The villainess reverses the hourglass

Chapter 16. A New Meeting, Part VIII

What is this feeling...?"

There was also a strange feeling from his warm palms. It was a familiar yet unfamiliar sensation. It was very faint, but it was something that he had felt before somewhere,

Where the hell did I...?"

He couldn't understand that feeling since he had no relation with Count Roscent's family.

As he looked absentmindedly at his hand, his comrade asked him, "What do you want to do? Should I put a man on her?"

"No, I already know what family she's from. First, we'll raid the casino. If that rumor truly spreads, the viscount will run away, and we must quickly subdue him."

"However, we are still lacking information, and our plan is also not perfect."

"An incomplete plan would be better than Viscount Lupre disappearing into the night."

It would be quite a hassle if Viscount Lupre were to run away to a foreign country. It would be much better to miss him in the country, if they were to miss him.

"This could also be a mischievous prank from an ignorant young lady."

"Even so, we have to account for it just in case."

Even if the rumors were a lie and he made his surprise attack on the casino with insufficient information and planning, there was no risk aside for the fact that things would be a bit cumbersome.

However, if what Aria had said had been the truth, and while they were formulating a plan, the viscount ran away? Then, they would need to request aid from the neighboring countries. It would be an annoying, cumbersome and even shameful endeavor. Therefore it was much better to finish matters within the country.

All because of a girl who was certain that the casino would be destroyed. On the surface, the casino was breaking record sales every day, but the girl knew otherwise, that the casino would fall. That was a fact that no one knew but himself and those of his man who would participate in the casino's ruination.

Though she had said that she had heard the rumor about Viscount Lupre, from the full details she had given, she had to have known the inside story. He had to hurry.

"Then, for when shall we set the date?"

"Today."

"Today... Do you mean today?!"

"Yes. In one hour, gather and deploy all we have. We will attack immediately since

we don't know when he'll escape."

'Today's a bit difficult.. his comrade said to himself, but after seeing the man's

determined expression, he bowed his head.... I understand. will prepare for it right away." His comrade moved quickly after being given the order and soon disappeared from

his sight. The man looked at his hand and checked the remaining warmth. Though it

had mostly disappeared, Aria's expression of when she turned around was still vivid

in his mind. Her cat-like figure made him feel strangely excited.

This is not the time.'

But this was not the time for him to immerse in such sentiments. He needed to catch the culprit and solidify his position as quickly as possible. After erasing Aria's face from his mind, and her warmth from her hand, the man quickly disappeared into the darkness.

***

Aria returned home and thought to request the countess fire the two knights that had escorted her immediately, but decided against it since she thought it might be a good opportunity.