Chapter 168
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168
The moment Bella left, the smile vanished from Cedric’s face. He reached for a scrapbook he had neglected for a long time—a collection of findings from Cloud’s investigation into the Listerwell family.
He had fished the pages out of the trash and reassembled them back then, not quite understanding why he was doing it. Only much later did he realize the truth: even then, his feelings for Harriet had been more than mere curiosity.
His hand paused as he flipped through the pages.
It was the section containing a clipped article about the Albrecht Park Boating Accident on June 28, 1866, accompanied by photos taken at the scene.
‘Pitiful, her looks?’
His fingertips traced the photos of the ‘victim’s family.’
The images were old and blurred, but he had no trouble recognizing Harriet. The sight of the fragile girl, looking as though she were on the verge of tears and unable to process the tragedy, felt so vivid it was as if he had witnessed it himself.
Even at that young age, she had been striking—long, straight, dark brown hair, a poised back, and refined features.
That same girl had reappeared in High Society ten years later, undergoing a stunning transformation into an undeniable beauty. To certain men, she was now more beautiful than anyone else in the world.
‘It must have been you, Bella Listerwell, who stained such a beautiful child with tears.’
His stomach churned at the memory of how he, too, had been a pawn in Bella’s schemes, inadvertently hurting Harriet. It was the first time in his life he had fallen for such a shallow trick, and the humiliation of being used in such a despicable plot only intensified with every passing moment.
“So, this time, you’ll be the one used in my plan.”
Cedric flicked a photo of a young Bella—who was crying in the shot as if she were more shocked than Harriet herself—and let out a cold, short laugh.
Unbeknownst to his lovely squirrel, the gears were already turning.
*
“Ugh.”
Harriet suddenly shivered violently.
“Is something wrong?”
“I… I just got a sudden chill. Is someone talking behind my back?”
“You’re always the subject of gossip, aren’t you?” Roxana replied gruffly. “More likely, it’s the change in seasons. It’s easy to catch a cold this time of year. Drink warm tea and make sure you carry a shawl.”
Though the remark about gossip was a bit sharp, Harriet knew it was simply Roxana’s way of showing concern.
“Don’t worry about me, Aunt. You should take care of yourself. Ever since Grandmother returned to Genoa, you’ve barely slept between nursing her and handling the family affairs.”
“Managing the family is what I always do, so it’s nothing special. And caring for Mother is something I want to do. I’ve always naturally slept very little; I’m not overdoing it.”
“Even so—!”
“Let’s get back to the matter at hand,” Roxana said, cutting her off. “I heard you attended several tea parties and gatherings to expose the truth of the past scandal. What is the atmosphere like now?”
Harriet sighed at Roxana’s deflection but answered readily.
“There is a growing air of suspicion toward Bella. Even those who claim it couldn’t be true are wavering. It’s telling that no one is outright accusing me of lying anymore.”
“Are you certain?”
“According to Viviana and Miss Daphne’s circle, it’s true. Even Bella’s defenders have been forced onto the defensive.”
The rhetoric of those who used to say, ‘Bella would never do such a thing,’ or ‘Harriet is lying again,’ had shifted. Now, the whispers sounded different:
“Even if it’s true, everyone makes mistakes when they’re young. It’s hard to say Miss Harriet was entirely blameless, either.”
“Perhaps it was just a series of misunderstandings? Of course, it’s not my place to say.”
“I’ll remain neutral until I see clear evidence.”
There were still those who clung to the image of Bella as a ‘pure and flawless’ angel, but their numbers were dwindling, and they were mostly men. Compared to the past, when people of all ages and genders worshipped her, this was a monumental shift.
‘What is Bella doing right now?’ Harriet wondered.
She wondered if Bella realized this was her karma—being subjected to the very same tactics she had once used—or if she felt even a shred of remorse. It was a slim hope, but the thought lingered.
Roxana raised a hand to pat Harriet’s shoulder as she noticed her bitter smile, but she found the gesture awkward and lowered it again. However, her sentiment remained clear.
“A top-grade gem, without a single crack or inclusion, is so beautiful it feels untouchable. That is why it is expensive; everyone handles it with extreme care to preserve its perfection. But once it cracks…”
Harriet met Roxana’s gaze.
“The value of that gem plummets. The disappointment people feel is always proportional to the perfection they once expected.”
That was Bella’s reality.
After she received the summons, the Listerwell family had moved quickly to contain the damage, but then the rumors erupted that she had purchased Angelic.
The men who had idolized a pure Bella frowned in disappointment. Conversely, the more depraved men, who had only ever wished to lay a hand on her, cheered. Regardless of the truth, it was a devastating blow to her reputation.
“To reclaim the Listerwell name, you must prepare a finishing blow quickly. Can you do it?”
Harriet nodded slowly.
“I’m already preparing. I don’t know if it will succeed, but I have to try.”
She recalled the letter she had received from Morris Declan two days prior and clenched her fist.
「…Though a few conditions were added, Cypris Shipbuilding Company has contacted us and agreed to sell a vessel. We anticipate it can be launched by the end of this year.
—Your colleague, Morris.」
*
Albert was released on bail.
The official reason for his release was to resolve his company’s mounting debts, but the moment Albert left prison, he rushed elsewhere.
“Cedric!”
When Cedric appeared, Albert, who had been waiting in a state of high anxiety, shot to his feet. His face was a frantic mask of relief and dread.
Ignoring the outburst, Cedric calmly took his seat, acting as if nothing had ever happened between them.
“You’ve grown quite gaunt in just a few days. Are you eating properly?”
It was a greeting that bordered on mockery, but Albert didn’t get angry. Instead, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.
“I… I did something terrible to you! I was out of my mind! I think my head was scrambled from the Angelic. Please, forgive me. Please!”
“What’s wrong, Albert? Don’t be so uncomfortable. Stand up.”
“No, no! I have to apologize. I’ve truly come to my senses! Just this once, please!”
There was no pride left in his voice, only raw desperation.
“If you help me just this once, I’ll never be arrogant again. I’ll never go against you. I’ll live like a ghost, I won’t even breathe if you don’t want me to! I swear!”
“……”
Despite the fervent plea, Cedric remained silent. The only sound in the room was the faint, rhythmic scrape of a teacup against its saucer.
The silence was so suffocating that Albert began to weep.
“I don’t want to go back to prison. I’d rather bite my tongue and die right here than be trapped in that narrow stone room again! I can’t do anything there… I’ll just wither away and die! Please… hic… forgive me, Cedric…”
Even as a grown man lay prostrate and sobbing on the floor, Cedric’s eyes remained indifferent. As the sobs finally began to subside, Cedric spoke.
“I told you, didn’t I? The price for displeasing me is steep.”
“Cedric! Please, just this once! I was wrong! I was so wrong! Please, please!”
Albert had lost count of how many times he had begged. But to Cedric, there was no sincerity in it. When a knife is at a man’s throat, he will babble anything to survive. Once the crisis passes, he will wipe his mouth and act as if nothing happened.
Cedric had seen this play out too many times to count.
‘Though I did orchestrate this myself.’
The corner of his mouth curved into a subtle, sharp smile. He was tired of Albert’s sniveling; it was time to get to the point.
“Yes, well. People make mistakes. I understand.”
“Ce-Cedric…!”
Hope flared in Albert’s tear-streaked eyes. Cedric cast the bait.
“But I’ve seen too many cases where people who make mistakes simply keep making them.”
“I won’t! I swear! What do I have to do? How can I make you believe me?”
“Hmm… then how about a test?”
Cedric had known it would come to this, even before Bella had come to see him. He reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a pre-prepared letter.
“Can you deliver this letter directly to Marquess Pascal?”
Albert took the envelope, his hands trembling. The name of the sender written on the outside was none other than ‘Benedict Kingsley.’
“W-what is this…?”
Cedric didn’t answer. It was a silent ultimatum: accept the task, or go back to the cell.
Albert had no choice. He would do anything to avoid returning to that cold stone floor and the insects he didn't even want to name. Anything at all.