Without giving Aria any time to doubt her intentions, Mielle entered the indoor garden. A large bouquet of flowers was being held by Emma, who followed her, as if to celebrate Arias birthday.

Why didnt you invite me? It was a little sad.

I came here because I thought youd forgotten. Happy birthday, sister.

Are you here to humiliate me?

Otherwise, she would not have gone there on purpose. She had never visited Aria before. Mielle could not give up her wicked nature, so she attacked Aria at just the right time, and Aria couldnt laugh at all.

Aria had shown a lukewarm response to Mielles story, so the ladies naturally thought that Mielle didnt attend her birthday party because Mielle and Aria didnt have a good relationship.

At that moment, Aria responded with an exaggerated look of surprise, That cant be? Ive tried to invite you several times, but I just couldnt tell you about the party because you were sick. Youve been eating in your room for months.

Oh, you did. But, when I was feeling better, I went down a few times and had a meal I thought youd left me out on purpose again. I guess I must have been mistaken.

Without giving Aria a moment to answer, Emma presented the bouquet to her in response to Mielles regretful reply.

I thought you liked flowers, so I prepared these. Dont you like them?

No, theyre pretty.

Im just here to make an appearance, so Ill go now. Dont forget to invite me on your next birthday. Have a nice party, then.

It was the same when Mielle handed her the flowers, of course. Mielle seemed to think Aria would retort, so she turned around right away without giving Aria time to do so.

Aria, embarrassed by Mielle, who was turning around with her perfectly happy face, looked around frantically for the hourglass. Thats when she realized that the hourglass was not there. She hadnt brought it because she hadnt thought shed need the hourglass for that little party of all occasions!

What shall I do? If I go to my room right now and get it, will I get back within five minutes?

Aria was left there looking anxious, measuring the time that had passed while Mielle had already left. To change the strange atmosphere, the young ladies awkwardly praised Mielles bouquet of flowers.

Those are pretty flowers.

Thats right.

Realizing that it was too late to get the hourglass, Aria sighed inaudibly and changed her expression into a good one. There was no point in regretting what had already been done.

Moreover, she couldnt hastily use the hourglass for such a trifle when Oscar might show up. She gave the bouquet of flowers to Jessie and returned to her place with a very bright and pleasant expression on her face. Aria couldnt let the awkward atmosphere that Mielle had created continue.

She couldnt come down to the dining hall because she was sick for some time. I think shes feeling better! I was worried about her, but Im really glad.

At Arias expression of genuine joy, the awkwardness of her demeanor to the slightest provocation disappeared at once. It seemed that they had really accepted what she had said, that she hadnt been able to invite Mielle because she had been sick. It was true that she had pretended to be sick, so Aria was able to carry on the conversation without difficulty.

I see. I hadnt heard anything about Lady Mielle lately.

I think shes been sick since my father went to the northern province.

Thats a pity. Its a disease instigated for her longing for her father.

The young ladies quickly understood the situation because it could happen at Mielles age, even though her illness spawned more from her anger against Aria, who didnt act as she had expected. Aria was able to regain the initiative.

It could be. Her brother, Cain, isnt here since he went to the academy, and somehow

Aria took a sip of tea and paused for a moment before she continued to speak. It was a sign that the words were difficult to say. She opened her mouth again, with a pitiful look, pulling down her eyebrows.

Its been a while since her father remarried my mother, and she is not happy with us. She feels like she was left alone.

Of course, it was Aria who had been left alone, but she had a lonely expression as she said that. Sarah, who noticed this, consoled her.

Dont look like that, Aria. You cant help it because Lady Mielle is still young. Family isnt so easily formed. Itll be all right in a little while.

Thank you, Sarah.

With that, Mielles attack passed as happenstance, like a failed bullet.

Mielles plan to make her only sister into a bad sister who hadnt invited her to her birthday party had gone wrong, and that was all because of Mielle herself, who was displeased with meeting strangers. Fortunately, the image Aria had built over several meetings was not destroyed by Mielles one-time mischief. On the contrary, Mielle had given her an excuse that had solidified Arias image.

Aria said good-bye to the young ladies again as they were putting on their coats and gloves.

Its time to say goodbye. I look forward to seeing you next time.

It was fun. See you again soon at the meeting.

I hope the blessings will always be upon Lady Aria, who has come closer to adulthood.

The young ladies, who had appeared like the wind, disappeared in the same manner. Only Sarah, who had been the last to leave the mansion, had left a light kiss on Arias lovely cheek.

Aria, who returned to her room, opened and closed the music box she had received as a gift and fell into deep thought. She thought of herself, who had been embarrassed just because the hourglass hadnt been there.

She was able to cope with the situation with flexibility and without having to turn time five minutes back, but when she had the hourglass with her, she was ruled by it, even to the point of letting herself be embarrassed for a moment. Even though she hadnt used it many times, she felt like she was already being swayed by the power of the hourglass.

But, I cant help but use the hourglass.

The hourglass next to the music box shone with the reflection of the light. It seemed as if it were doing so to express with its whole make that it was not guilty of anything, and that confused Aria.

Cause theres nothing as stupid as not using what I have available.

So, she thought that if she didnt want to panic like earlier, she should carry it around all the time, instead of trying not to rely on the hourglass. If it was used at the right moment, she wouldnt be dragged around. And it was better to take it with her than to be uncomfortable without it.

Yes, its important to get rid of anxiety.

So, Aria crushed a bouquet of flowers that Mielle had given her and put it in the brazier. The bouquet had been the source of her bad mood which had accompanied her anxiety.

It was quite worth seeing it lose its shape and contort in the brazier. She stared at it as it lost its shape and turned into a handful of ashes. Behind her, she could hear someone call for her.

Miss, you have a visitor.

Thud! Her heart sank. Is he really here? Oscar Frederik

Turning back with somewhat trembling eyes, she saw Jessie, who, like her master, recited the visitors name with a quivering mouth, Oscar Frederik has come to visit you.

* * *

The news of Oscars visit went straight to Mielles ear. As Aria began to change clothes again to suit his preference for plain garments, Mielle was able to get to the lounge where Oscar was before her.

Why did he come to see Aria? Whats going on with that cheap, dirty prostitutes daughter?

No matter how hard she thought, she found no answer to that question. That was because she couldnt think of any reason why he should meet Aria. She didnt want to imagine the worst possibility that he might be visiting her because of Arias birthday.

While she was wondering what kind of excuse to give to enter the room, she found two maids coming into the lounge with trays of refreshments. So, Miele called them up with her unique, sweet smile.