Chapter 126
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 126
“They weren't targeting the Imperial Family or the Ducal House, but Miss Harriet. Are you planning to retaliate on her behalf?”
“I was taught it is poor manners to steal someone else’s due.”
Cedric offered a faint smile, then bowed to the Empress. Anastasia burst into a fit of laughter, finding she had no choice but to allow him to withdraw.
When Cedric returned to the banquet hall after his audience with the Empress, the atmosphere had shifted considerably. The most glaring change was the crowd of people now swarming around Harriet.
“I knew that article was absurd from the start. You must have suffered so much, haven't you?”
“But how do you know Her Majesty? I’d heard rumors that she invited you to tea, but to think it was true...”
“Miss Harriet, please don't be a stranger. We’re hosting a small gathering at our estate soon; you must come and tell us everything.”
The very people who had been giving Harriet the cold shoulder moments ago had performed a seamless about-face. Harriet handled them with a practiced smile, showing neither embarrassment nor anger. Her demeanor was far more seasoned than it had been in the past.
Cedric watched from a distance, ready to intervene if she seemed overwhelmed, but he found himself becoming flustered before she did. Perhaps it was because Harriet’s smooth, elegant shoulders kept drawing his gaze, stirring an inexplicable restlessness within him.
He tried to quell his ungentlemanly thoughts by focusing on something else.
‘Harriet hasn't danced even once since she arrived...’
He was in the same position, but he couldn't help but worry more for her. For a man, leaving a ball without dancing was no flaw, but for a young woman, it was a different story. A lady of marriageable age who remained a wallflower risked facing ridicule disguised as "concerned" pity.
‘When Edgar arrives, I’ll have to ask him to invite her.’
He couldn't do it himself. He desperately wanted to, but it would only burden Harriet, who was already the center of too much scrutiny. And he certainly didn't want to see some bottom-feeder like Julian Faith clinging to her.
‘It would be a shame for her to go home without dancing, especially after dressing up so beautifully.’
As he mulled over these bitter thoughts, Harriet finally managed to dismiss the talkative socialites and turned around. At that moment, their eyes met, and time seemed to slow.
Harriet’s eyes were a unique blend of green and light brown. Because they were so large, their subtle color often reminded him of a clear pond—so clear, in fact, that he felt he could read the emotions lying at the bottom.
But now, he couldn't quite gauge what she was feeling.
Is she angry? No, is she confused?
What was certain was that Harriet didn't look happy or relieved. She offered a polite smile to the few people still lingering nearby, cast one more look toward Cedric, and then slowly headed for the balcony.
Cedric noted which balcony she entered, waited a beat, and then followed her, careful to remain unnoticed. Closing the balcony door quietly behind him, he approached Harriet, who was silently gazing out at the Imperial Palace gardens.
“Your social skills have become quite refined.”
Harriet smiled faintly at his half-joking tone. It was a relief to see she wasn't displeased by his intrusion.
“Did you make sure to remember the faces of those people? The ones who changed their tunes like flipping a switch?”
“Is there any need to remember them? I’ll simply keep my distance from such people regardless of where we meet.”
“It seems you’re developing an eye for distinguishing jade from common stone.”
“Thank you for today,” she said softly.
Cedric didn't reply. He still vividly remembered her expression on the day the three major newspapers had slandered her on their front pages.
“Please help me.”
Those were words he thought he would never hear from her. Cedric had already been planning his response to the articles, but he had feigned ignorance to test her intentions.
“We can frame it as an attempt to deceive both the Imperial Family and the Ducal House. And then, I plan to reveal that <Clarissa> belongs to the Saint Clarissa Convent.”
“The paperwork...”
“Perhaps it was fate, but I recently finalized the change of representative. The current representative of <Clarissa> is Emma.”
Not only the representative’s name but the company name itself—which had remained Saint Clarissa Soap & Herb—had been officially changed and registered as Clarissa.
That was the true reason she had visited the convent recently. She had intended to make the change at the start of the year, but various delays had pushed it back. She had finally rushed to finalize it, fearing Trisha’s health might deteriorate further.
If she had postponed the registration any longer, the excuse of "temporarily taking charge until operations stabilized" would have been useless. It truly felt like divine intervention.
“Let’s consider this matter as repayment for me finding and returning the Late Duke’s belongings to you,” Harriet said.
Cedric let out a small laugh at her cheeky remark. “Do you think this meager favor could possibly count as repayment? Consider this a simple gesture of my goodwill.”
“No. I can’t.” Harriet turned her head to look him in the eye. “Let’s consider our accounts settled after this. I want there to be nothing left to be exchanged between Your Grace and me.”
At that moment, Cedric felt as if his heart had given a painful thud. “May I... ask why?”
“Using that debt as an excuse to act like a collector feels rather cowardly.”
“That’s for the one who owes the debt to say. It seems you’re still bothered by what I said to you that day—calling it a trick or whatever. I apologize for that once again.”
There were countless people in the world desperate to use him, yet the woman before him held that opportunity in her hands and claimed she didn't want it. He found himself resenting his own childish behavior on the day he had received the brooch back.
“I can’t rely on Your Grace’s goodwill forever, can I?”
Cedric almost retorted, ‘Why not?’ before he could stop himself. Clenching his jaw to hold back the words, he forced a composed expression and tried to reason with her.
“Wouldn't it be better to utilize the resources available to you?”
“Every time this happens, I find myself disliking Your Grace.”
“...Did I mishear? You... dislike me?”
He was stunned by the blunt admission, but Harriet nodded, her expression devoid of humor.
“Shall I speak plainly?”
“Please do.”
“You know you’re arrogant and insufferable, don’t you, Your Grace?”
Cedric hesitated, unsure of how to react, then let out a dry laugh and conceded. “Yes. I know.”
“I thought I disliked you because of that.”
The word "dislike" kept surfacing, sharply scraping at Cedric’s chest. At the same time, his numerous past mistakes toward her flashed through his mind, pouring salt on the wound.
But Harriet bit her lip before continuing.
“But I recently realized something. I disliked you because you made me feel weak. Because I kept expecting things from you, I felt like I was becoming a fool who couldn't do anything on my own. I hated that.”
“Miss Harriet...?”
“Yes, I know. You probably offered your help without much thought, simply out of charity. My wavering because of it is solely my problem, and you aren't at fault at all. I know that, but still...” Harriet took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Eliminating any room for my heart to waver is simply easier for me right now.”
Harriet’s expression remained grave. She even looked a little apologetic, as if she felt she was unfairly blaming him.
But as Cedric carefully analyzed her words, he felt an urge to laugh for an entirely different reason. He had to clench his teeth again to keep his composure.
“So... you’re saying that because I helped you whenever you were in trouble, your heart wavered...?”
“You might think I’m shameless for accepting the help and then saying this, but—”
“What exactly do you mean by ‘wavered’?”
“Huh?”
“Your heart wavering. I’m quite curious about that part.”
Harriet stared blankly at him, as if she hadn't processed his question. Then, her cheeks gradually flushed a deep crimson, and her eyes widened.
“Ah—no! It’s not... it’s not what you think! It’s just... because you kept helping me, my independence! Yes, I felt like my independence was weakening, that’s what I meant!”
“Ah. Independence.”
“Exactly!”
Cedric gazed at her with a subtle, knowing smile. Harriet fidgeted nervously under his gaze, and unable to bear the silence, she blurted out another excuse.
“Even if I’m uneducated, I’m not foolish enough to gaze at a tree I cannot climb.”
Cedric shook his head, finding that remark strangely displeasing.
“I’m not sure I follow. You said your heart wavering meant your independence was weakening, didn't you?”
“Th-that’s right.”