close friend .

Sarah had no sisters, so she had often invited someone close to her and held her tea party that, much like she was doing that day . The tea party fell silent thought they were supposed to be talking to one another .

At that point, a common question came into the minds of the young ladies . It was the small question of whether the rumors that had caused a stir in the public were false . Aria’s behavior, her attitude, her manner of speaking, and her bright laughter seemed to say so .

The same was true of Sarah’s words . Before Aria arrived, Sarah had requested mercy, for Aria was nothing like the rumors . Not everyone had believed her because Sarah was kind and friendly by nature, but actually, she seemed right .

‘Because people believe in what they see . ’

Aria smiled brightly as they looked at one another with stiff expressions . The tea party was only beginning .

* * *

The tea party was ripe, and the young ladies showed great interest in Aria, asking her the usual questions . For example: How did she usually live in the mansion of the family of count? How did she feel about having been a commoner and about what she was wearing that day?

It was very rude to ask about someone’s privacy, but there was no big problem thanks to Aria’s soft-spoken attitude, which did not disapprove of any of the questions . She answered them all to the possible extent .

“Oh, my God! By the way, since all your clothes were burned, is the dress you are wearing today one that you bought recently?”

“Yes… I was very sorry to buy something so expensive, but I still bought it from the boutique that I admired when I was a commoner . I knew nothing except for that place… But, it was my first time going in, so I was very touched . ”

The young ladies were pleased to hear that she had bought as many as ten dresses . They would not be worth a single piece of their simple hair decorations because they had come from a commoner’s boutique, but the young ladies’ hearts became warm from seeing her cheeks flushed and listening to her words that were spoken with a happy demeanor .

“Didn’t anyone introduce you to another boutique? For example… Lady Mielle?” asked a young lady, who combed her hair finely to one side . Before she spoke Mielle’s name, she looked around, opening her mouth very carefully .

Aria was filled with a great deal of satisfaction because she could finally comment on Mielle, but she expressed a very sad look . She looked like a wounded bird that had fallen from its nest, so the young lady covered her mouth with her hand, feeling that she had made a mistake .

‘Let’s make a very small fire, a little starting ember . Even if the fire is as small as a grain of sand, it will soon grow in size to swallow a huge mountain . ’

“I couldn’t bother her . I think… Mielle is a little different from me…”

Aria, with her head slightly, paused and took a sip of the rose tea . Her expression, where she narrowed the middle of her forehead a little, made her look very lonely .

“Though I’m in the count’s family now… I come from a different background . Mielle is smart, pretty, and lovely, so I’m sure it’ll be a problem if she hangs out with me . I’m afraid I’m going to bring her down . ”

Aria finished her speech while fiddling with the cookies . No one was able to open their mouths because everyone there had thought Aria would bring Mielle down at one point .

Rumors had already been spread to that effect, and the young ladies there had not doubted them until they saw Aria . Moreover, the rumors had become vicious, as everyone who had encountered Aria several times had given her a harsh evaluation . Even if those people were to meet her again, it was clear that they would start doubting Aria rather than accept she changed .

‘So, you guys have to work hard . ’

After the tea party, they had to go back to their own mansions and tell the others the experience they had had that day . Simply the fact that she was nice and innocent was not enough . They had to have some other evidence .

‘Why does the loving and holy Mielle not reach out to poor Aria first? Aria is so lovely, nice and naive, unlike the gossip surrounding her . ’

Although Mielle was still young, it was strange for her to leave her new sister, who had a calm and affectionate personality, alone, unlike her peers . Of course, they needed tangible proof because the young women’s family members wouldn’t easily believe them otherwise .

“Let’s stop talking about this . It’s my first time meeting people the same age as me, so I just want to tell you happy tales . ”

Aria, who tried to smile to change the mood, told Jessie to hand out the handkerchiefs . Jessie handed out a case with her embroidered handkerchief to each of the young ladies . When they opened the cases that were as simple as Aria’s dress, they each found a handkerchief embroidered with a beautiful tulip .

“I learned how to make them from Teacher Sarah . I don’t know if you’ll like them . ”

Sarah blushed at the word teacher . The handkerchief, which was embroidered with a red, vivid tulip, was enough to instantly make the dull mood in the garden friendly . Aria was still young and had only been in the count’s family for a year, so it seemed unbelievable that she had made such great embroidery gifts .

The faces of the young ladies, who were staring intently at the tulip embroidery, brimmed with admiration, and smiles bloomed as fresh as tulips . At that point, Aria felt that all of her work for the day was done, so her heart also lightened .

Truth was that those little efforts took a toll on her . They took a while and were boring, so she didn’t really want to do them, but she was a bit more motivated when she thought that Mielle had gone through the same bothersome process .

Mielle had actively attended women’s social gatherings, and afterward, she had gained great support and become famous in society .

‘Who was that?’