The Villainess turns the Hourglass - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Chapter 35 . Revenge, Part V

Chapter 35 . Revenge, Part V

Translator: Khan

Editor: SootyOwl

Aria calmly grasped reality and shook off her anxiety by thinking about the various things that were to come .

Soon, she became more relaxed and felt the sweet tea on her tongue . As she leaned back on the sofa, enjoying it in a comfortable position, Jessie suddenly entered the room with a servant from the jewelry shop .

“I’m sorry I’m late . ”

She bowed immediately to apologize to Aria . The accompanying servant did the same .

Aria forgave their sins with a very generous smile . Aria thought it was cute that Jessie had come back when she felt more relieved, and she had also noticed that Jessie had had a bit of luck .

“We prepared some jasmine tea and a tart . ” Jessie and the servant hurriedly arranged the table and set the refreshments .

Aria warmed her body with the new tea, which had been chilled slightly by an unexpected encounter with the chilly autumn wind . The sweet-and-sour tart with strawberries and blueberries melted gently in her mouth . It was not a common tart seen on the market .

‘I think she went to a famous bakery to buy it . ’

It wasn’t bad . She felt better and better as she ate the delicious dessert .

Around the time two slices of the tart had been eaten, the knights who had gone out to find a carriage returned . They seemed to have crawled around like tortoises worn out by old age .

No matter how delicious the refreshments were, she did not have to stay at the jewelry store anymore, so she rose from her seat without regret .

Aria was escorted by her knights, leaving the jewelry shop behind . The carriage was waiting right in front of the entrance, and that made her feel at ease .

Nevertheless, Aria looked carefully around and stuck close to the knights . It would take her only a few steps, but she had to be careful because he had overpowered her knights once .

Of course, he would not be waiting for her since he had nothing to do with her, unlike before, but Aria had already died once, so she was careful of unknown dangers .

“Please, get on the carriage . ”

Nothing happened until she opened the carriage door and took the knight’s hand . She felt like she could laugh at her concerns .

Aria, standing before the carriage, breathed a small sigh of relief . One more step and she would be able to hide herself in the carriage .

But as she was about to take that last step, something suddenly fell on her side .

“!”

“Miss!”

The knight who saw it quickly knocked it over with his hand . Then, that thing that had suddenly appeared near Aria’s face fell to the ground with a crunching sound . When she lowered her gaze and looked at it, she saw it was a bouquet of tulips beautifully wrapped in fine paper and decorative ribbons .

Surprised, Aria’s body froze, firmly attached to the carriage, and the two escorting knights quickly clung to her earth and drew their swords . The sharp swords were directed at a man who, with an awkward expression, picked up the bouquet that had fallen to the ground .

“Oh, my God! It was just a gift for the lady who protected my precious fortune… It must have been too sudden . ”

He smiled as if nothing had happened to him as he dusted off the flowers . His casual appearance stunned Aria into silence . Whether it was the same for her knights, they also became mute . The man dusted off the bouquet for a while and handed it back to Aria in a polite manner .

She shrank back once more . When the knights tried to stop him from handing her the bouquet of flowers, filling the gap between Aria and the man, he acted preemptively, preventing them from doing so .

“You rude…!”

“It’s a small token of appreciation for that last favor . I didn’t waste any of my money because of your advice . ”

Aria could not understand most of what he was saying . They were shallow words that seemed more like blackmail . ‘What advice did I give him, and is he thanking me?’

Aria, who had briefly gazed at the bouquet of flowers hanging next to her, shook her head and refused his favor, “No, I don’t think we had a thank-you-type of conversation . ”

At that moment, his face showed great surprise . It seemed like she was saying something bewildering to him, and looking at his burdened expression, Aria frowned .

“That’s not true . Not buying the auction tickets kept us from losing money . ”

Only then, was Aria able to understand what the man was saying . It seemed right to assume that he was a countryside aristocrat who had come to the capital for the auction .

‘How did you dare hold my wrist and threaten me so that I couldn’t leave?’

The rudeness of his actions in the past made her feel angry . Moreover, she was annoyed that she had to pay attention to him even though he was a very powerless man . She couldn’t even ask Mielle to go out dressed in her dress now to confound the man .

The man kept a light smile on his face as Aria frowned and gave no particular answer . He didn’t care at all . Even though the two knights could stop him at anytime, his posture was completely relaxed and composed .

“So, I’d like Lady Roscent to accept these tulips, which are protected by the kingdom . Little lady, I hope you will be lucky in the future . ”

It was very natural for people to think she was acquainted with him, who was persistently presenting her the bouquet through a gap between her knights .

Sure enough, the knights, who had prevented him from nearing Aria, thought that he had a close relationship with her . Because of that, though their swords were still directed at the man, their nervous bodies were a little relaxed, unlike when he first popped up .

Despite the suspicious black cloak and the fact that he didn’t take off his hood, they didn’t feel any pressure or danger at all . They couldn’t believe that he was the same person they had seen at the general store .

He didn’t seem he would back down until Aria received the bouquet . If that was really the case, there was nothing they could do .

“… OK, I see . ”

Aria reached out for the bouquet of flowers that had been pushed between the guards . It meant that she would receive it . He had a smile on his face, which could be glimpsed from under the hood .

The sight of the two, a young man and a woman offering each other favors, even softened the minds of those watching .

The escort knights slid aside to make room . It was only then that the man was able to give Aria the bouquet .

Aria accepted it and asked the name of the man who had given her those fragrant and beautiful flowers . Meanwhile, he tried to bow and kneel to her .

“I can’t accept them without knowing your name . ”

“I see . I’m sorry . Call me Asterope . ”

“No last name?”

“I am sorry, but I can’t give you my last name due to some unavoidable circumstances . ”

“Hmm…” Aria sighed briefly, looking up and down at Asterope’s demeanor .

It seemed as if he was more powerless than she had thought since he wasn’t even able to give her his last name . Maybe someone with a pretty face like her mother married a countryside nobleman and gave birth to him .

Aria no longer asked Asterope anything, simply taking the bouquet from his hand and placing it in front of one of her escort’s face . Just in case, the knight smelled the flowers and confirmed they were safe . Fortunately, he hadn’t played any tricks on the flowers, so the escort knight indicated that it was OK .

“They are ordinary tulips . ”

Aria shook her head when the knight, tough-spirited, took off a few petals and tried to eat them . Asterope wouldn’t have done such a meticulous thing in such a short time .

Only then, did Aria smell the tulips . Their scent and dark color seemed to indicate that they were quite high-priced . As if to reciprocate Asterope’s favor, Aria gave him a small curtsy and thanked him .

“Is this the end of your business? I have to go back to the mansion . ”

“Oh, I see . ”

She was telling him to leave . Since he had approached her without warning, she didn’t have to show him any more favor .

He took a step closer to Aria when he finished answering . The distance that had already been close for someone who had no acquaintance with her became even closer . It was also a distance short enough to enable him to reach out to her . It was the same last time, and he was agile and unpredictable .