Chapter 6 (1/2)

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

Chapter 6

”Where did you hear that rumour?”

”Umm…… I'm not sure? Who was it……? Huh? Where did I hear it? I really did hear it……. I can't quite remember…….”

She thought about telling him that Sarah had told her but didn't in case he went to Sarah directly to ask. She simply said 'I can't remember!' and smiled like girls of her age.

The Count asked several times for the origins of the rumour, but Aria continued to tilt her head in confusion as if she didn't know what he was talking about.

It didn't matter what he thought right now. If he decided to get fur he would gain a huge profit and if he didn't he would regret not believing her.

No matter which choice he made Aria would gain the Count's trust and lose nothing.

Aria pretended not to know anything with an innocent expression so that the Count would regret and never go against her words again.

The Count's face hardened as he remembered what kind of child Aria was. Just a while ago, she was a child that screamed at anything that she was displeased at.

He was even embarra.s.sed that he took the word of a child who only went up to his waist so seriously.

But he couldn't be sure about the princess rumour, so he still had his servant look into the matter. It wouldn't take long, and it could only bring positive effects if it happened to be true.

There was no room for Aria to b.u.t.t in in the conversation that started up again after a small silence.

Aria did not even plan on joining the conversation, but Mielle, who was happy about Aria's stupid response, brought up memories of the past, and even the countess was excluded from the conversation.

Aria had placed the last piece of meat in her mouth and did not concern herself with the situation. She would be the one smiling in the end anyway.

* * *

The Count had said he would stay in the capital for a few days, but started getting ready for a business trip at lunchtime the next day.

Aria knew as she watched him pack several thick clothing. Ah, he believed what I said.

As Aria had thought, the Count had gotten the information that the princess purchased fur. If you asked 'What did the princess purchase in the north?' it would've taken a while, but if you started with 'I heard the fur the princess purchased are very good quality?', it was not too hard to find out the answer.

The Count kissed his wife on the cheek, saying he was sorry for leaving without having lunch. He patted his son and daughter on the head, saying his goodbyes, and gave Aria a look in the end.

His look was mixed with happiness, satisfaction, and pride to become a huge feeling of appreciation.

Aria grabbed the Count's hand before he could pat her head. The Count seemed a little surprised but smiled warmly after hearing Aria's bright voice saying goodbye.

Then Aria took out the handkerchief she had hidden in her inner pockets. The Count asked what it was when Aria handed it to him.

”It's a handkerchief. I'm not very good at embroidery yet so it's not too good but I thought you might need it since you're going far away. Please be healthy and come back soon.”

Mielle, who was standing across from the count, widened her eyes so much to the point that it couldn't possibly be widened any more. He won't receive it, right? That's what her expression was saying.

But against her wishes, the Count gladly took the handkerchief. The Count right now saw Aria as an angel.

And Aria's embroidery was extremely beautiful, so he probably would've taken it even if he wasn't in such a good mood. It was hard to believe that a mere fourteen year old girl had embroidered it.

The Count showed the handkerchief to his wife.

”I did get her a handkerchief because she said she wanted to do some embroidery, but I didn't even imagine that it would be so beautiful.”

The Countess, who was hiding her nine tails, showed the handkerchief to Kain and Mielle as well.

* hiding nine tails: meaning that the countess is a nine tailed fox in disguise and she's acting like a fox

She wasn't just saying it was beautiful because it was her daughter. It was really so beautiful that no one could say anything against the beautiful lily embroidery.

Mielle stared at the handkerchief that was placed in her hands. The lily on the handkerchief looked as if it would start producing a fragrance. It was more elegant and beautiful than any embroidery she had ever seen.

Could I possibly make something better than this embroidery? It felt like she could cry at any moment.

Noticing Mielle's state of mind, Aria smiled in a pure and happy way and asked.

”Would you like me to make one for you too Mielle? If you want you can also have one Kain…….”

”No, I'm good.”

Kain refused Aria without even listening to her whole sentence. She had expected it, so she simply shrugged and kept up her smile.

”I see. Then I guess I just need to make Mielle's.”

Mielle seemed shocked, and did not reply. She simply stared off and did not even wave her hand when her father left for his business trip far away.

Aria wasn't expecting a rage or anything but wasn't expecting her to be so shocked either.

Well, it was very satisfactory.

* * *

Aria laughed after returning to her room. She planned on making the best embroidery possible for Mielle. Sarah's embroidery of course, since she never said she would be the one making it.

She'll surely fall into despair as she looks at the embroidery every day. It will be even worse because she is still young.

When she's over the shock she will try her best to beat Aria in embroidery, and be shocked again when she realizes that she's terrible at embroidery.

'She may never be able to embroider anything.'

Like me in the past.

The Aria in the past had always suffered from an inferiority complex because she was behind in everything compared to Mielle.

She wasn't as elegant, logical, social, or loved, and had a low self esteem, which was converted into her evil actions which were encouraged by the maids.

She, Mielle, was a wall she could never overcome.

So she focused on enhancing her beauty, which was the only way she could beat Mielle.

If she thought about it now, although it would've taken some time, it was a wall she could definitely overcome, but she did not realize it in the past. It was because she had believed that she couldn't from the start.

'It would be okay for it to be the other way around now then, right?'

She would do everything before Mielle could start so she wouldn't be able to do anything.

If things kept going that way Mielle would become a mess, just like Aria had in the past. Just thinking about it sent jolts of excitement through her body.