The Villainess turns the Hourglass

‘I think I should order a watch that returns the hands to the exact same place every five minutes, unlike the usual clocks, where the hour hand and the minute hand meet at the top after twelve hours.’

She thought it would be good if the hands were to start moving when she pressed a button and stopped at the top in five minutes.

She felt a need for it when she missed the timing while testing the hourglass on Jessie. She mistook the time, delaying the activation, and the conversation went awry.

Even though she turned the hourglass over, Jessie asked, “What do you mean, miss?” She remembered that her heart sank when that happened, so it was fortunate that she didn’t say anything important.

As a result, Jessie advised her several times to call a doctor to see if there was something to be concerned about. There were also the words that Aria had said, from which she could not run away, “I feel like I’m losing my life by using it, but I can’t help it. Let’s get started.”

“Miss… I’m getting worried because you say you’re losing your life. You sleep too long. It’s presumptuous, but I think it’s better to call a doctor,” Jessie, who had already given the letter to the servant and come back, said while pouring the warm tea.

Aria waved dismissively again at her today.

“I’m OK.”

“But… I think you are losing weight.”

“What are you talking about? I’m taller and I’ve put on weight.”

“Not as far as I can see.”

Jessie was stubborn even though she looked a little scared. It was her character, so Aria couldn’t help it.

Aria was not as angry like she had been before, and Jessie’s stubbornness, which would’ve ended almost immediately, increased by two- or three-fold, and that annoyed Aria. She’d rather be examined by a doctor than listen to any more nagging.

“All right. Bring him in.”

In order to prevent Jessie’s nagging and because Aria was a little worried about her body, she decided it was better to see a doctor after all.

Fortunately, her examination with the family doctor yielded nothing wrong. She was told to be careful because she was rather physically weak, but after the examination, Aria rebuked Jessie in high spirits.

“Don’t tell me to call a doctor anymore.”

“Yes, miss.” Still, Jessie looked very happy because she had confirmed that Aria was healthy.

Aria was also relieved of her mental burden. Even though the doctor did not have all of the information, she was relieved since he had said she was in good condition at the moment.

Aria had refused to see the family doctor many times, but in the end, it seemed right to do as Jessie said.

If Aria had listened to Jessie like this in the past, she wouldn’t have died.

No matter how hard she protested, the Jessie in the past had not been able to read the situation. She had been that way. She had not been able to distinguish the time and place to bring attention to her master, insisting only on what she thought was right for her ghost-like master, and that had not worked. Rather, it had only proked Aria’s anger.

But now, things were different. Jessie was just as stubborn as in the past, but this time, Aria didn’t know why, but Jessie had become so quick-witted that she could measure the timing of her protests. So, Aria was satisfied with her in many ways, and she wanted to give Jessie a reward.

‘So, I haven’t given her a brooch yet because I’ve been busy with a lot of things pertaining to the hourglass and my birthday.’

Aria was going to present one of the brooches from the jewelry store to Jessie. She didn’t mean to overly thank her. It was just a bait to bring in new people to her side. It was meant to show that riches would come to those who tended to her.

The gold brooch was worth it. Moreover, everyone wearing ornaments of the same shape helped form a sense of unity and belonging between the wearers. Depending on the number of brooches, she could have them feel a difference in bonding, and that was convenient. In society, where infighting was prevalent, things like that were often used to build factions. Aria had the brooches made to be used that way.

‘I’ve figured out the power of the hourglass. Let’s move now.’

Aria, who took a brooch from the drawer, slowly approached Jessie. After closing the window that had been opened for ventilation and arranging the drapes, Jessie was suddenly surprised by Aria’s approach and clung to the drapes.

Aria laughed out loud when she saw Jessie’s reaction.

“What are you so surprised about?”

“Oh, no. You suddenly showed up and…”

“Do you think I’m going to eat you?”

“Well, it’s not like that…”

The little bird, anxious to be eaten by its little beast, was at a loss for where to look.

‘I wish you could stop shivering now.’

It was clear that no matter how much she imitated Mielle, her actions would be misunderstood as harassing her maid behind the scenes.

‘I don’t mean to bother you, but sometimes I want to.’

Aria felt like she was a carnivorous animal chasing her prey. That was why she wanted to bother her.

If Jessie kept making Aria excited, the hidden wicked woman might be able to emerge from her. If the wicked woman came out, everything would go wrong.

“Jessie, I like you more than you think.”

“… Yeah?”

Jessie’s body became more and more rigid by the sudden confession. It would’ve been better if Aria had said no. Jessie’s eyes were as wobbly as reeds fluttering in the wind as the words she had never thought of hearing struck her.

“Do you think I could keep you by my side for so long if I didn’t like you?”

“…”

“And why are you so stiff? Did I bother you too much?”

Contrary to Aria’s intentions, Jessie was unfortunately able to recall the tens of thousands of acts that Aria had inflicted on her. Aria burst into laughter when she realized that.

“Oh, of course. I wouldn’t deny what I did in the past. I was immature. But, I recently realized that those actions were wrong. You know that, don’t you?”

Jessie nodded as she moved her stiff neck. It was true that Aria’s behavior had changed drastically from the summer. It had suddenly become too different to just be maturity, but she was different.

“I think that everyone can change like that. We repent for our past mistakes, and we move onto the right path,” Aria said, recalling what had been written in the book she had just read.

Of course, there were people like Mielle, who lived their whole lives like garbage without repentance for their pasts and presents. Aria also pretended to be a good girl outwardly, but within, she still thought about ruining someone else’s life, so she couldn’t say that she was on the right path.

Anyway, the public would do that for her. When someone said and did something morally wrong, eventually, they knelt down in front of an idol of God and admitted their sins and repented. Aria didn’t know whether they truly repented or reflected on themselves, but on the surface anyway, most of the people did so.

“So, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I know I was wrong in the past.”

‘I was very wrong because I was stupid enough to show my true colors and act simple.’

“And as I said again and again… I like you,” said Aria, pinning a brooch to Jessie’s chest. The gold, which reflected the light and shone brilliantly, matched Jessie’s garment very well.

“Oh, miss. This is…?”

“It’s a gift for you. It also means sorry and remorse for what I’ve done so far.”

As a mere gift to a maid, it was too much. Jessie’s face contorted strangely, and there was no way to tell if she was laughing or crying. It seemed that she didn’t know how to deal with the situation at that moment.

“Don’t feel burdened. It’s something you can take. I really want you to wear this brooch.”

So that everyone can see and be envious of it…

Aria, who patted her on the shoulder a couple of times, returned to the sofa and drank some tea gracefully.