The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass Chapter 4

Translator: Jisoo
Proofreader: Arie Bee

Chapter 4

The foods Aria hated the most were vegetables. When cooked the texture was bad and the plant taste was too strong when it wasn't cooked. And vegetables were a main food source for the lower class people, which meant she ate vegetables every day until she was sick of it before she came into the count's household.

This was why she always made a mess out of her salads so that she couldn't eat it.

At first the maids brought out a new salad, but because she screamed and said she did not want to eat it, the maids stopped interfering with her meals.

This was why Aria was always an unwanted guest at a dinner for family unity and communication. Everyone gave up on her table manners and simply scoffed at her. Even her own mother.

But Aria began to eat her salad quietly. Salad was alright when complemented with dressing. It wasn't particularly tasty but there was no reason to throw a fit about it.

At first no one had noticed. It was because usually no one would look at Aria's food because it was so messy it was enough to make anyone lose their appetite.

The maids first noticed Aria's difference when cleaning her plates, and then it was the countess, her mother.

"Oh my, when did you learn table manners like these, Aria?"

"Sarah, my teacher, taught me."

"Oh my,"

Then came the apologetic and sympathetic feelings. The countess felt sorry that she had not assigned Aria a tutor before now that she saw how good she was with her manners after learning.

Of course there had been a tutor for her when she first came into the household, but she did not learn any proper manners.

The studying was way too tiresome and boring for someone who had spent all their time playing and running in the streets. The count and countess both clicked their tongues, saying that it must've been because the tutor was not good enough.

And this was something Aria had been going for. She was trying to convey that her birth didn't make her lower than them, and that she could do it just as well if she was given a chance to properly learn.

'Mielle is better than those in her age group because she began her education earlier. I can do it too.'

The count showed joy at Aria's change, and declared that he would help her learn anything she wanted to learn. To Aria's relief, Mielle even began to be sarcastic about the matter due to her disapproval.

"I thought Aria's food just came out all messed up all this time."

"Mielle…….. Do you mean to say that someone hates me enough to mess with my food? I admit to being quite wild before……I didn't know I would be hated for it."

Mielle waved her hands frantically at Aria, who unlike Mielle's expectations, made a sad face and asked the question. It was quite fun to see her try to deny that she meant to say such a thing.

She must be cursing inside. Aria suppressed her urge to laugh and said in a regretful face.

"Then that's a relief. But you know, it would be impossible to mess up my food that was fine before unless you're a magician. Maybe you couldn't think that far because you're young."

"……it, it was a joke, Aria."

"Oh, is that so……! I'm sorry I acted annoyed at such a light joke, Mielle."

The sight of Aria laughing awkwardly was enough to bring sympathy out of the people watching. The sight of her apologizing despite being hurt was even enough to move the heart of the count, who had always treated Aria with a heart of steel.

The count put down his fork quietly and made a hard expression that he had never shown his daughter before. It was an expression he had always only shown to Aria.

In the past, it was always the work of an amazing artist called Mielle, and the audience was poor Aria alone.

"Mielle, think before you speak. Don't you see that your sister is hurt. I'm embarrassed that someone might be watching."

"I apologize……Father and Aria…….."

Aria laughed as she remembered Mielle's distorted face.

It was a piece of cake for Aria, who had lived for over 20 years, to control Mielle, who was only thirteen.

She couldn't tell when they were close in age, but the young Mielle was barely any trouble. She was simply a noble girl who had received more education at an earlier time.

'Of course, that will change as time passes.'

Right now it was alright because she was young, but when she would grow older she would surely make Aria suffer despite her 20 years of experience.

There was a huge difference between Aria, who was born between an unknown father and a prostitute mother, and Mielle. So if she did not prepare from now on, everything would fail later on.

This was a decided procedure, and a future even Aria did not doubt. Even if she made an effort she could never beat Mielle, who was the count's real daughter.

'But, I have a special power God gave me.'

That was the fact that she knew the future.

She knew which member of the lower class would come into power in the future, and knew how the count's trade business would end up as well. On top of this Aria knew which businesses would be a success, which meant there was no one else who could beat Aria.

Which was why to fulfil her goal she needed to work on all the small details first.

Even if she did know the future, there was no way that the daughter of a prostitute would be able to raise her position so quickly.

So Aria decided to take over the smallest things first. For example.

"Teacher, I have something I would like to learn."

"What is it?"

"I want to learn embroidery."

Things as small as embroidery.

Sarah was famous for making beautiful embroidered items that looked like the real thing had been moved directly into the embroidery. No, she was going to be famous for it.

Her beautiful embroidered handkerchief was also the reason why she caught Marquis Vincent's sight in the first place.

Of course Aria wasn't trying to earn a man's heart through embroidery, since she already had her beauty. She was planning on gifting it to the count when he returns later on.

There was a saying that said if you carried the first handkerchief you received from your daughter or wife, you would live a long, healthy life.

Since the count had not yet received a handkerchief from Mielle, if Aria was to gift one to him, he would have to carry it forever. Although not biological, Aria was still his daughter.

Aria remembered that Mielle was about fifteen when she first gifted the count a handkerchief.

It was because she was unexpectedly bad with her hands and was a perfectionist, which meant it took her a long time to create embroidery that met her requirements.

'So it would take a while even if she started learning now.'

And Aria had an amazing teacher like Sarah by her side. If it didn't work out the way she had planned she would ask Sarah to embroider it for her instead.

Since her embroidery skills were not well known, it wouldn't be a problem to just let Sarah embroider the gift.

If Aria was able to make such an amazing handkerchief to gift, Mielle may not be able to ever gift her own handkerchief. Since it will be compared.

Aria could not stop smiling as she imagined Mielle throwing a fit every time Aria's handkerchief was used. This was the new future Aria had created.

* * *

Aria did not tell anyone that she had begun to secretly learn embroidery. She asked Sarah to keep it a secret as well. If anyone were to know, then it would naturally be known to Mielle, and she would begin embroidery as well.

Even if Mielle's embroidery was terrible, it wasn't a good idea to start at the same time. And if word got out that Mielle was learning embroidery, there was a chance that the count would not accept Aria's handkerchief.

It would be normal for him to want to receive his biological daughter's handkerchief over a daughter he just earned one day from marriage.

Thankfully, the only maid that came to Aria's room was Jessie, and there was no particular reason to call her so there was not much chance of being found out.

It wasn't until Aria was fifteen that Mielle assigned one of her own maids to her, so she had only had a little bit of time left.

From then on Aria often practiced embroidery, as if this was also an ability God gave her when she returned to the past, but although not as beautiful as Sarah's, Aria could make beautiful embroidery fairly quickly. She was amazed that she could create such embroidery with her small hands.

Aria gifted a handkerchief with a rabbit embroidery on it that she had finished in a few days to her teacher, Sarah. Sarah was so touched after receiving it that she began to tear up.

"You won't even have a problem embroidering the family crest now."

"Can you help me? I'll watch and try to copy."

"Of course. Then shall we postpone the lesson and do some embroidery?"

Aria took out some good quality silk that she had received through the countess. She had kept it a secret to everyone but her mother.

The countess had laughed with sparkling eyes when she heard of the fourteen year old girl's plan.

'Yes, work as much as you want. It's an amazing idea,' she said.

The countess was satisfied with her current place but still supported Aria's efforts. She didn't expect much so it wasn't active support, but she did offer some help when needed. It was a relief.

"It's very good quality silk."

"Because it's for the handkerchief I'll gift to my father."

How cute. Sarah blushed and felt that she wanted to pat Aria on the head.

Noticing Sarah's paused hand in the air, Aria, said 'teacher, please pat my head.' through her smile, allowing Sarah to carefully pat Aria's head.

Sarah looked like she was being extremely rude, but Aria was glad that Sarah thought she was cute and was liking her more.

Aria rubbed her head against Sarah's hand, thinking how much of a relief it was that she became a child. She hoped that Sarah would love her and treat her like a child for a long time.

END OF CHAPTER 4.

Chapter end