Translator: Jis...o...b..>Proofreader: Arie Bee

Chapter 7

A few days after the count left, Kain also returned to the academy. He was worried about Mielle, who would be left alone with Aria and her mother, but because Aria was now well behaved unlike before, he went inside the carriage after a long time hesitating.

Kain did not have any good sentiment for Aria and the new countess, but he wasn't full of pure evil like his sister.

In addition he was the heir of the family and had to do both school and to prepare to become the next count, so he didn't want to interfere as long as no harm came to his sister.

After Kain left, Mielle was barely able to find a suitable teacher to teach her embroidery, and spent all day in her room practicing it.

Aria could imagine what kind of situation was unfolding inside the shut door, as Mielle pushed back all her other cla.s.ses and focused only on learning embroidery.

Unlike the past, Aria was not acting ill-mannered, and the sharp gazes that once headed towards her were now gone. Instead of Aria, it was Mielle who was feeling the inferiority complex. It couldn't be better.

Sarah asked with a friendly look as she watched Aria sip her tea in a smile.

“Did something good happened lately?"

"Of course. Everything lately has been good. And the best thing is that I got to meet you."

Thanks to you I was able to see Mielle's distorted face. The child's happy smile was enough to form a blush on the girl's face.

Aria had just been a cute child before, but now she was a little lady with elegance that would make anyone proud no matter where she was. It had happened in a matter of months.

As she watched Aria sip her tea elegantly, Sarah asked about a matter she had spoken about last time.

"I'm planning on hosting a tea party in a few days. It's a very small tea party with just a few of my acquaintances."

"I see."

"My father received an expensive tea as a gift and gave it to me."

Sarah smiled smoothly as she continued.

"So would you like to join us if you're not too busy, Lady Aria?"

Aria widened her eyes and pretended to be surprised. How could I go to a place like that! She covered her mouth with her cute hands and shook her head, and Sarah convinced her that she was ready now.

"I want to brag about how lovely you are to everyone I know."

Aria knew why Sarah was asking her to come to the tea party. It was because of all the rumours that spread lately. She also knew about the rumours.

The prost.i.tute's daughter goes on a rage every day because of her jealousy of the count's daughter.

She has a terrible temper just like her mother.

The stray cat-like bit*h is trying to ruin the Roscente family.

This is why poor Mielle cries herself to sleep every night.

The rumours were like this.

It was actually quite close to the truth. She had basically been like this before coming back in time. Except the part about Mielle, everything was the undeniable truth. Although it was ordered by others, pus.h.i.+ng someone from the stairs and poisoning someone's tea was something only a witch would do.

But she wasn't planning on doing evil deeds in such a one-dimensional way from now on. If anything she would act dignified on the outside and act this way behind everyone's back.

No, she would definitely have to do this. So she needed to start quieting down the rumours now. Before the villainess who was wearing the mask of a saintess decides to spread the rumours even more.

"Then……. I'm quite embarra.s.sed to ask, but, may I join the tea party?"

Sarah was overjoyed at Aria's shy reply as she blushed. But there was no need to attend Sarah's tea party to quiet down the rumours. Sarah's acquaintances probably were not too important, and we're probably all from families without much power.

But it would be better to create memories with Sarah if she wanted to build a stronger relations.h.i.+p with her. Aria was also curious about what modest ladies did for fun.

"Of course. I'm sure everyone will welcome you since you're so lovely."

"Thank you, Lady Sarah."

Sarah left as she was elated about telling the other ladies about her new friend.

How is she so kind and naive? She should know when to stop trusting someone. This made Aria question if she would be able to hold her seat as the marquis's wife in the future.

Aria needed to purchase a new dress to attend Sarah's tea party. She had many dresses, but they were all dresses that were stupidly fancy.

You could describe them as childish. The dresses had several huge ribbons and a colourful design, which made it seem like it was doll's clothing. It nearly made Aria sweat as she looked back at her tastes during this time.

'……Why do they even make these sorts of dresses.'

If they weren't custom made they were probably bought from the store. They were so childish and bad that Aria wanted to burn them all.

And it wasn't just the dresses, it was all of her wardrobe. She couldn't tell because her indoor clothing were usually plain, but she could remember that she had chosen very strange clothing with her own hands.

Of course, even now she understood why she had chosen such colourful clothing with a bunch of decorations.

When she was a commoner she had to wear the same clothes for months or years because their family did not have the money. Because of this, all her clothes were of dull colours and had no patterns. This was probably why she had chosen clothing that were so vibrant to the point they hurt your eyes.

'Just looking at it gives me a headache, I want this out of my sight.'

Arie called for her maid Jessie and ordered her to throw out all her dresses. They must've been pretty bad even for her, since she took all the clothes out of the dressing room without even saying anything.

It was difficult for her to do it by herself, so she brought a cart for her to carry the clothes. After clearing the dressing room, Jessie told Aria that her previous order had been completed before heading out the door.

"Oh? You fixed the hourgla.s.s?"

"Yes, do you want me to go pick it up?"

The hourgla.s.s that had been found broken on the bed on the first day of Aria coming back to the past.

Aria had picked up all the pieces and sand and ordered Jessie to have it fixed.

Thankfully she received news that it was not shattered completely so it could be fixed, and it seemed like it had finally been completed.

It probably wasn't an ordinary hourgla.s.s. It may have used up all its powers in bringing back Aria to the past, but it was still a precious hourgla.s.s that helped her restart her life. She wanted to keep the hourgla.s.s for safekeeping in its complete state.

"No, I have to go out to buy a new dress anyway so I'll pick it up then. Get ready to leave."

She also didn't know what might happen if it broke again, so she had to be careful. She would feel safer if she went to pick it up herself.

Jessie bowed her head in an apologetic way when Aria ordered her to get ready.

"Miss, the thing is……."

Aria stared at her with a gaze that said 'why aren't you following orders?' as Jessie stood at the door fidgeting.

Although it wasn't this way anymore, Jessie was the one who had suffered most from Aria in the past, and seemed to still have a hard time saying something because of those memories.

Aria smiled and asked what was wrong, and Jessie spoke carefully, remembering that the lady she was serving had changed recently.

"There's nothing to wear if you throw all these out…… The dress you wear for indoors isn't suitable for going out……."

To a commoner everything was the same and expensive, but it was different for a n.o.ble.

A n.o.ble had to wear the appropriate clothing for indoors and outdoors, if for some reason you wore an indoors dress outside, there would be rumours about you and you would never earn yourself a shameless and ill-mannered t.i.tle.

Aria clicked her tongue as she complained about how complicated this world was. Now that she knew her dresses were in fact not beautiful, she didn't have the courage to wear it outside on the streets.

She thought for a moment for a way she could avoid wearing these dresses but also not be embarra.s.sed.

And suddenly, a method popped into her head.

'Ah, that's right!'

There's always that method. Even if she didn't buy new clothes there were luxurious and beautiful clothing in the house. They probably fit her perfectly as well.

"Those clothes, put them all back in the closet."

"All of it?"

"Yes, all of it."

Jessie did how Aria asked without complaints despite the fact that she was making her do all this work for no reason. It wasn't like it was the first time or anything, so there was no reason to complain.

It took a while but Aria simply watched Jessie work without complaining about her speed.

As soon as Jessie was finished Aria ordered for her to leave the room. Jessie was confused by her orders but did as was told.

'The matches should be here somewhere.'

She was looking for matches used to light candles. She had bought them to pretend being an elegant n.o.ble lady but never used it and had it in her drawers the whole time.

She couldn't remember very well because it had been more than 10 years. Of course in reality it had been a few months but it was a long time for Aria, who remembered the future.

"Found it!"

Aria lit the match she found and tossed the burning match into the closet. It had been a long time since Jessie had left the room.

After watching it for a few moments Aria began screaming with an extremely calm face.

Jessie was standing right out the door and was the first person to come in and witness the disastrous scene.

"M, miss?!”

Jessie, surprised, hurriedly tried to put the fire out but the fire was on the flammable clothing and had become too big to do anything.

She could hear people's footsteps as they gathered. Aria frowned and sighed as she stood in the middle of all the matches that had been sprawled on the floor.

"I was trying to light a candle while I thought of a method……. What should I do? Since my clothes are all burnt I have no choice but to lend some clothes right?"

Aria wasn't sure if Jessie was smiling or crying as her expression changed when she looked at Aria.

END OF CHAPTER 7.