Chapter 118
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 118
“Harriet will be the one who turns into a devil. I, on the other hand, am always the victorious angel.”
Orchestrating such a fall was child’s play for her. She had done it countless times since stripping Harriet of her title as viscountess. It wouldn’t be difficult this time either, provided she could find even the slightest crack to exploit.
“First and foremost, I must sever Harriet’s ties with the House of Kailas.”
Since she had already failed once, she couldn’t afford to be complacent. Bella ran her fingers through her disheveled hair, racking her brain for someone who could introduce her to Jeremia.
To break the bond between Cedric and Harriet, it would be far more effective to target Jeremia than Cedric himself.
* * *
As the hired carriage rattled along, Harriet gazed at her lightened bag, reflecting on the past year.
‘It feels like a lifetime, yet it hasn’t even been a year since I returned to the capital.’
She had returned to Genoa on the first of June last year and attended the Vanderbilt family’s party at the end of that month. It was now early April, meaning only ten months had passed.
‘Yet the year I spent at the convent flew by so quickly.’
She had expected a year of simple, repetitive labor to feel like a decade, but it hadn’t been that way at all. Perhaps it was because she genuinely enjoyed making soap, or perhaps it was her unwavering resolve to exact revenge on her uncle’s family.
Regardless, Harriet was currently on her way back from a long-awaited visit to Saint Clarissa Convent to settle an important matter.
“Sister Harriet, welcome back!”
Mother Superior Catherine and Deputy Mother Superior Agnes still welcomed her with open arms. Emma, who had become indispensable to <Clarissa>, seemed much more mature now. The sisters living in the separate annex provided by the convent—those dedicated to manufacturing <Clarissa>’s products—looked at Harriet as if she were their savior.
Sophia and the monks in the soap workshop were working even more diligently than before. Sophia had been busy showing off new samples, her eyes sparkling as if she wanted to boast about every single achievement.
Then there was the herb workshop and the apiary. When people finally recognized the value of their hard work and paid a high price for it, everyone involved seemed to find a new lease on life.
“Sister Harriet. If you ever feel tired or exhausted, please remember that you always have a place to return to. This is your home, and we are your family,” Catherine had said, embracing Harriet as she prepared to leave. Harriet couldn’t describe how grateful those words made her feel.
Because of them, Harriet wasn’t lonely. She had a vast family ready to wipe away her tears and share in her laughter. That was why she could keep moving forward.
‘<Clarissa> is stable now. While relying solely on Duke Kailas as an investor carries some risk, he remains a diligent partner. The logistics—from production to delivery and sales—are well-established.’
The quality of the products went without saying. As manpower and equipment increased and the yields from the olive and herb farms grew, the convent was producing even better goods than before. For the time being, there was nothing to worry about on that front.
‘Now I need to think about new ventures. Something that will multiply what I already have.’
Things Harriet wouldn’t have dared to imagine ten months ago were now firmly in her grasp: one hundred and sixty-five hectares of vast, fertile land in Perilas, a three-story mansion, a thousand square meters of prime real estate in Lowerberry, the tenant farming fees from Perilas, and her modeling fees and shares from <Clarissa>.
But it wasn’t enough. Not yet.
‘Once the autumn harvest is in, a massive sum of money will come in from Perilas all at once. Should I develop the land in Lowerberry with that? Or should I let it sit and invest in other businesses?’
After parting ways with Cedric at the Outing, Tez had changed his approach and introduced her to several influential people. While these weren’t opportunities for deep connections yet, Harriet made sure to note who was involved in which industry. As soon as she returned from the outing, she had begun researching the businesses that piqued her interest.
‘The Hables Vineyard seems promising, and the steel industry has good prospects. Since the commoners’ standard of living has been rising lately, the dairy business should also see a boom.’
However, she felt it was too risky to pour all her liquid capital into a single venture. She decided to diversify her investments across several projects for now.
Just planning it out made her feel as if hope was shining on her future. Imagining herself succeeding in every investment and raking in enormous sums of money, Harriet chuckled to herself.
‘Am I really going to become filthy rich like this?’
Of course, she knew the world didn’t always work out as easily as one hoped. She would likely face failures in the future and might even be betrayed. But for this moment, she wanted to fully savor the excitement of hope—even if storm clouds were beginning to gather on the horizon.
* * *
To an outsider, Jeremia’s life might have seemed leisurely and relaxed, but her schedule was actually quite grueling.
While Cedric handled nearly all the ducal family’s business affairs, matters such as interior decoration, entertaining guests, gardening, and anything involving the Imperial Family fell under Jeremia’s purview. She frequently had to meet with collateral relatives of the Imperial Family to maintain ties, and even without those duties, invitations constantly piled up from those desperate to host the Grand Duchess—the Emperor’s beloved younger sister.
During the spring and autumn, when the weather was mild, tea parties were exceptionally frequent. Even after carefully vetting her invitations, she still had two or three engagements a week.
Today, her destination was the House of Lindbergh.
“Thank you for coming, Grand Duchess!”
“It would be a shame to miss the spring gardens at the Lindbergh Mansion. Besides, your tea parties are always perfectly to my taste.”
“Oh, what an honor. This year, I’ve prepared a special milk tea. I hope it suits your palate.”
Countess Lindbergh, who dictated the trends of high society as much as Countess Vanderbilt, hosted grand, high-class tea parties every year for the elite. Though called a tea party, the sheer number of guests filling the mansion’s spacious hall made it no different from a daytime banquet.
The criteria for an invitation were based solely on fame and reputation, regardless of social status, political affiliation, or personal ties. Thus, it was an opportunity to meet a wide variety of people—though, occasionally, one encountered uncomfortable individuals.
“Your Imperial Highness Jeremia! I cannot tell you how much I looked forward to this, knowing you would be attending today.”
“Lady Hendrick, I am no longer ‘Her Imperial Highness.’ Grand Duchess Kailas is sufficient. Nevertheless, thank you for your warm welcome.”
Jeremia offered a gentle smile to Viscountess Hendrick, who had rushed over with an overly flattering greeting. Being able to smile nonchalantly even when faced with bothersome people was a social grace she had perfected as an Imperial Princess.
Perhaps feeling as though they had become her confidantes through a single smile, many people brought her interesting information and willingly granted difficult requests. If she calculated the benefits, it was a profitable endeavor, so she would continue to smile today until her cheeks ached.
Viscountess Hendrick, seemingly touched that Jeremia had addressed her correctly without confusion, wore a proud smile. However, it seemed there was another motive behind her greeting today.
“Oh, by the way! If it’s not too much trouble, may I introduce someone to you?”
“An introduction? I’m intrigued.”
Once permission was granted, Lady Hendrick turned and gestured dramatically. At her signal, a young woman walked gracefully from the other side of the hall. Even from a distance, her beauty was extraordinary.
As the woman approached, Lady Hendrick put an arm around her shoulder as if they were close.
“Grand Duchess, this is Miss Bella Listerwell. You’ve likely heard of her. She is famous as the most beautiful lady in high society.”
The name ‘Listerwell’ piqued her interest, but Jeremia didn’t show it as she accepted Bella’s greeting.
“Ah, I believe I have heard of her. The Golden Rose, was it? Doesn’t she have a nickname like that?”
“It’s embarrassing, Your Grace. I am merely the daughter of an ordinary viscount.”
Bella’s beauty was indeed exceptional, but her demeanor was also impeccable. She didn’t flaunt her fame or popularity, behaving demurely and listening attentively to the older ladies.
‘No wonder she’s so famous.’
Even as a woman herself, Jeremia found her gaze naturally drawn to Bella, realizing her reputation wasn't an exaggeration. It was interesting that she came from the same Listerwell family as Harriet, but Jeremia’s interest ended there.
That is, until Bella approached her.
“Um, Grand Duchess Kailas.”
The conversation with the other ladies had momentarily lulled, and Jeremia was taking a sip of her tea.
