Chapter 183
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 183
The chill had only just begun to settle, yet before I knew it, the final week of December—Holy Festival Week—had arrived.
Much had changed for Harriet during that time.
First and foremost, the attempts to belittle or undermine her in high society had all but vanished. It was the direct result of Cedric’s unwavering, public displays of affection for his "lover."
Conversely, however, the number of people approaching her in hopes of securing a connection or a favor had skyrocketed.
“I should take this opportunity to apologize,” Harriet said, rubbing her throbbing temples. “I used to think that once you became a Duke, you’d be able to live in peace. But if people are clinging to me like this—and I’m merely your lover, not even your wife—I can only imagine how much you must be suffering.”
“If you cut them off coldly, they’ll eventually stop daring to bother you. Right now, they only persist because they see you as an easy target.”
“And how do I stop looking like an easy target?”
“Treat everyone who tries to use you exactly as you treated Bella Listerwell.”
“Aha! That makes perfect sense.”
She nodded, then sighed as she gazed out the window.
They were currently on their way to Saint Clarissa Convent for Holy Festival Week. She was excited to visit after so long and curious to see how <Clarissa> was faring, but she was also nervous. She couldn't help but worry about how the sisters would react when she and Cedric revealed they were a couple.
“I wonder if I’m inviting divine punishment.”
“Who would dare to punish you?”
“If I say I’m your lover, everyone assumes I’m already the Duchess. Letting that misconception stand is a form of lying, isn’t it? And if I lie to the Mother Superior, I don’t think Yawar will let it slide.”
“I’ve thought this before, but your faith is truly deep,” Cedric noted, his voice laced with subtle teasing. “To fear divine punishment so much.”
Harriet merely shrugged. In truth, lying to others wasn’t the real issue. The problem was that she was genuinely enjoying this game of being lovers with an expiration date.
If this relationship ends, I might actually end up living like someone truly heartbroken.
She sometimes wondered if their agreement to date was all a dream, but Cedric was proving to be the perfect lover. When a man who was polite but distant to other women showed such gentle kindness only to her, she couldn't help but feel, Ah, we really are lovers.
Even now, he was trying to take off his coat for her, insisting she must be cold despite the fact that she was already bundled up.
“I’m fine. If you give that to me, you’ll be the one catching a chill.”
“I’m perfectly fine. This level of cold is nothing compared to the battlefield.”
“This isn’t a battlefield. Overestimating your health is a bad habit. If you catch a cold, you’ll be teased for being a war hero who was defeated by a breeze!”
Despite her firm refusal, Cedric, seemingly concerned for her comfort, proposed a compromise.
“Then let’s share it.”
“Excuse me?”
Before Harriet could process his words, Cedric slipped off his coat, pulled her close to sit beside him, and draped the heavy garment over them both like a shared blanket. Because of his large build, the coat was expansive, but to share it, they had no choice but to press their bodies tightly together.
“Um… you really don’t have to go this far…”
“The human body is a remarkably efficient heat source. This way, it will definitely be warmer.”
As if truly intending to share his body heat, he drew her into a near-embrace. Harriet’s heart pounded so hard she felt lightheaded, but she didn't pull away.
Enjoy what you can while you can.
Recalling her motto for a love with an expiration date, Harriet leaned subtly against him as if she had no choice.
“Well… it is warm.”
Above her head, she felt the pleasant vibration of Cedric’s breath, as if he were smiling.
*
The Saint Clarissa Convent had changed since she last saw it. It felt much brighter, possessing the energy of a bustling small village.
“Welcome, Duke Kailas. Welcome, Sister Harriet.”
“Mother Superior Catherine! I missed you!” Harriet cried, happily embracing the older woman.
She worried that Catherine seemed a bit thinner than when they had met last April. “You aren’t unwell, are you? You seem to have lost weight.”
“I’ve just been busy, so I think I’ve leaned out a little. This used to be a quiet convent, but now it is a bustling place from dawn until dusk.”
Her words were clearly no exaggeration. At the news that high-ranking nobles from the capital were visiting, children from the Eper Orphanage were clustered behind the wall, peeking at them. Just seeing their bright, curious eyes, one could imagine how boisterous the convent had become.
“Wow, they don’t look like they’re from this world.”
“He looks like a prince…”
“Are all nobles that handsome?”
Perhaps embarrassed by the girls’ chatter, Catherine quickly led Cedric and Harriet to the Mother Superior’s office. Only after closing the heavy wooden door did they find enough quiet for a conversation.
Agnes, the Vice Mother Superior, was also present. She served them plain tea in simple cups and asked, “But how did you two come to travel together? Did Sister Harriet perhaps ask the Duke about his destination in advance this time?”
Everyone recalled the past incident when Cedric had "rescued" her from the convent when she couldn't call a carriage due to the snow. Harriet realized anew how many times she and Cedric had crossed paths, and she gave a slightly awkward smile.
Now it was time for a confession—a mix of truth and lies.
“Well… actually…”
“It seems the rumors from Genoa haven’t spread this far yet,” Cedric answered on behalf of the flustered Harriet. “We’ve been a couple for quite some time now.”
“What? Lovers…?”
As expected, Catherine and Agnes were stunned. However, the shock didn’t last long. What Catherine said next, accompanied by a bright smile, was even more shocking to Harriet.
“So it finally came to this. I’ve had a feeling about the two of you for a while now…”
“What?” Harriet blinked. “What do you mean, ‘for a while now,’ Mother Superior?”
“Hmm… I know this might be rude to Duke Kailas, but I wondered if a man would truly show such kindness to a woman without any ulterior motives. Every time he visited, he would look for or mention Miss Harriet.”
At that, Cedric gave an embarrassed laugh, as if caught off guard.
“I can’t win against someone blessed with divine insight. You’re right. From the very first time I came here, I already had a great interest in Harriet.”
“Cedric!”
“It’s true. Though I didn’t quite realize the depth of it myself back then.”
His faint smile was subtly mischievous. The slight twitch of his eyebrows made him seem quite pleased with himself. Seeing the two of them exchanging glances and communicating silently, Catherine offered a blessing with a warm smile.
“They say that when Yawar first molded humanity, He took a piece from one and embedded it within the partner they were destined for. If I may be so bold, I believe you two have finally found those missing pieces.”
Harriet’s face flushed crimson. She couldn't help but wonder bitterly: Who would fill her empty space? Would such a person even exist?
But Catherine, unaware of her inner turmoil, continued by offering a prayer for the two of them.
“Yawar, who establishes the order of all things and governs their flow. Bless these two who shall become each other’s everything. Grant them permission to build their nest in Your garden, and allow them to enjoy the complete happiness found in being together.”
The soft, low prayer, echoing quietly in the simple, neat room, instantly soothed Harriet’s anxieties.
Stop thinking useless thoughts. For now, I’ll just do my best as things are.
Hadn’t she resolved to help Cedric? Then she just needed to be faithful to that role. In Cedric’s eyes, as he looked at her, entirely different thoughts were flowing, but Harriet had no idea what they were.
After the prayer concluded and well wishes were exchanged, the two made a large donation in their joint names.
“Actually, my share isn’t much, but Cedric insisted on doing it jointly…” Harriet added, embarrassed.
Catherine looked kindly at her. “Perhaps your share of care for the convent is greater, Sister.”
“Of course! I can guarantee that!” Cedric added.
They laughed together and rose from their seats. The next task was to check on the status of <Clarissa>, which had been handed over to Emma. Harriet remained only as an advisor, but Cedric, as the sole investor, was in a position to offer opinions on the business.
Emma, meeting Harriet after a long time, came running with quick steps and practically threw herself into Harriet's arms.
“Sister Harriet!”
“Emma! How have you been?”
“I feel like I’m going to die! But I also feel like I’m more alive than ever! I don’t even know what I’m saying, but it means I’m happy!”
She smiled more than before, and her expression had brightened. Her cold, guarded past was now almost unimaginable. As a result, her beauty seemed to blossom.
“You’ve shed all your girlishness, Emma. It wouldn’t be strange for you to receive a marriage proposal any day now.”
“I’m not interested in marriage. Just thinking about how to grow <Clarissa> keeps me busy all day!”
That wasn’t empty flattery. Emma truly worked as if she had dedicated her soul to the business. During Harriet's absence, she had developed various types of soap and herbal products, and put significant effort into promoting honey and beeswax items.
Thanks to her, a new trend called ‘A Night with Convent Candles’ had been born. It involved lighting <Clarissa>’s high-quality candles to find peace of mind while reading scriptures or praying.
“You’ve worked so hard. Every time I visit the <Clarissa> store, it’s bustling with customers. You were far better suited for the manager position than I was.”
“Oh, you flatter me!” Emma waved her hand dismissively, blushing.
Playful exclamations of ‘Ooh!’ rose from the girls around them, and Harriet laughed heartily with them for the first time in a long while.
On the way back, Harriet looked back at the convent several times with a wistful expression.
“I’m already at a loss as to how I’ll explain this to the Mother Superior later,” she muttered. “To have even received a blessing prayer for an engaged couple…”
“There won’t be any need to retract anything.”
“What? Why?”
“I promised I wouldn’t create any trouble for you, didn’t I?”
“Ah… Th-thank you.”
Harriet assumed that Cedric meant he would explain the "truth" to Catherine on her behalf later. But his true thoughts were entirely different.
Because if we marry, there will be no need for explanations.
A proud smile lingered on his lips, deeply pleased that they had received a divine blessing.